Book Reviews
Copyright (c) 1993, Jason Malandro
All rights reserved


REPLAY
Ken Grimwood
Ace Books
$4.99 US, $5.99 Canada


What if you could live your life over again? REPLAY takes that age-old
wish one step beyond. Jeff Winston, a not-very-successful radio
journalist in his forties, begins the greatest journey anyone could ever
know.

He awakens from his death in the past, in his college dorm room. It's
1963, exactly 25 years earlier. At first thinking that he's in a dream
or a coma-induced hallucination, Jeff eventually accepts his situation
as reality. Forced to live the last 25 years of his life over again,
Jeff swears not to make the same mistakes again.

Jeff uses his knowledge of the future to build a financial empire, but
true happiness manages to elude him. Eventually marrying a wealthy
heiress, the loveless union produces the one thing that his previous
life could never give him; a child.

Always alone, Jeff accepts his fate as time marches on, enjoying the
company of his daughter Gretchen. On October 18th 1988, at exactly
1:06 pm, he dies again..

..Only to awaken again in 1963, a little further along in his original
timeline.

REPLAY follows the lives of Jeff Winston with angst, sadness, intrigue,
and just a touch of humour.

Ken Grimwood's first (and, so far, only) fantasy novel was originally
published in 1987 and just barely qualifies for this review by the fact
that it was recently re-released.

Six years, one World Fantasy award, and four reads later, REPLAY remains
firmly planted in my list of all-time favorites.

My Rating: (out of 10 points) 10