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 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 |
The Masks of Time is ascience fiction novel byAmerican authorRobert Silverberg, first published in1968. It was a nominee for theNebula Award in 1968.[1]
It was published in the United Kingdom under the titleVornan-19.[2]
Vornan-19 arrives on Christmas Day, 1998 inRome. He floats down from the sky naked, landing on theSpanish 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 theUniversity 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 ofArizona. 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 changehuman 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 theWhite 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 toNew York City where he meets with the group of scientists, attends an outrageoushouse party and tours theNew York Stock Exchange. He reveals during the tour that in 2999 there is nocapitalism and even no money. All citizens have all that they need. After visiting thestock market Vornan requests a visit to an automatedbrothel inChicago. During an interview inCalifornia, Vornan-19 says that in the future they have determinedhow 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 theMoon, and when he returns he takes a break from his tour of the Earth by staying with Leo's friends Jack and Shirley inArizona. 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 visitsBuenos 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.
The Masks of Time has been described as an ironic and satiric treatment of the theme of salvation.[3]
The Masks of Time has been described as "a brilliant and nearly flawless performance", and has been compared toRobert A. Heinlein's 1961 novelStranger 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]
