Reviews

• Great read but slightly lacking plot

  Very interesting ideas and characterisation, it's just a shame that the universe was not as deeply explored as it could've been. It would've been nice to have some broader scope applied - the implications of his interactions on those in the past and the morality of the situation.

• Entering prehistory with alarming imagination

  This is an extraordinary work of fiction that tells a gripping story of the twists and turns of a man who dreams more vividly than most of us could imagine, but also imagines the very limits of our connection with ancient hominid species. The language is full of surprises, and though I found Bishop's use of arcane words sent me all to often to the dictionary, and the possibilities of time travel stretching credulity, I enjoyed every page and and through his gripping originality got more and more caught up in an ancient world whose lived reality I longed to imagine more fully because it is the past of all humanity.

• Well written but strange!

  Although I enjoy the concepts behind good creative SF, I found this book rather strange! The central character, Joshua Kampa, is able to dream-travel back to the Pleistocene era when Homo habilis walks the plains of Africa. He then 'really' travels back through the help of a dream-time displacement machine to live amongst our ancestors. Much of the book is taken up with Joshua's back story and upbringing, which I actually found more entertaining and insightful than the main plotline. The two story lines bring in concepts of racism and acceptance of outsiders and challenge our concepts of species. There are some amusing chapters dealing with the nature of dictatorship and politics in modern day African countries. The author writes well although during the Pleistocene episode I actually burst out laughing at one point where the plot took on a Monty Python type way to resolve the story; I'm sure if you read the book you'll recognise the event! I'm a bit puzzled as to why the author resolved the story in this way. The whole thing was really a bit weird and didn't quite gel for me, despite being well written!

• Splendid and original Sci Fi

  A fascinating time-travel novel into the lives of proto-humans, as experienced by an unusual American time-traveler. The author is especially, and for me, surprisingly, insightful on the intricate psychological impact of U.S. racism, which supplies a sort of bonus dimension to the also gripping sci fi adventure. All in all, Bishop has written a neglected masterpiece.

• A very good read!

  I'm not sure if I've read other books by this author, but I will definitely now pick up more of his books. I really enjoyed this one. It was very interesting to get a feel of how our very early ancestors could have lived and interacted.

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