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Past Imperfect
Explores the themes of time travel, time paradoxes, and alternate universes in an anthology of original short fiction by such authors as Kathryn Rusch, Diane Duane, Dean Wesley Smith, and James P. Hogan.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2001
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About the author
Martin H. Greenberg
910 books163 followersMartin Harry Greenberg was an American academic and speculative fiction anthologist. In all, he compiled 1,298 anthologies and commissioned over 8,200 original short stories. He founded Tekno Books, a packager of more than 2000 published books. In addition, he was a co-founder of the Sci-Fi Channel.
For the 1950s anthologist and publisher of Gnome Press, see Martin Greenberg.
For the 1950s anthologist and publisher of Gnome Press, see Martin Greenberg.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 29, 2013
This is a collection of commissioned short stories, all involving one of sci-fi's most cherished themes: time travel. Most are by second-tier authors, and the story quality is generally what you'd expect: solid efforts, respectable writing, but not inspired. None are destined to be classics, but only one or two are weak.
Just about every variant of the time-travel subgenre is represented here: time travel technology as developed by lone geniuses, secretive elite organizations, or the military, used for scientific research, to prevent crimes, or right injustices. Storylines include poignant anecdotes in Twilight Zone style; trips beyond the twilight of the human race; paradoxes involved in meeting your future self; and intricately plotted loops in which the protagonist can't help reenacting events he has previously witnessed, despite being determined to avoid them.
You may not discover any new favorites, and none of the stories are particularly innovative, but the collection is enjoyable.
Just about every variant of the time-travel subgenre is represented here: time travel technology as developed by lone geniuses, secretive elite organizations, or the military, used for scientific research, to prevent crimes, or right injustices. Storylines include poignant anecdotes in Twilight Zone style; trips beyond the twilight of the human race; paradoxes involved in meeting your future self; and intricately plotted loops in which the protagonist can't help reenacting events he has previously witnessed, despite being determined to avoid them.
You may not discover any new favorites, and none of the stories are particularly innovative, but the collection is enjoyable.
March 1, 2015
Blood Trail by Kristine Kathryn Rusch 9/11/2006
Things I Didn't Know My Father Knew by Peter Crowther 9/12/2006
Jeff's Best Joke by Jane Lindskold 9/13/2006
In the Company of Heroes by Diane Duane 9/14/2006
Doing Time by Robin Wayne Bailey 9/15/2006
Palimpsest Day by Gary A. Braunbeck 9/17/2006
The Gift of a Dream by Dean Wesley Smith 9/18/2006
A Touch Through Time by Kathleen M. Massie-Ferch 9/19/2006
Theory of Relativity by Jody Lynn Nye 9/20/2006
Iterations by William H. Keith, Jr. 9/21/2006
Convolution by James P. Hogan 9/22/2006
Mint Condition by Nina Kiriki Hoffman 9/24/2006
Things I Didn't Know My Father Knew by Peter Crowther 9/12/2006
Jeff's Best Joke by Jane Lindskold 9/13/2006
In the Company of Heroes by Diane Duane 9/14/2006
Doing Time by Robin Wayne Bailey 9/15/2006
Palimpsest Day by Gary A. Braunbeck 9/17/2006
The Gift of a Dream by Dean Wesley Smith 9/18/2006
A Touch Through Time by Kathleen M. Massie-Ferch 9/19/2006
Theory of Relativity by Jody Lynn Nye 9/20/2006
Iterations by William H. Keith, Jr. 9/21/2006
Convolution by James P. Hogan 9/22/2006
Mint Condition by Nina Kiriki Hoffman 9/24/2006
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews