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TOWARD THE END OF TIME
by Updike, John
- Used
- near fine
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Near Fine/Very Good
- ISBN 10
- 0375400060
- ISBN 13
- 9780375400063
- Seller
-
Canandaigua, New York, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
New York: Knopf, 1997. First Edition, First Printing. . Hardcover. Near Fine/Very Good. Updike's 18th novel is a venture into near-future science fiction. The novel is set in 2020, in Massachusetts just north of Boston and in the aftermath of a recent war with China. The war has resulted in social chaos, but has left the life of Ben Turnbull, a 66-year-old, recently-retired investment counselor, relatively unchanged. Turnbull keeps a journal in which he notes both mundane daily happenings and ruminates about his personal identity and history in terms of the "many universes" hypothesis derived from quantum theory indeterminacy. His mind shifts from one universe and identity to another, and back and forth in time while his mortal, here-and-now physical self moves inexorably toward the end of its time. Small remainder dot on top edge of text, o/w boards and text are clean and unmarked, tight and square. The dustjacket shows a bit of minor edge wear at the spine ends, no tears, creases or other significant flaws. A collectable copy of an interesting variant in Updike's own continuing interest in the sometimes grey areas between science and religion.
Synopsis
Ben Turnbull, the hero of John Updike's eighteenth novel, is a sixty-six-year-old retired investment counselor living north of Boston in the year 2020. A recent war between the United States and China has thinned the population and brought social chaos. The dollar has been locally replaced by Massachusetts scrip; instead of taxes, one pays protection money to competing racketeers. Nevertheless, Ben's life, traced by his journal entries over the course of a year, retains many of its accustomed comforts, as supervised by his vibrant wife, Gloria. He plays golf; he pays visits to his five children and ten grandchildren. Something of a science buff, he finds his personal history caught up in the disjunctions and vagaries of the "many-worlds hypothesis derived from the indeterminacy of quantum theory. His identity branches into variants extending back through history and ahead in the evolution of the universe, as both it and his own mortal, nature-enshrouded existence move toward the end of time.From the Hardcover edition.
Reviews
On Dec 21 2010, Btbkc69 said:
An exceptional display of refined talent, Updike, though often showing off, puts you in the skin, as it were and introduces much of the past in the future. The domestic insights are a bispectral blend of poignance and comedy. My humble opinion. btb
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Details
- Bookseller
- H.W. Gumaer, Bookseller
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 005226
- Title
- TOWARD THE END OF TIME
- Author
- Updike, John
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First Edition, First Printing.
- ISBN 10
- 0375400060
- ISBN 13
- 9780375400063
- Publisher
- Knopf
- Place of Publication
- New York
- Date Published
- 1997
- Keywords
- MODERN NOVEL, FIRST EDITION, SCIENCE FICTION, MASSACHUSETTS, 2020
- Bookseller catalogs
- Modern Novel; Fine Literature; New England;
Terms of Sale
H.W. Gumaer, Bookseller
All books subject to prior sale. All books returnable within two weeks for any reason. Please return by USPS (media mail rate) and note the reason for return. All sales subject to applicable taxes.
About the Seller
H.W. Gumaer, Bookseller
Biblio member since 2005
Canandaigua, New York
About H.W. Gumaer, Bookseller
H.W. Gumaer, Bookseller, has been serving customers on the internet since 2003. We specialize in modern American and English fiction and in mystery and detective thrillers, as well as art and art history. We also have a growing selection of mid-to-late 19th century history and literature. Nearly all our modern and contemporary books are first editions or otherwise collectable.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- O/W
- An abbreviation for otherwise
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Tight
- Used to mean that the binding of a book has not been overly loosened by frequent use.
- Remainder
- Book(s) which are sold at a very deep discount to alleviate publisher overstock. Often, though not always, they have a remainder...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
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