The Man Who Turned into Himself

by David Ambrose

Rick Hamilton has the perfect life, a great career, a wonderful son and a beautiful wife. Until one day, halfway through a vital business meeting he starts doodling - and a chilling premonition tells him his wife is about to die in a car crash. After a frantic dash to the scene More... he discovers an even more horrifying t

Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Time Travel, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Novels

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

David Edwin Ambrose

Reviews

[El · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Man Who Turned Into Himself turns quantum physics into an accessible medium (ie, fiction) like Sophie's World does for philosophy.

In other words... GAG.

I learned about the same amount of quantum physics by reading this book as I did by watching Quantum Leap, except with this book I didn't even get the delightful banter between Sam Bakula and Dean Stockwell. Instead I had Rick Hamilton who is confronted by a horrible experience and essentially "leaps" into another body. But... but... the leap isn't just into another body... it's a leap into his own body but in a parallel universe! And then there's some discussion about parallel universes and apparently his body in this other universe doesn't take care of himself very well so there's some righteous indignation going on and some talk about pigs with wings.

So what we have here, basically, is a book about quantum leaping and parallel universes, all wrapped up in a nice sortof alternate history sort of package. And the sparkly bow on top is that one can supposedly learn about theoretical physics. Like how one can supposedly learn all the basics about the great philosophers in history by reading Sophie's World. Sorry, folks. I don't buy it.

I've read some reviews here and on other sites that totally rip Ambrose a new one for his writing. It wasn't so bad, really. Look, the book kept my interest for the first almost-hundred pages but then I figured it out (cuz Im smrt) and then I just wanted to see if Dean Stockwell would show up. Like other reviews I'll say that this could have been done differently and therefore probably better. My suggestion is that if you want to learn about quantum physics you should probably pick up a discussion of it, like by a quantum physicist or whatever.

Or you could just ask Al and he could put it in that Rubik's cube thing that he carries around which never seems to work right.

[Ben Lawrence · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is like Mozart played on a kazoo. Interesting ideas, awful writing. The author has a great sense for science fictioney-ideas, but his writing is a pile of cliches and plot turns you see coming 20 pages ahead. I tore through it in an afternoon because it's easy reading, but I can't recommend it.

[Bar Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope.

[Tomislav · Rating 2 out of 5]

David Ambrose was primarily a movie script writer and playwright when his first novel The Man Who Turned Into Himself was published in 1993. In it, Rick Hamilton is in the middle of a business meeting, when he suddenly feels compelled to run out and drive furiously to the scene of a car accident where his wife dies. But suddenly, it is he who is bleeding and being comforted by his wife. She is his wife Anne, but she is not the same, and while the world is ours in general form, there are many particulars that contradict what he remembers. What follows next are some episodes in which he tries to find a way out of the deepening legal and psychiatric prison into which he has fallen. It wasn’t what I was expecting in a science fiction novel, but I was beginning to enjoy the mind-games of his entrapment in the system. I was ready to go in the direction of Kafka.

However, once he gets out, the plot takes a melodramatic and predictable path through the kind of jealousies and violence that make sense only in a cinematic form, where there is a need to keep the popcorn-eating audience awake using some startling plot twist every three or four minutes – but which don’t add up to any kind of rational world building. Because they behaved in ways that did not seem reasonable, eventually I came to disbelieve in the characters. More importantly to me, the presented “science” of parallel worlds is little more than hand-waving, and Rick’s brain powers are unjustified bullshit. The expectations of written science fiction are higher than this.

Nice start, but then crash and burn.

[Ajeje Brazov · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un romanzo fantascienfico col ritmo di un thriller, che alla fine diventa quasi una tragedia, tipo le serie TV drammatiche degli ultimi anni, ma per carità! L'idea era molto interessante e le prime 40-50 pagine si leggono molto bene e ti lasciano quella voglia di continuare per sapere dove andrà a parare.
Poi arriva la soluzione all'arcano che mi ha lasciato discretamente freddino. La parte centrale è quasi inutile e comunque abbastanza confusionaria, dove si intrecciano termini e teorie scientifiche/psicologiche (universi paralleli, pazzia), dove c'è spazio anche a qualche scenetta trash.
Il finale è un vortice di pensieri, stati d'animo, ma confusionari all'inverosimile, "Le porte della percezione" di Huxley mi aveva, a confronto, disorientato meno :-P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qj7tW...

