Time and Again (Simak novel)

{{Short description|1951 novel by Clifford D. Simak}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox book |name=Time and Again |image=Clifford Simak - Time and Again.jpg |pub_date=1951 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |author=Clifford D. Simak }} [[File:Time Quarry 5Simak novel) - Galaxy Science Fiction Novels .jpg|thumb|''Time Quarry'' published in Galaxy Science Fiction Novels (October 1950).]] '''''Time and Again''''' (sometimes written as '''''Time & Again''''') is a 1951 science fiction novel by American writer Clifford D. Simak. An alternate paperback title was '''''First He Died'''''; it was also serialized (with a different ending) as '''''Time Quarry'''''.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Galaxy's Five Star Shelf |journal=Galaxy Science Fiction |date=August 1951 |page=101}}</ref><ref>[https://archive.org/stream/galaxymagazine-1950-10/Galaxy_1950_10#page/n1/mode/1up Galaxy Magazine, October 1950].</ref>

The story is about a long-lost spaceman returning to Earth after 20 years from a planet in a distant star system, where he was affected by aliens with psychic abilities. He returns to find Earth has changed.

==Plot== The story is about a lost space traveler who had voyaged to a distant star system who finds his way back to Earth after two decades. The space voyager is no longer fully human after his decades in space, as he was influenced by an alien species with psychic powers. He finds Earth is a paradise, except that all is not as it seems on the comfortable surface. Some of the inhabitants are androids that can reproduce who are fighting for their rights and robots work as slaves.

His fuddled observations spark a religious schism and war. As well, "future folk insist [he] should be killed on sight as he will otherwise write a book that, because it tells a truth inconvenient to religious bigots, will cause the death of millions".<ref>{{cite book |author=Keith Brooke |title=Strange Divisions and Alien Territories: The Sub-Genres of Science Fiction |year=2012 |page=70}}</ref> Evolutionary transcendence is a theme, as it was for a number of other Simak novels.<ref>{{cite book |author=Brian M. Stableford |title=Science Fact and Science Fiction: An Encyclopedia |year=2006 |page=482}}</ref> Secret assassins are sent from the future to prevent him from writing a book in the future that will have a major impact on society.

==Reception== The novel is one of Simak's more popular works.<ref>{{cite book |author=Philip A. Greasley |title=Dictionary of Midwestern Literature |volume=1: The Authors |year=2001 |page=467}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{ISFDB title|id =273621|title =Time and Again}}

Category:1951 American novels Category:1951 English-language novels Category:1951 science fiction novels Category:American science fiction novels Category:Novels by Clifford D. Simak Category:Novels about religion Category:Simon & Schuster books