The Masks of Time: Difference between revisions

The Masks of Time
	First edition
Author	Robert Silverberg
Cover artist	Robert Foster
Genre	Science fiction
Publisher	Ballantine Books
Publication date	May 1968
Media type	Print (hardcover & paperback)
Pages	252
OCLC	17316687

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The Masks of Time is a science fiction novel by American author Robert Silverberg, first published in 1968. It was a nominee for the Nebula Award in 1968.^[1]

It was published in the United Kingdom under the title Vornan-19.^[2]

Plot summary

Vornan-19 arrives on Christmas Day, 1998 in Rome. He floats down from the sky naked, landing on the Spanish Steps. The police try to arrest him but he knocks them over with a touch. He is helped and given clothes by Horst Klein who believes that the apocalypse will come in 389 days. Vornan-19 tells him that he is from the year 2999. Jack Bryant, a graduate student under Leo Garfield at the University of California is working toward a process to extract huge amounts of energy from ordinary matter. He leaves the physics department, marries pretty blonde named Shirley and they move to the deserts of Arizona. Leo Garfield spends several months with Jack and Shirley to get a break from his physics work. During Vornan-19's first public press conference he mentions the fact that in the future society is very different because they have tapped the energy within all matter so that no one has to work to obtain energy. Leo Garfield tells Jack that he left the University because he had actually finished his thesis showing how to extract the enormous amounts of energy within all particles of matter. He could not bear to release this theory since it would dramatically change human society. He asks Jack to use his influence to question Vornan-19 on the subject to see if it was his theory that was used in the future. When Jack returns to the University, he has a call from the White House and is forced to join a group of scientists working for the US government on how to best deal with Vornan-19.

Vornan-19 comes to New York City where he meets with the group of scientists, attends an outrageous house party and tours the New York Stock Exchange. He reveals during the tour that in 2999 there is no capitalism and even no money. All citizens have all that they need. After visiting the stock market Vornan requests a visit to an automated brothel in Chicago. During an interview in California, Vornan-19 says that in the future they have determined how life began on the Earth. An alien spacecraft visited the Earth long ago on a scouting mission and discovered no life forms and so departed; but before they left they jettisoned a load of their garbage that landed on Earth and eventually started life. Vornan then goes to the Moon, and when he returns he takes a break from his tour of the Earth by staying with Leo's friends Jack and Shirley in Arizona. Shirley subtly offers herself to Vornan but he shows no interest, Vornan instead seduces Jack. Shirley then sleeps with Leo who has been wanting her for years. Vornan has been made into a messiah by the people of Earth. He visits Buenos Aires using a personal shield technology that should allow him to interact with the crowds. The shield fails and Vornan is grabbed by the crowd and his body is never recovered. Leo remains in Buenos Aires until the turn of the century.

Characters

Vornan-19 — man from the future, specifically 2999.
Leo Garfield — Physics professor at the University of California, specializing in the time-reversal of subatomic particles.
Horst Klein — a nineteen-year-old German, the first person to talk to Vornan-19.
Jack Byrant — A graduate student under Leo Garfield.
Sanford Kralick — Presidential aide who put together the Vornan-19 committee
Marcus Ketthridge — Special Assistant to the President
F. Richard Heyman — Historian on the Vornan-19 committee
Helen McIlwain — Anthropologist on the Vornan-19 committee
Morton Fields — Psychologist on the Vornan-19 committee
Lloyd Kolff — Philologist on the Vornan-19 committee
Aster Mikkelsen — Biochemist on the Vornan-19 committee

Major themes

The Masks of Time has been described as an ironic and satiric treatment of the theme of salvation.^[3]

Literary significance and reception

The Masks of Time has been described as "a brilliant and nearly flawless performance", and has been compared to Robert A. Heinlein's 1961 novel Stranger in a Strange Land. The story of Vornan-19 has been described as a realistic and ironic parody of the romantic and superhuman adventures of Valentine Michael Smith.^[3] Algis Budrys cited "gratuitous problems", but recommended readers to "go buy it. It's quite interesting".^[4]

References

^ "1968 Award Winners & Nominees". Worlds Without End. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
^ "The Masks of Time by Robert Silverberg - an infinity plus review". Archived from the original on 2008-09-22. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
^ ^a ^b Chapman, Edgar L. (1999). The road to Castle Mount: the science fiction of Robert Silverberg. Westport: Greenwood Press. p. 45. ISBN 0-313-26145-8.
^ Budrys, Algis (December 1968). "Galaxy Bookshelf". Galaxy Science Fiction. pp. 149–155.

