Science writer Randles's contention that there is a "race" to build a time machine, and that this race will soon be won, flies in the face of a statement by professional physicists Allen Everett and Thomas Roman (_Time Travel and Warp Drives_, 2012) that research on time travel has slackened off since the late 1900s and that final answers may have to await a theory of quantum gravity. Along with several vignettes that seem daft or scarcely relevant, Randles covers many of the same personalities and ideas discussed in Everett/Roman and in another recent book by Brian Clegg (_How To Build a Time Machine_, 2011), but generally in a too-simple, insufficiently detailed, and mischaracterization-riddled way.

The book has some nice passages about some of the finest achievements in 20th century physics and at it's best moments can serve as a short introduction to some of the major theories in modern physics. However, author's desire to show everything as a major breakthrough towards enabling time travel remains unconvincing. The book lacks depth for it to be read as a guide to modern physics, and the author seems inconsistent even about what she means by proper time travel. It's mostly a mish-mash of all kind of modern physics theories, mixed with bold assurances by the author that these have sparked a 'race to build a working time machine'. I was not convinced.
Ja tõlge eesti keelde on nigel.

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