Child of Time

by Isaac Asimov, Robert Silverberg

Based on an Asimov short story, "The Ugly Little Boy". A children's nurse is hired as part of a scientific project aimed at bringing a living being from the past to the present. A four-year-old Neanderthal boy is snatched from his home and hurled 40,000 years into a terrifying future.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Time Travel, Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Short Stories, Classics

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

Works of prolific Russian-American writer Isaac Asimov include popular explanations of scientific principles, The Foundation Trilogy (1951-1953), and other volumes of fiction.

Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.

Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).

People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.

Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.

Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_As...

Reviews

[Beatriz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustó muchísimo, muy emotivo y con un claro mensaje sobre la moralidad y la ética de los avances científicos.

Aunque al principio volví a sentir ese toque misógino de Asimov, fue una buena vuelta de tuerca hacia el final. Pero debo reconocer que me hubiera gustado que lo que sucede en el descenlace hubiera tenido algún tipo de repercusión en la historia de la humanidad.

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the books that meant the most for me as I grew up. Read it about 150years ago and loved it so dearly. It sparked an ever growing curiosity and desire to learn more about the world, humanity and science. I was so worried I wasn't going to enjoy it as intensely as I did back then but woohoo, I so did. It was wonderful getting back to a story I haven't been able to truly forget. Love the "mother/son" relationship forming between the caretaker and the neanderthal boy. Such an great story and the end was truly great. Wished I could read more to see what happened after that
----
This is a very special book for me. Haven't read it for around 13 years but I still remember the pure joy and excitement I feelt reading it and I so badly want to read it again. I don't even know if I would love it as intensely as I want to remember but I can't find it in any store or book app near me and that makes me sad...

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it when a book sneaks up on you and holds you in it's grasp as thoroughly as this one did with me. A simple pairing of stories, really, made fascinating by the 40,000 year time span and the numerous endings that could have been.

I loved Asimov's robot short stories and novels for the moral and ethical dilemmas the author tackles. This novel was similar, in that the scienctific underpinnings are secondary to the unforseen consequences of their implementation.

It was refreshing to see, too, that the authors didn't bind themselves by Ray Bradbury's "butterfly effect" of time travel, in which minor changes to the past can have enormous consequences in the present.

The fact that "The Ugly Little Boy" is under-hyped, possibly under-read and certainly overshadowed by Asimov's and Silverberg's more renowned accomplishments very likely makes it all that more enjoyable. It's the literary equivalent of your favorite used book store that everyone else bypasses on their way to Border's or Barne's and Noble.

[SMLauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me ha encantado. Casi se me salta la lagrimilla al final.

Un interesante relato sobre si la ciencia y los descubrimientos pueden estar por encima de la vida.
Se centra en los sentimientos de los personajes, no en los experimentos. No sabemos lo que los científicos y los psicólogos descubren sobre Timmie, sólo sabemos lo que va sintiendo la enfermera Fellowes y a través de ella le coges cariño al niño y casi se puede llegar a entender lo que hace al final.

Asimov me está gustando bastante.

[Salembrocolilectora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me encantó este cuento! Una invitación al eterno debate sobre el valor de la vida humana cuando los avances científicos la relativizan y ponen la en juego.
Hace tiempo que no leía a Asimov y si bien tiene ese toque machista, me quedo con su gran capacidad de contar una historia tan sólida en tan pocas páginas, donde el sentido humanitario está muy presente.
Me recordó un poco al cuento de Ray Bradbury "El ruido del Trueno" que también habla de viajes en el tiempo. Muy recomendado.

[María Greene F · Rating 5 out of 5]

El segundo cuento favorito de Asimov. MUY BUENO, y además botado de encontrar por internet. Me encantó.

Hay una versión novelada que se hizo después, que es más larga, pero no sé si lo voy a leer, porque en verdad el cuento ya lo tiene todo.

Muy, muy recomendado. Además de interesante, es heroico y dulce, y saca lo mejor de (algunos de) nosotros. Aunque también sea cruel.

