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draybikus 's review for:
The End of Eternity
by Isaac Asimov
I can't recall any other book in which the concept and mechanics of time travel are so well developed.
In this world, time travel is possible thanks to machines operated by specially trained people who live outside of time - the Eternals. The main purpose of time travel is to constantly change reality in order to keep human suffering to a minimum. Thus, the Eternals prevent epidemics, wars, and other disasters. They carefully calculate changes in reality so that they do not disrupt the passage of time, and change only what will allow them to dispense with minimal casualties.
The Eternals themselves live outside of time. They are selected among mortals according to an interesting principle: only those whose disappearance will have no effect on existing reality can become Eternal. For this reason, there are no women among them - the disappearance of a woman from any time period is never without consequences.
The novel's protagonist is Andrew Harlan, the Eternal Technician, who dares to put the entire organization at risk to save one life. He can only save the person he holds most dear by changing the past.
"The End of Eternity" is not just a science fiction novel about time travel, but also a reflection on the theme of progress and personal human responsibility. The author compels the reader to ponder what is more important: eternal well-being or constant progress? Personal happiness or the success of the organization? Past or future?
In this world, time travel is possible thanks to machines operated by specially trained people who live outside of time - the Eternals. The main purpose of time travel is to constantly change reality in order to keep human suffering to a minimum. Thus, the Eternals prevent epidemics, wars, and other disasters. They carefully calculate changes in reality so that they do not disrupt the passage of time, and change only what will allow them to dispense with minimal casualties.
The Eternals themselves live outside of time. They are selected among mortals according to an interesting principle: only those whose disappearance will have no effect on existing reality can become Eternal. For this reason, there are no women among them - the disappearance of a woman from any time period is never without consequences.
The novel's protagonist is Andrew Harlan, the Eternal Technician, who dares to put the entire organization at risk to save one life. He can only save the person he holds most dear by changing the past.
"Not for fifty billion people. What in Time did he care for fifty billion people? There was just one. One person."
"The End of Eternity" is not just a science fiction novel about time travel, but also a reflection on the theme of progress and personal human responsibility. The author compels the reader to ponder what is more important: eternal well-being or constant progress? Personal happiness or the success of the organization? Past or future?