Time Travelers: Fiction in the Fourth Dimension
by Peter Haining (Editor & Introduction)
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Time Travelers gathers twenty-four tales by the most recognizable names in the genre. Included is the first time-travel story ever written, Edward Page Mitchell's "The Clock that Went Backwards, " a time travel story that predates H.G. Wells's 1895 novel, The Time Machine, by fourteen years.Tags
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I am an unabashed fan of time travel stories. The intricacies and paradoxes inherent in the theory of time travel fascinate me and I enjoy watching when an author successfully navigates those dangerous shoals and entertains with something new. And the stories have been around for a long time – taking on many guises. A collection of such stories can be an interesting challenge – how to select from the genre in such a way that you provide a wide selection, pay homage to the field, and keep from digging up too many hoary chestnuts. This collection successfully takes on these challenges, properly representing the broadness and age of the genre, and a fan (that would be me) can really enjoy the stories.
There are old friends here such as show more Clarke’s “All the Time in the World”, de Camp’s “A Gun for a Dinosaur”, and Heinlein’s “’All You Zombies—‘”. I also found some less familiar favorites – ones I’d read (maybe once) that have stuck with me over time. In particular, there is Aldiss’ “Man in His Time” about an astronaut’s return from Mars where he is unsynchronized from our time by a few seconds. But other memories include Gibson’s “The Gernsback Continuum” (which evokes much the same thing as Leiber’s “Catch That Zeppelin”) and Bester’s “The Men Who Murdered Mohammed”. This collection goes back to some of the earliest time travel stories, even before Welles. Usually, when traveling back in time for these stories (pun intended) the quality is somewhat suspect. Not so in this instance. The stories from the past stand up well against the newer ones – not always an easy task. Actually, about the only real stumble is the inclusion of a missing chapter from Welles Time Machine that does nothing for the collection. (Okay, one other stumble – there is a story that is more zombie than time travel – not sure why it was included.) So, a nice collection for the fan or neophyte that gives a broad and deep look at what science fiction has done with the time travel idea. show less
There are old friends here such as show more Clarke’s “All the Time in the World”, de Camp’s “A Gun for a Dinosaur”, and Heinlein’s “’All You Zombies—‘”. I also found some less familiar favorites – ones I’d read (maybe once) that have stuck with me over time. In particular, there is Aldiss’ “Man in His Time” about an astronaut’s return from Mars where he is unsynchronized from our time by a few seconds. But other memories include Gibson’s “The Gernsback Continuum” (which evokes much the same thing as Leiber’s “Catch That Zeppelin”) and Bester’s “The Men Who Murdered Mohammed”. This collection goes back to some of the earliest time travel stories, even before Welles. Usually, when traveling back in time for these stories (pun intended) the quality is somewhat suspect. Not so in this instance. The stories from the past stand up well against the newer ones – not always an easy task. Actually, about the only real stumble is the inclusion of a missing chapter from Welles Time Machine that does nothing for the collection. (Okay, one other stumble – there is a story that is more zombie than time travel – not sure why it was included.) So, a nice collection for the fan or neophyte that gives a broad and deep look at what science fiction has done with the time travel idea. show less
This is a book that covers time travel through the ages, starting with the first (possibly) time travel story ever written, The Clock that Went Backwards by Edward Page Mitchell. I'm glad I read it, but found most stories to be a bit dry for my liking. Below, you'll find my thoughts, story by story.
A Little Something For Us Tempunauts - Philip K. Dick. An odd little story about time travelers stuck in a loop, twisty little story that may or may not make sense.
Mr. Strenberrys Tale - J. B. Priestley. A man time travels to the end of the world and sees an incomprehensible horror.
All the Time in the World - Arthur C. Clark. A burglar is hired to steal works of art and literature, with no reasoning behind what items. The question is why. I show more liked this one - nice twisty ending.
The Instability - Isaac Asimov. Too techy for me - two men go back in time, than forward, causing the Big Bang.
