The novel examines humans' tendency to idealize the past and view the present as deficient, through Knupp's obsessive attempts to turn back time and correct past mistakes. Suter questions whether we often lose ourselves in the past instead of living in the present.

Through Knupp's experiments, the novel questions the ethical boundaries of scientific progress and the manipulation of time. It highlights the potential dangers of exceeding the limits of knowledge without considering consequences.

While Knupp attempts to control time, the novel demonstrates that life is often unpredictable and chance plays a crucial role. Suter suggests it's sometimes better to let things happen naturally rather than desperately holding onto the past or trying to control the future.