Flashforward

Flashforward

A Great Read

Having read a number of other reviews here, I cannot lend any weight to any of the criticisms written. I just finished this book a couple of days ago and I found it very satisfying in every way. The story is clever and interesting, the science is top-notch and well delivered, the characters are compelling and reasonably well fleshed-out [its only 300 pages, after all] and it all builds rather nicely to a double-climax [one for Theo and one for Lloyd]. I found it to be a brilliant blend that was easy to read and built nicely throughout. It was hard to put down most nights and I finished it an about half the time it would normally have taken me to read a book this size, which is really about the best thing I can say about any book.

Quantum Physics 101

That's I felt like I was reading at certain parts of this book. But putting that aside, it did make for a very interesting novel. I was a little annoyed when this (French Canadian) writer took pot shots at Americans; making us look like the root of all evil or a bunch of bafoons, but still, I managed to get over that also. Like any other "time travel" book, this novel seemed to say that what happened during the "flash forward" was all do to the knowledge everyone had that resulted from the flashforward which people remembered in the future when it actually took place 21 years earlier .....confused yet? You won't be once you read this book. A fine piece of writing setting aside all the quirks I mentioned previously in this review. The ending was kind of disappointing but still an enjoyable book for any SF fan.

Perfect Science Fiction

Robert Sawyer's books to me are perfect science fiction. He takes a simple premise, peoples it with wonderfully human characters, gets you emotionally involved with them, and then takes you on a wonderful adventure that challenges your beliefs and expands your mind. Again, I must repeat, I think his books are perfect, all of them, and this one, "Flash Forward," is my absolute favorite. Thank you Robert Sawyer for being such a brilliant author. I eagerly await each new book you produce. Arzani Burman, author of "The Legacy of Violetta Rose: An Inter-Dimensional Journey Through the Lincoln Tunnel and Beyond"The Legacy of Violetta Rose: An Inter-Dimensional Journey Through the Lincoln Tunnel and Beyond

New Favorite Author

My habit as a reader is to track down everything written by an author I find I enjoy--the problem being, I run out of authors and books. That is why finding someone I've never encountered before, who already has been writing for years, is such a treat. Robert J. Sawyer fills this need for me. He does wonderful characters, using intriguing premises which he explores fully, in ways that make sense when read, but which I (for one) would never think of in advance. That's what happens here--given the opportunity to look ahead, would you take the opportunity? What would be the ramifications? Sawyer writes books not only for hard-core SF fans, but also, as I've learned by passing his stuff on to others, he also writes SF for people who profess to hate the stuff. I've chosen this title at random to comment upon; all of his work is well worthwhile.

Great old fashioned science fiction

At the time I am writing this review, we are less than one month till the large Hadron Collider is actually activated. What a perfect time to read this novel that is full of a well constructed plot, fully developed characters, and old fashioned science fiction whizz-bang involving the Hadron Collider. The plot revolves around an experiment that takes place for 2 minutes, during which every human on the planet has his/her consciousness propeled 20 years into the future. Some people see an expected future, some people see nothing (they are dead). Massive accidents happen during these 2 minutes -- planes fall from the skies (pilot minds are 20 years in the future), people fall down stairs, cars crash. The entire plot involves the unfolding of peoples' actions and decisions after this event. If I say more, I will create a spoiler -- so let me just say that this was a great read. If you enjoy a good story, read this one.

Keyword : quantum+physic