External links

The Masks of Time on Worlds Without End

[WWE-1968-1] "1968 Award Winners & Nominees". Worlds Without End. Retrieved 2009-07-11.

[urlThe_Masks_of_Time_by_Robert_Silverberg_-_an_infinity_plus_review-2] "The Masks of Time by Robert Silverberg - an infinity plus review". Archived from the original on 2008-09-22. Retrieved 2008-09-16.

[isbn0-313-26145-8-3] Chapman, Edgar L. (1999). The road to Castle Mount: the science fiction of Robert Silverberg. Westport: Greenwood Press. p. 45. ISBN 0-313-26145-8.

[budrys196812-4] Budrys, Algis (December 1968). "Galaxy Bookshelf". Galaxy Science Fiction. pp. 149–155.

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[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{All plot|date=November 2022}}
-{{Infobox Book | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books -->
+{{short description|1968 science fiction novel by Robert Silverberg}}
+{{Infobox book | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books -->
 | name          = The Masks of Time
-| image         = [[Image:The Masks of Time.jpg|200px]]
+| image         = File:The Masks of Time.jpg
+| caption       = First edition
-| image_caption =
+| cover_artist  = Robert Foster
 | author        = [[Robert Silverberg]]
-| genre         = [[Science Fiction]]
+| genre         = [[Science fiction]]
 | publisher     = [[Ballantine Books]]
 | pub_date      = May 1968
 | media_type    = Print ([[hardcover]] & [[paperback]])
-| pages         = 252 pp
+| pages         = 252
-| isbn          = 0345234464
+| isbn          =
+| oclc          = 17316687
 }}
-'''''The Masks of Time''''' is a [[science fiction]] novel by [[USA|American]] author [[Robert Silverberg]], first published in [[1968 in literature|1968]].  It was a nominee for the [[Nebula Award]] in 1968.<ref name="WWE-1968">{{cite web
+'''''The Masks of Time''''' is a [[science fiction]] novel by [[American literature|American author]] [[Robert Silverberg]], first published in [[1968 in literature|1968]].  It was a nominee for the [[Nebula Award]] in 1968.<ref name="WWE-1968">{{cite web
 | url = http://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?year=1968
 | title = 1968 Award Winners & Nominees
 | work = Worlds Without End
-| accessdate=2009-07-11
+| access-date=2009-07-11
 }}</ref>
-It was published in the [[United Kingdom]] under the title ''Vornan-19''.<ref name="urlThe Masks of Time by Robert Silverberg - an infinity plus review">{{cite web |url=http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/nonfiction/masksoftime.htm |title=The Masks of Time by Robert Silverberg - an infinity plus review |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/5at9xzUSc|archivedate= 2008-09-16|quote= |accessdate=2008-09-16}}</ref>
+It was published in the United Kingdom under the title ''Vornan-19''.<ref name="urlThe Masks of Time by Robert Silverberg - an infinity plus review">{{cite web |url=http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/nonfiction/masksoftime.htm |title=The Masks of Time by Robert Silverberg - an infinity plus review |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080922174004/http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/nonfiction/masksoftime.htm|archive-date= 2008-09-22|url-status=live |access-date=2008-09-16}}</ref>
 ==Plot summary==
-Vornan-19 arrives on [[Christmas]] day, 1998 in [[Rome]].  He floats down from the sky naked, landing on the [[Spanish Steps]]. The police try and arrest him but he knocks them over with a touch.  He is helped and given clothes by Horst Klein who believes that the [[apocalypse]] will come in 389 days, Vornan-19 tells him that he is from the year 2999.  Jack Bryant, a graduate student under Leo Garfield at the [[University of California]] is working toward a process to extract huge amounts of energy from ordinary matter.  He leaves the physics department, gets married to pretty blond named Shirley and they move to the deserts of [[Arizona]].  Leo Garfield spends several months with Jack and Shirley to get a break from his physics work.  During Vornan-19's first public [[News conference|press conference]] he mentions the fact that in the future society is very different due to the fact that they have tapped the energy within all matter so that no one has to work to obtain energy.  Leo Garfield tells Jack that he left the University because he had actually finished his thesis showing how to extract the enormous amounts of energy within all particles of matter.  