The Accidental Time MachineThe Accidental Time Machine
Score Modern
What it's about
Matt Fuller, a struggling MIT research assistant, builds a device that keeps disappearing for a few seconds and reappearing. He realizes it's a time machine that only goes forward, and each jump goes twelve times further. Facing ruin, he climbs aboard, and travels into a future America run by religious extremists, then much further.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Nebula finalist. It's a light, clever time-travel adventure from the author of The Forever War.
You'll love it if you liked
The Forever War
Timescape
Rainbows EndGood to know
It's short and breezy, with satire of religion.
By the numbers
- Readers4 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics24 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller13 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #310 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #456 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #1567 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2803 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
More by Joe Haldeman
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Quick answers
Is The Accidental Time Machine worth reading?
Yes. It was a Nebula finalist. It ranks #2,803 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 51.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Accidental Time Machine about?
Matt Fuller, a struggling MIT research assistant, builds a device that keeps disappearing for a few seconds and reappearing. He realizes it's a time machine that only goes forward, and each jump goes twelve times further. Facing ruin, he climbs aboard, and travels into a future America run by religious extremists, then much further.
How long does it take to read The Accidental Time Machine?
About 7 hours (278 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Accidental Time Machine?
If you liked it, try The Forever War by Joe Haldeman, Timescape by Gregory Benford or Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge.