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If at First . . . (Short Story)
Peter F. Hamilton has proven himself a modern master of epic space opera, carrying the tradition of far-future empire building begun by Heinlein and Asimov into the new millennium. But Hamilton is also a master of the short story, and when he tackles one of science fiction's most enduring themes-time travel-the result is as provocative as it is entertaining. It starts in 2...more
Kindle Edition, 32 pages
Published
(first published 2007)
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WAY TOO SHORT!!!!!! Granted it's a short story, but it was only 24% of the whole book, the other 76% was the beginning of one of his other stories. Definitely could have been longer, but it was still good. Just glad it was free.
A refreshing take on the time travel story. The only reason this story did not get five stars from me is because it just wasn't long enough!
The main character (and narrator) of this short story is David Lanson, who is an officer with the Metropolitan Police department of the city of Richmond. He and his team of detectives are called in to investigate a breakin at one of the worlds largest computer companies. The perpetrator of the breakin tells David and crew a very fanciful tale; the head of t...more
The main character (and narrator) of this short story is David Lanson, who is an officer with the Metropolitan Police department of the city of Richmond. He and his team of detectives are called in to investigate a breakin at one of the worlds largest computer companies. The perpetrator of the breakin tells David and crew a very fanciful tale; the head of t...more
“Peter F. Hamilton has proven himself a modern master of epic space opera, carrying the tradition of far-future empire building begun by Heinlein and Asimov into the new millennium. But Hamilton is also a master of the short story, and when he tackles one of science fiction's most enduring themes--time travel--the result is as provocative as it is entertaining.”
I started off the new year with a short story, so my book challenge page doesn't look so empty. Alternate realities are always fun, but...more
I started off the new year with a short story, so my book challenge page doesn't look so empty. Alternate realities are always fun, but...more
A very nice short story from one of my favourite authors. Set in the present it starts with a police investigation of an assumed psychopath. During the questioning the accused states that his target was building a time machine with which he'll send his knowledge back in time to when he was younger. Giving the detective some bread crumbs, he follows up the investigation and realises that the accused might be onto something.
Very nice plot and greatly executed. An extremely satisfying read.
Very nice plot and greatly executed. An extremely satisfying read.
An interesting take on time travel. I personally enjoyed how the traveller was able to accomplish what he did. The writing style seemed as short and clipped as the story itself. I very much would like to know more about the characters, and the predicament the main character finds himself in at the end. 4 stars with understanding of not including the disclaimer that this story is dwarfed by the first two chapters of another novel Del Rey is trying to promote.
I think they should tell it as it is. This was just a lead for his other story. They worst part was that I wanted to stop reading after the 2nd page. But I started to read a few of the reviews and decided to read the whole story. I can not say that I ever got into the story. The story telling is vague, choppy, and I felt it was done during a high school creative writting class. Mr. Hamilton thanks for wasting my time.
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I felt a bit betrayed by this book. As others pointed out, it was a lead in and free promo for a full novel. My problem: it was marketed as a short story. Not kinda a short story but mostly a lead in to a novel. *shrugs* it colored my feelings for the story. And the story was only about a fourth of the "book" *shrugs* i stopped reading after that little bit classifying this as a DNF.
This is really good story with wry twists.
David Lanson is an experienced detective with good instincts. When he and his team arrest Toby Jenson...well they think he's a nut job. But Lanson knows when someone is lying. And Jenson isn't - despite the wild story.
This is a very cool story full of irony and **** SPOILER BELOW ****
time travel.
David Lanson is an experienced detective with good instincts. When he and his team arrest Toby Jenson...well they think he's a nut job. But Lanson knows when someone is lying. And Jenson isn't - despite the wild story.
This is a very cool story full of irony and **** SPOILER BELOW ****
time travel.
Just when I started to find the story interesting, it just stopped. Only 1/4 of the book actually is the story, the rest being an excerpt for some other book he wrote. Being pissed at that (and having too much on my reading list already anyway) I didn't even bother to read the last part. Glad it was for free. I would like to see the story expanded, though.
Very short - only 1/4 of this is the story. The rest of the file is a preview for another book.
It started out okay - I was curious to see where the story would go. But in the end, it just fell flat for me. I know it's supposed to be short, but it just seemed like it should be leading up to something, and it didn't.
It started out okay - I was curious to see where the story would go. But in the end, it just fell flat for me. I know it's supposed to be short, but it just seemed like it should be leading up to something, and it didn't.
Not a bad little teaser for another novel by this author. It was extremely short but it did entertain and get me interested in the other story so I am okay with its brevity. You don't have to go out of your way to read this but at just a few pages long it wasn't a bad way to spend a few minutes.
I did not care for this story. One Goodreads comment below says this story is vague and choppy... That is exactly what I thought! It could have been a good story. This was the first thing by Hamilton I have read and I wonder if it's ow je writes everything...?
Old concept, and similar story to others already written in the past 50 years. Information passed on for gain is what Back to the Future movie series also explored. The story could've developed better, as could the characters. The ending was too abrupt.
Interesting time travel short story... I like how he played it. You think one thing, that maybe the author wrote this a while ago or something and that the story was dated (i.e. that his vision of the future was off) but then becomes clear he wasn't...
This short story is interesting, but not very well developed. Perhaps the author should have taken the story further.
I liked what there was, but did not think it at all complete. If you like short stories maybe you would find it interesting.
I liked what there was, but did not think it at all complete. If you like short stories maybe you would find it interesting.
★★★½
A very short, but entertaining read. I think this is the first story about time travel that I had no issues with. Maybe because it's a short story.
I don't remember how it got onto my Kindle, but I'm glad I read it.
A very short, but entertaining read. I think this is the first story about time travel that I had no issues with. Maybe because it's a short story.
I don't remember how it got onto my Kindle, but I'm glad I read it.
I thought the story was pretty good then near the end it took a strange twist and I felt I had kind missed something along the way....like the chocolate chips in a chocolate chip cookie.
This is a short and to the point time travel story, presenting a somewhat different view of how one might travel through time, and what one might do with the opportunity.
Please see my review for 'Manhatten in Reverse' to find a summary of this novella.
Une nouvelle qui m'a transporté dans un univers captivant en quelques pages. Sympa.
Good ideas, but the style was a bit hard to get used to. And then it was over.
A cute and silly short time travel story. Very cute, very silly.
Great story and a book excerpt. I'm so checking out his other books.
Clever & fast-paced. An idea that I'd like to see expanded into a longer story.
An interesting concept and an irritating conclusion.
A great quick read. Interesting time travel story.
Great sci-fi short story... A quick enjoyable read.
Rote, but good sci fi short story.
Interested but way too short!
Not bad...
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Peter F. Hamilton is a British science fiction author. He is best known for writing space opera. As of the publication of his tenth novel in 2004, his works had sold over two million copies worldwide, making him Britain's biggest-selling science fiction author.
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