Somewhere In Time

I will admit what brought me to read the novel "Somewhere in Time" (formerly titled "Bid Time Return") was the 1980 film starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. I recall my mother telling me what an amazing movie "Somewhere in Time (Collector's Edition)" was (the soundtrack is great too). I have watched the film more than a dozen times and absolutely love it. I figured I might as well read the book that spawned the movie.It shouldn't be a big surprise that the book is different than the movie. For instance, the book takes place in California where the movie takes place in Michigan. Digressing, the premise of the story is a playwright named Richard Collier decides to go on final endeavor. I say final because Richard has a brain tumor and only several months to live. His outlook of recovery is rather slim, so he figures he will pull out his savings and have one last adventure.This brings Richard to the Hotel del Coronado; he made the choice to attain this location by flipping a penny. It isn't too long before Richard discovers that this hotel has a rich history and a famous stage actress named Elise McKenna once performed there in 1896. It should be noted that the (present) time in this novel is 1971.Richard becomes consumed and obsessed with Elise. He does a great deal of research and even does some sleuth work at the hotel itself to find out every detail he can about her. Richard then decides that he is going to attempt to travel back in time, since he has fallen madly in love with Elisa McKenna. Richard is able to travel back in time via hypnosis and/or the power of suggestion. This sounds a bit absurd, but the book is written so well it is almost believable. It is also an interesting twist on time travel.There is more to the book, but I won't give any details away. Richard Matheson does an amazing job weaving a tapestry of science fiction, romance, history and fantasy. Since the novel is written in the first person (Richard Collier's), I strongly believe a man would have no problem at all identifying with the story. In other words, since this is a "tale of romance" it isn't only exclusive to the female gender. As a matter of fact, Elisa McKenna doesn't actually appear until page 150 (or so).I also found the vocabulary that Matheson used to depict his tale to be amazing. I like to think I have a pretty good vocabulary and there were words I was never aware of that were found in this book. I read that Matheson did a good deal of research when writing this book and stayed at Hotel del Coronado in order to muse the character of Richard Collier. It is also my understanding that Elise McKenna was based on the stage actress Maude Adams. This technique on Matheson's part only adds to the novel.While there are still differences from the book and the movie, I feel that they both complement one and other. As a matter of fact, I think this book is one of the best I've read. It gives it an edge the movie didn't have. Not that my fondness or devotion to the movie has faded, if anything it has billowed. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something that is a little different. Then after reading the book, definitely watch the movie. This story has such an arcane and haunting quality that would be a crime not to let oneself be captivated by it.

The novel has become a classic tale of romantic and obsessive love, notions of fate in our lives and the possibility of time travel.More known for the 1980 film adaptation staring Christopher Reeve as the protagonist, Richard Collier, Jane Seymour as Elise McKenna and an excellent performance by Christopher Plummer as her aggressive manager, author Richard Matheson penned the screenplay, turning the film into a cult-like classic with continued popularity over a generation.Considered by Matheson to be his best-written novel, the book begins with a Note by Collier's brother, Robert, who has doubts whether he is doing the right thing in publishing his brother's manuscript. This clever literary device, to my mind, gives the novel credibility, presenting the work as not a work of fiction but a real event.Richard Collier is a writer for television diagnosed to have a brain tumour, (a death sentence) and sets out to travel in his car, flipping a coin, leaving his destinations to chance, he arrives at the Coronado Hotel, a 19th century establishment where Collier comments, "The Past Haunts this hotel". In the hotel's quaint museum, he discovers a photograph of a well known stage actress of the time period, Elise McKenna. Richard's obsession begins; he falls in love with the long dead woman, and wonders how he can get back to her, in the year 1896.What is so good about this novel is Matheson's descriptions and feelings about the past once he travels back in time. The reader can see and feel what Richard sees and feels, in some cases, quite acutely. Richard Collier's method, too, to travel back to the 19th century, for me, seemed quite feasible. There are no machines or technological transporters, merely his Will to reach his one true love.As has been mentioned many times, Richard Matheson is an original writer, his work mixing categories or genres, that is to say, science fiction, horror, romance and the supernatural. He is a prolific writer of over 16 novels, film scripts, and television movies and was one of the main writers for the legendary show, The Twilight Zone. Matheson's other famous text, What Dreams May Come: A Novel, adapted for the big screen as well, starring Robin Williams, is also considered by the author to be one of his best novels.I found this novel to be very moving, realistic and original. Well worth owning and reading again.

In the book, I thought that the Richard Collier character fell in love with the Elise McKenna portrait way too fast. In the movie the falling in love aspect seems more believable, with Collier's attraction immediate, yes, but also bit more adult in nature. Collier in the book practically slobbers over McKenna's portrait, while in the movie Collier's attraction seems more mature, definite certainly, yet restrained. Also, the time travel aspect in the book seemed way too cut and dried. In the book, Collier studies up on time travel and presto! he's got it figured out. In the movie, Collier seeks advice from a former professor about the possibility of time travel and then Collier, through trial and error, figures out time travel more as a novice, and less as an over night time travel sensation. I like the book but I'm looking forward to finishing it and moving on. Perhaps you'll have the same notion about the book a hundred pages into it.

Almost a departure from other matheson i have read, i first read this in 1985 or so after seeing the movie. I stumbled on the work in a used book store. Nearly 40 years later i happened to stay at the del and recalled that the novel took place there instead of on macinaw island in michigan. I resolved to re-read it as the building is now real. Originally entitled Bid Time Return. A really great soft sci fi story. I guess love really can be eternal!