[J Jahir · Rating 5 out of 5]

pues... asimov es asimov jaja. realmente me consiguió atrapar bastante este libro, y sin pensarlo, me acomoda para una categoría del reto pop-sugar, reemplaza al libro de king, lo cual no significa que no lo llegue a leer (22/11/63), pero si lo hago lo cual es probable, no entraría. Las historias que traen viajes en el tiempo me llaman de sobremanera, y me logran encantar siempre y cuando éstas tengan una buena construcción. y Demonios, quién imaginaría un traslado de tamaña magnitud, 40.000 años antes, trasportando un neandertal en carne y hueso al siglo XXI.
Naturalmente que para hacer algo así es riesgoso porque debes tener una muy buena investigación, y crear la historia de forma más o menos creíble... y en este caso lo consiguió desde el inicio. Desde que nos presenta a la tribu donde pertenece la que sabe y Nube de plata, el traslado del pequeño, la enfermera Fellowes, el rechazo inicial del niño neandertal al verlo, su comportamiento salvaje propio de su tiempo... y el ver cómo esa relación cuidadora-niño se hace cada vez mas fuerte y lo que parecía ser odio o repugnancia se convierte en un cariño y amor incondicional... de verdad que es muy bonito, mientras nos internamos al mismo tiempo en paralelo con lo que pasa la tribu... en cómo se desconciertan al ver aquella luz y la repentina desaparición de rostro del amanecer...
Asimov fue un maestro. Sobre investigación es claro que no nos falla, era un divulgador nato de la ciencia en general y la historia, numerosísimos de sus libros lo demuestran. Él te podía hacer una novela de lo que quisiera, y tiene libros realmente excelentes.
Y en cuanto a este libro... quedé con ganas de saber más del destino del pequeño ahora que fue devuelto a su tiempo .
lo recomiendo bastante.

[Ivan Lutz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Podijelio bih knjigu u dva dijela, gotovo negdje na pola. Prvi dio je fantastičan, brz, pisan toliko čitko da odmah shvatite zašto je Asimov majstor(a ovo je samo potvrda da je njegov jednostavni stil nešto najgenijalnije što sam čitao), i drugi dio knjige gdje se radnja malo razvodnila, ali je ostala britka i čitka.
Premisa je izvrsna: stroj može povući stvari iz prošlosti u sadašnjost(do 40 kg), pa pokus odlazi 40 000 godina u prošlost i dovlači malog trogodišnjeg neandrtalca. KAko se privikava, i ponaša, kako uči i shvaća najbolji je dio ovog romana. Usporedno pratimo početak ledenog doba i migraciju plenama neandrtalaca te njihov susret s Homo sapiensima...
Drugi dio knjige upliće politička previranja, dječje pravobranitelje, odvjetnike i niz drugih stvari koje su potrebne, ali ponekad umaraju(vjerojatno i zato što je prvotno nastala iz kratke priče Ugly little boy). Kraj donosi predvidivost, ali nikako ne možemo reći da je ovo loš roman.
Možda jednostavne konstrukcije, ali svi oni koji žele vidjeti kako izgleda razrađivanje teme, stopostotna priprema za roman i maestralno pojednostavljivanje i literarne forme, stila, a i znanstvenog korpusa stvari, moraju vidjeti ova dva barda na djelu.
Trojčica i zato što sam čitao puno bolje njihove stvari, ali i novi vjetar u leđa da iskopam, što to od Asimova nisam čitao, pa da se zalijepim ta to.

[Gabyal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ha sido un cuento genial!!! Me ha gustado mucho, es una historia tierna y con algunos matices de crueldad pero aun así es maravillosa, se lee en un abrir y cerrar de ojos, si se animan espero lo disfruten como lo he hecho yo

Libro cafetería de Audrey, la isla perdida

[H. R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silverberg clearly intended this novel as a kind of eulogy to Asimov. It carefully retains the style and thematic approaches that Asimov used. A book of dialog, a measured pace, minimal action, maximum reasoning and logic. As a result, the novel (this is a big 'IMO') both succeeds AND fails because of its achievement of these elements. The novel succeeds in expanding Asimov's short story in exactly the same way Asimov would have likely novelized the short story, 50 years ago. That makes the novel a 50-year-old object, as if it were found in a time capsule. Concurrently, the novel fails because it does not tackle some of the improvements in more recent SF: There was no attempt to update with new technology, or more detailed scientific background ('hard' SF has improved in that regard, over SF from the 1950s). The logic and moral reasoning, and characterization, could have been more meaningfully complex. The pacing of the plot might be too slow for many readers not from that age (which are almost all readers now). The edginess of the best modern SF is missing.

