Maurice is reading a book. he is surprised by the way the author presents new and unexpected comparisons between unlike subjects. which figure of speech is the author using? imagery allusion personification simile

The figure of speech the author is using is SIMILE.
Simile is a figure of speech that is used to make comparison between two things that are of different kinds in order to make a description more emphatic. Simile can be easily identified in sentences because it usually have the words 'as' and 'like' attach to it. For instance, this sentence is a simile: Daniel is as brave as a lion. The sentence is comparing a human being [Daniel] to a lion [an animal]; these are two unlike things, but the two have bravery in common.