Time has no Boundary - Jack Finney. Professor invents time machine, uses to help criminals escape for money, Dogged policeman figures it out, professor has to make a decision...
She Caught Hold of the Toe - Richard Hughes. A cute little story about children finding time...
The Reason is With Us - James E. Gunn. A totalitarian state in the future sends back agents in time. One of them escapes, tries to fit in. Unfortunately... he is found. A great little story.
Man in His Time - Brian W. Aldiss. A very odd story about a man who goes to space, and comes back with a different sense of time... Its intriguing, but I found the story to be a bit dry.
The Clock that Went Backwards - Edward Page Mitchell. This is one of the first time travel stories ever written. I didn't follow this one very well.. a clock that sends people back in time.
A Gun for Dinosaur - L. Sprague de Camp. A funny little story about time travel, egotistical men, and hunting. It all amounts to listening when your life is in danger.
The Deadly Mission of Phineas Snodgrass - Frederick Pohl. Another funny little story about changing history. I especially liked the ending...
Of Time and Kathy Benedict - William F. Nolan. A sweet love story about a journalist who is sent back in time.
Production Problem - Robert F. Young. People in the future are so dependent on machines, they can't produce anything without them.
I Hear You Calling - Eric Frank Russell. I'm not sure if this story is technically time travel...
The Men Who Murdered Mohammed - Alfred Bester. A scientist catches his wife cheating on him. What does he do, but builds a time machine to fix the problem. Another funny little time travel tale.
Time Intervening - Ray Bradbury. Time jumps for an old man, he witnesses parts of his past.
The Grey Man - H. G. Wells. A cut out chapter of H.G. Wells famous book, the time machine. Its short, but doesn't work as a short story.
Flux - Michael Moorcock. Not my favorite story in the bunch, a man travels in time, learns the universe is more fluid than thought. Travels through a bunch of worlds, loosing his own.
The Greatest Show on Earth - J.G. Ballard. Another fun story, this time, history is televised for the masses. Or History meets reality television.
Through Time and Space With Ferdinand Feghoot. I don't get it, except it involves Richard Wagner and time travel.
The Bum - C. M. Kornbluth. Time Traveler tricks 20th century american couple... Love the Con!!
All You Zombies- - Robert A. Heinlein. Rather odd, strange, disturbing story. Kind of wish I hadn't read it, although, it was well written.
The Gernsback Continuum - William Gibson. This is another story that I almost get. show less
A Little Something For Us Tempunauts - Philip K. Dick. An odd little story about time travelers stuck in a loop, twisty little story that may or may not make sense.
Mr. Strenberrys Tale - J. B. Priestley. A man time travels to the end of the world and sees an incomprehensible horror.
All the Time in the World - Arthur C. Clark. A burglar is hired to steal works of art and literature, with no reasoning behind what items. The question is why. I show more liked this one - nice twisty ending.
The Instability - Isaac Asimov. Too techy for me - two men go back in time, than forward, causing the Big Bang.
Time has no Boundary - Jack Finney. Professor invents time machine, uses to help criminals escape for money, Dogged policeman figures it out, professor has to make a decision...
She Caught Hold of the Toe - Richard Hughes. A cute little story about children finding time...
The Reason is With Us - James E. Gunn. A totalitarian state in the future sends back agents in time. One of them escapes, tries to fit in. Unfortunately... he is found. A great little story.
Man in His Time - Brian W. Aldiss. A very odd story about a man who goes to space, and comes back with a different sense of time... Its intriguing, but I found the story to be a bit dry.
The Clock that Went Backwards - Edward Page Mitchell. This is one of the first time travel stories ever written. I didn't follow this one very well.. a clock that sends people back in time.
A Gun for Dinosaur - L. Sprague de Camp. A funny little story about time travel, egotistical men, and hunting. It all amounts to listening when your life is in danger.
The Deadly Mission of Phineas Snodgrass - Frederick Pohl. Another funny little story about changing history. I especially liked the ending...
