FlashForward – Robert J Sawyer
Hachette Livre Gollancz, 2009
320 pages
RRP: AU$19.99
ISBN: 978-057-509101-6

Reviewed by Kate Smith

FlashForward is the story of a science experiment that results in unexpected consequences and discusses the nature of time and whether the future can be altered.  Having never watched the TV series that appeared some time recently I cannot say whether it was accurate to the text, however I’m sure that it was faster moving than the novel.  FlashFoward was a very interesting read but was not exactly a page turner that keeps you up until three in the morning.  Having said that, not all novels need to be, and FlashForward asks you to think about the concepts it brings to mind rather than skimming through a straight forward plot.

An experiment at the cutting edge of scientific advancement causes everyone in the world to black out at exactly the same time for two minutes.  Some see visions of their future, while others see nothing at all.  The primary characters then spend the novel examining the fallout of knowing the future.  Two of the characters, once blissfully happy, have to confront the fact that in the future they are no longer together and that they are more than happy with their future partners.  The third starts a search for further information on the events that lead to his death in the hope that this event may be avoided.

FlashForward is the story of the meaning of life and how we find it.  The happy endings we hope for are not all there is to life, and a happier ending may be just around the next few bends.  There are other meanings that people may find from the text, especially those to do with the ultimate meaning of life and the ‘what comes next’ factor.  However I feel there is more than enough food for thought in how this life is lived without moving on further.

FlashForward is not a long read but it is an interesting one, and is recommended to those who enjoy a story that challenges them to think.