In Episode 104 of the Good Scribes Only Podcast, hosts Daniel Breyer and Jeremy Streich unravel the layers of Telephone, Percival Everett’s genre-bending 2020 novel. In an ambitious narrative experiment, Telephone was published in three different versions, each with subtle variations in plot and resolution. The novel follows Zach Wells, a geologist and professor whose world begins to unravel after his daughter is diagnosed with a devastating disease.

Everett’s story is a meditation on grief, agency, and the limits of control. Through humor, existential musings, and literary analysis, Daniel and Jeremy break down how Telephone forces readers to confront ambiguity and question whether our choices truly shape our fate.

A Novel Told Three Ways

One of the most intriguing aspects of Telephone is its multiple versions, each offering a slightly different experience of the same story. Everett originally intended for the existence of different versions to remain undisclosed, reinforcing the novel’s theme of unknowable outcomes. Readers only discovered the variations later—some accidentally, some through deliberate comparison.

Jeremy reflects on the genius of this approach:

“It’s like life itself—you don’t get to choose which version of the story you’re living. You only know what you’ve been given.”

Daniel adds:

“It’s also an incredible marketing move. There are people who bought all three copies just to see the differences.”

Key Themes in Telephone

1. Grief and the Futility of Control

The heart of Telephone is Zach Wells’ struggle with grief. His daughter, Sarah, is diagnosed with Batten disease, a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder. The novel follows Zach as he processes the unimaginable loss—not just of his child’s future, but of the illusion that he has any control over life’s course.

Everett’s prose mirrors Zach’s fractured emotional state. Scientific facts and Latin phrases disrupt the narrative, reflecting his desperate attempts to intellectualize his grief.

Daniel notes:

“It’s one of the saddest books I’ve ever read, but it doesn’t beg for sympathy. Instead, it forces you into Zach’s mind, where analysis and avoidance blur together.”

2. The Telephone Game and the Evolution of Meaning

The title Telephone refers to the children’s game in which a whispered message gets distorted as it’s passed along. This idea runs throughout the novel—whether in how Zach perceives his world, how language itself shifts meaning over time, or how readers interpret the different versions of the story.

Jeremy shares his own realization:

“I was halfway through before I even made the connection to the game. Everett plays with the idea that words, like life, are constantly mutating beyond our control.”

3. Searching for Meaning in the Unknown

Zach’s story takes an unexpected turn when he stumbles upon a cryptic message—ayúdame (“help me”)—hidden inside a thrifted shirt. This sparks an obsessive quest that leads him to a human trafficking ring in New Mexico. The subplot offers a stark contrast to his helplessness with Sarah; here, at least, he believes he can intervene.

“It’s the classic grief response,” Daniel explains. “When we lose control in one part of our life, we seek control elsewhere—whether it makes sense or not.”

As Zach infiltrates the operation, the novel transforms into something of a literary thriller. But just as with Sarah’s illness, his actions yield different outcomes depending on which version of the book you read.

The Three Endings: A Literary Experiment

The novel’s conclusion varies depending on which edition you have:

1. The Abrupt Stop – Zach rescues the captive women but is stopped in an urgent care facility. The story ends without resolution, leaving readers to question what happens next.
2. The Successful Escape – He safely delivers the women to Mexico, giving the novel a more redemptive arc.
3. The Circular Reflection – After everything, Zach finds himself back home, staring into the hills, evoking a sense of quiet resignation.

Jeremy found the abrupt ending particularly jarring:

“It’s almost frustrating, but that’s the point. Some stories don’t wrap up neatly, just like real life.”

Daniel compares the three endings to Everett’s broader commentary on fate:

“It’s a choose-your-own-adventure, except you don’t get to choose. Just like Zach, just like us.”

Why Telephone Matters

More than just an experimental novel, Telephone challenges the way we think about storytelling, agency, and grief. By presenting multiple realities, Everett forces readers to confront the uncomfortable truth that life rarely offers closure.

Jeremy sums it up:

“It’s a book that won’t give you answers, but it’ll make you rethink the questions.”

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode

For a deeper discussion on Telephone and its unique storytelling approach, tune in to Episode 104 of the Good Scribes Only Podcast.

Click here to listen now!