fascinating tale; so-so ending

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	• The Accidental Time Machine Joe Haldeman Ace Hardcover, 2007 - 288 pages average customer review:based on 49 reviews view larger image
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The Accidental Time Machine

The book is at best "OK"; beginning was rather exciting, but it looked to me that the author was not sure what to do with the idea and how to bring a conclusion to the story. From my perspective, the last two thirds of the book were just so-so.

a "quick read" is the problem!

A previous rater called this a quick read and, unfortunately, the rater is correct. It's a quick read because it's a great read! The style, the pace, the flow is like a big winter-time comfortable slipper. I enjoyed this book immensely. However, one big question if I may--who sprang for Matt's bail if Matt (spoiler alert) finally ended up in 1898?

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Great story, quick read!

If you're a fan of science-fiction, with a side of fantasy and romance, I would highly recommend this for you. Haldeman does a nice job of introducing the basis of the story very quickly, and wastes no time diving right in, developing the main character, Matt, a MIT doctoral student, along the way. Sticking to mostly simple scientific explanations, the author guides you through Matt's adventures forward in time, and manages to keep the story light, and uncomplicated.

As a fan of science-fiction, I could have gone with a little more character development, and perhaps a bit more substance in the story and some of the science (fiction) behind Haldeman's ideas surrounding why the machine worked the way it did ... but, I enjoy a little more meat! While I wouldn't give t a huge "wow" factor, there is a nice subtle twist at the end.

Overall, a great read, and while I wouldn't say I'm an exceptionally fast reader, I flew through this one, as it read like a movie to some degree. I will probably check into some of Haldeman's other novels as a result ... nicely done.

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fascinating tale; so-so ending

Haldeman's ingenuity delivers cutting-edge technological speculation and irresistibly compelling reading. You can't wait to find out what happens next. Each world the protagonist reaches is different than what comes before and you wonder if the future holds little in store for mankind; as Haldeman is quite pessimistic. The ending could have been a book in itself but wasn't. It was appropriate, if not suspense-laden.

The Accidental Right Stuff

part h.g.wells, part benbow, part 'how do you solve the back to the past paradox?', haldeman's shaggy dog story is intriguing, with the hallmark o'henry-style twist at the end that leaves a satisfying little aftertaste of spice. joe's afterword (which is what my review title refers to) is also revealing in a serendipity-synchronicity way. i recommend the book for amusement, but it won't (and isn't intended to) challenge einstein or hawking, etc. but it's worth the time and money.

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reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, page 7, 8, 9, 10

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