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)

Enjoyed Every Minute!

I like this kind of science-fiction and this was right up my alley!

I was hooked on the TV series when it aired in 2009 / 2010 and was left dangling at the end when it was abruptly cancelled. The last episode of the show was shot before it was known it would be cancelled; it depicted a second Fast Forward Event happening 20 years in the future… and then it was over! What a tease!

I didn’t realize at the time that the show was based on a book so I was excited to discover it and finally get some closure. Loved it!

Interesting but a Technical

This was a good read, there were only 2 problems . . .1) The scientific technical language will be over a lot of people's head and 2)The end went a little "out there" Otherwise, it was a good story

Huh?

I bought the audio book to read after the ABC television story Flashforward. I didn’t understand the way the series ended so I quickly bought the book after checking IMDB to see who got credit for writing this book and screen play.

Now I am even more confused. The book and the series were like watching the Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead - two stories about the same topic set in different settings.

I gave the book a 3 because it was a good enough story to read/listen to until the end. I did get answers that were not available in the television series. I like Robert Sawyer books but this isn‘t my favorite.

Very Disapointed

Started off well, then became dragged down with too much detail. Wish I had chosen differently.

Time travel with a twist

Read the book a while ago and forgot about it. Saw the audiobook and bought it. Wasn't disappointed. The spoken version made more sense. Never been very keen on time travel stories (with the exception of Heinlein's "Door into summer".), but this is well written and the assumptions consistent.

excellent

another outstanding story by Sawyer!
It really needs to be told on screen, but sticking to the print version more than the series did.

Makes your mind think

Tiem is always full of guessing and this book takes u through lots of theories and makes you think about life and living it with a complete free will. Really liked it sometimes u have to do a double take on something because of all the information you receive. But besides that it is a fun read.

What if

I read this book at Steve Gibsons recommendation on his Security Now podcast and I loved it.

What if you were suddenly sent forward in time 25 years to find out that your dead? Or that your married to a horrible person? Or worse yet that you live in a police state?

Here we have the whole world experiencing this situation and what each person does to deal with that they saw.

It also goes in and explains that with the multi-universe theory we can change our futures at any point we want to change. Decide to change and move in that direction.

Loved it!!

I loved the TV series and was annoyed when the show was canceled- leaving the story at a dramatic cliff hanger. The book takes the story from a different vantage point but it's still a great story!

THOUGHT PROVOKING POSSIBILITIES

Where does Flashforward rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

About in the middle. The performance was good and the story very interesting.

What did you like best about this story?

The scientific possibilities

What does Mark Deakins bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His distinctive voice and the ability to bring the characters to life

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not much on the extreme just thinking about the possibilities of something like this happening