It would be interesting to see an anthology of novellas from original short story: 'the ugly little boy', written by authors not wanting to emulate Asimov, but to take their world-views and literary skills and apply it to the story's concepts. Simmons, Bacigalupi, Doctorow, Willis....Eulogize Asimov with a modern-day regeneration and interpretation of 'the ugly little boy'.

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Lastborn' (aka The Ugly Little Boy) by Isaac Asimov;

Description: Asimov wrote the short story "The Ugly Little Boy" in 1958. But there is much more to the story of the little Neanderthal boy plucked out of time and transferred to the 21st century. Now, Robert Silverberg--in this second collaboration with Asimov--has made this sf classic into an engrossing novel-length tale.

Silver Cloud
She Who Knows

4* I, Robot
3* The Ugly Little Boy
TR The Caves of Steel
3* Fantastic Voyage
5* The Last Question
TR Fantastic Voyage II: Destination Brain

[Jessy · Rating 5 out of 5]

¿Pero qué tiene ese hombre que me hace amar todas sus obras? Un cuento muy corto pero muy lindo, me gustó la idea de traer personas del pasado, admito que sería una de las personas que apoyaría el proyecto, pero entiendo las complicaciones que podría tener en el individuo, al chocar con nuestra era. No logro imaginar que pasaría una vez que regrese a su tiempo.
En fin, recomiendo el cuento, se lee en una sentada.

[Vichy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Νομίζω ότι δεν έχω ξαναδιαβάσει σε τόσο λίγες σελίδες τόσα πολλά! Η μις Φέλλοους και η πράξη της δίνουν τη πανανθρώπινη διάσταση της αγάπης χωρίς καν να την αγγίζουν τα όρια του χωροχρόνου...Υποκλίνομαι...

[Pep.Kosteyetos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Μια ήρεμη δύναμη αυτή η νουβέλα, ένα ρυάκι που σε παρασέρνει μέχρι το τέλος. Το διάβασα εντός μίας ημέρας χωρίς να το καταλάβω.

[Xabi1990 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es una novela, a medias con Silverberg, que no es sino hacer más largo su relato El niño feo. Le damos un 8/10 porque es totalmente recomendable, si bien el cuento ya tien casi todas las virtudes de la novela. Va sobre un niño neandertal al que traen al presente gracias a una máquina de Éxtasis, que puede traer cosas del pasado pero sin abandonar los límites de ese campo de éxtasis.

No deja de resultarme curioso ver como Asimov nos metía en la CF y a la vez nos predicaba sobre las virtudes que debiera de poseer la Humanidad. Je, je, je, y me he hecho gracia volver a leer una novela en la que aparecen físicos o ingenieros como protagonistas.

Estos eran las grandes figuras de las novelas de la CF de la Edad de Oro, donde la técnica todo lo podía y nos iba a llevar a las estrellas por un lado y por otro a uno sociedad maravillosa regida por tecnócratas bondadosos y justos. Je, je, qué tiempos aquellos en los que casi, casi, me lo creía.

Vamos, que el libro está muy bie y sólo me lo ha empañado el saber en todo momento cómo terminaba la historia.

[Liselot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuing my way through my dad's old science fiction collection, and having a good time.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel really got me hooked from the very start of the story. Most enjoyable! This was originally a short story by Asimov that first appeared in the September 1958 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction under the title "Lastborn". It was later republished under the current title in the 1959 collection Nine Tomorrows. Robert Silverberg later expanded it into a novel with the same title, published in 1992 as this full-length novel (also published as Child of Time in the UK).



