Time Travel discussion
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How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe
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HOW TO LIVE SAFELY IN A SCIENCE FICTIONAL UNIVERSE (*spoilers*)
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I read this recently and really enjoyed it, so I'm curious to see how the discussion goes!
I downloaded it to my phone last week, but need to start reading it. I think I am going to enjoy it based on the reviews I have read.It seems like a perfect blend of satire and WTF? for me.
Mod
I am several chapters into this. So far, it took me a little while to adjust to the narrative and surreal concept (I have to call it surreal otherwise the only other word I can think of is ludicrous but that sounds undeservedly damning). Its already posing some thought provoking time travel concepts (though I am not quite understanding its structure as yet) and human nature tendencies. I detect a lot of Douglas Adam's Hitch Hikers guide to the Galaxy influence in this. Its striking the same level of dry wit too though a bit too forced sometimes.
I think TAMMY is looking to be my favourite character, everything written about her made me laugh. it wont be the first time where an AI unit has been my favourite characters in science fiction novels!
I think this is the first time I have read a book where the author himself is the protagonist of his own fiction. Coincidentally, I saw a preview screening of John Carter of Mars yesterday, where the author is also a key character in his own story.
On page 45-and it is making my head hurt-trying to follow the conceptualization of time travel in this book, I hope as you get used to the ideas the story flows a little easier. Physics was never my strong suit
Mod
I know what you mean, we need John to decode this stuff, of all the months to take a break hmpph...just kidding John ;)
Mod
I read this book back in 2010 and it's just a fun read. Just go with the flow and don't worry about the physics involved.
Mod
I have to say I was disappointed with this book. There are some enjoyable aspects, but it is certainly not a classic time travel adventure in my view.
I was also disappointed in this book. I felt like it had so much potential, but just couldn't close the deal, so to speak. There were many things to like: clever language, humor, a bit of whimsy, a bit of philosophy. But, in the end, I didn't really like the main character and all I could think was "Yeah, OK, whatever...[shrug]."
I am about halfway through it, and I really am skimming now, there are gems of interesting analogies, but it is just not engaging me as a reader.
Finished it last night, it does get better in the last third of the book. but honestly when I turned the page and saw a blank page or a diagram-I was happy-that doesn't say too much for the book overall. The main character's interactions with Tammy were my favorite parts of the book.
Mod
Naturally, I have finished the book after everyone else has. I think I have seen a pattern in the books I like and dont like so much. I think I dislike most books written from the protagonist first person perspective. There are exceptions including our own GR group author Allison Kraft's book Destined. But generally, I feel trapped in the naive/restricted thoughts of the protagonist.
Anyway I would have to agree with Vickie and Heather's thoughts on the book. I too felt a sense of relief finishing this. I did enjoy several moments and we finally got a decent TT plot towards the end but they are so embedded in a sea of nonsensical jabberings of the universal structure and self pitying. Its meant to be wry humour but it just gave me headaches and this is why I took so long to read the book, I kept dreading to continue. I even took a 2 or 3 week break from it (some book reading host I'm turning out to be)
There is a bittersweet story with some rather too blatant philosophy of life. I expect that, welcome it an appreciates its attempt to do so with a humerous encapsulation of the ridiculous surrounding premise. But its ultimately too heavy handed for me to engage with.
It does pose some interesting thoughts and makes a lot of assumptions of the choices that most of society would make, though I hardly agree with most of those assumptions...
SO before we jump to the next book read in a few days time, I'll pose a question:
1) If given the opportunity, would you live in a fictitious universe that meets all your desired requirements including the best attributes of your loved ones? The book suggests most people would, do you think its true?
2) What fictitious character would you want to be? Do most kids really want to be Han Solo? When I was a kid I would want to be a jedi and I am sure many kids would like to go on the dark side and be Darth Vader.
(view spoiler)
Tej, I think you have given this book all the effort it deserves. To answer your questions: 1) I think this is somewhat like the Matrix. If you are in it, but do not realize it, life seems fine. In this book the people choose if they live in the fictitious universe, but who would want to live in a life that was not real, even if it was a very positive experience? That is simply not living. 2) My first instinct is indeed to be a powerful being such as Sauron (I do not like to choose someone evil, but someone who is good would not be able to do what is necessary). My goal would be to exact revenge on everyone who deserves it. In this case, however, I would be aiming for people who run stop signs, leave their shopping carts in the middle of the supermarket aisle, or talk on their cell phone in restaurants.
Mod
LOL, I must be more concious of where I position my shopping trolley from now on!
My answers to Tej's questions 1) I think choosing ot live in a fictional universe would be like choosing to have hallucinations, what you are experiencing is not real so what is the point of living it. On the other hand, I wouldn't want to ever lose my ability to dream when I sleep-which is just like beign i a fictional universe for a period of time. Mmm, I will have to think some more on thta one!
2) The fictional character I would most want to be is Samantha from Bewitched-I dream of being able to twitch my nose and get my housework done
Mod
So Heather is on the light side of good nature and Dan seems to be quite at home on the Dark Side ;)
1. I think living in a fictional universe would have particular appeal to people who have experienced great tragedy in their lives. For example, I read a book a while ago about a woman who lost her whole family - husband, daughter, and newborn son - in a car accident. In such a situation, I can easily see myself choosing to live in a fictional universe where my family was still alive. 2. I don't know what fictional character I would like to be. LOL, maybe someone brave and heroic who saves the world and then lives happily ever after with an equally brave and heroic Prince Charming. Or, at my age, perhaps a brave and heroic widower King Charming would be more appropriate.
About the Book
Minor Universe 31 is a vast story-space on the outskirts of fiction, where paradox fluctuates like the stock market, lonely sexbots beckon failed protagonists, and time travel is serious business. Every day, people get into time machines and try to do the one thing they should never do: change the past. That’s where Charles Yu, time travel technician—part counselor, part gadget repair man—steps in. He helps save people from themselves. Literally. When he’s not taking client calls or consoling his boss, Phil, who could really use an upgrade, Yu visits his mother (stuck in a one-hour cycle of time, she makes dinner over and over and over) and searches for his father, who invented time travel and then vanished. Accompanied by TAMMY, an operating system with low self-esteem, and Ed, a nonexistent but ontologically valid dog, Yu sets out, and back, and beyond, in order to find the one day where he and his father can meet in memory. He learns that the key may be found in a book he got from his future self. It’s called How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe, and he’s the author. And somewhere inside it is the information that could help him—in fact it may even save his life.
About the Author
Charles Yu lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Michelle, and their two children. He has received the National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 Award for his story collection Third Class Superhero, and he has also received the Sherwood Anderson Fiction Award. His work has been published in the Harvard Review, The Gettysburg Review, Alaska Quarterly Review, Mississippi Review, and Mid-American Review, among other journals.