I’ve always loved time travel stories but did find this one quite unique as to its construct, and some interesting twists like the unexpected happening about 30% of the way through during the train journey. The philosophical takeaway is that altering something in the past does not mean history just happens in a similar way. Lots of other variables change. Even just buying a flower on the street can introduce a small tweak that changes things.
Excellent novel. As it went on I started to guess where it was going but it still managed to pull off surprises. Interesting use of the time travel concept and very good play on reader perceptions. Would make a fine film or TV mini series.
"Somewhere in that big dusty city there was a father who would be spared the death in life that he himself was living."
This clever, thought-provoking story has a lot going for it. The first 15 chapters are very neatly woven together and, despite a third of the book being used for setup, at this point we feel we know enough to proceed. And then, of course, we're just bashed over the head repeatedly at the end of chapter 17, and again (or at least I was because I'm a clueless idiot) near the end of chapter 45.
I really liked the calculation method for the loop, far more interesting than the vehicular approach I must say, and the plot wasn't at all bad either. A solemn, introspective ending, and with that great poke at today "which every school kid used to know and are now almost forgotten" (have there …
"Somewhere in that big dusty city there was a father who would be spared the death in life that he himself was living."
This clever, thought-provoking story has a lot going for it. The first 15 chapters are very neatly woven together and, despite a third of the book being used for setup, at this point we feel we know enough to proceed. And then, of course, we're just bashed over the head repeatedly at the end of chapter 17, and again (or at least I was because I'm a clueless idiot) near the end of chapter 45.
I really liked the calculation method for the loop, far more interesting than the vehicular approach I must say, and the plot wasn't at all bad either. A solemn, introspective ending, and with that great poke at today "which every school kid used to know and are now almost forgotten" (have there ever been truer words about our education system written anywhere?)
I hadn't read any Elton before that I can recall, although The First Casualty is on my bookshelf. An author to read more of, though, be this any indication.
