Minding Tomorrow

by Luke Burrage

Genres: Science Fiction

ebook

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Luke Burrage · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read my own story for the first time in about 5 years. I really liked it! It only took 3 hours too, so I finished it all in one sitting.

Full review on my podcast, SFBRP episode #271.

[Lars H. Hoffmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luke Burrrage's little novel Minding Tomorrow, is a lovely example of perfect science fiction. The characters are a little shallow and only really becomes three dimensional in the last 10% of the book. This is not a weakness of the book, but more the inherent style of the storytelling. The focus is on the main plot point and the characters step back to give way to the science and plot elements. This is a story that would not have worked in any other genre but science fiction, the sci-fi element is fundamental to the plot and that is always a welcome break from modern days space opera filled literature. The characters could be more developed but it would just have made for a longer and probably less interesting book.
The technology in the book is believable to the point where one of the mayor things is actually just a souped-up version of Google Glass. Not that Google Glass was around when the book was first written, but wearable technology was not far from reality when the book was first written in 2008.
The story is told in a non linear fashion which intertwines with the story. this means that the reader gets to work out the sequence of events and the dynamics of the tech in a natural way. Being super clever, I of course worked out the knack well before it was revealed but this was delightful and fit perfectly with the story line. The reader might not be able to work out the perfect order that everything happens in (I certainly wasn't ), but this doesn't retract from the enjoyment of reading the story.
Greqt book by Luke Burrrage, very recommendable.

[Guillermo · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I was really impressed w the clean sentences and grammar. It's not something I take for granted, especially with a young up and coming author such as Burrage. Every section simply flowed beautifully and effeciently. It really was a pleasure to read.

Burrage did an excellent job with juggling (and he is also an actual professional juggler) many different characters, a character with various names, in a non linear fashion, and the addition of an awesome time travel idea.. was extremely impressive for a first novel or for any novel for that matter. On top of that, he actually suceeded in writing an original time travel story, which is pretty difficult to do. I feel there's room for alot of room and growth with the sytem he created and hopefully it's addressed in the sequels.

The viewsers were a great invention and really moved the beginning of the story before we got into the meat of it. That is easily a technology I can see existing within 10 years or so. I know it's not that easy, but Luke should patent those things.

Its hard to say much more about the story without giving anything away, but let's just say its a non linear narrative that tips a hat to Ian M Banks Use of Weapons - a book I haven't read yet, but really look forward to reading even more so now.

I think I only have two minor gripes about the whole thing, and they probably reflect more about my ability to retain things and my personal tastes, than it does anything the author did wrong: the character with the different names got kindof confusing after a while. One chapter he's Nick, then he's Julian, maybe a Simon thrown in there...a wee bit confusing. Second was all the lovey dovey stuff. Romantic science fiction just isn't my thing, and maybe it wouldn't be a big deal in a longer work, but in a lean novel such as this, it was a little more glaring for me. I read science fiction to avoid that since I'm a romance scrooge..I dont understand why there was a chapter on zero gravity sex, but ok. Just my taste.

This was definitely much better than I expected and I would read Combat (the sequel) right away, but I hate reading from my computer screen, so I'll take a break and then give Combat a go.

[Steve Toyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great debut release, quite a few good ideas crammed into this novella. Would have loved this as a full novel with the themes and ideas and technology explored in greater depth. You will be left in the dark as to the relevance of certain chapters at the time, unless you figure out the twist early, but it all comes together nicely at the end. Looking forward to his first novel.

[Colin Forbes · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining read. I really enjoyed it.

After the first few chapters I was a bit concerned that none of them had any apparent link, but then the connections started to drop into place and the story just romped along.

After listening to Luke's reviews of so many authors' books, it is good to see that he has managed to avoid any major pitfalls in writing his own fiction.

A good first book and I'll likely try the follow-up sometime.

[Felix Dance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first real new use I've made my ebook reader - rather than reading the electronic version of a book made of trees I actually read a book published for free the internet. In this case it's a novel written by the famous juggling extraordinaire Luke Burrage (also presenter of the Science Fiction Book Review Podcast). I was quite surprised at how good his first online book turned out to be too - quite a page turner (if pressing a button counts as turning a page). The book is written out of chronology about a guy who finds a way to travel back in time and relive his life in new ways. Each life is relived over a 20 year period in a different way but with knowledge of the future. It explores how one might change the future, the moral dilemma of fooling your past self into becoming a host for your future self and the mechanics of bringing other people back with you. Quite a few good ideas, fairly well written, but could certainly use a good spell checker. I read this one while travelling by train from Tehran to Istanbul, still smarting from my kidnapping experience.

