Shelburne, Vermont: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Humans are never satisfied with their lives.
Review: All of us during our lifetimes has asked "What if".In Shelburne,a aquaint New England village in Vermont this question is answered.Four members of the community realize they can change the present by altering the past.A stranger arrives in town on a July 4th day and gives out watches that act as time machines. Imagine, awakening one Sunday and discovering three of your closest friends have vanished from your lifeline.No one has ever heard of them, although you know they lived in your village and have been an important part of your life.President Kennedy is retired and now living a busy life. Nixon, Regan and Ford have never been elected president. The world, as you knew it on Sunday, does not exist. The four time travelers try to "fix" historical tragedies and correct perceived wrongs in their life. We are given remarkable insight into the lives of European immigrants as they become accustom to their new country in the early 1900's. An Indian war is visited and crimes against the American Indians are retold. We often forget that most of the blood that covered American soil during our war of independence was Indian blood. The Italian Tribune News stated in a book review of 7/22/99..."Conde writes with a spiritual tone and as the characters battle evil underlying messages of morality become clear."

Rating:
Summary: found it difficult to put down
Review: Although I've never reviewed a book before, I guess there's always a first time. This book of science fiction was what all Star Trekkies would enjoy. It is fast moving, believeable and exciting. I found myself in the book experiencing it as the drama unfolds. Mr Condi, the author writes with clarity and holds you with all the excitement that a wonderful author can do. I'm sure athere will be many books to come and I for one will be reading all of the. I feel it should be on the New York Times best seller list. My final comment is to those who have never read it is, " read and enjoy, very few books are of this caliber.

Rating:
Summary: A little fantasy mixed with history, love, sex and religion
Review: Although, I generally do not read science fiction books, this one held my interest from beginning to end. I just finished it and am anxious to pass it on to friends & family so that we may discuss it. Itwas fascinating to follow the author's manipulation of history, technology & religion. In some ways it was similar to the movie "Run Lola Run", which also deals with "what ifs". This book will not be easily forgotten, nor wouldthat be my desire.

Rating:
Summary: A little fantasy mixed with history, love, sex and religion
Review: Although, I generally do not read science fiction books, this one held my interest from beginning to end. I just finished it and am anxious to pass it on to friends & family so that we may discuss it. Itwas fascinating to follow the author's manipulation of history, technology & religion. In some ways it was similar to the movie "Run Lola Run", which also deals with "what ifs". This book will not be easily forgotten, nor wouldthat be my desire.

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating novel which contemplates what could have been.
Review: I rarely read novels - yet Conde's Shelburne, Vt could not be set down until I had learned its story and conclusion. Conde weaves the lives of three Vermonters in alternative time and space in such a manner that they are permitted to relive as they would have wished - rather than as they have. Although the setting is a small Vermont village, the characters are universal and the concepts Conde shares have contemplative meaning for us all. The plot is innovative yet believable. A good book to explore and reflect upon.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent story that keeps your interest throughout.
Review: The author's description of the events that unfolded when people were given a watch that would allow them to travel backward in time showed that this author put forth a great deal of effort to research factual information. I found, to the best of my knowledge, that the information provided about past events were quite accurate and by relating a fictional story to factual events made the novel quite interesting.

Rating:
Summary: A creative blend of historical fiction and fantasy.
Review: With painstaking attention to details of American history, Richard Conde has created "Shelburne, VT", a novel that offers sci-fi excitement, a moral play, and well-developed characters. Using historical events with a focus on New England and upstate New York, the author shares his love of history, geography, and the philosophical questions of moral codes and man's freedom of choice. The format of the book incorporates chapters of historical background in which the time travelers are drawn, adding a sense of reality to their exploits. The final chapters present a moral dilemma to be solved by the travelers. Mankind's inherent goodness is upheld.

Rating:
Summary: A creative blend of historical fiction and fantasy.
Review: With painstaking attention to details of American history, Richard Conde has created "Shelburne, VT", a novel that offers sci-fi excitement, a moral play, and well-developed characters. Using historical events with a focus on New England and upstate New York, the author shares his love of history, geography, and the philosophical questions of moral codes and man's freedom of choice. The format of the book incorporates chapters of historical background in which the time travelers are drawn, adding a sense of reality to their exploits. The final chapters present a moral dilemma to be solved by the travelers. Mankind's inherent goodness is upheld.