I read Kelley Armstrong’s time travel historical mystery “Rip Through Time” series. But, I really kicked off my interest in time travel stories in fifth grade when we read H.G. Wells’ Time Machine. But, my all-time favorite time travel story is Ray Bradbury’s “A Sound of Thunder”. John Scalzi’s short story, “3 Days, 9 Months, 27 Years”, in some ways, reminds me of Bradbury’s account. In fact, Scalzi mentions “the butterfly effect”, the concept Bradbury used in his short story, although he doesn’t call it that. Unfortunately, the fact that the world is about to go off a cliff reminds me of our country right now, teetering on the brink.
A time machine technician spends his days sending people back in time, for just one second in our timeline, but they pay to go back for 3 days, 9 months, or 27 years. The butterfly effect doesn’t change other realities. It only affects the person who goes back, whether they’re hoping to prevent JFK’s assassination, assassinate Hitler, or spend time in another time or place. But, the technician himself has one free pass to the past because he works for the time travel company. And, like others, he has a plan.
Because this is a short story, I won’t discuss more. The story is a little more technical than some of Scalzi’s stories. But, it’s not difficult to grasp the overall theme. I mentioned how it pertains to our current situation. If you get a chance, and you enjoy time travel stories, it’s worth picking up.
John Scalzi’s website is https://whatever.scalzi.com/
“3 Days, 9 Months, 27 Years” by John Scalzi. An Amazon Original Story.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received this free as a Prime member, with no expectation of a review.
I’m a great fan of time travel books, Lesa, and I didn’t know Scalzi had written about it, so I will definitely read this!
And, it won’t take too long, either, Kim, since it’s a short story.
And it’s a free monthly “book” to Amazon Prime members.
My favorite time travel book remains Jack Finney’s TIME AND AGAIN. Also Ken Grimwood’s REPLAY and several Connie Willis books, particularly TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG. Also, for baseball fans, there is Darryl Brock’s IF I NEVER GET BACK.
Big Jack Finney fan, Jeff. And, I read and enjoyed Replay years ago, along with some of Connie Willis’ books. Great selections. Never heard of If I Never Get Back.
A guy ends up in 1969 with the Cincinnati Red Stockings, considered the first Major League team,
And apparently there is a sequel that I never knew about.
1869, not 1969.
I’m also a fan of TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG. I also remember loving Michael Crichton’s TIMELINE, where a group of history students go back to 14th-century France in the middle of the Hundred Years War between England and France (or their equivalents then, anyway!)
I loved To Say Nothing About the Dog!! I’d forgotten all about it till you mentioned it just now Jeff. Another one by Connie Willis – Doomsday Book – was also fabulous.
Sorry. It’s ‘To Say Nothing Of the Dog’. I was so excited I mis-typed and put About the Dog.
Just a little extra trivia. I was a big fan of Peter Lovesey’s Sgt. Cribb series, set in Victorian England. The seventh (of eight) was called SWING, SWING TOGETHER. In this one, someone seems to be recreating the plot of Jerome K. Jerome’s bestselling THREE MEN IN A BOAT (TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG). Obviously, this is where Connie Willis got her title (and idea). I even found and read the Jerome book at the time.