A Window Into Time is one of those rare things from British Science Fiction author Peter F Hamilton – a novella. Known for his galaxy spanning far-future Space Opera novels and series, A Window Into Time is almost the exact opposite – a present day look at the life of a teenager. Of course, that’s not to say there isn’t his trademark SF twist in the mix – there is – but rather that this is a story unlike anything else Hamilton has written.
From the publisher:
Teenager Julian has perfect recall, which means he has trouble finding his place in the world. But he really does know his own mind. So when he starts experiencing someone else’s memories, which are also tantalizing glimpses of the future, Julian realizes he must find out why. And as he comes to know this unmet friend, it becomes clear that this man is in danger.
Julian resolves to do everything in his power to track him down – a journey which takes him to the heart of London’s commercial district, home to the city’s financial elite. He can’t give up, as he might just prevent a murder.
Told from the first person perspective A Window Into Time starts as it means to go on, and Julian, as the narrator, is a great voice in which to do it. With perfect recall – other than a handful of times that he elaborates on – his story is fascinating to read, and while only a teenager his taste in films and TV shows will be familiar to any genre given the classics he often mentions.
A Window Into Time is relatively straight forward, even given the time travel element. As Julian starts to get memories that aren’t his he becomes driven to figure out who they belong to and what they could mean. It’s as these pieces start falling into place that events move towards their conclusion, and despite the fact that you may think you know what’s going to happen, the final twist that Hamilton has in this tale is well done and unexpected.
Because A Window Into Time is such a short novella it’s difficult to give much more detail without spoiling elements of the story. Julian is a great narrator and the pages turn all too quickly, reaching the end when you still wish it would go on. When you look back at Hamilton’s other excellent novellas – from Escape Route, to Watching Trees Grow, to Family Matters – it’s a wonder that he doesn’t write more of these, he certainly knows how to get a good story across in fewer pages than we’re used to seeing from him.
I said at the start that A Window Into Time is a rare thing from Hamilton given its length, but there’s also another quality about it that will appeal – it can be read with no knowledge of his prior work in any way. It’s completely stand-alone, and different enough from Hamilton’s usual work to appeal to a wider audience – I’d also go as far to say that this could easily be pitched as YA.
Definitely recommended.
Publisher: https://www.panmacmillan.com
Author: http://www.peterfhamilton.co.uk
July 2016, 106 Pages
Ebook, ISBN: 9781509831555
Review copy received from the publisher
© 2016 Mark Chitty
