The Hunger of Time

by Damien Broderick, Rory Barnes

Technology has started to accelerate at a terrifying rate. By mid 21st century, we might see a a convergence of artificial intelligence, advanced nanotechnologies for building things at the atomic scale, precise genomics, other wonders. What happens after that? Will the descendents of today's humanity become gods or demons, or simply destroy themselves? And will we be among their number, carried along by rejuvenation and immortality treatments? For Natalie and her irritatingly beautiful young sister Suzanna, these are no longer abstract questions. The familiar world is on the brink of crisis. Dumped by her live-in boyfriend and stuck back at home with her parents, Nat is not a happy person. And her father Hugh is acting like a mad scientist. What the hell is he building out there in the garage? When Hugh frog-marches his family into the garage, it looks as if he's really gone mad, and they're due to perish even before the plague wipes out all life on earth. But the machine Hugh has been working on hurls them all--not forgetting their dog Ferdy--ever farther into the future, and the escapade doesn't stop until the very end of time and space.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy

264 pages, Paperback

First published May 6, 2003

About the author

Damien Francis Broderick was an Australian science fiction and popular science writer and editor of some 74 books. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction credits him with the first usage of the term "virtual reality" in science-fiction, in his 1982 novel The Judas Mandala.

Reviews

[Aphrael · Rating 2 out of 5]

adventure book that devolves in vague philosophy. characters are set up but not fleshes out as much as you would like. the main character is acting and thinking like she's 18 or so, when she's mid twenties, which is really annoying. plot isn't obvious so that's nice.

[Govno Nichevo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought that this was a poor read. The story started well enough but I started disengaging about half way through. I am not really sure what this story was about in the end.

[T.W. Verran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I liked it. Was it the perfect book? No. But it was still an enjoyable enough read, even though it was a bit of a fever dream. But I liked it.

[Kirkus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blending whimsical with deep is not a combination I have encountered before. I read it rather fast, there was probably more meaning there but I didn't find the urge within me to ponder the gnostic meaning to some of the phrases. I do notice that the book appeals more to a person with the same cultural heritage as the writer, for me I feel like Im lacking 10 years of culture/education to understand all the symbolism.

[Kein · Rating 4 out of 5]

whimsical. intriguing.