Flashforward

By: Robert J. Sawyer

Narrated by: Mark Deakins

Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

A scientific experiment begins, and as the button is pressed, the unexpected occurs: everyone in the world goes to sleep for a few moments while everyone's consciousness is catapulted more than 20 years into the future. At the end of those moments, when the world reawakens, all human life is transformed by foreknowledge.

©1999 Robert J. Sawyer (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This first-rate, philosophical journey, a terrific example of idea-driven SF, should have wide appeal." ( Publishers Weekly)

A Flash of Genious

By now, many are familiar with Flash Forward, thanks in part to the television version. This book, being the catalyst for that event, has obvious similarities however, has many distinct differences that would not quite fit a tv series. The main one, without giving much away is that the flashforward gives its viewers a glimpse much further into the future. This allows for much more dramatic differences in the present and the visualized future. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and Robert Sawyers ability to explain technology without boring his audience (as I also explained in The Terminal Experiment Review). It was a great listen that at times makes you think about your own life and how it could be changed were you allowed to view what you may become. Also, to what means would you go, to ensure that the vision is not reality and that you still in some way can control your own destiny. Great story, good narrator...check it out for yourself!!!!

Great book until just before the end

Until Chapter 31 I thought that this was a 4 or possibly even a 5 star book - but then it went all to pieces with a stupid and extremely disappointing ending.

I loved the science and the storyline. The narrator is excellent (even though the pronunciation of the French and German names and short sentences is poor). But even the best narrator cannot make up for the stupid conclusion of a book. Now I wish that I had stopped with the end of chapter 30 and relied on my own imagination for the final chapters.

Excellent Book

This is a compelling story. I will probably listen to this book again.I highly recommend this book if you like SF.

Forward Thinking

I was drawn to this book because I was a fan of the TV show of the same name and premise (apparently the only fan in existence of the short-lived series, at least according to the show's creator, Marc Guggenheim, whom I met on the set of a later show). The book has little in common with the series other than that basic premise, but it has its own rewards nevertheless, not least of which is that Flash Forward the novel is more highly regarded as SF literature than the show is among TV sci-fi.

The basic premise, and I don't think I'm giving anything away here, is that all of humanity blacks out at the same moment, each person having a short vision of a moment or two in the future. The remainder of the book is about understanding the visions, reacting to them, debating them philosophically, scientifically, and spiritually. This works best in the context of individual story lines, the best of them a murder mystery where a man tries to solve his own murder. The concept of "show don't tell" is well exemplified here...

... exemplified as well when the author tells instead of shows, the story bogging down when the debate literally becomes a debate, the characters discussing and arguing the scientific or spiritual causes of the flash forward as well as its ramifications, especially in the second and third sections. Sawyer is known in his overall work for examining the point at which science intersects religion, and that is certainly a major theme in Flash Forward, especially the concept of free will vs. destiny, examined in both scientific and spiritual terms.

Thought provoking and worthwhile, even if it could have been better told.

great book! loved the thought process

very fun book. great story if you love time travel concepts. wish the tv on this would have lasted longer than one season. there's so much more you could tell from this story

Good, intellectual, metaphysical sci-fi

If you could sum up Flashforward in three words, what would they be?

An interesting idea.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Flashforward?

The most memorable moments are the ones I have had after reading the book, thinking back on the ideas, contemplating it, digesting it.

extremely interesting but

interesting concept but the end leans towards a too simplistic ideal, its like the writing had switched

A great idea that produced a better TV show.

The original premise of this book is very interesting, and as long as you haven't seen the TV series it will probably work for you. However the TV series was way better managed and paced, with more plot lines and immediacy (3 years flash forward rather than 21).

So if you have already seen the TV series, be prepared for disappointment, otherwise watch the TV series after this book.

Wonderful Book, Great for Audio

Like many others, I was attracted to the book because of the TV series but it is a better plot (much tighter) than the TV series. The plot keeps you into through the end even through different time periods.

fantastic!

Loved the book! i listened almost straight through it!will be buying more of Sawyers books.
Great reading, interresting voice.
Amazing caracter development.