Who Would Like This Book:
If you love time travel sci-fi with a twist of thoughtful nostalgia, this book is right up your alley. Robert Charles Wilson crafts a story that’s both personal and suspenseful, starting with a seemingly ordinary house in the Pacific Northwest and peeling back layers to reveal high-concept sci-fi - think mysterious time tunnels, nano-robots, and a brooding love story set in 1960s New York. Fans of Jack Finney, Clifford D. Simak, or those who enjoyed Stephen King’s 11/22/63 will appreciate the blend of gentle, character-driven drama and tense, sci-fi action. There’s also a fun ‘what if’ element surrounding time travel and paradoxes, set against a backdrop that cleverly pre-empts some modern climate change worries. If strong character work and slow-burning mystery appeal to you, this one is for you.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Readers looking for hard science fiction packed with intricate paradox logic or explosive, relentless action may find this one a bit too mellow or mainstream. The story leans more on atmosphere and emotion than jaw-dropping plot twists, and a few sci-fi ideas might feel less groundbreaking today than at the time of publication. Some have found the pacing sedate and a handful of world-building details (like the forest types and mechanics of time travel) a touch vague or inconsistent. If you get frustrated by loose ends or unanswered questions, be forewarned - this book doesn’t tie everything up with a neat bow.
About:
A Bridge of Years by Robert Charles Wilson is a time travel novel that delves into the nature of place as it relates to different eras, exploring philosophical questions about rebellion and desires. The story follows Tom Winter, a character who stumbles upon a time tunnel hidden behind a wall in 1989, leading him to the world of May 1962 and a woman named Joyce. As Tom navigates through different time periods, he faces challenges involving robotic bugs, time guardians, and a dangerous nemesis from the future. The narrative is multi-layered, focusing on various characters' viewpoints and offering different perspectives on time, culture, and life.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of violence, trauma, and climate-related disaster.
Has Romance?
There is a moderate level of romance as the protagonist develops a relationship with a character named Joyce.
From The Publisher:
Tom Winter thought the secluded cottage in the Pacific Northwest would be the perfect refuge-a place to nurse the wounds of lost love and happiness. But Tom soon discovers that his safe haven is the portal of a tunnel through time. At one end is the present. At the other end-New York City, 1963.
His journey back to the early 1960s seems to offer him the chance to start over in a simpler, safer world. But he finds that the tunnel holds a danger far greater than anything he left behind: a human killing machine escaped from a bleak and brutal future, who will do anything to protect the secret passage that he thought was his alone. To preserve his worlds, past and present, Tom Winter must face the terrors of an unknown world to come.
From Robert Charles Wilson, the Hugo Award-winning author of Spin, A Bridge of Years is a classic science fiction story of time-travel and human transformation.
What can you read after
A Bridge of Years?
About the Author:
Born in California, ROBERT CHARLES WILSON grew up in Canada. He is the author of many acclaimed SF novels including Darwinia, Blind Lake, Julian Comstock, and the Hugo Award-winning Spin.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