[Picklevictory · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow.
that was cool.

[George K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Αυτό είναι το πρώτο βιβλίο που έγραψε ο Ντέιβιντ Άμπροουζ το 1993 και είναι το πρώτο δικό του βιβλίο που διαβάζω. Δεν είναι το κλασικό βιβλίο επιστημονικής φαντασίας, ούτε εξωγήινους έχει, ούτε μηχανές του χρόνου, ούτε κάτι ανάλογο. Βασίζεται πάντως στην κβαντική θεωρία, τα παράλληλα σύμπαντα, τους πολλούς κόσμους, αλλά και το ταξίδι στον χρόνο... χωρίς μηχανή.

Πως έχει η ιστορία: Ο Ρικ Χάμιλτον είναι παντρεμένος με την Ανν και έχει έναν μικρό γιο, τον Τσάρλι. Είναι ένας επιτυχημένος επιχειρηματίας και ένας ευτυχισμένος οικογενειάρχης. Κάποια στιγμή όλα αλλάζουν: Στην μέση μιας σημαντικής επαγγελματικής συνάντησης, έχει ένα έντονο προαίσθημα θανάτου. Αισθάνεται ότι η γυναίκα του θα πεθάνει σε ένα τροχαίο ατύχημα. Και φεύγει κακήν κακώς από το κτίριο όπου ήταν, για να βρεθεί στο σημείο όπου θα γινόταν το ατύχημα. Φτάνει εκεί και βλέπει το αυτοκίνητο της γυναίκας του κάτω από ένα φορτηγό, αυτήν να είναι εγκλωβισμένη και βαριά τραυματισμένη μέσα στο αυτοκίνητο, και τον Τσάρλι σώο και ασφαλή έξω από αυτό. Μετά όμως... όλα αλλάζουν. Το αυτοκίνητο ήταν δικό του. Αυτός φορούσε άλλα ρούχα, τα οποία ήταν βρώμικα και σκισμένα. Η γυναίκα του ήταν ασφαλής, ζωντανή. Τον έλεγαν Ρίτσαρντ και όχι Ρικ. Και δεν είχε γιο. Και κάπως έτσι αρχίζει η όλη ιστορία...

Πραγματικά εξαιρετικά ενδιαφέρον βιβλίο, τροφή για σκέψη. Χωράει πολλή συζήτηση. Η γραφή του Άμπροουζ είναι πάρα πολύ καλή, οι χαρακτήρες με βάθος, ενδιαφέρεσαι γι'αυτούς, και η υπόθεση έχει πολύ μυστήριο και δράμα. Είχε συζητηθεί να γίνει ταινία, αλλά δεν έγινε τελικά. Πάντως αν θέλετε να δείτε μια ταινία που θα σας αφήσει την ίδια αίσθηση και να έχει την ίδια ατμόσφαιρα, δείτε το Memento και το The Machinist. Το βιβλίο επίσης είναι ο ορισμός του page turner.

[Gardy (Elisa G) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Non è che sia scarso il libro o la sua idea di base, ovvero il saltellare qua e là tra fantascienza e psichiatria, giocando con l'ambigua sanità mentale di un uomo che condivide due personalità e due memorie in un solo corpo.

Il problema è la scrittura di David Ambrose (o forse un effetto collaterale della traduzione, chissà). L'ho trovata monocorde, prolissa e assolutamente incapace di tenere celati i colpi di scena del romanzo fino a quando vengono davvero rivelati, creando un effetto "auto-spoiler" nel lettore.
A tratti si rimane affascinati per come Ambrose tenga in bilico il lettore mantenendo la plausibilità del crollo nervoso a fianco della teoria degli universi paralleli (in pratica, il protagonista dopo un forte shock finisce nella mente di un suo doppione di un mondo, come direbbero in Fringe, solo "slightly different"), a tratti le svolte della storia e la loro gestione fanno pensare ad un esordiente poco smaliziato.