The story is about a Neanderthal child who is brought to the present day as a result of time travel experiments by a research organization, Stasis Inc. He cannot be removed from his immediate area because of the vast energy loss and time paradoxes that would result. To take care of him, Edith Fellowes, a children's nurse, is engaged. She is initially repelled by his appearance, but soon begins to regard him as her own child, learns to love him and realizes that he is far more intelligent than she at first imagined. She names him 'Timmie' and attempts to ensure that he has the best possible childhood despite his circumstance. She is enraged when the newspapers refer to him as an "ape-boy". Edith's love for Timmie brings her into conflict with her employer, for whom he is more of an experimental animal than a human being. When Stasis decides to end the project with Timmie and move on to another experiment, Miss Fellowes decides on an unexpected drastic step to help him. The book also alternates with the story of the group of Neanderthals from which Timmie was taken. This part of the novel was part of the expansion by Silverberg.

Overall, I would give this a high recommendation. Silverberg and Asimov are two of my favorite science fiction authors and this collaboration was very good. This novel version was published in 1992, the year Asimov died, so this was probably a tribute to him by Silverberg.

[Awallens · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a company has the scientific technology to "scoop" a neanderthal boy and bring him to Earth in modern times, what will happen? Is he human? Can he learn things, even though he looks barely human? Or is he an animal? In this short story turned into a full-length novel, this question is explored, through the point of view of Timmy's nurse, Edith Fellows. She explores these questions and this story alternates with what is happening to Timmy's family 40,000 years ago. I fear I'm not doing this book justice, but know I truly loved it. As long-time readers know, I'm not much of a sci fi fan— i can count the number of sci fi books I've read on one hand— but thisbook was so emotionally compelling that if I can find more books like this, I'll definitely read them.

[Paradoxe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Είναι μια πολύ πολύ πολύ πολύ τρυφερή ιστορία και χειροκροτώ όποιον επέλεξε να την εκδώσει. Είναι μια ιστορία για τη βασική προϋπόθεση της κοινωνίας μας, τη συμπόνια, όσο και της αρχής πως το μαχαίρι αλείβει βούτυρο και το μαχαίρι σκοτώνει άνθρωπο. Άξιζε κι η αναμονή και η αναζήτηση της. Βγάζει γλύκα και βγάζει πίκρα. Ίσως και μια επίγευση της θεωρίας ‘’ο κόσμος είναι ιδέα μου’’. Γοητευτικό παραμύθι και θα ‘θελα να ‘χω την ευκαιρία να το διαβάσω στο γιο μου, αν είχα οικογένεια. Για τη συμπόνια, τον άνθρωπο και το παράδοξο της προόδου.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sure I read some Asimov years ago, but I can't recall specific titles. I know that I didn't read this one, and it took me by surprise. If I'd had to guess who wrote it, Asimov wouldn't even have made my long list. How much of the story was written by Silverberg?

[Matías Picó · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asimov contaba con la capacidad de dotar a sus relatos de ficcion cientifica de todo el bagaje tecnico para hacerlo creible, sin renunciar por ello a un estilo que ameniza la lectura y que hace que sus libros cumpliendo todos los detalles tecnicos necesarios sean a la vez absolutamente faciles y entretenidos de leer.
Su anterior colaboracion con Silverberg no me termino de convencer, tal vez porque de los generos en los que Asimov se desenvolvio de manera excepcional (siendo la ficcion cientifica el principal, sin desmedro de su amplisima habilidad para la novela policial) el fantastico sea en el que mas trastabillo.
Hijo del tiempo es un gran cierre a lo que ha sido para mi el repaso que mas he disfrutado por la bibliografia de un autor ( en el caso de Asimov solo referido a sus novelas, ya que no he leido ninguno de divulgacion cientifica ni de historia), estableciendose el ruso como mi autor favorito en cuanto a novelas de ciencia ficcion se trata, y le da un significado especial, al menos para mi haberlo alcanzado en el año que se celebra el centenario de su nacimiento.

Gracias por todo Tito Asimov.

