Days of Cain

by J.R. Dunn

Book Overview

Gaspar James is a monitor whose job is to guard the historical integrity of the 24th century. As the story traces its path across millennia, Gaspar is faced with a heartbreaking moral dilemma. An... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380790491
• ISBN13: 9780380790494
• Release Date: June 1998
• Publisher: Harper Voyager
• Length: 376 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

An unappreciated gem

Some day someone someplace will "re-discover" this book and it will takes its proper place in literature as a truly remarkable work. The juxtaposition of the Holocaust in the context of a sci-fi novel is unique, and what some see as Dunn's failing to provide satisfying answers to history's most horrific and mystifying event (why and how could this happen?) is actually deeply satisfying, because it evokes the unanswerables that are intrinsic to human life. The scenes of concentration camp life are painful to the point that one is tempted to skip ahead, but one never does. And the shadowy Moiety with its futuristic aliens whose purposes and plans are unknowable, yet who are not without a sense of deep and everlasting pain, are perfect evocations of our lack of understanding. I disagree with others that Christian theology is a major driving force; there are plenty of Jewish concepts (perhaps universal?) here as well. A book for the ages that all should read, if only for its depiction of the Holocaust.

An ethical quandry

Days of Cain by J.R. Dunn: In the future, there is a group that is committed to "preserving the integrity of past events." However, there is one among them who has decided to alter the events at Auschwitz by going there as a prisoner. I won't lie to you, this one is a rough read --- not due to the prose, but due to the subject matter. Usually I avoid horror and sci-fi books about The Holocaust, because I feel that they belittle it by just using it as a convenient setting that is so horrific on its own that the author feels they do not have to expend much effort, and as a Jew it kind of pisses me off that they seem to find The Holocaust as little more than that. This book is an exception, however. The Holocaust is used as a backdrop for a story about ethics, a "what would you do if you had the chance" question.

A stunning, visionary work.

Deeply moving, highly involving and tense, this book is far more complex than it might appear at first glance. While appearing to be merely a science fiction novel, it deals with the impact of an obscene period of history on the souls of those who participated, as well as those whom time travel has gifted with the ability prevent it from ever happening. Despite the SF trappings, this is a very human novel, illustrating the terrible madness that overcame Germany during the war, as well as its lasting effect on humanity. One reviewer has claimed Dunn "insults" through his use of "Christian trappings", betraying a lack of familiarity with the subject matter. Dunn makes use of Frank Tipler's "Omega Theory" to provide a platform for forgiveness and divinity that fits with the technological aspect of the future in the novel.Dunn displays an astonishing grasp of emotion in "Days of Cain", moving the reader to tears at one moment, then despair, then rage, and finally joy and wonder. I've bought several copies of this book for friends (two of them Jewish), all of whom have later enthused about it. A remarkable work by a truly gifted author.

A harrowing SF novel for grownups

I was quite thoroughly impressed by _Days of Cain_. Author Dunn has brought a hard-edged but thoughtful sensibility to the old, old SF concept of time-travel. He doesn't flinch away from the essentially tragic nature of history, especially a history that cannot be allowed to change. I was reminded of Poul Anderson's old "Time Patrol" stories, but updated and, frankly, improved. The ending is appropriate and satisfying -- kudos to Dunn for realizing that a truly ultimate intelligence would have to find an answer to the metaphysical problems of pain, injustice, and evil. I have a few minor quibbles -- readers who are no old SF hands may have some trouble recognizing concepts like "tweaking" and "shorting" -- but overall I found this to be one of the most mature and satisfying SF reads in a long time. N.B. The concentration camp scenes are not for the squeamish.

The action of this book is mental and moral, not physical.

Don't expect a Martian cliffhanger by Edgar Rice Burroughs when you read _Days_ _of_ _Cain_, or, for that matter, any of Jeff Dunn's novels. Not that he can't give us great action when he wishes. The shoot-out finale in _This_ _Side_ _of_ _Judgment_ and the attempted attack on the death camp by heliocopters from the future in _Days_ _of_ _Cain_ are as rivetting as any thriller I've read. But Dunn doesn't operate primarily on that level. He's more cerebral. His angst-ridden heroes and heroines grapple with world-class ethical and philosophical dilemmas, a sign of SF's growing maturity in the last decade or so. _Days_ _of_ _Cain_ is a fine "read," well-paced and gripping.