Non mi è piaciuto ma non saprei dirvi quanto questo dipenda dal mio gusto personale e quanto dalle colpe oggettive dell'autore.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book could have been so much better...with hundreds more pages and more parallel universes and a more interesting writing style.

Unfortunately, the first half was boring and the second half was EXTREMELY rushed. The author had some good ideas but there was a major lack of suspense during what should have been exciting reveals. The characters were pretty flat and not established enough for the reader to care when something happens to them.

Wouldn't recommend it...but if you're into quantam theory and parallel worlds, check out the first couple seasons of Sliders on Netflix...they do it better.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dimensional traveler? Or just insane? I like how this book, for the most part, kept the protagonist's true condition ambiguous (or perhaps there *is* no difference!) That more than anything else blew my mind (I'm more than familiar with the many worlds/quantum mechanics theory, so that wasn't in itself so compelling). The protagonist's voice was at times a little too pompous for me, but the narrative was compelling, I finished it swiftly, and left satisfied. "Soft-scifi" for the literary set.

[Patrick Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

DON"T READ THE SECOND AND THIRD PART OF THE BOOK. They end up being a medical and psychological explanation of what was happening to the main character throughout he first part. Ruined it. Some things are better left unexplained.

The first part however is ridiculously incredible. Please read that. It really is one of the better story concepts I have come across in years. The writing is beautiful, the feelings are tragic true. It was a wonderful mind bending experience. Then the explanations came. So skip the 2nd and 3rd part and you'll be extra happy.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Do NOT read this book. It is terrible. Here is a short list of why this book blows goats: Dumb storyline, clumsy plot devices, ill-developed and unsympathetic characters, zero research of scientific premise of story, unpleasant/slovenly writing style, failure to create believable fictional world. I could go on, but if you're still reading this now, you've already spent too much time on this book.

[kostas vamvoukakis · Rating 5 out of 5]

απλα ενα εξαιρετικο βιβλιο επιστημονικης φαντασιας (νομιζω) ....γιωργο ευχαριστω,,,

[Philip Athans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book fascinating. Though it co-opts some version of Big Idea science fiction it remains firmly grounded in the personal to present a story about a real man in very unreal circumstances.

[Sil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uno di quei libri che fa pensare, di sicuro non lo leggi per passare il tempo e basta.
Sfiora temi che non tutti comprendono ma sui quali tutti, almeno una volta nella vita, hanno speso almeno un pensiero a riguardo.
Pazzia o possibilità di universi paralleli? Cosa succederebbe se un giorno ci svegliassimo nei panni di qualcun altro? o meglio, di un IO diverso da quello che siamo in questo momento e in questa vita?
La storia in sé non mi ha entusiasmato, devo essere sincera, ma smuove un pensiero, una riflessione e questo basta e avanza (a mio parere) per essere considerato un libro che vale la pena leggere.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

IO, CHE CREDEVO DI ODIARE LA FISICA

"L'uomo che credeva di essere se stesso" è un viaggio nella fantascienza, alla scoperta dei mondi paralleli. Mi ha presa in modo incredibile, tanto da farmi leggere con gli occhi sgranati. La conclusione, inoltre, è davvero meravigliosa, e tutta la vicenda suscita una grandissima curiosità ed interesse (persino per la fisica, che odio a morte!), nonché emozioni incontenibili. Questa storia è riuscita a scalfire e a far piangere persino me, la Regina dei ghiacci che di solito verso lacrime soltanto su quelle pagine fitte di problemi e dimostrazioni incomprensibili che costituiscono il mio libro di fisica.

Inizio dell'amore sconfinato per Ambrose, che si riconfermerà il re della fantascienza (ovviamente per me, che ho una conoscenza limitata di questo genere) anche ne "Il fascino discreto di Charlie Monk", romanzo ricco di azione che lascia col fiato sospeso, soprattutto di fronte ad un twist finale che cambia completamente le carte in tavola.

