If at First . . . (Short Story) - Peter F. Hamilton

If at First . . . (Short Story)

By Peter F. Hamilton

  • Release Date: 2011-06-20
  • Genre: Adventure Sci-Fi
Score: 3.5
3.5
From 57 Ratings

Description

Peter F. Hamilton has proven himself a modern master of epic space opera, carrying the tradition of far-future empire building begun by Heinlein and Asimov into the new millennium. But Hamilton is also a master of the short story, and when he tackles one of science fiction’s most enduring themes—time travel—the result is as provocative as it is entertaining.

It starts in 2007 with a break-in. The victim: Marcus Orthew, the financial and technological genius behind Orthanics, the computer company whose radical products have delivered a one-two punch to the industry, all but knocking PCs and Macs out of the ring. The perpetrator: a man obsessed with Orthew. Just another simple case of celebrity stalking—or so everyone assumes at first, including Metropolitan Police Chief Detective David Lanson. 

But when Lanson interviews the suspect, he makes a startling claim: Orthew is from the future. Or, rather, a future—a parallel timeline.

Thus begins the ride of a lifetime for Lanson, as his pursuit of the facts tumbles him headlong down a rabbit hole—and the hunter finds himself hunted.

Reviews

  • Very good

    4
    By Playing to relax
    20 page independent short story about time travel.
  • OK Short Story and Novel Sample

    3
    By Polarity Reversal
    This mildly interesting short story is used as a hook to get you to read the follow-on sample from "The Mandel Files, Volume 1: Mindstar Rising." Both the short story and the sample are well written and somewhat engaging but that's about it.
  • Good but...

    3
    By SHOrdr
    It's too short. The story was great until it ended. I'm not saying the ending was bad. It's just that the story ended too abruptly. Keep writing Hamilton you are good at what you do.