A Time Foreclosed

by Edward M. Lerner

Where are all the time travelers? After all, if it is possible to move between past and future, shouldn't someone from somewhen in all the infinite reaches of the future have visited by now? The good news is, there are answers to those questions. But then, there's the bad news....

In the meantime, here are some other questions to ponder. What if a man could go forward in time to learn about the future—and then backwards in time to correct a dreadful mistake? But what if going back in time was, in and of itself, the most terrible mistake possible?

Could a life's journey that started off bending—and breaking—a few real estate laws really wind up ending life as we know it? That would have to be impossible. Or would it?

Previously published as "Time Out," this mind-bending story will keep readers guessing until the final page.

Includes the bonus story "Grandpa?"—one of Edward M. Lerner's most popular tales.

Genres: Science Fiction

72 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

I'm a physicist and computer scientist (among other things). After thirty years in industry, working at every level from individual technical contributor to senior vice president, I now write full-time. Mostly I write science fiction and techno-thrillers, now and again throwing in a straight science or technology article.

Reviews

[Rob Hopwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a one of the best time travel stories I have read. It is a good, solid story with a classic feel to it. I'm surprised it is not more widely known.

[Adam Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

An ex-con in need of work takes a job with a shady scientist, but what the doc is up to is even stranger than he could ever have imagined. The doc has invented time travel and he plans to use it to fix what he sees wrong with the world and no matter what warnings he receives from the future he intends to do it.

This story was awesome. I love the stories that really get in a play around with the mechanics of time travel. This one handles it perfectly, ending with a clever twist that ties it all together.

An excellent time travel story.

Read as part of The Time Travel Megapack: 26 Modern and Classic Science Fiction Stories.

[France-Andrée · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of a man with a felonious past that becomes handyman to a fallen scientist. I liked the time travel technology here, it went a little over my head - as it should, my knowledge of science is not that high - but still was believable. The moral is a little cliché: don't mess with the future, it can have catastrophic consequences but even if the moral is over used, the story was interesting enough to counter this.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of the absolute best time travel stories I've ever read.