Robert Charles Wilson’s latest novel, Last Year, is a strange one: a near future SF novel set in an Illinois of 1876. With the invention of quasi-time-travel and instigated through the use of a multi-storey high ‘mirror’, tourism to the late 19th century is open to 21st century inhabitants. An interesting idea, especially given that the past the mirror opens to is no longer the one of that world, instead an alternate history that diverges from the moment the mirror is opened. Set entirely in the 19th century, Last Year is an SF novel that shouldn’t work quite as well as it does.
From the publisher:
Two events made September 1st a memorable day for Jesse Cullum. First, he lost a pair of Oakley sunglasses. Second, he saved the life of President Ulysses S. Grant.
It’s the near future, and the technology exists to open doorways into the past–but not our past, not exactly. Each “past” is effectively an alternate world, identical to ours but only up to the date on which we access it. And a given “past” can only be reached once. After a passageway is open, it’s the only road to that particular past; once closed, it can’t be reopened.
A passageway has been opened to a version of late 19th-century Ohio. It’s been in operation for most of a decade, but it’s no secret, on either side of time. A small city has grown up around it to entertain visitors from our time, and many locals earn a good living catering to them. But like all such operations, it has a shelf life; as the “natives” become more sophisticated, their version of the “past” grows less attractive as a destination.
Jesse Cullum is a native. And he knows the passageway will be closing soon. He’s fallen in love with a woman from our time, and he means to follow her back–no matter whose secrets he has to expose in order to do it.
As a native to the 1870’s Jesse Cullum is the person whose eyes show us the world of Last Year. With the opening of the mirror and the building of the city of Futurity, 21st century citizens are playing tourist in his world. Jesse is employed by the company behind the mirror as minor security around the city, and it’s through this job that he ends up saving the life of US President Ulysses S. Grant. However, because of this he inadvertently unveils a secret smuggling operation that is bringing back technology from the 21st century. Teamed up with Elizabeth DePaul, a military veteran from beyond the mirror, they are tasked with uncovering the illegal smuggling of 21st century weapons into the world of 1876. And with the mirror entering it’s last year of use before finally shutting down, other problems start to come to the fore…
While it’s easy to say how much I enjoyed Last Year (a lot), the reasons behind that are somewhat more complicated. I’m not a particular fan of novels set in the past, alternate or not, so knowing that this was the case here made me a little wary of just how it would all be portrayed. I’m very much for time-travel in this context and thought that it would have a big influence on the world, especially given that the mirror has been open for almost four years at the start of the novel. However, the impact on the wider world is not as drastic as perhaps it could be, mainly due to the rules imposed on what can and can’t be said about possible future outcomes. Wilson explains this away believably, given that the mirror will only be open for five years before closing owing to the drift in authenticity to the future tourists paying to travel there.
This leads on to the cooperation and relationships between the 1870’s natives and those from the future, both tourists and employees of the corporation. Due to the nature of the novel – an investigation into future tech making it’s way into the world of 1876 – teaming Jesse and Elizabeth up tackles this nicely. There is the initial jolt and clash of personalities, as would be expected, but once this has passed and they start working together towards solving the mystery they become friends, opening up more and more to each other, and having a relationship that feels very natural, regardless of time period. There are, however, some issues between the peoples of both times, with clear derision aimed at the more primitive natives, yet Wilson examines and depicts this well. Last Year is, essentially, a clash of worlds and cultures, yet one that works well and feels plausible.
Jesse is a relatively easy-going fellow who isn’t as shocked about the customs of the 21st century as other of his era are. He’s an interesting character with a past that allows further depth to be added to both himself and other characters, as well as the story. The way in which we learn of his background, the acts he has been witness to, and involved in, feels natural in its gradual revelation throughout the narrative. Essentially, it makes a story set in the 19th century feel modern in its examination of characters and setting.
I really like what Robert Charles Wilson has done here, giving a character focused SF story that works on many different levels. While the time-travel technology of the near future isn’t explained in any great detail, the world feels thoroughly fleshed out, and also surprisingly familiar. The finale of the novel won’t come as a particular shock, though how it all ties together to feel more intimate than events would suggest is a wonder. Highly recommended.
Publisher: Tor Books
Author: Robert Charles Wilson
December 2016, 352 Pages
Hardcover, ISBN: 9780765332639
Review from purchased copy
© 2017 Mark Chitty | @chitman13
