How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe

De: Charles Yu

Narrado por: James Yaegashi

Duración: 6 h y 8 m

Resumen del Editor

Minor Universe 31 is a vast story-space on the outskirts of fiction, where paradox fluctuates like the stock market, lonely sexbots beckon failed protagonists, and time travel is serious business. Every day, people get into time machines and try to do the one thing they should never do: change the past. That’s where Charles Yu, time travel technician—part counselor, part gadget repair man—steps in. He helps save people from themselves. Literally. When he’s not taking client calls or consoling his boss, Phil, who could really use an upgrade, Yu visits his mother (stuck in a one-hour cycle of time, she makes dinner over and over and over) and searches for his father, who invented time travel and then vanished. Accompanied by TAMMY, an operating system with low self-esteem, and Ed, a nonexistent but ontologically valid dog, Yu sets out, and back, and beyond, in order to find the one day where he and his father can meet in memory. He learns that the key may be found in a book he got from his future self. It’s called How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe, and he’s the author. And somewhere inside it is the information that could help him—in fact it may even save his life.

©2010 Charles Yu (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Dull and often irritating metaphor

I had high hopes for this book, having seen a positive review for it on some form or other. Ultimately, I found it to be a creative but dull and often irritating metaphor for a fraught father and son relationship.

Cerebral

I enjoyed Yu's metaphorical look at modern life and family. Sometimes fantastic situations are the best way to relay profound truths. It reminded me of Vonnegut.

depressing

how to make everything good idea depressing. should have returned this when I could but I suppose I didn't pay much

word word word word word word word word

Surrealistic Fluff

The inner monologue of a not - too - exciting person in a surreal universe. I ended up feeling like very little actually happened.

High Hopes, Dashed

I love time travel stories, and I love science fiction... Those aspects of this book were great, and I really enjoyed the writing style. What I couldn't get past, was the lack of story. It's a worth while read/listen for the science fiction, but if you're looking for a story, it's just not there...

a surprise

What did you love best about How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe?

The book sneaks up on you, becoming an elegy for times past, family, relationships, self discovery and longing, all under the guise of a time traveler - as he says toward the end, we are all time travelers being just who we are.

Confusing and Unsatisfying Payoff

I was not blown away by this story. It felt like two different books smashed together. About aman trying to rekindle his relationship with his father and a hyper technical sci-fi time travel story. I was let down by the end.

Interesting but weird

Very good read for science lovers. Also has interestingly weird take on things,I enjoyed the narration a lot

surviving a science fictional book

interesting premise for a story, but the ongoing philosophy takes an effort to get through.

Not for everyone

This is a fascinating, frustrating, and sometimes confusing mashup of quantum gravity theory, fiction theory, and a story (at least I think there is a story in here).
what happens when someone tries to step out of their own life story? This is a book about doing so explicitly through technology, rather than by pretending that you are not reallt living your own life.
Good luck making a movie out of this.