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Zero Second
In 1951, a pair of scientists at Cornell discovered time-travel. With the specter of the atomic bomb in the immediate background, they decide not to replicate Einstein's mistake of suggesting what might be a weapon to the political authorities. Instead, they decide to set up a clandestine research program, swearing all those who work on it to keep the secret.
Then, in 1991, a time traveler returns from 2031 with a disturbing no traveler and no message has ever come farther back from the moment in time when he left. No one knows why. All people know is that something happens on April 4, 2031, to prevent any news of the future.
This is the story of what happens next... if "next" is the right word for a narrative which, in the way of things, is necessarily non-linear.
Zero Second is the first story in Retcon, a mosaic narrative, a story composed out of other stories, with recurring characters and overlapping plots all forming a larger picture. It will be arranged in three movements, each made up of nine stories of approximately 15,000 words, which will be published as ebooks on a monthly schedule (with a brief break between movements).
Then, in 1991, a time traveler returns from 2031 with a disturbing no traveler and no message has ever come farther back from the moment in time when he left. No one knows why. All people know is that something happens on April 4, 2031, to prevent any news of the future.
This is the story of what happens next... if "next" is the right word for a narrative which, in the way of things, is necessarily non-linear.
Zero Second is the first story in Retcon, a mosaic narrative, a story composed out of other stories, with recurring characters and overlapping plots all forming a larger picture. It will be arranged in three movements, each made up of nine stories of approximately 15,000 words, which will be published as ebooks on a monthly schedule (with a brief break between movements).
85 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 9, 2023
1 person want to read
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January 27, 2025
I was introduced to Stephen Frug’s writing with the publication of his photographic novel, Happenstance. What I liked most about that book was its grounding of abstract ideas in the relationships of his three main characters. If I had to isolate one quality of the writing I would say it is Frug's humane voice. This voice returns in the first installment of this new series of short stories, Retcon. The as yet unfinished series will ultimately include 27 semi-standalone stories (they can be read independently but since there are recurring characters in a shared narrative world are best read in order). I signed up for this monthly series after it was announced in 2023, but am only now getting around to reading them. The entire project will encompass three parts (movements), each being released in nine installments. So far, only the first movement has been completed.
While Retcon is a time traveling story, I found it light on the SF elements, at least in this first installment, although there is some philosophical speculation. A retcon is, according to Merriam Webster, "a shortened form of retroactive continuity, and refers to a literary device in which the form or content of a previously established narrative is changed." My sense is that while this is definitely a series of stories about time travel. It is just as much a consideration of how the kinds of situations time travel makes possible affect human relationships. At least this is my impression so far after having only read the first story. Our perceptions of people change depending on their position in time.
While Retcon is a time traveling story, I found it light on the SF elements, at least in this first installment, although there is some philosophical speculation. A retcon is, according to Merriam Webster, "a shortened form of retroactive continuity, and refers to a literary device in which the form or content of a previously established narrative is changed." My sense is that while this is definitely a series of stories about time travel. It is just as much a consideration of how the kinds of situations time travel makes possible affect human relationships. At least this is my impression so far after having only read the first story. Our perceptions of people change depending on their position in time.
Displaying 1 of 1 review