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Title: Timescape by Gregory Benford ISBN: 0-553-29709-0 Publisher: Spectra Books Pub. Date: 01 September, 1996 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $7.50 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.29 (49 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Classic SF Ahead of Its Time
Comment: When reading Timescape in the here and now one could feel a bit cynical and criticise the novel on a number of fronts. For its time, however, Timescape was groundbreaking stuff. In `1979 "hard" science fiction had cardboard characters present to adsimply advance interesting ideas and gadgets and great ideas told in a science class manner. The only exception was Larry Niven who had libertarian characters with far out ideas.
Then along came Gregory Benford with two novels that changed the sub-genre of "hard" science fiction. These were In the Ocean of Night and Timescape. Finally we had characters coloured various shades of grey. We had intelligent and eerily evocative writing with mind blowing stories.
Timescape gives science as it is, not glamourised. Back when it was written concepts like global warming were just heating up, genetic engineering was half a century away, and there were no such things as personal computers. The beauty of Timescape was its plausibility. Also, the author was brave enough to kill off the most likeable character.
Admitedly, Benford often has a hard time with female characters. The atrocious Artifact and Cosm come to mind. Here though it does not distract from the story.
Ultimately, Timescape is a cautionary tale which still has relevance today. It should be read within the context of the time it was written. It paved the way for authors like Greg Bear and David Brin, and in my opinion made the science fiction readers ready for the emergence of cyberpunk and the recent nano punk trend. Intelligent hard science fiction is now common. Hats off to one of the groundbreakers.
Rating: 5
Summary: Most Believable Time Book Written
Comment: This is one of the best time travel / warp books written. Benford pushes the genre of "hard science" fiction in this novel, so be prepared. Without giving away too much plot, the method of communication across time is more plausible then any other idea put forth by previous authors. The story hits very close to home and builds upon issues that are relevant to our current world.
As other reviewers have pointed out, the character development is somewhat weak. However, this cannot stop me from giving a 5-star rating. The final resolution will keep you glued to the book and the technique used to transition the 2 possible futures for us is done very well.
Rating: 1
Summary: Good idea poorly executed
Comment: The premise of the book -- scientists trying to contact the near past in order to divert environmental disaster -- is interesting. The premise and the alternate version of the present might have even been fascinating except that the ideas are overwhelmed by much too much text, unnecessary plot developments, incredibly boring detail, and characters you don't much care about. Of all the many, many books I've read in my life, I have purposely not finished only a very few -- but this was one of them. I was just too disinterested to continue reading.
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Title: Cosm by Gregory Benford ISBN: 0380790521 Publisher: Eos Pub. Date: 01 February, 1999 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: The Martian Race by Gregory Benford ISBN: 0446608904 Publisher: Aspect Pub. Date: 01 January, 2001 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Eater by Gregory Benford ISBN: 0380790564 Publisher: Eos Pub. Date: 01 May, 2001 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: In the Ocean of Night by Gregory Benford ISBN: 044661159X Publisher: Aspect Pub. Date: 01 February, 2004 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: The Man Who Folded Himself by David Gerrold ISBN: 1932100040 Publisher: Benbella Books Pub. Date: 01 July, 2003 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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