| Jherek Carnelian is a member of a society of humans living on Earth near the very end of time itself. Here, people live uncaring, hedonistic lifestyles, with the power to change their environment and themselves at will, using the energy from ancient 'cities'. At a party, Jherek meets Mrs Amelia Underwood, who has been mysteriously abducted from the 19th century and brought to the far future. Jherek's friend, Lord Jagged of Canaria, suggests to him that it would amuse them all if Jherek were to fall in love with Amelia. In the far future passionate emotions have been completely forgotten, and everyone regards 'falling in love' as nothing more than a game.
Jherek sets to wooing Amelia at once, but Amelia is horrified at the decadence of his society and Jherek's seeming amorality. Through persistence, however, Jherek eventually seems to make a breakthrough, but at that moment Amelia is returned to the 19th century. Desperate to find her, Jherek is supplied a time machine by the End of Time's resident scientist, Brannart Morphail, and sets off back to the 19th century. Unfortunately, Jherek is unaccustomed to life in the late 19th century, being totally naive, trusting and innocent. He is tricked into taking part in a robbery and then arrested, but manages to escape back to the far future before he can be hanged. On his second trip back in time, he manages to reach Amelia, but she explains to him that since she is married she cannot go with him. But her husband discovers them and, convinced they are having an affair, cast them out. Now Jherek and Amelia must escape the police, who believe Jherek is a criminal, and find their way back to the far future. Even there, however, Amelia faces a dilemma. Can her ingrained 19th century mentality allow her to live such a decadent, amoral existence in the future? | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book - humorous or laughable FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story Time Travel: - largely backwards/past Romance Yes Romance plotlets: - Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Time Travel story? Yes Cultural problems, alien culture Yes Culture clash- - one person from different culture of other persons Descript. of chases or violence - 20 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30 % Main Character Identity: - Male Profession/status: Age: - long lived adults If magical mental powers: - can fly Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - long-lived adults Profession/status: Has magical powers? Yes Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can fly Eccentric: Yes How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Setting Earth setting: - 19th century - dinosaur times - distant future Takes place on Earth? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed Sex in book? Yes What kind of sex: - vague references only - descript of kissing How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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