Replay - Ken Grimwood

"Jeff Winston was on the phone with his wife when he died" begins Ken Grimwood's 'Replay'.

Confusingly, Jeff then wakes up in a strange, but at the same time familiar, bed. It doesn't take him long to realise what happened: that he died at 1:06 PM on October 18th, 1988 and somehow has woken up in his college dorm room at some point in 1963, complete with memories of his entire life.

This causes Jeff some problems. ...
...a way back?

In trying to explain these things, Jeff begins to realise that these matters are seemingly beyond his control but not, he hopes, beyond his understanding. Trying something different this time around, Jeff builds himself a vast fortune. He starts with bets on major sports events and eventually "upgrades" to the stock market. However, things don't go according to plan and he misses out on the chance to make a good ... more

"Jeff Winston was on the phone with his wife when he died" begins Ken Grimwood's 'Replay'.

Confusingly, Jeff then wakes up in a strange, but at the same time familiar, bed. It doesn't take him long to realise what happened: that he died at 1:06 PM on October 18th, 1988 and somehow has woken up in his college dorm room at some point in 1963, complete with memories of his entire life.

This causes Jeff some problems. What does he do? How has this happened? Is there a way back?

In trying to explain these things, Jeff begins to realise that these matters are seemingly beyond his control but not, he hopes, beyond his understanding. Trying something different this time around, Jeff builds himself a vast fortune. He starts with bets on major sports events and eventually "upgrades" to the stock market. However, things don't go according to plan and he misses out on the chance to make a good impression on the girl who was his wife in his previous life, so he chooses another path. Eventually, at 1:06 pm on October 18th 1988, Jeff dies again…

…and re-awakens in 1963 once more.

'Replay' is what I see as an adventure without any action. Jeff gets to relive his life again and again, each time choosing to take a different route through it. He tries different ways of living, meeting new people etc. at the same time as avoiding previous mistakes. How many times have you questioned one choice over another? What would have happened if you'd chosen one school over another or if you'd taken that chance to go travelling rather than staying at home? In this aspect, 'Replay' is about second chances and facing up to the choices you make, but there is more to it than that.

I really enjoyed the book because not only did I think 'Replay' was simply a great story but that the characters made decisions not dissimilar to those I imagine myself making under the same circumstances. I think it's important that you can relate to characters in this way. I've seen more than one book or film that has been ruined by the character making seemingly confusing decisions and thankfully, this is not one of them. I was able to relate to Jeff almost immediately, mostly through his decision-making, although other major characters are bulked out sufficiently to be interesting and engaging.

Characters float in and out of the story as each life is relived; some are the same each time and others have subtle differences based on the differences between one "life" and the next. All of this, which is well thought through, adds to the reading experience. I thought that the tale is told with ease, merging the thought provoking subtext effortlessly with the entertaining story.

Bearing in mind that this book was written long before the likes of Groundhog Day and every single time-travelling episode of any sci-fi series you could mention (I'm looking at you, Star Trek), it does score highly for originality. Additionally, while my copy of the book is marketed as part of Gollancz's 'Fantasy Masterworks' series of books, potential readers shouldn't be put off by that label. The time-travel is simply a device of the story and no science or magic is hinted at. I think that those who tend to avoid sci-fi or fantasy stories will be pleasantly surprised at this (it's no more sci-fi or fantasy than 'Groundhog Day'). It's better to think of this book in terms of the underlying messages of second chances and making choices rather than 'time-travel'.

I've re-read this a few times now, and it's still as entertaining and rewarding as it was the first time. Thoroughly recommended!
 

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