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Product Description
NOW IN PAPERBACK-FROM THE AUTHOR OF MARSBOUND
Grad- school dropout Matt Fuller is toiling as a lowly research assistant at MIT when he inadvertently creates a time machine. With a dead-end job and a girlfriend who left him for another man, Matt has nothing to lose in taking a time-machine trip himself—or so he thinks.
Grad- school dropout Matt Fuller is toiling as a lowly research assistant at MIT when he inadvertently creates a time machine. With a dead-end job and a girlfriend who left him for another man, Matt has nothing to lose in taking a time-machine trip himself—or so he thinks.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a genial time travel story - MIT assistant discovers a piece of kit that can move forward (not backward) in time, each jump having to be further then the previous one. So off he jumps into various futures and sees the various changes in society in future years and thousands of years....
This is very light and fun. Although the author explores his usual themes of change there is no real sense of danger or tension although some of the darker `futures' had a real opportunity to do so. Haldeman touches on religion but again avoids making a real point.
The book felt very 1950's SF and although I felt was a little too light it was fun and easily read in one or two sittings.
This is very light and fun. Although the author explores his usual themes of change there is no real sense of danger or tension although some of the darker `futures' had a real opportunity to do so. Haldeman touches on religion but again avoids making a real point.
The book felt very 1950's SF and although I felt was a little too light it was fun and easily read in one or two sittings.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Firstly, I want Joe Haldeman's life. He teaches two classes in fall on science fiction writing at MIT. The rest of the time he writes, draws, paints, plays guitar, and travels extensively with his wife, whom he's been married to since he was 22. What a life.
Of Joe Haldeman's work, I've previously read The Forever War and Forever Peace. The second is not a sequel to the first, despite the similar names. The name of the sequel is, confusingly, Forever Free. In general, enjoy Haldeman's work because he has a degree in physics, and so the science in it is at least vaguely plausible, or perhaps one day possible. It definitely gives him an edge over other authors who treat technology very similar to how magic is used in fantasy.
The Accidental Time Machine tells the story of a young graduate student at MIT, Matt, who, you guessed it, accidentally makes a time machine. He jumps a few weeks into the future, finds out he's wanted for a crime he didn't committ, and jumps forward again. He doesn't like that future, either, so he proceeds to jump again. This trend continues, with the increments getting longer and longer, because he hopes that eventually he will come to a future where they have invented a machine to send him back. This, in my opinion, is very silly logic, because he easily could have jumped into a future where humanity is extinct, the atmosphere is toxic, or there was a second dark age and there is no technology whatsoever.
I enjoy Joe Haldeman's postulations of the future. In The Forever War, in order to combat human overpopulation, most of Earth's population becomes homosexual. In one of the futures in The Accidental Time Machine, Christianity has become beyond fundamental because "Jesus" has returned and is now president of the United States. In that future, he connects with a very naieve young woman named Martha, who ends up accompaning him to other futures, and eventually a robot named La also joins their motley crew.
Initially, I was not too impressed with the pacing and dialogue, but once he leaves the near future of Earth and ventures through time, I enjoyed myself. I thought the end was too tidy and a bit of a cop out, but I was not upset with it enough that it soured my enjoyment of the book. I'll continue to read and enjoy Haldeman's future, but I wouldn't consider this his best work.
Of Joe Haldeman's work, I've previously read The Forever War and Forever Peace. The second is not a sequel to the first, despite the similar names. The name of the sequel is, confusingly, Forever Free. In general, enjoy Haldeman's work because he has a degree in physics, and so the science in it is at least vaguely plausible, or perhaps one day possible. It definitely gives him an edge over other authors who treat technology very similar to how magic is used in fantasy.
The Accidental Time Machine tells the story of a young graduate student at MIT, Matt, who, you guessed it, accidentally makes a time machine. He jumps a few weeks into the future, finds out he's wanted for a crime he didn't committ, and jumps forward again. He doesn't like that future, either, so he proceeds to jump again. This trend continues, with the increments getting longer and longer, because he hopes that eventually he will come to a future where they have invented a machine to send him back. This, in my opinion, is very silly logic, because he easily could have jumped into a future where humanity is extinct, the atmosphere is toxic, or there was a second dark age and there is no technology whatsoever.
I enjoy Joe Haldeman's postulations of the future. In The Forever War, in order to combat human overpopulation, most of Earth's population becomes homosexual. In one of the futures in The Accidental Time Machine, Christianity has become beyond fundamental because "Jesus" has returned and is now president of the United States. In that future, he connects with a very naieve young woman named Martha, who ends up accompaning him to other futures, and eventually a robot named La also joins their motley crew.
Initially, I was not too impressed with the pacing and dialogue, but once he leaves the near future of Earth and ventures through time, I enjoyed myself. I thought the end was too tidy and a bit of a cop out, but I was not upset with it enough that it soured my enjoyment of the book. I'll continue to read and enjoy Haldeman's future, but I wouldn't consider this his best work.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Having read only The Forever War series by Haldeman previously I was interested reading another one of his books, and after a favourable review from SF site I chose this one. Time-travel and Alternate Histories are sub genres I have a great fondness for if done well, and I am glad to say this book delivers. The story is engrossing, the characters are brought to life convincingly and the story keeps a good pace. The particular object chosen as time-travel device is interesting in its mobility and versatility and refreshing in the accidental way it came about. The premise of only traveling forward and the uncertainty of the exact location of appearance add to the suspense. The wrap-up and ending are extremely satisfying, it is rare I am left with a good satiated feeling after reading a book. It's pretty short, page-turning and rewarding - no more can be asked from any modern SF novel.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
interesting approach to the idea of time travel
A nice approach to the idea of time travel. Happened by accident; quickly accepted by the main character - would he really have realised what was happening so quickly? Read more
Published 2 months ago by Aberter
Good Good Good
Joe Halderman is best known for his Forever War series but over the years he has produced several equally excellent sci-fi novels and The Accidental Time Traveller is one of... Read more
Published 4 months ago by J. N. Bullock
The Accidental Time Machine
Having read only The Forever War series by Haldeman previously I was interested reading another one of his books
Oh dear, what a let down. Read more
Oh dear, what a let down. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Book Addict
Fun to read, fast and humorous
The Accidental Time Machine is a fun story to read. Joe Haldeman doesn't waste any time and dives right into the action which makes that this story grabs and holds your attention... Read more
Published 19 months ago by M. Huijgen
Really good fun - a time travel classic
Written with the feel of a classic science fiction tale this tells the tale of an MIT assistant who stumbles upon a time machine. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Paul Cook
Book purchased for a third party.
Book was purchased for a third party who was pleased with the condition and the delivery timescale.
Published on 13 Nov 2009 by R. W. Mason
Delightful
Sure, this is an almost naive time traveller story. But it is a very delightful book. It is not full of complex time paradoxes, it is (almost) simply a tale of people travelling... Read more
Published on 28 April 2009 by Roald Andresen
An Untimely Accident
As a lover and devotee of time-travel yarns I looked forward to this latest Joe Haldeman book with some relish - let's face it, how could you not be drawn in by that sumptuous red... Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2007 by Mr. John Frank Herbert
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