al8
19th July 2008, 00:17
I've just finished reading one of the best pieces of fiction I've read in a long time.
It's a timetravel science fiction novel wherein Peter Kropotkin, aka. the anarchist prince, is visited while lying on his deathbead in 1921 by a man from millennias in the future. The futureman makes him an offer; To die in his bed or gain a new life in about 70 years into the future in a rejuvenated body.
Peter has nothing to lose so he says yes.
He becomes self-aware in an airplaine in 1999 heading to Vermont. Peter being from another century gives him an uncanny perceptiveness to everything. Since he sees everything anew what others would be numb to and consider mundane to be noticable. He is in essence the perfect critic. And one with a very stern and agreeable ideology, I might ad.
But trouble starts to brew as Kropotkin finds out that the benevolent benefactor turns out to be more meddlesome and manipulative then anticipated. Powerful with technology that seem like magic, and with suspect and alien motives makes him more resemble 'our' Heavenly Puppetmaster. This is of cource not to Kropotkins liking and it puts him in somewhat of a dilemma. How this plays out is of cource not mine to tell. You'll need to read the book.
The author seems well read about the history of Vermont and succeeds in mixing it neatly into this time-travel twister. The book is written from a friendly perspective and with no reactionary or aimless intent.
Unlike other fiction dealing with time-travel this books leaves no dead ends or inconsistencies. It is in keeping with the premises it gives itself while still sustaining a thick plot-line. I've only stumled on 2 or 3 dull parts through my reading, but they do not stretch for long either. The rest keept me glued.
It's a timetravel science fiction novel wherein Peter Kropotkin, aka. the anarchist prince, is visited while lying on his deathbead in 1921 by a man from millennias in the future. The futureman makes him an offer; To die in his bed or gain a new life in about 70 years into the future in a rejuvenated body.
Peter has nothing to lose so he says yes.
He becomes self-aware in an airplaine in 1999 heading to Vermont. Peter being from another century gives him an uncanny perceptiveness to everything. Since he sees everything anew what others would be numb to and consider mundane to be noticable. He is in essence the perfect critic. And one with a very stern and agreeable ideology, I might ad.
But trouble starts to brew as Kropotkin finds out that the benevolent benefactor turns out to be more meddlesome and manipulative then anticipated. Powerful with technology that seem like magic, and with suspect and alien motives makes him more resemble 'our' Heavenly Puppetmaster. This is of cource not to Kropotkins liking and it puts him in somewhat of a dilemma. How this plays out is of cource not mine to tell. You'll need to read the book.
The author seems well read about the history of Vermont and succeeds in mixing it neatly into this time-travel twister. The book is written from a friendly perspective and with no reactionary or aimless intent.
Unlike other fiction dealing with time-travel this books leaves no dead ends or inconsistencies. It is in keeping with the premises it gives itself while still sustaining a thick plot-line. I've only stumled on 2 or 3 dull parts through my reading, but they do not stretch for long either. The rest keept me glued.