Time, Language, and Identity: Two Novels That Redefine Reality

In this thought-provoking episode of Dragons and Spaceships, we explore two genre-defying novels that challenge how we perceive time, language, and identity.

First, we dive into Alexander Boldizar’s The Man Who Saw Seconds, a pulse-pounding sci-fi thriller about Preble Jefferson, a man who can see five seconds into the future. This gift sets off a chain of events that forces him to confront government control, personal sacrifice, and the nature of reality itself2.

Then, we shift to Pip Williams’ The Dictionary of Lost Words, a lyrical historical fiction novel that follows Esme, a girl who collects discarded words during the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary. Her journey reveals how language can exclude marginalized voices and shape our understanding of history4.

Together, these stories offer a compelling meditation on the systems we live within—and the ones we create.

Key Discussion Points:

• ⏱️ Time as perception and power in The Man Who Saw Seconds
• 📚 Language as a tool of inclusion and erasure in The Dictionary of Lost Words
• 🧠 The tension between individual agency and institutional control
• 💬 How speculative fiction and historical fiction illuminate human truths
• 🔍 The emotional and philosophical stakes of storytelling

Which shapes your world more—time or language? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe for more genre-spanning literary deep dives.

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