***

Dopo aver riletto anche questo, non posso che confermare la mia adorazione per Ambrose. Non dovendo imporre continuamente a me stessa di chiudere la bocca spalancatasi per lo stupore, in questa seconda lettura in cui ero pronta a tutti i colpi di scena (o quasi, alcuni mi hanno comunque spiazzato!), ho potuto concentrarmi maggiormente sugli elementi che, la prima volta, determinarono una partecipazione così grande da parte mia. Un ruolo preponderante lo giocò il ritmo rapidissimo, nonché la bizzarra chimica instauratasi tra Rick e Richard, con i loro dialoghi spassosissimi e paradossali:

"— Me la sbrigo io, — dissi a Richard, e lui fu felice di farsi da parte."

A tenermi incollata alle pagine furono anche (e a ciò feci riferimento già nella recensione del 2014) la grande quantità di sentimenti in ballo e il taglio accattivante dato alle spiegazioni di fisica, tale da renderle ancora più strabilianti.

"— Da quanto mi risulta, Everett sostiene che in realtà non sia l'onda a trasformarsi in particella quando la osserviamo, ma che sia l'osservatore a dividersi in due metà identiche, una che guarda le particelle, l'altra le onde.
— Esatto! E lo fanno in due universi completamente separati. [...] Qui si parla di transizione dei quanti, che avviene continuamente in ogni stella, in ogni galassia, in tutti gli angoli dell'universo. [...]
— Così, ogni volta che capita una di queste "transizioni" l'universo intero si divide in due parti: in una all'interno di una parte dell'atomo c'è un'onda, nell'altra invece c'è una particella. [...] è pazzesco!
— Niels Bohr [...] diceva che se uno non rimaneva sconvolto dalla teoria dei quanti voleva dire che non l'aveva capita."

Insomma, lo rileggerei altre centomila volte, soprattutto perché il finale è stato capace di mandarmi di nuovo in crisi. E non vedo l'ora di ripetere l'esperienza con Charlie Monk, il prossimo sulla lista.

[Eden Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the JetBlackDragonfly book blog at www.edenthompson.ca/blog

The Man Who Turned Into Himself is a great mind-bending mystery written by David Ambrose.
Businessman Rick Hamilton has a premonition at work that his wife and child are in a car accident. When he arrives at the scene, he sees Anne pinned under the car, dying. He manages to save their son Charlie from the wreck.
And then, Anne is standing beside him, comforting him, as he was the one in the accident. He asks about their son, but they have no son.
He is now another man with another life - now a real estate developer named Richard Hamilton, still married to Anne, though without a child or a happy marriage. Rick's consciousness battles with Richard until they realize they have to work out what has happened together. Is it possible Rick can return to his previous life?

This is based on the 'many worlds' theory of quantum physics, which posits parallel universes. Each decision you make splits off into two paths: the choice you made and the choice you declined, and a new universe (or timeline, or history) is created. Seeing through Richard's eyes, in his timeline John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert, and Marilyn Monroe are still alive. His best friend remains Harold, but in the new universe, Harold is having an affair with Anne. Rick (trapped inside) learns to let Richard do all the talking so he wouldn't sound insane, and sends Richard to people he knew in his previous existence who could help decipher the story, and possibly help Rick return to his own past/future.

Niels Bohr pioneered this theory in the twenties, and although it is mind-bending, there is scientific evidence to back up the theories described in the book. I love both fiction and non-fiction books like these, as this wild idea is seemingly impossible. There is a universe where I didn't read this book, another where I did, so many forks in the road.
The book gets wilder as it moves deeper into mental analysis. They discover that Richard can be hypnotized, but not Rick, allowing Rick to tell his story. Then they hypnotize Rick to regress back into his past to a time before the car accident, possibly preventing it. He achieves this, but it's no longer the same life; the timeline had changed.

This is a thinker's mystery that travels in ways I can only touch on. If this sounds complex, I have only shared the tip of the story! Fascinating and involving. Cause and effect.
This twister is highly recommended.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Imagination is everything", David Ambrose writes in The Man Who Turned Into Himself, and it requires some imagination to tell a story about a man traveling between two realities: one where he is happily married with a son, and one where the same man is in an unfaithful marriage with no children. And in one horrifying moment, the wall between those two worlds cracks.

Such is the posit of the Many World theory, that pivotal events in one world create a new universe, identical to the original world save for the outcome of the event. It's been the purview of science fiction and theoretical physics since time immemorial, and Ambrose's take on the subject is a good starting point for readers not familiar with the concept, or sci fi fans looking for a little hard sci fi in their parallel universe fiction.

