Hello, everybody! It's true that I love time-travel stories. So today I'll talk about one of my favourite short stories and perhaps the ultimate (for me) time-travel story! It's none other than All You Zombies by Robert A. Heinlein. It was first published in 1959 in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.
All You Zombies might have the hardest to explain plotline. A young man walks into a bar and starts talking to the bartender, who is a time traveler. Sounds simple? Well, that's where everything turns upside down! The bartender takes this man with him in different times and that's when the paradoxes begin. Time-travel itself contains several paradoxes and in All You Zombies, we get the very definition of paradox in such stories. The end of each character's journey is mind-blowing and totally unpredictable.
As I've already said, All You Zombies is one of my favourite short stories. But I have to admit that it's not an easy to understand story. It's baffling and needs a lot of thought. But if you like thought-provoking reads and like time-traveling in novels, then you should definitely read this one. It's one of the stories that will remain in your mind long after you've read it.
Robert A. Heinlein does something amazing in so few words. He manages to use the paradoxes that are so often in time-travel stories into the advantage of the story. To be more exact, this story would not be possible if not for those paradoxes. While in other stories you might talk about plot-holes, in this one you are left shocked by the revelations.
However, I will not spoil the ending, as it is something that you must read on your own to receive the full effect. I will just say that All You Zombies has one of the best ending lines, which I can't tell you unless I want to spoil it for you. Instead, I'll leave you with another great quote: I know where I came from - but where did all you zombies come from?
Robert A. Heinlein does something amazing in so few words. He manages to use the paradoxes that are so often in time-travel stories into the advantage of the story. To be more exact, this story would not be possible if not for those paradoxes. While in other stories you might talk about plot-holes, in this one you are left shocked by the revelations.
However, I will not spoil the ending, as it is something that you must read on your own to receive the full effect. I will just say that All You Zombies has one of the best ending lines, which I can't tell you unless I want to spoil it for you. Instead, I'll leave you with another great quote: I know where I came from - but where did all you zombies come from?
Have you read All You Zombies? Which is your favourite time-travel story?
I'm not a short story fan all that much so I might not check this out but it sounds like a good time!
ReplyDeleteIt is, and if you ever do feel inclined to read a short story I totally recommend it! :)
DeleteI do like an odd little story. This one looks quite interesting. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOdd can't even begin to describe this story! I can't stop thinking about it! :)
DeleteThey made a movie out of this story that's really good. It's called Predestination and stars Ethan Hawke. I'm not sure if seeing everything play out makes the story easier to follow, though.
ReplyDeletePredestination was a very good adaptation of the short story! But the story is also complicated in the movie format, as well. I had already read the short story before the film, so I was expecting my friends expressions :)
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