Repeat Performance
In a world where time travel and prophetic dreams intertwine, a man named Ben Smith finds himself caught in a bizarre loop of events. After a night of petty crime, he is confronted by a mysterious little man, Dr. Sam Golfin, who claims that Ben is destined to be murdered in just over an hour. Golfin, a researcher of amnesia and prophetic phenomena, believes he can alter the future by sending Ben's consciousness into the moment of his death to uncover the identity of his killer. As Ben grapples with disbelief and fear, he learns that the murder will occur at a party hosted by a society leader, Sarah Fish. Golfin insists that someone at the party knows Ben and has planned his murder. The tension escalates as Ben realizes that he must act quickly to avoid his fate. Golfin offers a device that will allow Ben to experience his death and return with knowledge of the murderer. In a frantic struggle, Ben inadvertently stabs himself with Golfin's device, which was meant to send him into the future. Instead of dying, he finds himself back in the drugstore where he first encountered the little man, now with a sense of foreboding. The events unfold in a cyclical manner, with Ben repeatedly experiencing the same moments, each time trying to change the outcome. As he navigates through the party, he witnesses the murder of George Wile, a man who had been blackmailed by Sarah Fish. In a twist of fate, Ben's actions inadvertently lead to Wile's death, as he switches wallets with him during the chaos. The police arrive, and Ben's identity becomes entangled with Wile's, leading to a series of misunderstandings and a cover-up. Ultimately, Golfin reveals that he has been manipulating time to save Ben, but in doing so, he has created a new timeline where Ben's life is still at risk. The inertia of events suggests that certain outcomes are inevitable, regardless of attempts to change them. Ben is left with the choice to escape his past or join Golfin in his quest to explore time further. The narrative explores themes of fate, identity, and the consequences of one's actions, as Ben transitions from a petty thief to a time-traveling investigator, forever altered by his experiences and the knowledge of what lies ahead. The story concludes with Ben accepting his new role, hinting at the complexities of time and the cyclical nature of existence.
By Robert Silverberg · First published 1958 · Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery, Thriller · 10,413 words
First lines
The little man knew Ben had been murdered; the trouble was, Ben was still alive! Could the future be wrong -- or merely a dress rehearsal?
The pounding at the door woke me up. I groped for the light. It flooded the room, erasing the glow of the afternoon sun through the drapes. The clock said three-thirty.
What this Textopian page supports
Repeat Performance is listed on Textopian as a novel by Robert Silverberg, dated 1958 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Robert Silverberg
- Date: 1958 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Drama
- Length: 10,413 words
- Structure: 1 section, 285 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The plot revolves around time travel and the manipulation of future events, which are central themes in science fiction.
- Mystery — The narrative includes a murder mystery that the protagonist seeks to unravel, involving elements of suspense and investigation.
- Thriller — The story contains tension and danger as the protagonist faces imminent death and the threat of murder.
- Fantasy — The existence of a three dollar bill and the concept of time travel introduce fantastical elements that challenge reality.
Tags
science fiction · time travel · alternate history · mystery · romance · psychological · dystopian · human nature · identity · memory · regret · consequences