
In a cramped downtown office, the weary private eye Simon and his quick‑witted secretary Betty field the most unusual case of their careers. A frail, eccentric client named Mr. Oyster walks in, clutching a belief that humanity will soon conquer immortality and, perhaps, time itself. He offers a generous fee to uncover any living time‑traveler hiding among ordinary citizens.
The conversation quickly turns from aspirin‑filled groans to paradoxes about changing history, as Simon tries to keep his skepticism in check. Together, the duo must sift through scientific speculation, shady leads, and the ever‑present danger of altering the continuum. Their hunt promises a blend of dry humor, clever dialogue, and the tantalising possibility that the future may already be walking through their door.
Language
en
Duration
~25 minutes (24K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Greg Weeks, Bruce Albrecht, Stephen Blundell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2007-12-20
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1917–1983
Known for big-idea science fiction with a practical, satirical edge, this prolific American writer explored politics, class, and economics long before those themes became common in the genre. His stories were especially popular in magazine science fiction from the 1950s through the 1970s.
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