Somewhere in Time

By: Richard Matheson

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Written by one of the grand masters of modern fantasy, Somewhere in Time is the moving, romantic story of a modern man whose powerful love for a woman he has never met allows him to literally transcend time.

A dying young playwright staying in a turn-of-the-century hotel becomes captivated by a painting of a beautiful stage actress from the previous century. Obsessed, he begins to study everything he can about the woman and her time and becomes convinced he belongs with her. Through self-hypnosis, he transports himself to 1896, where he finds the soul mate he was fated to meet. But will he be able to stay?

Somewhere in Time won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel and was the basis for the 1980 cult classic movie starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour.

©1980 Richard Matheson (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“The author who influenced me the most as a writer was Richard Matheson.” (Stephen King)

“Stylish and gripping, [Richard Matheson’s] stories not only entertain but touch the mind and heart.” (Dean Koontz)

“Richard Matheson is one of the most respected living American fantasy/science fiction/horror writers…Matheson could not write a bad book if he tried.” (Hartford Courant)

Fantastic

It’s always been hard for me to read this story. After seeing the movie in 1980 I looked high and low for this book. Always looking under the wrong title until clearly with the advent of VHS I saw it was “Bid Time Return”. Even after I found the correct title it took me several years to find it. I finally did. It immediately became my favorite book. As I’ve always been a fan of Matheson I find this to be his best work. When I found the audio book I had to get it. Would’ve preferred it read by Jane Seymour since it’s title is Somewhere in Time. Still, having listened to it again it always fills me with sadness. I highly recommend it.

Somewhere in Time

First book where I found the movie version to be so much better. Greatly disappointed by the book. The first part was as slow as trudging through muddy clay.

The movie is one of my favorites,,,probably in the top 10. I was looking forward to listening to the book. I was surprised at how badly the story was told. At times it was tedious.

a must read for all- but especially lovers of the movie!

what an incredibly unique story, i’ve been a big fan of the movie for years and finally decided to read the book and it did not disappoint.

love in its most awesome form

Even though it is a work of fiction it is told with such dedication that one wishes it were real and that love could transcend time itself.

narrator

Is there anything you would change about this book?

it's descriptive nature is choppy

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

sad

Did Scott Brick do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

no ne was horrible

Did Somewhere in Time inspire you to do anything?

no

Any additional comments?

the book was pretty good, but i found it a bit too descriptive and the dialog between the chacracters kind of childish for adults. the narrator was awful.

A love affair across time

Richard Matheson's Somewhere in Time concerns a young man dying of a brain tumor who runs across of photo of a 19th century actress and falls in love. While researching everything he can learn about her, he finds an unexplained change in her behavior after staying at the same hotel from which he first saw her picture. He becomes convinced he can learn to travel in time and transports himself back to 1896 and meets his beloved. Navigating the mores of the day, along with the young lady's manager who regard him as a gold-digger, he has a series of adventures only to inadvertently return to 1971 where he dies shortly thereafter.

Matheson expertly crafts an enjoyable tale relying on a cerebral / psychological mode of time travel rather than a more sci-fi based mode. As such, whether the action actually occurs or is only part his terminal condition is left for the reader to decide.

The narration is well done with excellent character distinction and reasonable pacing throughout.

Note: this story was originally released in 1975 with the title "Bid Time Return", but the subsequent film adaptation in 1980 was entitled Somewhere in Time, After the film's release, the publisher changed the book title to match the film in subsequent editions.

incredible audiobook!!

This is the best audiobook I've ever heard. The narrator sounded so much like Christopher Reeve that sometimes I forgot it wasn't him reading the book to me. The story is beautiful. a classic. made me cry.

Time Well Spent

Lots of good memories even though this was a first-time listen. Impossible not to vividly recall the film with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour, especially with the narrator’s effective emotional tones.

Only thing missing was the mood changes provided by the movie soundtrack, which I have used in the classroom for high school students writing reflections looking back in time while viewing photos of their childhood.

Classic!

Just an amazing story.
With a great narrator.
Highly recommended if you want you're heart broken.
Thank you

Wonderful Storytelling!

Loved it! I had previously seen the movie but the narrator was wonderful. I felt as if I was also there.