Flashforward

By: Robert J. Sawyer

Narrated by: Mark Deakins

Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

Critic reviews

"This first-rate, philosophical journey, a terrific example of idea-driven SF, should have wide appeal." ( Publishers Weekly)

Great Story

I truly enjoyed this book! I read it, because I had seen a rather abortive attempt at a TV serial version of this, several years ago. as in most cases, the book was far, far better!

The book proceeds at a good Pace, but near the end I came to bog down in the metaphysics and physics, and I finished up, hoping that the ending would be much more philosophical, and perhaps even romantic, than the way it did end. But overall, I recommend it!

Exciting science fiction

This was a good combination of science fiction, suspense and action. Narrator did a good job of creating dramatic tension as the story progresses

Good, but different than TV series

I liked it, but it was not at all like the TV series and won't answer any lingering questions. It does deal with a flash forward event, but describes it with plausible physics and science :)

Food for thought

While the theme of the book did make me think, the characters were not interesting and the story overall was depressing making it difficult to enjoy listening to. At times I found myself wanting to Fast Forward Flashforward.

Awesome hard science

This book combines excellent character development, a fantastic premise, an interesting story and excellent hard modern science for an amazing read. I downloaded it just three days ago and have already listened to it twice. I also loved that there are a few open ideas/questions as the end for the reader to ponder, instead presenting an answer to every last question/unknown presented in the story. I also found the narrator to be easy to listen to, with an unaffected voice that also distinguished well among different characters. I've been waiting to hear some good SciFi about the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, and this certainly fulfills my expectations with a work that is fun and exciting.

draws you in quickly....but

the story is a little bit long-winded, sometimes redundant, and the characters aren't really all that likeable. But despite all this, I still listen to it straight through. It was entertaining.

Good but annoying

I have listened to two Sawyer novels. Both were enjoyable but weighed down by Sawyer's obvious dislike for Americans.

Loved It!

Very well thought out and a gripping story from beginning to end. I loved it!

Loved this book!

This book has such a unique premise and is thought-provoking on so many different levels! It's true that it gets a little silly in the last one or two chapters, but I still thought the ending was good, and it wasn't as silly an ending as I had feasted. I should add a disclaimer that I love the idea of time-travel, and though this book does not involve time-travel per se, it deals with some of the same issues I like to ponder such as if the future (or past) is static or dynamic.

it was ok

I preferred the Neanderthal Paralax trio. I would love to hear this story in first person. It just seemed flat. Not dull, or uninteresting, but flat.