The Accidental Time Machine by Joe Haldeman

Let me start off by saying, to be fair, that I read this immediately after I read The Time Machine by H. G. Wells. So of course, if you compare the two, this is lukewarm. I believe much of this story was fashioned after the original, but of course done with a very different style and a lot more technology. The Accidental Time Machine is the story of an underachieving and mildly depressed M.I.T. grad student, Matt. He discovers that a machine he built can actually "jump" through time. After a series of experiments, Matt decides to give it a go. Off he goes into a very, very strange future, with a religious dictatorship in the U.S., dinosaurs, talking bears, and lots of A.I.s. Did I mention that there are two Jesus Christ figures in his travels?

This novel was entertaining, but I would recommend the classic if you want to travel through time.

Karen

The Time Machine by H. G. Wells

First published in 1895, The Time Machine is a true classic. For those that have not read it (and you should!) this is the story of a man, known as the Time Traveller, that meets with friends at his home to discuss a machine. This machine, he says, can travel through time. Now, the novel is set in Victorian England, so of course his friends are skeptical. However, they are proven wrong. The rest of the book recalls the Time Travellers adventures as he crosses hundreds and hundres of years. It actually turns out to be an amazing journey! And there are many things we can all learn from this.

Karen