How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe

English language

Published 2011

ISBN:
978-0-307-73945-2
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4 stars (2 reviews)

3 editions

Between stimulus and response there is a space.

5 stars

Charles Yu's How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe is not just another time travel story; it's a deep, reflective journey cloaked within the realms of science fiction. The narrative unfolds through a manual-like tone, particularly in its subsequent chapters, which distinctively marries the instructional with the introspective, making for a unique reading experience.

At its core, the novel is a poignant tale about a man trying to rescue his father. Yet, more than a mere rescue mission, it's a contemplative expedition into the past. The protagonist’s use of a time machine serves as a powerful metaphor for the universal human desire to revisit and perhaps alter past decisions—highlighting our deep-seated regrets and the wishes that shape our present and future lives.

Yu ingeniously restricts time travel almost exclusively to the past, with only a fleeting, somewhat bleak interaction with the future, emphasizing the theme that often, we …