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rachelp's review against another edition
4.0
This is the sequel to Time and Again. I think the first book was a little more exciting, but of course I enjoyed both the books. This time Simon Morley travels to 1912 in an attempt to discover and safeguard the path of some important papers which may prevent World War I.
bookpossum's review against another edition
3.0
I certainly didn't enjoy this as much as Finney's first book with protagonist Simon Morley and his ability to time-travel. In this one I felt there was too much padding - for example, when Si goes to a play and we get a blow by blow description of the whole play.
Also, I was astonished that a New Yorker would not immediately recognise the description of a building like the prow of a great stone ship as being the Flatiron Building. Perhaps people just don't know the photographs of Edward Steichen, which include a wonderful image of that building.
Also, I was astonished that a New Yorker would not immediately recognise the description of a building like the prow of a great stone ship as being the Flatiron Building. Perhaps people just don't know the photographs of Edward Steichen, which include a wonderful image of that building.
jlcostin's review against another edition
5.0
An exciting sequel to "Time and Again". This author does a terrific job of presenting his unique version of time travel.
henrismum's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Very slow moving; listen to the audiobook instead of trying to read this one.
pelachick's review against another edition
3.0
A sequel to Time and Again. Didn't enjoy this as much as the first. The same characters are in this book.
The book explores the the question of whether it is even possible to change the past. Since we are a product of everything that went before us, are we able to change that? Would it make us disappear? Is it even possible the change what made us?
The book explores the the question of whether it is even possible to change the past. Since we are a product of everything that went before us, are we able to change that? Would it make us disappear? Is it even possible the change what made us?
mmz's review against another edition
3.0
I had heard that this book was not nearly as good as it's predecessor, Time and Again. Since I didn't think Time and Again was so great, I wasn't even sure there was a point to reading this one. But I was curious, so I did. And in some ways, I actually thought this book was better than the first one, or at least it had more potential.
This book begins with a group of people gathering to compare evidence of what I'll call "echoes" from alternate timestreams. I thought this was a very interesting way to begin: those who had read Time and Again would, of course, suspect that the echoes were caused by Si Morley's presence in the 19th century, but group didn't seem to have any idea what was causing the echoes. If Finney had chosen to continue with the thread of this question, this could have been a really interesting book.
Unfortunately, this line of thinking is never really developed. Instead, Finney gives us something that is really just an echo of the first book. First Finney essentially changes the ending of Time and Again, so that the Project exists, and then sends Si back to the present because he wants to find out what's going on with his old friends. He finds Rube, who has evidence of a timestream where WWI never happened (this is the only furtherance we see of the plotline from the beginning) and Si agrees to go back to 1912 to see if he can prevent the Great War.
In some ways it was more interesting to follow Si on his first time travel adventure, when all he was really trying to do was observe, rather than change things. Ultimately, however, Si's efforts to change things don't amount to much, so all he really does is observe things in a different time, making this largely the same story that Finney told already, but with more unfulfilled potential.
This book begins with a group of people gathering to compare evidence of what I'll call "echoes" from alternate timestreams. I thought this was a very interesting way to begin: those who had read Time and Again would, of course, suspect that the echoes were caused by Si Morley's presence in the 19th century, but group didn't seem to have any idea what was causing the echoes. If Finney had chosen to continue with the thread of this question, this could have been a really interesting book.
Unfortunately, this line of thinking is never really developed. Instead, Finney gives us something that is really just an echo of the first book. First Finney essentially changes the ending of Time and Again, so that the Project exists, and then sends Si back to the present because he wants to find out what's going on with his old friends. He finds Rube, who has evidence of a timestream where WWI never happened (this is the only furtherance we see of the plotline from the beginning) and Si agrees to go back to 1912 to see if he can prevent the Great War.
In some ways it was more interesting to follow Si on his first time travel adventure, when all he was really trying to do was observe, rather than change things. Ultimately, however, Si's efforts to change things don't amount to much, so all he really does is observe things in a different time, making this largely the same story that Finney told already, but with more unfulfilled potential.
mslaura's review against another edition
3.0
Ratings:
Writing 3
Story line 4
Characters 3
Emotional impact 3
Overall rating 3.25
Writing 3
Story line 4
Characters 3
Emotional impact 3
Overall rating 3.25
birdmanseven's review against another edition
3.0
I hate to rate Jack Finney's swan song so low, but this one just didn't live up to the original. Time and Again ended well and didn't really require a sequel. I enjoyed it because I love his writing style, but as a story it falls short.
candiecane333's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book more than the first one. Great ending with interesting characters & the possibility of changing sig events in the past