Rollback (Sci Fi Essential Books)

by Robert J. Sawyer

Dr. Sarah Halifax decoded the first-ever radio transmission received from aliens. Thirty-eight years later, a second message is received and Sarah, now eighty-seven, may hold the key to deciphering this one, too...if she lives long enough. A wealthy industrialist offers to pay for Sarah to have a rollback - a hugely expensive experimental rejuvenation procedure. She accepts on condition that Don, her husband of sixty years, gets a rollback, too. The process works for Don, making him physically twenty-five again. But in a tragic twist, the rollback fails for Sarah, leaving her in her eighties. While Don tries to deal with his newfound youth and the suddenly vast age gap between him and his wife, Sarah struggles to do again what she'd done once before: figure out what a signal from the stars contains. Exploring morals and ethics on both human and cosmic scales, "Rollback" is another triumph for Hugo and Nebula Award - winner Robert J. Sawyer.

• ISBN10: 076533240X
• ISBN13: 9780765332400
• Publish Date: 8 May 2012 (first published 3 April 2007)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 6 November 2013
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Tor Books
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

[Metaphorosis Reviews]

reviews.metaphorosis.com

3.5 stars

Octogenarian Sarah Halifax decoded the original message from Sigma Draconis. Now, the second signal comes in, and a billionaire eager to read it pays to rejuvenate Sarah and her husband. The rejuvenation process works for Sarah's husband, but not for her.

I've only read one other Robert Sawyer book (Illegal Alien), and didn't care for it much. But I saw this at a discount store, and the concept looked interesting. I'm glad I picked it up.

Much of the book is crowded with pop culture references. Since the book hops between two time periods, I presume these were mainly intended to provide a sense of period, but their main effect was to make the book seem dated - despite being only a few years old. While most of the in jokes were carefully explained, they also weren't very interesting. This despite a lead character from my own generation.

The story contains some gaping realism holes in characterization - especially regarding the billionaire philanthropist - and they did obtrude into my suspension of disbelief. The actual plot, however, was fairly sound. The tension created by the lopsided rejuvenation was decently explored, and there were several really touching moments. Not all of it worked that well, and Sawyer could have done more with the lead couple's relationship, but overall, it worked nicely.

The ending felt a bit rushed and wishful, and I thought Sawyer missed some pretty obvious openings for a more moving note that wouldn't have affected the basic tone. Generally, though, this was a nice novel in which the science was, if not incidental to the relationships, at least sharing the billing.

[SilverThistle]

I really do like Mr Sawyer's books, but the 'formula' is getting tiresome. It's not a plot formula that leaves me weary - it's the pacing.

I always think the premise sounds great. Always. I can't wait to start and the first part is great and fairly rips along, forcing me to spin through the pages. Then around the middle it all drops a gear and starts flagging as it reaches towards the conclusion. However, I plow on to the ending and it starts to pick up again, but only briefly because before I know it.....it's the end and I'm left thinking, "Hang on..Wait.... No. What?"

Although the book -like his others - is deemed sci-fi, it's still within the realms of 'maybe that could happen' but the ending just left me with a WTH moment, which I also find is my common reaction to Mr Sawyer's books. Sometimes in a good way, sometimes not. This is a not so good moment.

I wasn't fond of Don much either, which didn't help. I'm not saying I only like books featuring nice people but surely just because he ends up physically younger doesn't mean he's leaping in and out of bed with the first piece of baggage to flap her eyelashes at him. All the while his loving wife of umpteen years is sitting at home watching his dinner burn. It just doesn't make sense. His history with his wife must count for something and his mental age must mean he's got more sense. Maybe it's true what they say about guy's in that age group though and his brains were in his trousers.

It sounds like I didn't like it, I know, but I did really. I'd even go so far as to say I'd recommend it. It's a quick and fairly gentle sci-fi read and the sort of book that you come away from thinking about how you would react in that situation. But go into it prepared for his usual pacing and 'out there' conclusion and you won't be disappointed.