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Time and Again

Book 1 in the series:Time

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"Time and Again" by Jack Finney is a time travel novel set in New York City, where the main character, Si Morley, travels between the 1970s and the 1880s. The story combines elements of mystery and romance as Si navigates the ethical dilemmas of time travel and the consequences of altering history. The book is praised for its detailed descriptions of both time periods and the immersive experience it provides for the reader.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, particularly the protagonist and his romantic interest, set against a backdrop of historical figures.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is richly descriptive, providing deep historical context, but may feel sluggish due to its detail.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around a protagonist's journey through time to explore a past mystery while encountering romance and challenges.

Setting:

The setting is a detailed exploration of New York City in 1882, enriched by historical context and visual aids.

Pacing:

The pacing of the book is uneven, with slow beginning sections contrasting with a more engaging and fast-paced conclusion.
IN SHIRT-SLEEVES, the way I generally worked, I sat sketching a bar of soap taped to an upper corner of my drawing board. The gold-foil wrapper was carefully peeled back so that you could still read m...

Notes:

The book was published in 1970 and is often regarded as a classic in the time travel genre.
It was mentioned by Stephen King as an inspiration for his novel 11/22/63 about the assassination of JFK.
The protagonist, Simon Morley, is a graphic designer who participates in a secret government experiment to time travel to 1882 New York.
Finney's time travel mechanism is based on self-hypnosis rather than a traditional time machine, making it unique in the genre.
The book includes photographs and drawings that are intended to immerse readers in the historical setting of 1882 New York City.
The story explores themes of ethical dilemmas concerning time travel and its effects on the present.
The narrative involves Simon trying to uncover a family mystery tied to a letter from the past, which drives the plot.
Finney provides a detailed portrayal of life in 19th century New York, highlighting social customs and everyday activities.
The text has been praised for its richly detailed descriptions of the city, which help paint a vivid picture for readers.
Ultimately, Simon faces a choice between two worlds, exploring the emotional and romantic aspects of his time in the past.

Has Romance?

The novel contains a medium level of romantic elements, primarily through the relationship between Si and Julia.

From The Publisher:

When advertising artist Si Morley is recruited to join a covert government operation exploring the possibility of time travel, he jumps at the chance to leave his mundane 20th-century existence and step into the past. But he also has another motivation for going back in time: a half-burned letter that tells of a mysterious, tragic death and ominously of "fire which will destroy the whole world."

Traveling to New York City in January 1882 to investigate, he finds a Manhattan teeming with a different kind of life, the waterfront unimpeded by skyscrapers, open-air markets packed with activity, Central Park bustling with horse drawn sleighs-a city on the precipice of great things. At first, Si welcomes these trips as a temporary escape but when he falls in love with a woman he meets in the past, he must choose whether to return to modern life or live in 1882 for good.

"Pure New York fun" (Alice Hoffman, New York Times bestselling author), Time and Again is meticulous recreation of New York in the late nineteenth century, exploring the possibilities of time travel to tell an ageless story of love, longing, and adventure. Finney's magnum opus has been a source of inspiration for countless science fiction writers since its first publication in 1970.

Ratings (11)

Incredible (3)
Loved It (3)
Liked It (2)
It Was OK (1)
Did Not Like (2)

Reader Stats (54):

Read It (9)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (36)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (7)

About the Author:

Jack Finney (1911-1995) was the author of the much-loved and critically acclaimed novel Time and Again, as well as its sequel, From Time to Time. Best known for his thrillers and science fiction, a number of his books-including Invasion of the Body Snatchers-have been made into movies.

 
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