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  • How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe

  • By: Charles Yu
  • Narrated by: James Yaegashi
  • Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
  • 3.4 out of 5 stars (408 ratings)

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How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe

By: Charles Yu
Narrated by: James Yaegashi
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Publisher's summary

Minor Universe 31 is a vast story-space on the outskirts of fiction, where paradox fluctuates like the stock market, lonely sexbots beckon failed protagonists, and time travel is serious business. Every day, people get into time machines and try to do the one thing they should never do: change the past. That’s where Charles Yu, time travel technician—part counselor, part gadget repair man—steps in. He helps save people from themselves. Literally. When he’s not taking client calls or consoling his boss, Phil, who could really use an upgrade, Yu visits his mother (stuck in a one-hour cycle of time, she makes dinner over and over and over) and searches for his father, who invented time travel and then vanished. Accompanied by TAMMY, an operating system with low self-esteem, and Ed, a nonexistent but ontologically valid dog, Yu sets out, and back, and beyond, in order to find the one day where he and his father can meet in memory. He learns that the key may be found in a book he got from his future self. It’s called How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe, and he’s the author. And somewhere inside it is the information that could help him—in fact it may even save his life.

©2010 Charles Yu (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Featured Article: The 25 Best Time Travel Listens to Take You on an Unforgettable Journey


Time travel is one of science fiction's most popular subgenres. Fans are drawn to its infinite possibilities, offering a glimpse into past cultures, societies, and pivotal events while exploring big what if? questions. What if you knew what would happen next in your life? What if you could go back and change history? What if you did change history? With this guide, you're sure to find an exciting audiobook to transport you to the perfect place in another time.

What listeners say about How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Dull and often irritating metaphor

I had high hopes for this book, having seen a positive review for it on some form or other. Ultimately, I found it to be a creative but dull and often irritating metaphor for a fraught father and son relationship.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Cerebral

I enjoyed Yu's metaphorical look at modern life and family. Sometimes fantastic situations are the best way to relay profound truths. It reminded me of Vonnegut.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

depressing

how to make everything good idea depressing. should have returned this when I could but I suppose I didn't pay much

word word word word word word word word

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Surrealistic Fluff

The inner monologue of a not - too - exciting person in a surreal universe. I ended up feeling like very little actually happened.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

High Hopes, Dashed

I love time travel stories, and I love science fiction... Those aspects of this book were great, and I really enjoyed the writing style. What I couldn't get past, was the lack of story. It's a worth while read/listen for the science fiction, but if you're looking for a story, it's just not there...

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

a surprise

What did you love best about How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe?

The book sneaks up on you, becoming an elegy for times past, family, relationships, self discovery and longing, all under the guise of a time traveler - as he says toward the end, we are all time travelers being just who we are.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Confusing and Unsatisfying Payoff

I was not blown away by this story. It felt like two different books smashed together. About aman trying to rekindle his relationship with his father and a hyper technical sci-fi time travel story. I was let down by the end.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting but weird

Very good read for science lovers. Also has interestingly weird take on things,I enjoyed the narration a lot

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

surviving a science fictional book

interesting premise for a story, but the ongoing philosophy takes an effort to get through.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Not for everyone

This is a fascinating, frustrating, and sometimes confusing mashup of quantum gravity theory, fiction theory, and a story (at least I think there is a story in here).
what happens when someone tries to step out of their own life story? This is a book about doing so explicitly through technology, rather than by pretending that you are not reallt living your own life.
Good luck making a movie out of this.

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