Branch Point [Paperback]

Mona Clee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1996

A time traveler who started out from the year 2062 chronicles four alternate histories of Earth, in which she and her companions save the world from nuclear war in the 1960s before becoming trapped in the 1830s.

Product Details

• Paperback: 310 pages
• Publisher: Ace; 1ST edition (January 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441002919
• ISBN-13: 978-0441002917
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,339,973 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A romp, April 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Branch Point (Paperback)

Ever have the fantasy of going back in time and fixing something from history? My own favorite is trying to prevent the Civil War. Branch Point takes that idea and gives it a twist -- the heroes prevent the nuclear war that (in their alternate future) came from the Cuban Missile Crisis, but then had to keep doing it again and again as the world insisted repeatedly on obliterating itself.

This book, like Overshoot, is probably of more interest to Boomers than younger folks, as much of its appeal comes from the heroes living through the '60s, early and late. I mean, what person now in his or her '40s did not, as a child, want to meet and talk with Jack Kennedy? The treatment of Kennedy, incidentally, is in considerable depth, depicting a realistic outgrowth of his less delightful characteristics as well as the Camelot image. The characters of Jeffrey and of the narrator's Russian lover also come clear and deep.

One of the twists to the story is when the last jump is made, and the last preventive fix is in place, and the book ends -- and you realize where YOU are living, compared to where the heroine now is. Less serious than Overshoot, Branch Point moves faster and is more of a lark.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Non-scientific speculative fiction at its best, September 24, 2001

By 

igj (Palo Alto, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Branch Point (Paperback)

Crafting a book to be both idealistic and pessimistic seems like a tall order but Branch Point wrangles with both extreme outlooks. The human race's inability to escape the lure of nuclear destruction pervades this book-in Clee's vision, once we were armed ourselves with these weapons, we were doomed to use them But the notes of hope and grace that her characters express give the book the feel of an idealistic manifesto. Quite a nice balancing act. The addition of historical personages does not distract from the overall picture as in so many books. The private personas of the Kennedy brothers are deftly handled and help flesh out the stresses of the Cuban missile crisis. Although this is clearly the realm of science fiction, there is no science in the book. Scientists create a time machine, full stop. If you want to know how time machines work, pick another book. If you want see what people determined to prevent the earth's destruction do with such an invention, then pick up Branch Point.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A feast for time-travel/alternate-world junkies!, March 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Branch Point (Paperback)

I'll read any novel involving time travel or alternate worlds, but this one's at the top of my list. The depth of historical detail is impressive -- Clee certainly did her homework. As a San Franciscan, I thoroughly enjoyed how the final "branch point" in the book (no spoilers!) made use of a little-known but pivotal event in California history. The characters were vivid and believable (especially the narrator, Anna), the pacing of the story just brisk enough, and the book wound up with a very satisfying ending.