After the ABC TV hit-and-miss series Flash Forward came to a close, I was left quite unsatisfied. The
The basic premise of the book and the show diverge pretty radically. The TV show was a who-dunnit where the FBI was tracking down suspects who may have been involved in carrying out the event. In the book, the blackout/flash forward is simply an unforeseen byproduct of a science experiment involving CERN and the Large Hadron Collider. The experiment is being conducted by two scientists, Lloyd Simcoe (the only character in both the book and the TV show), and his assistant Theo Procopides.
The book certainly explores some interesting possible futures, including some fantastic advancements in technology. It also takes a hard sci-fi approach wherein the characters (almost all of whom are physicists), discuss various theories about whether or not the future is fixed or whether humans have free will. As a result the book delves into some interesting philosophical questions as well.
A subplot throughout involves Theo, who doesn’t have a vision of the future and quickly learns it is because he will have been murdered before the day the visions depicted. He then devotes himself to tracking down clues to his own murder.
I won’t give away the ending, though it was utterly fascinating. The book definitely had some dull moments, but in general it was a pretty fascinating “read.” The narrator, Mark Deakins, did an excellent job. If you’re a fan of the TV show prepare yourself for a very different experience. Unlike the TV show the book isn’t crawling with bad guys and there’s not a ton of action. But if you like hard sci-fi and thought-provoking existential material I think you’ll definitely enjoy Flash Forward.
My Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 out of 5 stars) - I really liked it.
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