Official Review: The Pursuit of Time by William H. May
Posted: 20 Oct 2016, 17:14
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Pursuit of Time" by William H. May.]
3 out of 4 stars
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How many times have you heard someone say "There are no second chances at life" or, "You only live once"? In his science fiction novel The Pursuit of Time author William H. May postulates a world in which those statements are no longer true for everyone. Some people do get second chances. The year is 2038. Advances in medicine have made brain transplants possible. If the panel of judges known as the Tribunal deems an applicant worthy, the applicant may undergo a procedure in which their brain is transplanted into a donor's body, giving them a new lease on life. But demand far outweighs the supply in this new market, and not everyone is found to be worthy. Nobel Prize winners, poets laureate, and people who have contributed in major ways to science and technology are among those deemed to be deserving of a transplant. Heroes will also be considered.
Octogenarian John Axelton is a hero. But for 56 years almost no one has known it except for him and the family he rescued one fateful day in the Rocky Mountains. To the outside world he is just another retired chemistry professor in Kansas City who happens to have a slight limp he never talks about. Now he needs a transplant or, as his doctors have told him, he will die in two years. He needs a lawyer to apply for the life-saving medical procedure. That's where John's old friend Phil Douglas comes in. Phil has never lost a transplant case. He accepts the challenge to find proof of John's act of heroism over half a century ago. While John's mind is still sharp for his age, he is unsure of some of the details of his heroic act. Phil knows that without eyewitness testimony John's chances of winning his case are slim to nil. Phil finds himself putting all of his considerable resources to work to try to save his friend. He knows the clock is ticking and John isn't getting any younger.
Readers looking for an enjoyable futuristic novel will like this book. It is a relaxing, smooth read that lets the audience do some armchair traveling. Much of The Pursuit of Time is written like a travel guide to Colorado, with natural history information included. It is easy to imagine oneself in the beautiful, serene landscapes depicted in the book. Mr. May's 30-year love affair with the Colorado outdoors is evident in his vivid descriptions of the state's river valleys, mountains, gorges and buttes.
Readers who prefer their science fiction to be of the post-apocalyptic type may not enjoy The Pursuit of Time. This novel has an upbeat tone and many similarities to the world we live in today. The futuristic elements in this story are mainly related to medical innovations and lifestyle changes resulting from global warming.
The only drawback for me is that the story is mostly plot-driven. I would have liked to see more of the characters' backgrounds, perceptions and relationships. For example, Phil's long-time girlfriend Myra is described as a successful career woman that Phil feels he can't live without. Her role in the book, however, is relegated to so much window dressing for Phil's home life and travel time.
Overall I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. It is an enjoyable read with very few grammatical errors. More character development would have added to the story, though. The Pursuit of Time lets the reader envision a world in which the familiar idioms are changed to "You may only live once" and "There are sometimes second chances".
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The Pursuit of Time
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3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
How many times have you heard someone say "There are no second chances at life" or, "You only live once"? In his science fiction novel The Pursuit of Time author William H. May postulates a world in which those statements are no longer true for everyone. Some people do get second chances. The year is 2038. Advances in medicine have made brain transplants possible. If the panel of judges known as the Tribunal deems an applicant worthy, the applicant may undergo a procedure in which their brain is transplanted into a donor's body, giving them a new lease on life. But demand far outweighs the supply in this new market, and not everyone is found to be worthy. Nobel Prize winners, poets laureate, and people who have contributed in major ways to science and technology are among those deemed to be deserving of a transplant. Heroes will also be considered.
Octogenarian John Axelton is a hero. But for 56 years almost no one has known it except for him and the family he rescued one fateful day in the Rocky Mountains. To the outside world he is just another retired chemistry professor in Kansas City who happens to have a slight limp he never talks about. Now he needs a transplant or, as his doctors have told him, he will die in two years. He needs a lawyer to apply for the life-saving medical procedure. That's where John's old friend Phil Douglas comes in. Phil has never lost a transplant case. He accepts the challenge to find proof of John's act of heroism over half a century ago. While John's mind is still sharp for his age, he is unsure of some of the details of his heroic act. Phil knows that without eyewitness testimony John's chances of winning his case are slim to nil. Phil finds himself putting all of his considerable resources to work to try to save his friend. He knows the clock is ticking and John isn't getting any younger.
Readers looking for an enjoyable futuristic novel will like this book. It is a relaxing, smooth read that lets the audience do some armchair traveling. Much of The Pursuit of Time is written like a travel guide to Colorado, with natural history information included. It is easy to imagine oneself in the beautiful, serene landscapes depicted in the book. Mr. May's 30-year love affair with the Colorado outdoors is evident in his vivid descriptions of the state's river valleys, mountains, gorges and buttes.
Readers who prefer their science fiction to be of the post-apocalyptic type may not enjoy The Pursuit of Time. This novel has an upbeat tone and many similarities to the world we live in today. The futuristic elements in this story are mainly related to medical innovations and lifestyle changes resulting from global warming.
The only drawback for me is that the story is mostly plot-driven. I would have liked to see more of the characters' backgrounds, perceptions and relationships. For example, Phil's long-time girlfriend Myra is described as a successful career woman that Phil feels he can't live without. Her role in the book, however, is relegated to so much window dressing for Phil's home life and travel time.
Overall I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. It is an enjoyable read with very few grammatical errors. More character development would have added to the story, though. The Pursuit of Time lets the reader envision a world in which the familiar idioms are changed to "You may only live once" and "There are sometimes second chances".
******
The Pursuit of Time
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like e-tasana-williams's review? Post a comment saying so!
