Flashforward (novel) by Robert J. Sawyer

Rating: 5/5

I actually sought this out after I saw the pilot to the TV series, I had found out it was loosely based on a sci-fi novel. The ideas presented in the TV series were interesting, and I searched high and low for this novel.

If you are familiar with the TV series, the novel is completely different. To be quite frank, the TV series has been dumbed down quite a lot. The novel's main characters are in fact scientists, to be more specific Physicists. We have Llyod Simcoe and Theo Procopides as our main two characters who are conducting an experiment to find the Higgs boson. At the exactly 5pm (Geneva time where they are located) the entire world blacks out. As they wake up they soon discover that they have had visions 21 years in the future.

The novel is set in a different 2009 (this was first published back in 1999), and the first part of the novel focuses on the fall out of the flashforward and the need to discover how it happened, and whether the experience they were running is in fact responsible. Much like in the TV series, one of our characters does not have a flashforward and they find out they will be murdered. The search to solve that is a major plot device in the novel, and it really works too. I thought this novel was just fantastic, it cleverly mixes sci-fi and the element of fantasy and personal drama and relationships extremely well.

I really felt strongly towards the characters, I really got caught up in their situations and their heart breaks. The ideas presented really make you think, whether or not the flashforwards are destined, can things be changed, is the timeline fixed? It makes you wonder and really is something that is thought provoking. I felt Robert J. Sawyer constructed something extremely intelligent, and it made me walk away with a new out look on things. I feel it is such a shame they made so many changes to the TV series. I think a faithful adaptation of the novel would have made for a compelling sci-fi film.

I would highly recommend this book, even if you aren't much of a sci-fi reader I think this novel does have something for everyone. Sure it has a lot of science in it but you can always use google if you do not entirely understand something. The characters are extremely well written, and the scenario's they are faced with as I said will make you think and wonder.

You can purchase the novel on Amazon or Borders Australia.

ISBN: 9780812580341

Category: Science Fiction

Format: Paperback

Pages: 320

Book Review - Celluloid Serial Killers: The Real Monsters Behind The Movies

4/5

Paul B. Kidd has been writing about true crime for many years, he specialises in Australian true crime. Tackling the subject of serial killers is not an easy one, however Kidd has a special knack for writing about true crime. What he has done here is examine films over the years which deal with serial killers and then delve into the real life killers which inspired the feature film.

This book offers two things, film titles about serial killers, some which you may have seen or heard of and others you may not have. The second thing it offers is the real story, the real killer/s and their crimes. You get the basic idea if the film is loosely based on something, inspired by something or an actual bio-film.

I actually found this book at a discount book store for $6.95 it normally retails here between $34.95 to $39.95 so to say I got a good deal is an understatement! Keep in mind foreign readers I am talking about the Australian dollar and for some reason our prices seem higher then the rest of the world.

The book serves as a great reference on a variety of serial killer films, and Kidd gives his opinion on the good ones and the bad ones. At least it is his opinion of them, I agreed with some of what he had to say on some films and I really disagreed with him on other ones. I would have liked for there to have been more info on the films themselves, but what he has provided is good. He gives a run down of what the film is about and his opinion, whilst Kidd is a great crime writer, a film critic he is not. I think that was the only down side of the book, but when you consider the big picture he has done a great job.

On the true crime side of things, this is where he is most comfortable and he can paint a very disturbing picture of these killers. He has included all the relevant details, and he really does not hold much back as far as their crimes are concerned. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who has a weak stomach, some of the crimes committed which are mentioned are truly disturbing. The title mentions monsters, and these killers certainly were just that.

In the book you will find Kidd has decided to include some serial killer films which aren't based on any real killer, and he has included them because he is a fan of the film and felt they were worthy of mention. I actually didn't even look at the contents because I wanted to be surprised as to what was included. Towards the end I actually wanted to see what was coming up because I thought he had covered so much, I wondered what was actually left!

Some films you will find covered in this book are M, Psycho, The Honeymoon Killers, Dirty Harry, Manhunter, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Silence of the Lambs, From Hell, Ted Bundy and many more. You get the idea he has a wide range of films and with some of those titles you can figure out who they are about (with a title like Ted Bundy who else would it be about?), and there were some killers who I had read about but had no idea there was a film based on them. After getting through the book, I do have more film titles to add the to list, some sound good, others sound interesting but whether or not they are good is hard to tell.

As far as true crime books go this is one of the really good ones I've read, as I mentioned he does have a knack for it. Whilst the film side of things could have had more details, it doesn't take away from anything. I would recommend this for anyone who is into true crime or darker films, it is a really good read and I haven't actually read any bad reviews on this one.

Celluloid Serial Killers: The Real Monsters Behind the Movies
Kidd, Paul B.
Publisher: Five Mile Press
ISBN-10: 1741784727
ISBN-13: 9781741784725
Year Published: 2007