There are a lot of different takes on time travel out there. It started as the province of science fiction, but has certainly branched out since then. Nowadays, it seems to be especially prevalent in YA fiction (but since I don’t read tons of YA, I could be wrong). I read Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier this summer, which is a YA book about time travel. I enjoyed it, it was a fun read, and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Then I read The River of No Return. And maybe this wouldn’t have struck me if I hadn’t read them so close together, but here’s my big observation:
Time travel in adult fiction is treated more deeply and more seriously than time travel in young adult fiction.
I know, nothing like a sweeping generalization, right? (And feel free to disagree with me!) Time travel in The River of No Return matters. Not just to a few people here and there, but to societies of people across the ages. There are twists and motivations and hidden motives. War is involved, as well as the end of the world as we know it.
The River of No Return starts out unassumingly enough. Nick Falcott unintentionally jumps forward in time two hundred years. Now he has to learn how to navigate a new time and a new culture with technology that wasn’t even dreamt of when he was born. Honestly, following that premise would have been enough for me. That would make a very interesting story. But Ridgway was not content to leave it at that, and I am oh-so-glad she didn’t.
The River of No Return is time travel for grown-ups, but most of all, it’s just an all-around, really good story. Even if time travel isn’t your thing, you would enjoy reading this book. And if it is? Hold on to your hat – you’re in for a great ride!
Time travel in adult fiction is treated more deeply and more seriously than time travel in young adult fiction.
I know, nothing like a sweeping generalization, right? (And feel free to disagree with me!) Time travel in The River of No Return matters. Not just to a few people here and there, but to societies of people across the ages. There are twists and motivations and hidden motives. War is involved, as well as the end of the world as we know it.
The River of No Return starts out unassumingly enough. Nick Falcott unintentionally jumps forward in time two hundred years. Now he has to learn how to navigate a new time and a new culture with technology that wasn’t even dreamt of when he was born. Honestly, following that premise would have been enough for me. That would make a very interesting story. But Ridgway was not content to leave it at that, and I am oh-so-glad she didn’t.
The River of No Return is time travel for grown-ups, but most of all, it’s just an all-around, really good story. Even if time travel isn’t your thing, you would enjoy reading this book. And if it is? Hold on to your hat – you’re in for a great ride!
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