Unfortunately, the story itself struggles to hold up under the layers and layers of imagination. Ambrose keeps things moving very nicely (and the short length of the book helps), but it's hard to keep track of which Rick/Richard Hamilton is in which world - especially when time travel enters the equation. The clunky writing (Lots of short sentences. To end paragraphs. For drama. And tension.) and stilted dialog doesn't get you caught up in the writing, either.

The Man Who Turned Into Himself is ultimately a very cerebral look at what your life might be like in a world exactly like this one, but despite his efforts, Ambrose falls short in making it an emotionally compelling one.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

-The author takes on a bold task in telling a story about a madman with two voices in his head, but he does the story more than justice in carefully laying out each and every detail to the reader without alienating them.

-I was also very impressed by his understanding and articulation of the many-worlds theory, having long fancied the theory myself, it was galvanizing to see an author contextualize it so vividly.

-All in all, this is the kind of book I would like to write. It carries the same intensity and brilliance as Palahniuk's Fight Club or Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, with the same masterful timing and mind-shattering conclusions. Very well done.

-And especially for a first novel, David Ambrose shows promising potential. I will look for his work again soon,

[Sergio Donato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Questo di David Ambrose è un libro-amico.
Un libro-amico è quello che quando lo lasci sul comodino dopo una lunga sessione di lettura vorresti riprenderlo subito, e che ti frulla in testa anche se ti stai tagliando le unghie dei piedi.
Non si può raccontare molto senza togliere tante sorprese, un po' come è successo a me leggendo le prime parole di un lettore anglofono su goodreads. Mi ha rovinato la lettura fino a circa pagina 70. Umpf!

Procurati questo libro anche se non ti piace la fantascienza, perché avere un figlio che sparisce nel nulla e di cui nessuno si ricorda se non te, non può mica succederti, però è così affascinante leggerlo.

[Jashvina Shah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going on the high side by giving this four stars, mostly because I thought the plot was good and interesting and I liked the ending. I didn't think it was the greatest thing ever, and I got thrown by the "psychological thriller" category, because I honestly don't think it is. I also agree with some people here that we never really get a chance to care about the characters because they're never developed. It all happens kind of quickly. And I'm not a big science person so I was pretty lost at the more scientific talk.

[Lisa Rau]

This is a must-read for anyone interested in a world where fiction, science, philosophy and even spirituality come together. Not only is the frame of a high-energy adventure thriller a great entertainment backdrop, but this is the layperson's guide to quantum physics, other dimensions and the endlessly fascinating "Many Worlds Theory" without the write-off "sci fi" label. Read this book! The ending(s) is (are) well worth your time.

[Caryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

PURCHASED ON KOBO





CONFUSED!!

Well, now I have finished this book I can honestly say it boggled my mind! I originally wanted to give 3 stars but the imagination of this author was brilliant. I don't know anything about quantum physics, time travel, parallel universes, or dual personalities BUT all are fascinating subjects and are included in this story. Should you buy and read this story? Not sure but if you like "bizarre", then yes, by all means indulge yourself!

[Lou · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quel genere di libro che ti frega: inizia col botto, con una trama che crea grandi aspettative e diventa via via più noioso. Non é nemmeno avvincente. L'ho finito per sfinimento. Discorsi scontati, distopia da tè delle cinque. Che brutto!

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faultless.

[Rachel]

Uuuuuuuuuuuuughh.

Prose this bad should be a punishable offense. Corporeally punishable. No stars.

[Nom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a page turner.
Would definitely make a great movie or mini-series.

[t a y r e a d s ☾]

I found this book really hard to follow.. and I gave up because I wasn't understanding the author's writing style. :)

[Άννα Μακρή · Rating 3 out of 5]

Το διάβασα πολύ γρήγορα, γιατί ήταν διασκεδαστικό κι ενδιαφέρον (χωρίς να έχει απολαυστική γραφή - μόνο υπόθεση). Αλλά ξεφούσκωσε τελείως στο τέλος και τα χάλασε όλα.

[Jennifer]

Great little parallel universe book that I forgot about. I need to re-read.