Stephen King's surprisingly detailed foray into science-fiction is a multi-layered tale set against one of the most tumultuous periods in American history.
The plot
Jake Epping, a divorcee, is an English teacher. Described as an emotionless person, he goes through life one day at a time. After an urgent call from an acquaintance, Al Templeton, Jake ‘experiences' a portal that transports people to the past. However, the uniqueness of this time travelling portal extends further, in that; it always takes the traveller to the same day in the past- September 9, 1958. Discovered by Al in a dilapidated part of the diner he owns, the portal (as is the case with time-travelling portals in science fiction generally) is governed by a set of rules and regulations which operate under a set of relatively inexplicable circumstances & paradoxes. Further, the influence of the popular “Butterfly Effect” is also stressed. With everything in place, the plot unfolds with Jake taking upon himself a task that, if successful, would change the course of U.S. history and subsequently the world. The significance of the title “11.22.63” is revealed. Racing against time, Jake seeks to stop the assassination of John .F. Kennedy, supposedly at the hands of Lee Harvey Oswald.
With the main plot set, King also introduces a series of storylines running simultaneously throughout the book including a romance for the unlikely protagonist. Timelines are manipulated and the fate of the world hangs in the balance as Jake seeks to alter history.
Apart from the fact that it is a science fiction novel, 11.22.63 can be described as Stephen King's take on the tradition and culture of the USA in the late 1950s.The level of detailing and research that has gone into this book is quite remarkable. The choosing of the JFK assassination as a ‘watershed moment' and the controversy surrounding the actual event itself is also well explored.
Verdict
11.22.63 is a slow starter. A 700+ page science fiction novel by Stephen King might be a little off-putting at first glance but once the plot gets underway the reader is hooked. This is a great example of masterful story-telling from one of the most popular writers of our time. This one is definitely worth a read.
Title: 11.22.63
Author: Stephen King
Publisher: Hachette India
Price: Rs. 895
Rufus is an IT professional.
