Halftripper by Mack Reynolds (1964)
In a future where humanity has colonized other planets, the concept of time travel has been developed and exploited for profit. A company called Time Enterprises offers trips to any point in history, but with a catch: each trip creates a new parallel universe, and the original timeline remains intact. The protagonist is a "half-tripper", someone who has traveled through time but not returned to their own era. They are stuck in the past, forced to live out their lives in a different time period. The half-trippers are treated as second-class citizens, denied access to advanced technology and forced to live in poverty. The story follows the protagonist's struggles to survive in the past, while also trying to find a way back to their own time. Along the way, they become embroiled in a plot by Time Enterprises to manipulate historical events for profit, and must use their knowledge of future events to prevent a catastrophic outcome.
By Mack Reynolds · First published 1964 · Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Psychological Fiction · 3,072 words
First lines
This section of New Sante Fe was off my beaten track. I've been on Mars a long time and am more than usually familiar with the various centers where we Terrans do our congregating. However, it'd been years since I'd come through here.
I was sitting in an obscure tavern, called, with commendable restraint, simply Sam's Bar, lapping up Martian brandy and facing the prospect of returning to the spaceport in a few hours with no particular enthusiasm.
What this Textopian page supports
Halftripper is listed on Textopian as a short story by Mack Reynolds, dated 1964 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Mack Reynolds
- Date: 1964 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Psychological Fiction, Adventure, Drama
- Length: 3,072 words
- Structure: 1 section, 66 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Halftripper by Mack Reynolds
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The narrative is set in a futuristic space environment, exploring themes of space travel, immortality, and psychological effects of space on humans.
- Fantasy — Elements of immortality and the supernatural are present, particularly in the character of Joseph and the concept of redemption.
- Psychological Fiction — The story delves into the mental states of characters, particularly the effects of space cafard and the psychological struggles of the protagonist.
- Adventure — The protagonist's journey through space and encounters with various characters provide an adventurous backdrop.
Tags
Science Fiction · Alternate History · Time Travel · Adventure · Thriller · Action · Pulp Fiction · Space Opera · Future Society · Social Commentary · Politics · Government Corruption