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Flashforward

By: Robert J. Sawyer
Narrated by: Mark Deakins
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About this listen

 A scientific experiment begins, and as the button is pressed, the unexpected occurs: everyone in the world goes to sleep for a few moments while everyone's consciousness is catapulted more than 20 years into the future. At the end of those moments, when the world reawakens, all human life is transformed by foreknowledge.©1999 Robert J. Sawyer (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Fiction

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Critic reviews

"This first-rate, philosophical journey, a terrific example of idea-driven SF, should have wide appeal." ( Publishers Weekly)
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I really enjoyed this book, the reader is very easy to listen to, and really brings the characters to life.

The first half of the book is the best as they deal with 'the event' but it does get rather far fetched towards the end, especially for a book which grounds itself as much as possible in believable physics. But don't let that put you off, it's still a great book!

The book was written in 1999 and is set in 2009, so although the setting is now in the past it was still a decade in the future when it was written, so it's interesting to note some aspects like the author suggesting that book stores had all turned into coffee shops with 'print on demand' facilities. One of the characters in 2009 expressed amazement at a 2030 vision of hard drive based recorders for TV programmes when they are/were perfectly commonplace in 2009!

Also while this takes some common elements from the TV series of the same name, the story is completely different so having watched/read one is not going to spoil the other!

A great listen!

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes but not unreservedly, Robert Sawyer writes very intellectually interesting books with great ideas and he writes them well. Sometimes though what he brings in terms of the ideas and the philosophy he looses in the emotional translation. If you love ideas, this book is a marvel, if you need emotions with that its a good book, If you want an emotional book its a waste of time.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Michiko, human and the best and most rounded character of all

What about Mark Deakins’s performance did you like?

Great characterisations, he got everything he could from the page and was very clear.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely not, its way too theory heavy, but 2+hrs would be ok.

Any additional comments?

Its a great book for soft sci-fi lovers who want ideas heavy books.

If you knew the future would you read this book?

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I enjoyed this book more at the beginning than I did at the end. I was left feeling a little empty by the closing chapter. It's an interesting plot idea though, and I imagine that the science is carefully researched. Deakins did a great job. I'd listen to other books narrated by him.

Full of promise, idn't quite deliver

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I am about half way through the audio of this book and I am thoroughly enjoying the plot. Quite different from the tv series but that's ok for me.

My only complaint is the narration - I find it quite hard to believe in any of the characters as all their accents are the same, regardless of nationality - the New Zealand accent is particularly amusing! I would rather the narrator didnt try to put on different voices for each character if he is going to do it badly.

For me, this really lets the audiobook down which is disappointing as I'm quite fascinated with the subject matter.

Great book, awful narration

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This is a beautifully written and thought-provoking book which is well read by the narrator. It raises the fascinating questions of how life would change if you could see 20-years into the future, how much that vision would dictate what actually happened in the future and whether or not the future is pre-determined. This is a great read and much better than the TV series.

Brilliant!

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This is the first book I have read by Sawyer and it is a must read for SciFi fans. I wish I listened to this before seeing the TV series's however it was the series that introduced me to his work.
I have had this book in my wish list for a few years and finally got it, I loved he twists and turns and the solid science.
He paints seems of place that I have been to with detail that really brought them to life. So much of the book feels solid and realistic that it absorbs you the way a really good story should.
Every time I stopped I could not wait to get back to the book.

Wish I had read the book before seeing the TV series

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If you have even a passing interest in particle physics and quantum theory you will love this book. And if you don't have any interest in either you can still enjoy a good storyline. I couldn't put this book down.

One of the best books I have read in a long time

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The concept of this book is interesting and innovative, and it is clearly founded on a good understanding of physics. The style of writing is very much that of an analytical person. You are more likely to hear about the colour of a wall or a desk than a smell or emotion. At times the writing seems to descend into a list of bullet points.

However, the audience for this book is likely to consist of quite analytically minded people, who may not be bothered by the slightly cold tone. A physics qualification will come in handy as complex concepts are explored at length in sometimes incongruous conversations.

The date on the audiobook is 2009, but his was written in 1999, and the author has failed to grasp many of the basic advancements made between those years. Indeed many predictions for 2030 are behind the reality of 2015. It has aged surprisingly badly.

The most annoying aspect of all was that book is sprinkled with predictions that are patently absurd. Sitting alongside well considered and perceptive thoughts, they shatter the illusion.

The narrator was generally fine, but seemed to produce brutish European accents, of which there were many, and also a few mispronunciations.

My ratings are a tad on the low side. Out of 10 I would have given 7, but I can't bring myself to give 4/5.

Great concepts, but lacking in other areas

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I'm glad I've read, listened to this book. Totally different from the TV series of a few years ago. A good story although there was much sciencespeak. it was interesting to hear how the world would look in the future and even when you "see" your possible future, you could be in the wrong place at the right time.

Flash wo wo

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I remember really enjoying this story when I first read it many years ago, at about the same age as the young Theo in the story, but naturally the memory of it faded with the passing years. I decided to treat myself to the audible version now that I am about the same age as the older Theo in the story, and it has impacted me even more than the first time, perhaps because I am more knowledgeable about the underlying science now and also have more life experience. A thoughtful, thought-provoking and enjoyable story about the effects of glimpsing what time has in store for us. I wonder what impact it will have on me when I read it again as an even older version of me in the future....

A thoughtful and enjoyable story

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