Book Details
“The Final Days” by David Langford | The Time Traveler’s Almanac collection
Editors: Ann VanderMeer, Jeff VanderMeer
Total Pages in the collection: 960
Published: March 18, 2014 by Tor Books
My Review
How apt is this title since this is my final day reviewing for The Time Traveler’s Almanac? I’m gearing up to give birth soon, so as you fellow parents can imagine, I’m headed into busy territory as I manage the new addition to our family 🙂
I’m thrilled and honored to have had the opportunity to participate in the TTA reviews along with some great bloggers and authors. I’ll still be updating my blog with my sci-fi/fantasy interviews, musings and obsessions, but I hope you don’t whack me if I fall a little behind. Deal?
So, The Final Days is a short story about the last days leading up to a presidential election. Our candidate Harman is cool and collected, and apparently has the bravado to go along with it all (he should totally hang out with our guy from last week). I suppose the “time travel” aspect comes in with the mysterious “Watchers” who are outside of time observing events unfold, but the story does stick with Harman as we see the gears turn in his mind and how he is convinced his destiny lies in being great, in being a force to be reckoned with.
I’ll agree with DJ that the tension drew me in, and I too would’ve liked to have learned more about the science/tech behind the gadget and how it all worked, but for a very short story, I think the author hit the points that he needed to.
My Rating:
3.8-ish out of 5
About The Time Traveler’s Almanac
The Time Traveler’s Almanac is the largest and most definitive collection of time travel stories ever assembled. Gathered into one volume by intrepid chrononauts and world-renowned anthologists Ann and Jeff VanderMeer, this book compiles more than a century’s worth of literary travels into the past and the future that will serve to reacquaint readers with beloved classics of the time travel genre and introduce them to thrilling contemporary innovations.
This marvelous volume includes nearly seventy journeys through time from authors such as Douglas Adams, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, William Gibson, Ursula K. Le Guin, George R. R. Martin, Michael Moorcock, H. G. Wells, and Connie Willis, as well as helpful non-fiction articles original to this volume (such as Charles Yu’s “Top Ten Tips For Time Travelers”).
The Time Traveler’s Almanac Review Group
This review is part of an on-going review series. We’re trying to review a short story per week from The Time Traveler’s Almanac. Please join us and share your thoughts! My partners in crime on this reading adventure includes the following authors and bloggers. Check out their reviews as well:
We will miss your insights, Alesha, but good luck with momming the little baby. I think your review reflects about the same level of amusement I got from it. 🙂
Thank you!
Awwwww. You’ll be very much missed, but all the best for the next days/weeks/months!!! So excited for you 😀
Yes. You’re right – this was a very vividly written story. That fact kindof slipped me by. I think I was seeing too much red with Harman’s narcissistic attitude and the lack of time travel, lol!
Exactly! 🙂 And thank you for your well wishes.
I’ll miss you in the TTA read-along! But I’m happy that I was able to comeback in time for one last review with you 😀 And good luck with the baby and congratulations!!!! 🙂
Thank you, DJ! I’m hoping to jump back in at some point if I’m not too overwhelmed 🙂