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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
This was a surprisingly good read. I was expecting it to be pretty dated, based on an Asimov story and expanded by Robert Silverberg, but it delves into a lot of assumptions about what makes us human, and does fairly well in representing male and female characters. The ending is a little abrupt, and I would have preferred another chapter or so to resolve things, but overall very enjoyable.
This is actually a short story, later expanded into a novel with the co-writing of Robert Silverberg, and there's oodles of Asimov to read and enjoy. I loved the whole mind-bending of the story, of scientists who find a way to bring forward people from an earlier time, but only in a small enclosure, and for a limited period of time. They want to talk to them, take tissue samples, study how they move and behave. After scoring with a peasant from the Renaissance, they manage to bring forward a small Neanderthal boy. If this story doesn't make you cry you have no heart. And afterwards, it'll make you think.
"The Ugly Little Boy" is a good illustration of how Asimov's fiction improved over his lifetime. At the risk of upsetting those readers who have accorded his early novels -- and especially the highly-lauded "Foundation" trilogy -- sacrosanctity, I have always contended that the author's early novels were better conceived than executed. By this I simply mean to say that they often feature two-dimensional characters and wooden dialogue, and just as frequently lack the sort of action which imparts momentum and keeps the reader eagerly engaged. His early works are like the C-SPAN of sci-fi. These problems are nowhere evident in "The Ugly Little Boy," a novel co-written with Robert Silverberg and published the year after Asimov's death.
While it could be argued that this tale is thinly-populated, that it focuses too incessantly on just two central characters to the detriment of other characters' development, it actually makes sense within the context of the novel, which attempts to evoke the isolation experienced by those two central figures. The sub-plot which breaks up the main storyline helps in this regard, acting to periodically cleanse and refresh the palate, and featuring a different set of well-developed characters who are only tangentially related to the central story.
The overarching plot, as might be expected from Asimov, is provocative and compelling, asking the question: What if it were possible to transport a Neanderthal child from the past into our own not-too-distant future? Along the way, the authors set up just enough red herrings that, although the ending can be predicted, it is only one of several plausible endings which suggest themselves to the reader's mind; it is only in the closing pages that this question is settled, thus keeping the reader on seat's edge throughout. And then the denouement, far from wrapping everything up in a nice, neat bow, poses as many questions -- left unresolved -- as it settles, without ever raising the slightest hint of an intended sequel.
This is why Asimov was such a master of sci-fi. Despite living to the age of 72, one cannot help but feel that he died all too soon.
While it could be argued that this tale is thinly-populated, that it focuses too incessantly on just two central characters to the detriment of other characters' development, it actually makes sense within the context of the novel, which attempts to evoke the isolation experienced by those two central figures. The sub-plot which breaks up the main storyline helps in this regard, acting to periodically cleanse and refresh the palate, and featuring a different set of well-developed characters who are only tangentially related to the central story.
The overarching plot, as might be expected from Asimov, is provocative and compelling, asking the question: What if it were possible to transport a Neanderthal child from the past into our own not-too-distant future? Along the way, the authors set up just enough red herrings that, although the ending can be predicted, it is only one of several plausible endings which suggest themselves to the reader's mind; it is only in the closing pages that this question is settled, thus keeping the reader on seat's edge throughout. And then the denouement, far from wrapping everything up in a nice, neat bow, poses as many questions -- left unresolved -- as it settles, without ever raising the slightest hint of an intended sequel.
This is why Asimov was such a master of sci-fi. Despite living to the age of 72, one cannot help but feel that he died all too soon.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Stasis Technologies Ltd has perfected a way to reach back into time and bring forth objects for scientific study. Their most recent triumph was a baby dinosaur and now they’ve taken a Neanderthal child from the Ice-age to the 21st century. The nurse assigned to care for the child must somehow bridge a 40,000-year cultural gap. Initially shocked by the “ugly little boy,” Edith Fellows soon recognizes that he is really a frightened child, and slowly forms a deep emotional bond with Timmie.
Originally written as a short story in 1956, Robert Silverberg teamed with Asimov to expand the work into this novel format (released as The Child of Time). According to Wikipedia, Silverberg added the storyline of the Neanderthal tribe, and the child advocate subplot, both of which definitely do add to the basic plot. This also explains how I was reminded of Jean Auel’s Clan of the Cave Bear when reading about Silver Cloud, Goddess Woman, She Who Knows and the other members of the Neanderthal tribe from which Timmie was taken. (I started out wondering if Auel had borrowed from Asimov, but now think Silverberg wrote these sections after Auel’s publication).
I do wish I had a copy of the original story, however, so that I could see how Asimov wrote the ending. I had pretty much figured this would be what happened, but don’t know if it conforms to the original story or is a result of the added elements. Sort of the same conundrum faced by the characters when bringing the child into the future – are you altering the course of history?
