Somewhere in Time

Richard Matheson's Somewhere in Time follows playwright Richard Collier as he becomes obsessed with a photograph of an actress from 1896. Through self-hypnosis and intense concentration, he attempts to travel back in time to meet Elise McKenna, a renowned stage performer from the Victorian era. The story alternates between Collier's present-day journey and his experiences in the past at the historic Hotel del Coronado in California. His pursuit of Elise leads him through the complex social protocols and restrictions of late 19th century America, while he grapples with the mechanics and consequences of time travel. The narrative operates on multiple levels - as a romance, a period piece, and a science fiction tale exploring the nature of time itself. Matheson's work raises questions about destiny, the power of love to transcend temporal boundaries, and whether some connections are meant to exist despite seemingly impossible obstacles.

Readers praise the emotional depth and romantic elements over the science fiction aspects. Many reviewers note they connected deeply with the love story and character development. The simple, direct writing style helps readers immerse themselves in the time period and setting. Readers liked: - The blend of romance with light sci-fi elements - Historical details of the 1890s setting - The exploration of destiny and true love - The hotel setting and atmosphere Common criticisms: - Pacing issues in the first third - Some dated gender dynamics - The protagonist can come across as obsessive - Limited explanation of time travel mechanics Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (22,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (850+ ratings) One frequent reader comment notes the book has more emotional resonance than the film adaptation. Multiple reviews mention crying at the ending. Some readers report re-reading it multiple times, with one calling it "the perfect rainy day comfort read."

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🕰️ Before being retitled "Somewhere in Time," the book was originally published in 1975 as "Bid Time Return" and won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel. 🎬 When the book was adapted into a film starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour in 1980, author Richard Matheson wrote the screenplay himself, making significant changes to the story's ending. 🏨 The Hotel del Coronado in San Diego served as Matheson's inspiration for the novel's Grand Hotel, though the story is set at the fictional Hotel del Mare in California. 🎭 Despite being known primarily as a horror and science fiction writer, Matheson considered this time-travel romance to be his favorite among all his works. 📚 The novel's unique structure includes historical documents, journal entries, and a frame narrative that suggests the entire story might be the product of a brain tumor-induced delusion, leaving readers to decide what really happened.