| Replay | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Ken Grimwood |
| Cover artist | Larry Ratzkin |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction, Novel |
| Publisher | Arbor House |
| Publication date | January 1987 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 311 p. |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-87795-781-9 (hardback edition) & ISBN 0-575-07559-7 (paperback edition) |
| OCLC Number | 13701262 |
| Dewey Decimal | 813/.54 19 |
| LC Classification | PS3557.R497 R4 1986 |
Replay is a novel by Ken Grimwood first published by Arbor House in 1987. It won the 1988 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel.
The novel tells of a 43-year-old man who dies and awakens back in 1963 in his 18-year-old body. He then begins to relive his life with intact memories of the previous 25 years. This happens repeatedly with different events in each cycle. The premise was explored earlier by Richard A. Lupoff in his 1973 short story "12:01". The novel was a bestseller in Japan, and its time-loop concept has been referenced as a precursor of Harold Ramis' comedy-drama Groundhog Day (1993).[1]
Contents |
Replay is the account of 43-year-old radio journalist Jeff Winston, who dies of a heart attack in 1988 and awakens back in 1963 in his 18-year-old body as a student at Atlanta's Emory University. He then begins to relive his life with intact memories of the next 25 years, until, despite his best efforts at cardiac health, he dies of a heart attack, again, in 1988. He immediately returns to 1963, but several hours later than the last "replay". This happens repeatedly with different events in each cycle, each time beginning from increasingly later dates (first days, then weeks, then years, then ultimately decades). Jeff soon realizes that he cannot prevent his death in 1988, but he can change the events that occur before it, both for him, and for others.
During one subsequent replay, Jeff takes notice of a highly acclaimed film that has become a huge success at the box office. The film is written and produced by an unknown filmmaker, Pamela Phillips, who has recruited Steven Spielberg to direct and Douglas Trumbull, as a special effects supervisor, before the two shot to stardom with their own projects. Because the film did not exist in previous replays, Jeff suspects that Pamela is also experiencing the same phenomenon. He locates her and asks her questions that only a fellow replayer would know, confirming his suspicions.
Pamela and Jeff fall in love and are convinced that they are soulmates. Complications arise when they notice that their replays are getting shorter and shorter, with Pamela not beginning her next replay until well after Jeff. Eventually, the two decide to try and find other replayers by placing cryptic messages in newspapers. The messages, which seem very vague to anyone who is not a replayer, generate a fair amount of dead-end responses until the pair receives a letter from a man who is clearly knowledgeable about future events. Jeff and Pamela decide to visit the stranger, only to discover that he is confined to a psychiatric hospital. Surprisingly, the staff does not pay attention to his discussion on the future, but it soon becomes clear why the man is institutionalized when he calmly states that aliens are forcing him to murder people for their own entertainment.
In a later replay, the two decide to take their experiences public, giving press conferences announcing future events in explicit detail. The government eventually takes notice and forces Pamela and Jeff to provide continued updates on foreign activities. Although the government denies responsibility, major political events begin to transpire differently, and Jeff attempts to break off the relationship. The government refuses, and the pair are imprisoned and forced to continue providing information.
As future replays become shorter and shorter, the two are left to wonder how things will eventually unfold—whether or not the replays will ultimately end, and the pair will pass into the afterlife—or if the current replay is, in fact, the last.
Orson Scott Card, reviewing Replay for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (May, 1987), wrote:
Publishers Weekly reviewed:
Replay won the 1988 World Fantasy Award[2] and was on the shortlist for the 1988 Arthur C. Clarke Award.
The novel has been included in several lists of recommended reading: Modern Fantasy: The Hundred Best Novels (1988), Locus Reader's Poll: Best Science Fiction Novel (1988), Aurel Guillemette's The Best in Science Fiction (1993) and David Pringle's Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction (1995).
Ken Grimwood was working on a sequel to Replay when he died from a heart attack in 2003 at the age of 59.[3] While Grimwood was still living it was rumored that a film adaptation starring Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts was in the works. This adaptation never materialized.[4] In 2010, it was reported that Warner Bros. was planning on filming a version of Replay starring Ben Affleck. The screenplay for this adaptation has been written by Jason Smilovic.[5] Robert Zemeckis is in talks to direct.[6]
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