The 5:22

by George Harrar, LeVar Burton (Narrator)

When a fellow passenger on his usual train goes missing, a man begins to wonder if everything is as it seems.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Audiobook, Science Fiction

1 pages, Audiobook

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

I write fiction for middle grade readers through adults and hold the distinction of having had three novels published by three different publishers for three different age groups in a single year. REUNION AT RED PAINT BAY (Other Press) is my latest book, about a newspaper editor in Maine and his family who engage in a full-scale psychological battle with a stalker without even knowing it. The novel was adapted in 2018 as a French-language film titled "Examen de Conscience." My earlier book, THE SPINNING MAN (Penguin), was also released in 2018 as a film starring Guy Pearce, Minnie Driver and Pierce Brosnan. It is available On Demand and on DVD. A new paperback edition of my novel with a film-theme cover was reissued by Amazon. For YA readers I wrote NOT AS CRAZY AS I SEEM (Houghton Mifflin) about a 15-year-old coping with his OCD "tendencies." PARENTS WANTED (Milkweed),for middle-grade readers, is my semi-autobiographical story of a 12-year-old boy's struggle to fit in with his adoptive family. Of my 12 published short stories, "The 5:22" won the Carson McCullers Prize and was selected for Best American Short Stories, 1999.

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually found this simple story fairly delightful - only when things go missing does our protagonist start to truly strive for engagement. Fascinating but not complicated.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rather enjoyed this one.

A bit old school in the Twilight Zone vibe. You never know what the lives of the people you commute with are actually all about. It's easy to make up stories in your head about them.

LeVar Burton did an excellent job narrating it as always.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

A man is shook out of his normal (drab) routine.

[Amy Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, this seems to be poking fun at the sort of story where something changes and it actually means something, but we like that in stories because we often hope for that IRL, so I don't really see the point. * shrugs * That said, this was mostly enjoyable, but the alternate conductor earned it a gaslighting tag. Yes, someone could be that obtuse and inobservant IRL, but usually someone that bad has made a deliberate choice.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always love listening to Levar read anything. I particularly enjoy his podcast Levar Burton Reads. This story took me days to get through because I kept falling asleep. 😂 (A testament to Levar's soothing voice and not really the story.) Agree with Levar that this story reminds me of a Twilight Zone episode.

[Skye · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened via LeVar Burton Reads
The story itself wasn't very interesting, and I honestly found Walter just a little creepy, but it did have me thinking about what my routine is and what happens when it shifts. Who are the regulars in my life? Have I ever spoken to them?

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little story about routines, everyday strangers and what could happen if you change things up just a bit.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Made me think of other stories with a less than exciting protagonist, such as Stranger Than Fiction an Secret Life of Walter Mitty. However, there’s no real change. The protagonist doesn’t do much.

[Simran Bodhak · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the main protagonist and his reactions to the events which jolted his mundane life.

[Frieda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this story confusing, not helped by falling asleep and having to restart regularly for the past few days. I'm glad Mel explained what happened at the end. And then Burton explained the story and it brought me to understand it.

[Jaden (: · Rating 5 out of 5]

as part of best american short stories 1999

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Twilight Zone type story and a lesson in mindfulness.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joyful little short story that had me hooked

[Davie Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting but lacking somehow. A satisfying conclusion though after a wobbly middle.