Of Time and Kathy Benedict - William F. Nolan. A sweet love story about a journalist who is sent back in time.
Production Problem - Robert F. Young. People in the future are so dependent on machines, they can't produce anything without them.
I Hear You Calling - Eric Frank Russell. I'm not sure if this story is technically time travel...
The Men Who Murdered Mohammed - Alfred Bester. A scientist catches his wife cheating on him. What does he do, but builds a time machine to fix the problem. Another funny little time travel tale.
Time Intervening - Ray Bradbury. Time jumps for an old man, he witnesses parts of his past.
The Grey Man - H. G. Wells. A cut out chapter of H.G. Wells famous book, the time machine. Its short, but doesn't work as a short story.
Flux - Michael Moorcock. Not my favorite story in the bunch, a man travels in time, learns the universe is more fluid than thought. Travels through a bunch of worlds, loosing his own.
The Greatest Show on Earth - J.G. Ballard. Another fun story, this time, history is televised for the masses. Or History meets reality television.
Through Time and Space With Ferdinand Feghoot. I don't get it, except it involves Richard Wagner and time travel.
The Bum - C. M. Kornbluth. Time Traveler tricks 20th century american couple... Love the Con!!
All You Zombies- - Robert A. Heinlein. Rather odd, strange, disturbing story. Kind of wish I hadn't read it, although, it was well written.
The Gernsback Continuum - William Gibson. This is another story that I almost get. show less
Excellent collection. As a bonus, it provided a list of excellent classic science fiction books to add to my TBR list.
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- Original title
- Time Travelers: Fiction in the Fourth Dimension
- Alternate titles
- 1. Back to Present; A Little Something for Us Tempunauts (by Philip K. Dick) (by Philip K. Dick); Mr. Strenberry's Tale (by J.B. Priestley) (by J.B. Priestley); All the Time in the World (by Arthur C. Clarke) (by Arthur C. Clarke); The Instability (by Isaac Asimov) (by Isaac Asimov); Time Has no Boundaries (by Jack E. Finney) (by Jack E. Finney) (show all 27); She Caught Hold of the Toe (by Richard Hughes) (by Richard Hughes); The Reason Is With Us (James E. Gunn) (James E. Gunn); Man in His Time (by Brian W. Aldiss) (by Brian W. Aldiss); 2. Journeys to the Past; The Clock That Went Backwards (by Edward Page Mitchell) (by Edward Page Mitchell); A Gun for Dinosaur (by L. Sprague de Camp) (by L. Sprague de Camp); The Deadly Mission of Phineas Snodgrass (by Frederik Pohl) (by Frederik Pohl); Of Time and Kathy Benedict (by William F. Nolan) (by William F. Nolan); Production Problem (by Robert F. Young) (by Robert F. Young); I Hear You Calling (by Eric Frank Russell) (by Eric Frank Russell); The Men Who Murdered Mohammed (by Alfred Bester) (by Alfred Bester); Time Intervening (by Ray Bradbury) (by Ray Bradbury); 3. History of the Future; The Grey Man (by H.G. Wells) (by H.G. Wells); Flux (by Michael Moorcock) (by Michael Moorcock); The Greatest Television Show on Earth (by J.G. Ballard) (by J.G. Ballard); Through Time and Space With Ferdinand Feghoot (by Grendel Briarton) (by Grendel Briarton); Time Bum (by C.M. Kornbluth) (by C.M. Kornbluth); 'All You Zombies--' (by Robert A. Heinlein) (by Robert A. Heinlein); The Gernsback Continuum (by William Gibson) (by William Gibson); The Time Disease (by Martin Amis) (by Martin Amis)
- Original publication date
- 1997
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, Science Fiction
- DDC/MDS
- 813.0876 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American fiction in English By type Genre fiction Adventure fiction Speculative fiction
- LCC
- PN6120.95 .S33 — Language and Literature Literature (General) Literature (General) Collections of general literature Fiction
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- 69
- Popularity
- 453,585
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.75)
- Languages
- Chinese, English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 2