He could not bear to release this theory since it would dramatically change [[Society|human society]].  He asks Jack to use his influence to question Vornan-19 on the subject to see if it was his theory that was used in the future.  When Jack returns to the University, he has a call from the [[White House]] and is forced to join a group of scientists working for the US government on how to best deal with Vornan-19.  Vornan-19 comes to [[New York City]] where he meets with the group of scientists, attends an outrageous [[house party]] and tours the [[New York Stock Exchange]].  He reveals during the tour that in 2999 there is no [[capitalism]] and even no money.  All citizens have all that they need.  After visiting the [[stock market]] Vornan requests a visit to an automated [[brothel]] in [[Chicago]].  During an interview in [[California]], Vornan-19 says that in the future they have determined [[Abiogenesis|how life began]] on the earth.  An alien spacecraft visited the earth long ago on a scouting mission and discovered no life forms and so departed, before they left they jettisoned a load of their garbage that landed on earth and eventually started life.  Vornan goes to [[moon]], when he returns he takes a break from his tour of the earth by staying with Leo's friends Jack and Shirley in [[Arizona]].  Shirley subtly offers herself to Vornan but he shows no interest, Vornan instead seduces Jack.  Shirley then sleeps with Leo who has been wanting her for years.  Vornan has been made into a [[messiah]] by the people of earth.  He visits [[Buenos Aires]] using a personal shield technology that should allow him to interact with the crowds.  The shield fails and Vornan is grabbed by the crowd and his body is never recovered.  Jack remains in Buenos Aires until the turn of the century.
+Vornan-19 arrives on Christmas Day, 1998 in [[Rome]]. He floats down from the sky naked, landing on the [[Spanish Steps]]. The police try to arrest him but he knocks them over with a touch. He is helped and given clothes by Horst Klein who believes that the apocalypse will come in 389 days. Vornan-19 tells him that he is from the year 2999. Jack Bryant, a graduate student under Leo Garfield at the [[University of California]] is working toward a process to extract huge amounts of energy from ordinary matter. He leaves the physics department, marries pretty blonde named Shirley and they move to the deserts of [[Arizona]]. Leo Garfield spends several months with Jack and Shirley to get a break from his physics work. During Vornan-19's first public press conference he mentions the fact that in the future society is very different because they have tapped the energy within all matter so that no one has to work to obtain energy. Leo Garfield tells Jack that he left the University because he had actually finished his thesis showing how to extract the enormous amounts of energy within all particles of matter. He could not bear to release this theory since it would dramatically change [[Society|human society]]. He asks Jack to use his influence to question Vornan-19 on the subject to see if it was his theory that was used in the future. When Jack returns to the University, he has a call from the [[White House]] and is forced to join a group of scientists working for the US government on how to best deal with Vornan-19.
+Vornan-19 comes to [[New York City]] where he meets with the group of scientists, attends an outrageous [[house party]] and tours the [[New York Stock Exchange]]. He reveals during the tour that in 2999 there is no [[capitalism]] and even no money. All citizens have all that they need. After visiting the [[stock market]] Vornan requests a visit to an automated [[brothel]] in [[Chicago]]. During an interview in [[California]], Vornan-19 says that in the future they have determined [[Abiogenesis|how life began]] on the Earth. An alien spacecraft visited the Earth long ago on a scouting mission and discovered no life forms and so departed; but before they left they jettisoned a load of their garbage that landed on Earth and eventually started life. Vornan then goes to the [[Moon]], and when he returns he takes a break from his tour of the Earth by staying with Leo's friends Jack and Shirley in [[Arizona]]. Shirley subtly offers herself to Vornan but he shows no interest, Vornan instead seduces Jack. Shirley then sleeps with Leo who has been wanting her for years. Vornan has been made into a messiah by the people of Earth. He visits [[Buenos Aires]] using a personal shield technology that should allow him to interact with the crowds. The shield fails and Vornan is grabbed by the crowd and his body is never recovered. Leo remains in Buenos Aires until the turn of the century.
