Silverberg has been one of my favorite science-fiction authors for more than 30 years, but I haven’t read him for awhile. I've had this book on my shelves for a long time and recently came across it. I have always been fascinated by the concept of time travel so I decided it was time to read it. The book takes place in 1999 and Silverberg accurately predicts the widespread paranoia and doomsday expectations that many people embraced as the new millennium approached. In his story the Apocalyptists are creating havoc through demonstrations of all kinds all over the world. The story is told through the memoir of Leo Garfield, a physicist at the University of California, Irvine, who is frustrated by his less than successful research, which focuses on moving objects backward in time. On Christmas day 1999, Vornan-19 appears stark naked and apparently floating from the sky in Rome. He claims to be visiting from the year 2999. Although many people are skeptical, they are mystified by his strangeness and inexplicable powers. Dr. Garfield is persuaded by the US Military to join a group of scientists that are recruited to accompany and study Vornan-19 as he travels around the US, the World, and even the moon colony. During his travels Vornan-19 quickly becomes a celebrity, but also creates chaos, which includes both property damage and violence wherever he goes, despite the efforts of the military and the scientists to keep the situation under control. Vornan-19 does not seem to understand how he could have contributed to these disturbances accepts no responsibility for them, although at times he seems to be amused by them. His charisma enables him to continue and increase without be criticized. Unfortunately, he also will not share any useful information about his world with the scientists. The story becomes ominous when the masses begin worshiping Vornan-19. As always Silverberg tells an interesting and well-written story, but it is steeped in the milieu of the 1960s. It reveals overly optimistic expectations about the advancement of science in 1999, although it does foretell computer modeling and some other technological advancements. The story really emphasizes the relationships between Garfield, two of his friends, the other scientists in the group, Vornan-19, and his followers. It kept me interested, but not enthralled. ( )

A sixties book, set on the eve of the Year 2000, and apocalyptic cults are growing and starting to cause problems.

On top of this, a man arrives who claims to be from a 1000 years or so in the future, and his presence destabilises things even further.

A group of experts is put together in the USA to try and evaluate his claim while taking him on a tour of spots of interest.

One of these experts has two married friends, much younger, who live out by themselves in the desert - one of whom is an ex-wunderkind of physics himself, and finds himself fascinated with the so-called time traveller.

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2008/12... ( )

One of Silverbergs best ( )