Nota:8/10

[Shaie F · Rating 4 out of 5]

By no means a perfect book, but man I enjoyed it! I love sci-fi that takes a simple premise (a Neanderthal boy is transported to the 21st century) and explores every implication (Will he get sick from new microbes developed in the last 40,000 years? What’s the company’s long term plan for the child? How does his tribe interpret his mysterious disappearance?).
Granted there are some parts I found unnecessary (Why do we have to describe the prehistoric tribe’s painting their private parts with war paint in such detail?) and some things that were laughably outmoded (Oh yes, Miss Fellowes is a woman and therefore she cannot help but be attracted to every man she meets), but overall a fascinating read.

[Irene Domenech · Rating 2 out of 5]

Creo que es el ibro de Asimov más flojo que he leído hasta la fecha... Es muy previsible, se nota que es un viejo relato reescrito y extendido "como mantequilla huntada sobre demasiado pan". En fin...

[Dodger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today, people's beliefs of Neanderthals have changed immensely. In the past, it was believed that these early humans were not too smart in the membrane, and lived without tools and were basically ignorant.
That belief has changed, and new findings show they were a smart people, and some believe they were humans, at any rate they eventually bred with humans. Neanderthal DNA can be found in homo sapiens today, and some have that look about them.

These ancient people lived in caves or homes they made with mammoth bones, and were very careful about the way they kept their domiciles. Most could have made the cover of Neanderthal Home and Garden (sorry). They made tools, performed operations, and may have used language and created music.

This book is about a young Neanderthal brought to the future (the future of 1958 when the book was published) and the nurse who learns to love him even though he is an ugly little boy.
No one could say this story shows any signs of political correctness, and some of the words are quite offensive. Ape boy is what the media call him, and he is just a spectacle to be poked at and studied--no one cares that he is a scared little guy except his nurse, who names him Timmie and eventually she loves him dearly.

Ultimately, the company who brought him into the future is ready to send him back where he came from--they want to pull someone else out of time. It doesn't matter to them that he now wears clothes, reads, talks, uses utensils while eating and will be completely lost back in his original home.

It's heartbreaking to think they wouldn't care, but it's believable that corporations and some scientists care for nothing but money and fame, and what's one little boy's life in the shadow of their greatness.

The nurse wants desperately to sneak him out of the building to safety, but she's found out, and so her only recourse, which would be the same as most mothers frantically afraid for their child, is to go back in time with him, and try to keep him safe.
There are many conclusions my mind has created on what happens when they get back and I persist in my belief that she will help him be safe and he will grow to be a great man.

This is a wonderful story and Asimov felt it was one of his best.
This review is from my blog: http://somanybooksssolittletime.blogs...

[Book Concierge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stasis Technologies Ltd has perfected a way to reach back into time and bring forth objects for scientific study. Their most recent triumph was a baby dinosaur and now they’ve taken a Neanderthal child from the Ice-age to the 21st century. The nurse assigned to care for the child must somehow bridge a 40,000-year cultural gap. Initially shocked by the “ugly little boy,” Edith Fellows soon recognizes that he is really a frightened child, and slowly forms a deep emotional bond with Timmie.

Originally written as a short story in 1956, Robert Silverberg teamed with Asimov to expand the work into this novel format (released as The Child of Time). According to Wikipedia, Silverberg added the storyline of the Neanderthal tribe, and the child advocate subplot, both of which definitely do add to the basic plot. This also explains how I was reminded of Jean Auel’s Clan of the Cave Bear when reading about Silver Cloud, Goddess Woman, She Who Knows and the other members of the Neanderthal tribe from which Timmie was taken. (I started out wondering if Auel had borrowed from Asimov, but now think Silverberg wrote these sections after Auel’s publication).

I do wish I had a copy of the original story, however, so that I could see how Asimov wrote the ending. I had pretty much figured this would be what happened, but don’t know if it conforms to the original story or is a result of the added elements. Sort of the same conundrum faced by the characters when bringing the child into the future – are you altering the course of history?

I did like that the characters are portrayed as fully developed – having both good and bad qualities. Miss Fellowes is dedicated and truly devoted to Timmie, but also very judgmental and frequently fails to see clear signals of what is to come. Hoskins is not merely a profit-seeking CEO, but a family man who listens to Miss Fellowes arguments and tries his best to provide the child with a nurturing environment given the constraints of the Stasis bubble. Child advocate Bruce Mannheim is originally painted as a rabid rabble-rousing attention-seeking hysteric adept at media relations but turns out to be genuinely concerned and willing to help.

