Last Year

By: Robert Charles Wilson

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Two events made September first a memorable day for Jesse Cullum. First, he lost a pair of Oakley sunglasses. Second, he saved the life of President Ulysses S. Grant.

In the near future of Robert Charles Wilson's Last Year, the technology exists to open doorways into the past - but not our past, not exactly. Each "past" is effectively an alternate world, identical to ours but only up to the date on which we access it. And a given "past" can be reached only once. After a passageway is open, it's the only road to that particular past; once closed, it can't be reopened.

A passageway has been opened to a version of late 19th-century Ohio. It's been in operation for most of a decade, but it's no secret on either side of time. A small city has grown up around it to entertain visitors from our time, and many locals earn a good living catering to them. But like all such operations, it has a shelf life; as the "natives" become more sophisticated, their version of the "past" grows less attractive as a destination.

Jesse Cullum is a native. And he knows the passageway will be closing soon. He's fallen in love with a woman from our time, and he means to follow her back - no matter whose secrets he has to expose in order to do it.

©2016 Robert Charles Wilson (P)2016 Macmillan Audio

good story

it was a good and interesting story but I wish the author woukd of done a little research on firearms since it was a catalyst of the story. one example is the continued term of automatic pistol and a full "clip" for a glock.

Man cannot be trusted with time travel

What made the experience of listening to Last Year the most enjoyable?

It was an exciting story because of the general subject matter and because of local happenings.

What did you like best about this story?

The surprises and the way messing with time didn't cause any massive time paradoxes.

Which scene was your favorite?

There were a few. Showing Thomas Edison his inventions was neat.

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

No.

Any additional comments?

It was a different type of time travel story, but it was enjoyable to listen to.

Psychology

The study of what makes a person the way he or she is. The way this book is officially described is a bit misleading. It’s much more than a guy figuring out how to stay with a woman he realizes he loves. Actually that’s not really an important part of the plot. It’s much more about what is important in a crisis, what family means, what friends truly are. What makes for a good, decent person, how to keep the demons in your head at bay. What happens when two similar cultures collide, badly. What it means to do the right thing, especially when it’s the hardest thing to do.
This story made me think. I’m glad, and I will continue to think about it, for a long time.

The good old days were not so good

Robert Charles Wilson's Last Year is an entertaining time travel adventure with an interesting twist. Rather than scholarly endeavor or history tweaking escapades, a business model is employed as both entertainment for people from the future experiencing a real life "frontierland" as well as for the society from the past getting a jumpstart on technology. Different levels of engagement from the simple runaway to a fanatic trying to alter history to a human rights advocate to the avaricious businessman are portrayed through the eyes of a local from the past who is employed by his boss from the future.

The main sci-fi theme is time travel with the convenient twist that travel backward in time is limited to a tight window in the range of a couple of centuries. Furthermore, the standard time travel paradox is resolved by positing an infinite array of timelines, such that travel to the past disconnects the present from that specific past's future timeline. There is good mix of the thrilling, mundane, and even melodrama that makes for an engaging tale that moves quickly.

Narration is first rate with excellent character distinction of both genders. Pacing is moderately fast with an easy flowing style that renders a quick listen.

A Fun Take on Time Travel

I have read my share of time travel stories over the years and I keep coming back for more. Last Year is a different and fun take on the time travel story and I enjoyed every second of it. The combination of commercialism, history, mystery and a little romance was a great mix and kept me listening. The narrator was also excellent and handled the variety of accents well. Highly recommended!

Pretty good

Like others have noted, the time travel theme of this book is more original in that the people from the future are not kept secret from the local populace in 1880's Ohio. This was a fairly decent tale, kept my interest. I suppose I would've liked a bit more detail on the "mirror" and how that worked. The book ended as if it was set up for a sequel. Scott Brick, as always is a very good narrator.

Not my favorite RCW

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Too much liberal political social engineering nonsense. Would have been better with more classic time travel themes.

It Got Confusing

I just thought "Last Year" by Robert Charles Wilson was just okay. Typical time travel. The first half of the book was good. It was like watching Quantum Leap again, where they go back in different times and be apart of history. After that, the story kinda lost me. I wasn't sure what period of time they were in and who they were fighting against. It got confusing. Were they in the future or were they in the past? I couldn't figure it out.

Could have been better

Could have been better. Was a great story right up until the end. I need a better resolution than that! Love Scott Brick as a narrator.

Good

Has very little time travel, but still a good book. Also, the synopsis states events taking place in Ohio, and there's no mention of Ohio in this book at all.