bookrev: The Plot to Save Socrates by Paul Levinson

A fast paced book that moves quickly though time

The first three chapters of The Plot to Save Socrates take place in the years 2042, 150 and 1889. After getting through the initial disorientation that this caused, I raced through the rest of Paul Levinson’s page turner. It is an enjoyable read that I would recommend to science fiction fans and non-scifi fans alike.

The premise is a complex web of events started by someone out to save Socrates through time travel. The paradoxes of time travel (that changes in the past can change you in the future) are interweaved with the story of people both historical and fictional, some who believe they are nobly trying to save one of the greatest minds ever, some who believe they have no say in events and are just following along paths to destinies already set out before them, and others who are determined to change their fates by changing the past.

Although many ancients (Greek and otherwise) appear in the story, the fictional character (at least fictional in the beginning) of Sierra Waters (a paradoxical name in and of itself!) is the most intriguing. She becomes interwoven in the plot, but determined to make decisions about what paths she takes based on personal choices, not waves of the future or patterns of history.

I enjoyed the pace of the story, once I got used to the back and forth of the time and place settings. I also enjoyed the ancient characters brought to life, always a struggle and Paul does this well. Others may nitpick about some facts (how to people survive in different times? aren’t people who left one time never to return missed by parents and others? why aren’t there many more time travellers than there are in the book). But I enjoyed the story.

In addition, I believe Mr. Levinson leaves the story open for a sequel (or, because of time travel, would this be a prequel??), but I will not give the details of how as I do not want to spoil the story. I, for one, would certainly welcome a follow up.