[Janne Järvinen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing is very good. I like writing that avoids lenghty descriptions. If you're into exact visual descriptions of stuff, use pictures. Books are better for ideas and stories. Complex descriptions in books have a negative effect on me. I see things better in my mind with less detail in the text.

The book bogged down just a bit right there in the middle, but picked up again. Not a problem for such a short novel.

There might be a bit too much stuff in this one. I felt it might be better if it was a bit longer. That way we could go a bit deeper with some themes.

The book could also be more linear. It felt almost to the point of gimmicky as it is. I was ready to give it three stars, but there is an appendix in the end that reveals the linear order of the chapters, and this raised the overall enjoyment back to a four star level, for me.

[Keith Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's okay, I guess. Still reads like a bunch of inter-spliced but otherwise unrelated short stories. Definitely floats some very interesting ideas; although, I'm not sure how well it really holds up as an overall story. Maybe a little too much wish fulfillment, so to speak. If only this, then of course that would happen, kind-of thing. Trying to keep it vague. It's not as simple as inventing something or publishing something or doing something. You have to invent, publish or do at just the right time under just the right circumstances. So, yeah, interesting ideas. Just don't think too much about the overall plot. The fractured nature of the narrative helps distract from the shaky idealized plot logic.

[Sotolf Flasskjegg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had big problems getting started with the book, and I started reading it two times, but when I pushed through the place that I was (about 30 % through) it started getting really good, in the end it ended up being worth it. I liked that the book surprised me with it's twists most of the time, but still let me feel smart for being able to piece together all the chapters in almost the right order on the first read through. It's hard to say too much more without spoiling the story, so I won't, but it's absolutely worth the time it took reading it.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick but rewarding read. I didn't really need the appendix at the end, although it was useful to know that I had figured things out more or less correctly. I enjoyed putting the jigsaw together and the ideas were really interesting. A new twist on time travel. Probably more of a short story than a novella, as the characters were fairly slight, but very enjoyable nonetheless, particularly because of the non-linear structure.

[Martin Noutch · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me some thought to begin to spot the patterns that allow the reader to differentiate plot streams from one another - good. In places the story itself was too dry. A refreshingly different take on time travel.

[Dan Rosenthal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the book. The narrative flowed well and the use of different timelines woven together was genius. A very thought provoking and entertaining read, with some solid future ideas. Liked the Otis elevator innovation.

[Tom Rowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Interesting first novel by Mr. Burrage, the host of the Science Fiction Book Review Podcast (SFBRP). I can't say much about this book without spoiling it. It's short. It moves fast. Give it a try. You can download it at sfbrp.com.

[Zivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good time travel story.

Even though I know in advance this novella is not limier, it's a bit hard to follow on the first go around.

A bit too much technobable bu very interesting concepts and plot twists.

Considering the fact that his is a Nanowrimo project, the result is amazing.

[Andrew Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as an e-book on my Palm. A young man achieves a facsimile of immortality via alternate dimensions and a sort of time travel. Great 1st effort by a new author.

[Paul Forbes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A non-linear read (so switch your brain on!) with some good ideas which I haven't seen in other sci-fi. Thanks for the appendix at the end Luke!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice take on the time travel concept. The non-linear story works well (although I can only take so many NL stories before they just become more annoying then interesting).

[John Hutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book should be officially published if it is not already.

[Owen Brennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great insight into the near future. I can totally see us all walking round with viewsers.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a struggling sci fi writer I can't help but give Luke major props here. He nimbly avoided every land mine on the turf and finished the story.

Inspiring, a four star debut.

[Alex Hammel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

Fun story. I liked the science fictional elements. The writing was a bit rough in parts, but not too bad.

[Gregg Kellogg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really a delightful find. Reminded me a bit of David Gerrold's "The Man who Folded Himself"

[Ian Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting. A must read. Great concepts. I like the non linear nature of the story, leaves the reader guessing and wondering all the way to the end.

[Benjamin Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

an aweful lot of fun and a great example of how to jump around with time and pov!