-==Characters ==
+==Characters==
 * Vornan-19 — man from the future, specifically 2999.
-* Leo Garfield — [[Physics]] professor at the [[University of California]], specializing in the time-reversal of [[subatomic particle]]s.
+* Leo Garfield — Physics professor at the [[University of California]], specializing in the time-reversal of [[subatomic particle]]s.
-* Horst Klein — a nineteen year old German, the first person to talk to Vornan-19.
+* Horst Klein — a nineteen-year-old German, the first person to talk to Vornan-19.
 * Jack Byrant — A graduate student under Leo Garfield.
 * Sanford Kralick — Presidential aide who put together the Vornan-19 committee
 * Marcus Ketthridge — Special Assistant to the [[President of the United States|President]]
-* F. Richard Heyman — [[Historian]] on the Vornan-19 committee
+* F. Richard Heyman — Historian on the Vornan-19 committee
-* Helen McIlwain — [[Anthropologist]] on the Vornan-19 committee
+* Helen McIlwain — Anthropologist on the Vornan-19 committee
-* Morton Fields — [[Psychologist]] on the Vornan-19 committee
+* Morton Fields — Psychologist on the Vornan-19 committee
 * Lloyd Kolff — [[Philologist]] on the Vornan-19 committee
-* Aster Mikkelsen — [[Biochemist]] on the Vornan-19 committee
+* Aster Mikkelsen — Biochemist on the Vornan-19 committee
 ==Major themes==
-''The Masks of Time'' has been described as an ironic and satiric treatment of the theme of salvation.<ref name="isbn0-313-26145-8">{{cite book |last=Chapman|first= Edgar L. |title=The road to Castle Mount: the science fiction of Robert Silverberg |edition= |language= |publisher=Greenwood Press |location=[[Westport, COnnecticut|Westport]]|year=1999 |origyear= |pages= p. 45|quote= |isbn=0-313-26145-8 |oclc= |doi= |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=XuAI0EFSgcgC&pg=PA45&dq='the+masks+of+time'+silverberg&ei=79POSPHyMJWszATd6KDiBA&sig=ACfU3U0rIoHTCwNInGxdrv39_QqdN54arg|accessdate=}}</ref>
+''The Masks of Time'' has been described as an ironic and satiric treatment of the theme of salvation.<ref name="isbn0-313-26145-8">{{cite book |last=Chapman|first= Edgar L. |title=The road to Castle Mount: the science fiction of Robert Silverberg |publisher=Greenwood Press |location=[[Westport, Connecticut|Westport]]|year=1999 |pages= 45|isbn=0-313-26145-8 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=XuAI0EFSgcgC&dq='the+masks+of+time'+silverberg&pg=PA45}}</ref>
 ==Literary significance and reception==
-''The Masks of Time'' has been described as "a brilliant and nearly flawless performance", and has been compared to [[Robert A. Heinlein]]'s ''[[Stranger in a Strange Land]]''. The story of Vornan-19 has been described as a realistic and ironic parody of the romantic and superhuman adventures of [[Valentine Michael Smith]].<ref name="isbn0-313-26145-8" />
+''The Masks of Time'' has been described as "a brilliant and nearly flawless performance", and has been compared to [[Robert A. Heinlein]]'s 1961 novel ''[[Stranger in a Strange Land]]''. The story of Vornan-19 has been described as a realistic and ironic parody of the romantic and superhuman adventures of Valentine Michael Smith.<ref name="isbn0-313-26145-8" /> [[Algis Budrys]] cited "gratuitous problems", but recommended readers to "go buy it. It's quite interesting".<ref name="budrys196812">{{Cite magazine
+ |last=Budrys
+ |first=Algis
+ |date=December 1968
+ |title=Galaxy Bookshelf
+ |url=https://archive.org/stream/Galaxy_v27n05_1968-12_modified#page/n115/mode/2up
+ |magazine=Galaxy Science Fiction
+ |pages=149–155
+}}</ref>
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
-==External Links==
+==External links==
-* [http://www.worldswithoutend.com/novel.asp?ID=825 The Masks of Time] on Worlds Without End
+* [http://www.worldswithoutend.com/novel.asp?ID=825 ''The Masks of Time''] on Worlds Without End
+{{Works of Robert Silverberg}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Masks of Time, The}}
-[[Category:1968 novels]]
+[[Category:1968 American novels]]
-[[Category:Science fiction novels]]
+[[Category:1968 science fiction novels]]
+[[Category:American science fiction novels]]
+[[Category:Ballantine Books books]]
+[[Category:Fiction set in 1998]]
+[[Category:Novels about time travel]]
 [[Category:Novels by Robert Silverberg]]