Replay

By: Ken Grimwood

Narrated by: William Dufris

Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1988, 43-year-old Jeff Winston died of a heart attack. But then he awoke, and it was 1963; Jeff was 18 all over again, his memory of the next two decades intact. This time around, Jeff would gain all the power and wealth he never had before. This time around he'd know how to do it right. Until next time.

©1998 Ken Grimwood (P)2008 Tantor

Critic reviews

World Fantasy Award, Best Novel, 1988

This book amazing! I was hooked from the start.

Loved this so much, and highly recommend for almost anyone. For a book written so long ago, it feels timeless.

One of my favorites!

I’m a big sci-fi fan, so I often compare types of sci-fi stories to similar ones. I felt the concepts in this book, while not completely original, were presented in a unique way. I had to research the author to see if there was sexual . The fact the author never had the opportunity to finish the sequel is the only disappointment I have about this book.

You will replay this book

I have to admit, I have listened to it a few times. It has a few odd, hokey things. I don't understand the whole dolphin thing, but I do like the narrative of a man making different choices in life and where that leads him. Very interesting book, and I'll probably listen to it again!

Wonderful

I love this book! I read it many years ago and then couldn't find it. I came across it again and listened. It was just as good as I remembered

It's a really good story & narration

Replaing your life over & over again, and all the different things you can do with it. This book makes you think about choices you have in front of you and the choices you made that are now forever behind you. It ends very well. I was wondering exactly how to end such a story but the author does it very well. Narrative was great except for the woman's voices but after you get into the story your able to overlook it. Definitely a good book!

Replay Review

This story was great but the narrator had a lot of trouble pronouncing words. He has obviously never been to California because it was hard figuring out what he was talking about when it sounded like he was sounding out the names of things and places in California! Many other words were mis-pronounced too!

I replayed Replay.

I read this book about 20 years ago and never forget it. It remained then and now one of my favorites. Though there has been great advances since the time this book was published this remains timeless in its skilled presentation. I recommend it to all who wonder what could be if we only had a second chance.

Curiously effective plot and engaging book

They say this is the inspiration for Groundhog Day, the 1993 film starring Bill Murray as a boorish weather announcer who has to relive Groundhog Day until he finally learns how to be a real nice guy. The premise here is quite different, so don't think you'll get anything quite like that movie. But in many ways this is better: more complex, more creative, more truly science fiction. Very good book.

What a heavy book.

This book had me thinking hard about my life and what I'd do in this situation. I don't think I've ever read anything that made me feel the way this one did. it manages to be hopeful, and heartbreaking, and terrifying all at the same time. it is very well narrated and entertaining as well.

What's the right question?

Good sci-fi is usually inspired by a philosophical question. "What would you do if you had it to do over again knowing what you know now?" is not a philosophical question at first, but a personal one. Initially, it's about living well, having money, freedom, goals, love. All the youthful regrets can be undone, and all the youthful disadvantages turned into advantages. But what if all that you achieve is erased? Nietzsche's eternal recurrence, Camus' Myth of Sisyphus, Socrates' unexamined life....everything you do ultimately comes to an end, no matter what you do. How do you live in that circumstance? The answer to the question makes this novel worth listening to. It's not profound, but it is interesting.