Language English Media type Print (book) Originally published 1967 Page count 139 OCLC 2011327 | Publication date 1967 Pages 139 Publisher New American Library | |
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Genres Science Fiction, Speculative fiction Similar John Brunner books, Science Fiction books | ||
The Productions of Time is a science fiction novel written by John Brunner and first published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1966. It appeared in book form the following year, published by Signet Books.
Plot summary
The plot follows actor Murray Douglas as he joins a theatre production with a group of other actors. Each of the cast members has had career problems because of drugs, alcohol, or other kinks. The play is an avant-garde one, a form of improv where the actors make up the script during rehearsal, and rehearsals take place in an isolated country house. It emerges that the alleged playwright is feeding each participant's vices, using a futuristic form of sleep learning to overcome their attempts to stay "clean". This is being done to benefit the prurient interests of decadent time travellers.