Days of Cain [Mass Market Paperback]

J. R. Dunn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1998

Guarding the historical integrity of the twenty-fourth century, monitor Gaspar James must stop his former prote+a7ge+a7 Alma, who has transported back to 1943 Auschwitz and presents Gaspar with a painful moral dilemma. Simultaneous."

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

First-time novelist J. R. Dunn has written a passionate tale about a rebellious group of time travelers who attempt to prevent one of the greatest atrocities humanity ever devised: Auschwitz. Monitor Gaspar James knows that the horror must be allowed to run its course in order to preserve the integrity of the time line. At least that's what he has told himself throughout his service to the Moiety, the group charged with overseeing the continuity of time. But even Gaspar has his doubts, and he is more sympathetic to the rebel leader than he has let on. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In the future, Gaspar James of the planet Arpad monitors time travel and guards the historical past from being altered. When his protege, Alma Lewin, and other renegades go back to 1943 to liberate the death camps, Gaspar and a team travel back to stop them. This emotionally powerful story by the author of This Side of Judgement (LJ 5/15/94) belongs in most sf collections.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: Harper Voyager (June 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380790491
• ISBN-13: 978-0380790494
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,148,822 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An unappreciated gem, May 5, 2005

By 

Brillig (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Days of Cain (Hardcover)

Some day someone someplace will "re-discover" this book and it will takes its proper place in literature as a truly remarkable work. The juxtaposition of the Holocaust in the context of a sci-fi novel is unique, and what some see as Dunn's failing to provide satisfying answers to history's most horrific and mystifying event (why and how could this happen?) is actually deeply satisfying, because it evokes the unanswerables that are intrinsic to human life. The scenes of concentration camp life are painful to the point that one is tempted to skip ahead, but one never does. And the shadowy Moiety with its futuristic aliens whose purposes and plans are unknowable, yet who are not without a sense of deep and everlasting pain, are perfect evocations of our lack of understanding. I disagree with others that Christian theology is a major driving force; there are plenty of Jewish concepts (perhaps universal?) here as well. A book for the ages that all should read, if only for its depiction of the Holocaust.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An ethical quandry, March 3, 2003

By 

ZombiKitty "zombikitty" (Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Days of Cain (Mass Market Paperback)

Days of Cain by J.R. Dunn: In the future, there is a group that is committed to "preserving the integrity of past events." However, there is one among them who has decided to alter the events at Auschwitz by going there as a prisoner. I won't lie to you, this one is a rough read --- not due to the prose, but due to the subject matter. Usually I avoid horror and sci-fi books about The Holocaust, because I feel that they belittle it by just using it as a convenient setting that is so horrific on its own that the author feels they do not have to expend much effort, and as a Jew it kind of pisses me off that they seem to find The Holocaust as little more than that. This book is an exception, however. The Holocaust is used as a backdrop for a story about ethics, a "what would you do if you had the chance" question.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunning, visionary work., March 26, 2000

By 

C. P. Halliday "doctor_toc" (Bristol, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Days of Cain (Paperback)

Deeply moving, highly involving and tense, this book is far more complex than it might appear at first glance. While appearing to be merely a science fiction novel, it deals with the impact of an obscene period of history on the souls of those who participated, as well as those whom time travel has gifted with the ability prevent it from ever happening. Despite the SF trappings, this is a very human novel, illustrating the terrible madness that overcame Germany during the war, as well as its lasting effect on humanity.

One reviewer has claimed Dunn "insults" through his use of "Christian trappings", betraying a lack of familiarity with the subject matter. Dunn makes use of Frank Tipler's "Omega Theory" to provide a platform for forgiveness and divinity that fits with the technological aspect of the future in the novel.

Dunn displays an astonishing grasp of emotion in "Days of Cain", moving the reader to tears at one moment, then despair, then rage, and finally joy and wonder. I've bought several copies of this book for friends (two of them Jewish), all of whom have later enthused about it.

A remarkable work by a truly gifted author.