Time Out of Mind

3.5 stars, Metaphorosis reviews

Summary
As a boy, Laurie Linton had a strange experience - a man appearing out of nowhere, with a message, but unable to speak. Much later in life, Linton begins to learn what the apparition meant.

Review
I'm not a big fan of time travel stories, and this one has all the usual flaws. Cowper throws out a few token explanations – alternate timelines, etc. – but it's just handwaving to keep the story moving; there's no earnest attempt to look at time travel here, which in my view is just as well, since it rarely stands up to examination.

The focus here is rather on Cowper's smooth prose, which works well, and on the central relationship between Linton and Carol Kennedy, which is less successful. Cowper's prose is almost always strong, and that's true here as well. The plot is relatively mundane and uninspired, but Cowper's confident narration keeps everything interesting. That's just as well, since the the characters are something of a product of their time. They're immediately attracted to each other and fall in love simply because that's the formula. And Carol, while talented and intelligent, is largely a helpmeet for Linton. Not unusual for the '70s, but it's not a formula that has aged well. They're a solid enough couple to read about, but not one that will stick in your mind.

That's fairly true of the story overall – a decent 70s novel, but not one that would have made much impression even then. If you're a fan of Cowper (and I am), by all means read this. But if you're less committed or simply can't find a copy, don't worry about it.