The Man Who Folded Himself

English language

Published Dec. 29, 2003

ISBN:: 978-1-932100-04-4

(1 review)

The Man Who Folded Himself is a 1973 science fiction novel by American writer David Gerrold. It was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1974 and the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1974. The book explores the psychological, physical, and personal challenges that manifest when time travel is possible for a single individual at the touch of a button.

1 edition

Thom reviewed The Man Who Folded Himself by David Gerrold

Review of 'The Man Who Folded Himself' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This short time travel novel hits all the points and paradoxes - altering the past, witnessing historic events, making money with future knowledge, and encountering yourself. Described as the ultimate time travel novel, this seems more of an exploration - the very self-focused main character lacks a conflict, and the story suffers for it.

In the opening paragraphs, the main character is cautioned to keep a journal, and this novel is told through a series of (undated) journal entries. This stream-of-consciousness approach works for this story, and the points where it is hard to follow are intentional. It also manages to pack in most of the time travel tropes in a fairly short space, and can easily be read in a few hours.

Heinlein's All You Zombies is shorter and has at least a mystery. This novel hints at that mystery but never completes the circle, and for me is …

This short time travel novel hits all the points and paradoxes - altering the past, witnessing historic events, making money with future knowledge, and encountering yourself. Described as the ultimate time travel novel, this seems more of an exploration - the very self-focused main character lacks a conflict, and the story suffers for it.

In the opening paragraphs, the main character is cautioned to keep a journal, and this novel is told through a series of (undated) journal entries. This stream-of-consciousness approach works for this story, and the points where it is hard to follow are intentional. It also manages to pack in most of the time travel tropes in a fairly short space, and can easily be read in a few hours.

Heinlein's All You Zombies is shorter and has at least a mystery. This novel hints at that mystery but never completes the circle, and for me is the worse for it. Overall rating 3 stars, but a future self seems to have edited this to be 4, and I can't really argue with him, because I like him so much.