Another One Bites the Past by Vladimir Provorov is a thought-provoking work of speculative fiction that puts the reader inside the mind of Jim Miami, a band manager for a very familiar (and easily recognizable) legendary band. From the start, Jim begins noticing strange glitches during performances and in his own memories, pulling him and the reader toward the central question of the story: what is real?

At the opening, Jim is juggling the stress of managing a massive band in a venue that’s clearly too small for them. He does his best under the circumstances, but odd things start happening during the show, technical problems that have never occurred before, and a woman, Claudia, who is out of place, but he swears he knows, even though he has just met her. When the show ends successfully, Jim convinces himself that the issues were nothing more than bad wiring and exhaustion.

Things grow stranger the next morning when Jim wakes up in a completely different house, one that suggests a much higher standard of living. Even more unsettling are the vivid memories he has of the band playing in venues he’s certain they’ve never performed in. As these phantom memories and surreal moments pile up, Jim and Claudia begin to uncover a surprising and unsettling truth.

As a fan of the band hinted at in the title, I went into this book with high hopes and was pleasantly surprised. Provorov’s attention to detail, especially regarding the band’s real history and the technical side of live performances, adds a strong sense of authenticity and shows a clear understanding of the subject matter.

While the story follows Jim, Claudia, and the band, its deeper focus is philosophical. The novel quietly asks big questions that feel especially relevant today, particularly about memory, identity, and what it truly means to be “living.” Another One Bites the Past manages to balance mystery, music, and reflection, making it an engaging read that sticks with you even after the final page.