Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Fifteen Minutes from Now, by Erin Cashier

[F&SF]
★★★☆☆ Average

(Time Travel) It’s more a parallel multiverse than real time travel. All you can do is relive the latest fifteen minutes. Naturally the government uses it to torture people without them knowing it. Over and over, if need be. (2,825 words; Time: 09m)


"Fifteen Minutes from Now," by (edited by C.C. Finlay), appeared in issue 01-02|19, published on by .

Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)

Review: 2019.042 (A Word for Authors)

Pro: I liked how the details gradually came out during the lecture. Like the fact that the government is a dictatorship now. Or that the torturer uses really brutal methods sometimes.

Con: It’s mostly a long lecture that seems like it would have zero hope of changing anyone’s mind.

It’s not clear why you can only go back fifteen minutes.

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4 comments (may contain spoilers):

  1. I would think that learning his son is being tortured too might convince him to talk.

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    Replies
    1. Although does that apply to this sort of "virtual torture" that leaves no mark and which the victim doesn't even remember?

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    2. Well, since the option is not remember birthmark removal or dead, maybe?

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