[Blagoy Nikolov · Rating 2 out of 5]

Малко неандерталско дете е измъкнато от каменната ера и пренесено в 21-ви век за проучвания на епохата му. Звучеше интригуващо, поне за мен. За съжаление липсва всякакво развитие. В самото начало почти като зверче, по-късно момчето се развива, проговаря на английски, научава се да чете и доказва, че изчезналият му подвид не отстъпва интелектуално на хомо сапиенс. Има и доста информация за създадения метод за изтегляне на предмети и хора от минали епохи и бегло обяснение защо това не влияе на хода на историята, въпреки че в последствие обяснението влиза в противоречие с последващите планове за сондиране на миналото. Включени са и няколко паралели със събитията около племето, от което е отнесено детето. Дотук с научно-фантастичната част.

Почти целия обем на книгата е посветен на майчината любов със силата на цунами, готово да помете всичко, застрашаващо детето. Особено едно толкова дете с толкова различен външен вид, което въобще не би се вписало в настоящето. Градиращите чувства - от отвращение към безпрекословна любов на мис Фелоуз, медицинската сестра, наета да се грижи за неандерталчето са единственото събитие, описано пространно на страниците. Въпреки че доста може да се каже по тази тема, разгръщането на романа въз основа на един разказ, не му е помогнал да да каже повече по въпроса.

В добавка краят въобще не се получи според мен, защото в опит да бъде оптимистичен, по-скоро се е получил абсурден. Няма да навлизам в подробности, за да избегна спойлери.

Дълго се колебах каква числова оценка да дам за "Дете на времето", но разочарованието в мен надделя, така че 2,5/5.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right from the beginning I knew this was going to be a book I was going to read more than once. It takes on intense subjects such as the morality of time travel and the awareness that one is growing old, with a light airy tone, and I dare say beautiful tact. Robert Silverberg has done a wonderful job of creating a wonderfully refreshing strong, yet feminine woman. No one is right and no one is wrong, but depending on who the POV character is and how they are feeling, you get to see the good and bad side of everyone. This makes it feel so much more real.

There are few books that end in such a satisfying way that you just have to smile for a few moments after you read it (and it isn't the way you think it will end!!). This will be my new go to book when I am feeling down or sick.

[فؤاد · Rating 3 out of 5]

اینو دوم سوم دبیرستان بودم که خوندم.
ماجرای یه بچهٔ نئاندرتال که با ماشین زمان به دنیای امروزی میارنش، و بچه به پرستاری که مسئول مراقبت ازش بود، وابسته میشه و پرستار هم به بچه. و در نهایت پرستار همراه بچه به زمان گذشته، زمان نئاندرتال ها بر می گرده.

خاطره بامزه ای که از این کتاب یادمه، اینه که نمی دونم چرا این قدر صحنه‌دار بود. با این که معمولاً این صحنه ها توی ترجمه سانسور میشن. و خب برای یه بچه دبیرستانی که برای اولین بار با این صحنه ها مواجه میشه، عجیب بود. یادمه کتاب رو به یکی از دوستام پیشنهاد کردم و اون تا مدت ها بهم می گفت سیاه! خدا بگم چی کارت کنه، این چه کتابی بود دادی بخونم!

[Paloma orejuda (Pevima) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pues para ser un relato corto (o un cuento)... Me ha gustado mucho mucho, aunque no me he enterado para nada de la parte científica (en realidad, tampoco me importaba demasiado. Lo que mas me intrigaba era lo que pudiera pasar con el niño).

4 estrellas sobre 5, de lo más interesante que he leído en los últimos meses.

[Laura L. Van Dam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lo tenía en stand-by porque lo traspapelé, pero ayer lo encontré y lo terminé de un tirón.
Es una historia de lectura fácil, aunque tiene la pega típica de todos los libros de Asimov que son los bodoques interminables de diálogo. Una vez superado ese escollo, hay una linda historia con viajes en el tiempo y los planteos éticos que generan.
Entretenido, pero no me encantó. Comparado con otras historias de Asimov y Silverberg, es del montón.