The Man Who Folded Himself

The Man Who Folded Himself is a 1973 science fiction novel by David Gerrold that was nominated for both the Hugo and Nebula Awards. The story follows Daniel Eakins, a college student who inherits a time travel device called a Time-belt from his recently deceased Uncle Jim. Daniel discovers he can meet different versions of himself across time, leading to complex interactions with his own timeline. The Time-belt allows him to explore the nature of causality and personal identity as he encounters various iterations of himself in different times and circumstances. The novel examines fundamental questions about the self, relationships, and the fabric of time. Through its exploration of paradox and identity, it stands as a unique entry in the time travel genre that pushes beyond conventional boundaries.

Readers find this time travel story unique in how it explores personal identity and sexuality through paradoxes. Many note it requires careful attention to follow the complex narrative threads. Readers appreciate: - Deep psychological examination of isolation and self-discovery - Creative handling of time travel mechanics - Thought-provoking questions about identity - Concise writing that packs ideas into a short novel Common criticisms: - Repetitive plot sections - Self-indulgent protagonist - Sexual content feels gratuitous to some - Confusing timeline transitions Review stats: Goodreads: 3.82/5 (7,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (300+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Makes you question what makes you uniquely you" - Goodreads "The narcissism gets tedious" - Amazon "Most innovative time travel book I've read" - LibraryThing "Lost me in the middle with endless variations" - Goodreads

Recursion by Blake Crouch A man discovers a force that creates multiple versions of reality while investigating memory phenomena, exploring similar themes of identity multiplication and timeline manipulation as Gerrold's work.

All You Zombies by Robert A. Heinlein This story tracks a character through multiple time periods who meets different versions of themselves, creating a closed temporal loop that examines self-identity.

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch A physicist finds himself in alternate versions of his life, dealing with questions of identity and choice in parallel timelines.

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar Two agents from different timelines weave through history altering events, creating complex temporal relationships comparable to Daniel's experiences.

Timescape by Gregory Benford Scientists attempt to send messages through time to prevent catastrophe, focusing on the mechanics and paradoxes of temporal manipulation.

🔄 "The Man Who Folded Himself" was published in 1973 and was one of the first science fiction novels to explore the concept of selfcest - romantic relationships between alternate versions of the same person. 🖊️ David Gerrold is also famous for writing "The Trouble with Tribbles," one of the most beloved episodes of the original Star Trek series, which aired in 1967. ⚡ The time travel belt in the novel, called a "Timebelt," was inspired by a similar device in the 1942 short story "By His Bootstraps" by Robert A. Heinlein. 🌈 The book was groundbreaking for its time as one of the first science fiction novels to feature openly LGBT themes and relationships, though these aspects were often overlooked in early reviews. 🏆 Despite being considered a classic of time travel fiction today, the novel was initially controversial and faced resistance from publishers due to its complex narrative structure and challenging themes.