Walking a Fine Time Line

by Jeanette M. Bennett

Sherman had no future, until he finds himself in the future, accidentally kidnapped by Dr. Serendipity Brown, inventor of time travel. She hires him as her assistant, since Sherman has the one quality Serendipity lacks: common sense. Gallivanting about in an experimental time machine, they soon find themselves stranded in the year 1851. There they meet Dr. Wendell Howe, the unobtrusive Victorian gentleman who claims to be a Temporal Anthropologist from the twenty-seventh century. Can he help them get back home? Will the Institute of Time Travel Enforcers find and arrest Wendell for breaking their rules if he does? Can Serendipity perfect her time machine? And hardest of all, can Sherman keep man-crazy Serendipity out of trouble?

You can download a free 14 chapter preview of the book at http://scablander.com/

318 pages, Paperback

First published December 22, 2012

About the author

Jeanette M. Bennett was born in Washington State long, long ago and has yet to find the exit door. She is currently living in the southern fringe of the Scablands of Eastern Washington with her indulgent husband and some furry child-substitutes. Although she has a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Arts, she is a history geek who loves to spout obscure history facts to those who cannot escape fast enough. Channeling that obsession into writing time travel novels seemed far more socially acceptable. Her hobbies include collecting maneki-nekos (Japanese Lucky Cat), Viking wire weaving and drinking tea. Contrary to popular belief, she has been certified sane and normally doesn’t talk about herself in the third person.

My website http://scablander.com/ has a free 14 chapter preview you can look over of my book Walking a Fine Timeline.

My website also has information on my world and links for Indie authors.

Also check out my blogs:

Dr. Wendell Howe's blog on his travels in the Victorian Age at http://wendellhowe.blogspot.com/

The Association of Temporal Anthropologists featuring various time travelers visits to historic places in the past at http://temporalanthropology.blogspot....

Also my own blog at http://scablander.blogspot.com/ (Warning: I am not half as exciting as the Temporal Anthropologists.

Reviews

[Prasanth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first sci-fi book, and I was surprised by how funny and enjoyable it was. Simultaneously, explored a few interesting paradoxes of life with the time travel.

Dr. Serendipity's witty humor had me hooked from the start, and as her character developed feelings for Howe, I found myself falling for her too. I loved the crazy adventures of the trio, especially during their VJ Day trip.

By the end of the novel, the present felt more humorous, the past more glorious, and the future seemed brimming with adventure.

[Steph Bennion · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this on the strength of the Smashwords sample simply because I fell in love with Dr Serendipity Brown from the start. It is a well-written and entertaining read, with very likeable protagonists. An awful lot of research has also gone into this (I gave a little squeal of delight at the Crystal Palace sequences, as I live just down the road from what's left at the Sydenham site). Dr Brown herself reminded me a lot of Doctor Who's River Song, whom I adore! However, I thought the story fell uneasily between adventure and romance, with the latter (in the second half of the book) working much better than the introductory time-travel escapades. Also, the plot is a little thin and took a long time to get going. What saved the book are the three main characters, who come to life in their different ways very effectively. The descriptions of the various eras, future technology and period attire are also all very well thought out. So, three stars (I liked it); I'll keep an eye out for the sequel.

P.S. The first half of the book left me thinking of the old LucasArts game The Day of the Tentacle for some reason... I blame Franklin.

EDIT (2015): I upped my rating as this book is still stuck in my mind...

[Steve Fagg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun read! Lots of zipping about back and forth in time with three wildly differing characters and an engaging plot. The viewpoint character is perhaps the least sympathetic of the trio and the fun really only takes off when the triangle is completed by the introduction to the mix of Dr Wendell Howe, the Temporal Anthropologist specialising in the Victorian era. From that point on the book becomes hard to put down as events pile up and the pace of the writing races to the conclusion. I'll be looking out for more!

[Rex Lee Applegate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Approaches time travel and consequent paradoxes in a light, humorous way that makes an enjoyable read. I particularly liked the character who "went native" in Victorian England.