I did like that the characters are portrayed as fully developed – having both good and bad qualities. Miss Fellowes is dedicated and truly devoted to Timmie, but also very judgmental and frequently fails to see clear signals of what is to come. Hoskins is not merely a profit-seeking CEO, but a family man who listens to Miss Fellowes arguments and tries his best to provide the child with a nurturing environment given the constraints of the Stasis bubble. Child advocate Bruce Mannheim is originally painted as a rabid rabble-rousing attention-seeking hysteric adept at media relations but turns out to be genuinely concerned and willing to help.
Originally written as a short story in 1956, Robert Silverberg teamed with Asimov to expand the work into this novel format (released as The Child of Time). According to Wikipedia, Silverberg added the storyline of the Neanderthal tribe, and the child advocate subplot, both of which definitely do add to the basic plot. This also explains how I was reminded of Jean Auel’s Clan of the Cave Bear when reading about Silver Cloud, Goddess Woman, She Who Knows and the other members of the Neanderthal tribe from which Timmie was taken. (I started out wondering if Auel had borrowed from Asimov, but now think Silverberg wrote these sections after Auel’s publication).
I do wish I had a copy of the original story, however, so that I could see how Asimov wrote the ending. I had pretty much figured this would be what happened, but don’t know if it conforms to the original story or is a result of the added elements. Sort of the same conundrum faced by the characters when bringing the child into the future – are you altering the course of history?
I did like that the characters are portrayed as fully developed – having both good and bad qualities. Miss Fellowes is dedicated and truly devoted to Timmie, but also very judgmental and frequently fails to see clear signals of what is to come. Hoskins is not merely a profit-seeking CEO, but a family man who listens to Miss Fellowes arguments and tries his best to provide the child with a nurturing environment given the constraints of the Stasis bubble. Child advocate Bruce Mannheim is originally painted as a rabid rabble-rousing attention-seeking hysteric adept at media relations but turns out to be genuinely concerned and willing to help.
This is one of the books that meant the most for me as I grew up. Read it about 150years ago and loved it so dearly. It sparked an ever growing curiosity and desire to learn more about the world, humanity and science. I was so worried I wasn't going to enjoy it as intensely as I did back then but woohoo, I so did. It was wonderful getting back to a story I haven't been able to truly forget. Love the "mother/son" relationship forming between the caretaker and the neanderthal boy. Such an great story and the end was truly great. Wished I could read more to see what happened after that
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This is a very special book for me. Haven't read it for around 13 years but I still remember the pure joy and excitement I feelt reading it and I so badly want to read it again. I don't even know if I would love it as intensely as I want to remember but I can't find it in any store or book app near me and that makes me sad...
----
This is a very special book for me. Haven't read it for around 13 years but I still remember the pure joy and excitement I feelt reading it and I so badly want to read it again. I don't even know if I would love it as intensely as I want to remember but I can't find it in any store or book app near me and that makes me sad...
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
On Goodreads I wrote: "Oh, WOW. So, the synopsis on the book basically spoils what's going to happen but it doesn't tell you the context around the situation. I did not expect that AT ALL, but in hindsight it was very predictable. I was expecting Statis to turn out to be crazy mad scientists trying to dissect Timothy but nah... they were just moving on. I suppose there's a subtle evil in that too. "
But yeah. I was honestly expecting Statis to attempt dissecting him or something, the synopsis led me to believe they were going to end up being the BIG BAD or something. But they're not, they were just moving on to the Middle Ages Project and could not spend their resources on Timothy anymore. I suppose that's a more subtle type of evil, the one where they rip a child from their natural state, force them into an unnatural one, and then force them back to where they came from. That's an entirely different type of evil, a corporate capitalist greed kind of evil, you know?
The ending was a bit icky though. I was hoping Timothy would become the mediator between the Other Ones and the People, but it's likely that the Other Ones don't speak English, LOL. I don't know why I thought they spoke English, but now that I think about it... that's an odd assumption to make. But either way, Timothy doesn't really know the Neanderthal language anymore, they don't know the language of the Other Ones...
I should write an unofficial sequel. I need some kind of closure concerning this issue. SILVERBERG, WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?
(I also read this book in a day, LOL. More out of urgency than out of choice.)
But yeah. I was honestly expecting Statis to attempt dissecting him or something, the synopsis led me to believe they were going to end up being the BIG BAD or something. But they're not, they were just moving on to the Middle Ages Project and could not spend their resources on Timothy anymore. I suppose that's a more subtle type of evil, the one where they rip a child from their natural state, force them into an unnatural one, and then force them back to where they came from. That's an entirely different type of evil, a corporate capitalist greed kind of evil, you know?
The ending was a bit icky though. I was hoping Timothy would become the mediator between the Other Ones and the People, but it's likely that the Other Ones don't speak English, LOL. I don't know why I thought they spoke English, but now that I think about it... that's an odd assumption to make. But either way, Timothy doesn't really know the Neanderthal language anymore, they don't know the language of the Other Ones...
I should write an unofficial sequel. I need some kind of closure concerning this issue. SILVERBERG, WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?
(I also read this book in a day, LOL. More out of urgency than out of choice.)