Bid Time Return

Richard Matheson's Bid Time Return tells the story of Richard Collier, a man who becomes captivated by the photograph of a 19th-century stage actress. Through self-hypnosis, he attempts to travel back in time to meet her, believing their connection transcends normal boundaries of time. The novel takes place primarily at the Hotel del Coronado in California, where past and present interweave. The narrative follows Collier's determined quest to understand and reach the mysterious actress Elise McKenna, whose image has inexplicably drawn him across decades. The story unfolds through Collier's manuscript, which documents both his present-day experiences and his journey into the past. Matheson crafts a romance that builds tension through the fundamental conflict between two time periods and the obstacles they present. The novel explores themes of destiny, the power of belief, and the question of whether love can overcome the seemingly fixed laws of time and space. Through its unique premise, the book challenges readers to consider the boundaries between past and present, and the nature of time itself.

Readers describe this as a romance that transcends typical time travel tropes, focusing more on emotion and character development than sci-fi mechanics. Many note they finished it in one sitting due to the compelling diary format. Readers appreciated: - The realistic portrayal of falling in love - Historical details of 1896 Hotel del Coronado - The protagonist's voice and internal struggles - The ambiguous nature of the time travel Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the first third - Too much description of the hotel - The ending left some readers frustrated - Some found the romance overly sentimental Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (300+ ratings) Notable reader comment: "Unlike other time travel stories that get bogged down in paradoxes and mechanics, this one stays focused on the heart of the story - two people trying to connect across an impossible divide." - Goodreads reviewer

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🎭 The book was adapted into the romantic film "Somewhere in Time" (1980), starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour, which has since become a beloved cult classic. ⏰ Richard Matheson wrote the first draft of the novel in just 10 days after being inspired during a stay at the Hotel del Coronado. 🏨 The Hotel del Coronado, where much of the story takes place, is a real Victorian beachfront luxury hotel in San Diego, California, built in 1888 and designated as a National Historic Landmark. 📸 The photograph that inspired the book was of actress Maude Adams in her role as Peter Pan from the 1905 Broadway production, which Matheson discovered in a biography. 🖋️ The novel was originally published under the title "Bid Time Return" in 1975 but was later republished as "Somewhere in Time" after the film's release to capitalize on its popularity.