I know, I know: I said before that I never read Stephen King because he’s just too good at what he does (creating horror). However, I had a friend recommend one of his later books as more of a science fiction story about time travel and I was intrigued. So here I am, reading 11/22/63.
It’s the story of a time tunnel from the present back to one specific date in 1958. No matter when you go through the tunnel, you always come out at that specific date and time and everyone you meet is meeting you for the first time (no matter how often you’ve been there). And no matter how much time you spend in the past, it’s only been two minutes in the present when you return.
Since it’s King, I’m sure everything is going to go pear-shaped in the end, but so far it’s interesting how the hero is trying to save one of his former students, who had lived through a horrific incident in his past. The hero then intends to save JFK from assassination, though he hasn’t quite decided how he’s going to accomplish that. He’s making money by placing (fairly) judicious bets on sporting events – and by teaching high school, his job back in the present. He’s also met a woman who’s made him decide to just stay in the past.
If you like slightly creepy science fiction (the hero spends some time in Derry, Maine in order to save his friend), try this book. As I said, it’s probably going to end quite badly for our hero, but maybe not. At least the hero is trying to do the right thing, which is something I like in my protagonists. We’ll see if he goes down the Stephen King rabbit hole into madness…
