Horrid Henry stories 13.2

Horrid Henry and the Mega-Mean Time Machine

by Francesca Simon

Release: 2005
Format: Short Story
Genre: Mainstream
Audience: Children
Content: Time Phenomena
Original Language: English

Henry builds a time machine out of the box that the washing machine arrived in, and he’s his usual horrid self in bringing with his little brother Peter up to speed about the whole thing.

— Michael Main

“I’m going to the future and you can’t stop me,” said Peter.

DEBUT

“Horrid Henry and the Mega-Mean Time Machine,” in Horrid Henry and the Mega-Mean Time Machine [four stories] (Orion Children’s Books, 2005).

VARIANTS

2 English variants

DERIVATIVE WORKS

“Horrid Henry’s Time Machine” by Francesca Simon, from Horrid Henry [s01e16] by Malcolm Williamson, directed by Dave Unwin (ITV, UK, 18 December 2006).

TAGS(SPOILERS!)

Time Periods

Circa AD 2000 to 2099: presumed time period
Unspecified Future Year: pretend destination

Time Travel Methods

Time Booths, Wardrobes, et al.: Made by Henry from a cardboard box.

Themes

Apparent Time Phenomenon Is Not What It Seems
Language Difficulties: “Uggg uggg bleuch ble bloop.”
Meeting or Viewing Ancestors or Descendants: “I met my great-great-greatgrandson.”
People from Different Times Look Exactly Alike: “And he looks just like me.”

Fictional Tags

Horrid Henry

Groupings

TIME TRAVEL ITINERARY (SPOILERS!)

From Henry’s house, unspecified time ⋙ to Henry’s house, unspecified future time. Round trip. Note: Henry’s first pretend trip.
From Henry’s house, unspecified time ⋙ to Henry’s house, unspecified future time. Round trip. Note: Henry tricks Peter into thinking he’s traveled.