X. Ho Yen’s Space Autistic Author’s Puzzling Innerverse is a wildly original blend of illustrated puzzles, space-faring adventure, internal monologue, and heartfelt autobiography. Set in a fictionalized “Innerverse” aboard a spaceship called the Endoprise, the book follows the author as he faces his daily challenges, represented through a series of whimsical, bizarre, and clever puzzles. With an array of internal voices like LeftBrain, RyteBrane, iNSecurity Bot, and Dizdain, the narrative explores life with autism through an imaginative sci-fi lens, encouraging readers to think differently, solve problems, and feel deeply.

I didn’t expect to feel as much as I did reading a puzzle book. But Ho Yen’s voice—funny, self-aware, and painfully honest—hit me like a beam of light from a galaxy I didn’t know I needed to visit. The structure is wild, bouncing between maze challenges, optical illusions, math riddles, and fictional scenarios, such as calming angry space security bots or locating a lost fez. Yet somehow it all works. The puzzles are woven seamlessly into the fabric of his emotional life. Every time you solve one, you’re not just helping him complete a task—you’re helping him stave off a panic spiral, regain self-esteem, or just get through another weird day in his neurodiverse brain. It’s interactive empathy in action.

What really got me, though, wasn’t the cleverness of the puzzles (though they’re smart). It was the emotional core—the vulnerability. This isn’t some lighthearted space jaunt. There’s deep frustration here. Exhaustion. The sting of social isolation. The gut-punch of rejection. But also—hope. Humor. That sly wit poking through when he’s staring down another psychological wormhole. As someone who’s felt out of step with the world more than once, I felt seen. It’s rare to find something so playful and profound in one package. It’s like Calvin & Hobbes met Carl Jung and they started doodling their way through a meltdown.

If you’re the kind of person who finds beauty in oddity, joy in a well-made maze, or comfort in knowing someone else’s brain is just as loud and messy as yours, this is for you. Perfect for neurodiverse readers, educators, families looking to connect, or honestly, anyone with a curious mind and a big heart. I laughed. I sighed. I solved. I felt. Highly recommended.

Pages: 84 | ISBN : 0976615878