Time Travelers Never Die - Jack McDevitt

Time Travelers Never Die

By Jack McDevitt

  • Release Date: 2009-11-03
  • Genre: Adventure Sci-Fi
Score: 4
4
From 63 Ratings

Description

When physicist Michael Shelborne mysteriously vanishes, his son Shel discovers that he had constructed a time travel device. Fearing his father may be stranded in time—or worse—Shel enlists the aid of linguist Dave MacElroy to accompany him on the rescue mission.
 
Their journey through history takes them from the enlightenment of Renaissance Italy through the American Wild West to the civil-right upheavals of the 20th century. Along the way, they encounter a diverse cast of historical greats, sometimes in unexpected situations. Yet the elder Shelborne remains elusive.
 
And then Shel violates his agreement with Dave not to visit the future. There he makes a devastating discovery that sends him fleeing back through the ages, and changes his life forever.

Reviews

  • Time Travelers Never Die

    3
    By Bridgefan1
    Light but fun Sci-Fi. History items well done. While reading, learned some, smiled some, thought some. Glad to have read.
  • Makes me want to become a Historian

    5
    By John Frosted
    Great Science Fiction uses science and technology simply as a springboard to tell a great story about the human condition. The really good authors only use some small wiz-bang gadget, and through it, let their characters and their readers explore how it effects them, their relationships and the world around them. This is one of the best examples of that principle that I have ever had the good fortune to read. Sure, the widget is a time machine, but how it was developed and where it came from is inconsequential. In fact, the story starts with it all ready developed, and reduced to a handy dandy portable unit the size of an iPod. So sorry folks, if you want to know how it works, this is not the story you for you. But on the other hand, IF You had a time machine, what would you do with it? And how would having one effect your world view? .. Thats where this story shines. What actually is history? I bet you will come away from reading this with some interesting insights. The author name drops important events and people from all over history. I got a real kick out of looking many of them up, which was is a real treat on a e-book reader. I particularly think his treatment of Socrates final day and the Selma civil rights movement are both outstanding. I only wish my history classes in school where as much fun (and educational). This book is totally outstanding Science Fiction precisely because it's NOT about Science Fiction! Alias, my only regret, is that its still fiction. Probably my greatest complement here is that I think both English and History teachers should seriously consider using this book in class.
  • Time lives on

    4
    By Rosie's Reviews
    This is the first time in a long time that I have been purely entertained. A bit confusing, going back and forth through time; nevertheless maintaining a good solid story. Who hasn't gotten a headache from time travel? I recommend this book to any science fiction and history buff. It has been a delight and I'll probably go "back in time" and read it again. My compliments to the author.
  • Fun adventure!

    4
    By Manxirish
    Entertaining read...not his best effort but decent nonetheless. Slow in a few parts and the bouncing around in time might make your head spin a bit.
  • Timetravelers never die

    5
    By Pink Tangerine
    A wonderful adventure through some high points of Western Civilization wrapped in an entertaining and thought provoking novel. This is the first book I've read entirely on a digital platform and it was great being able to jump from the book to the web to flesh out some of the historical periods McDevitt brings up. As a "fallen" Classics major and lover of Sci Fi, I really enjoyed this novel. Timetravelers seems a departure from previous McDevitt novels in the sense that it is set on earth in the near future, but his character development and story telling remain excellent. It is a great read which I highly recommend. Dan Ries