The Chronocar: An Urban Adventure In Time

by Steve Bellinger

RIDE ALONG ON AN URBAN ADVENTURE IN TIME Imagine being born the son of a slave with the mind of a genius. That was Simmie Johnson in the years following the Civil War. After a perilous escape from lynch mobs in Mississippi, he manages to earn a PhD in physics at Tuskegee, and in his research discovers the secret of time travel. He develops a design for a time machine called a Chronocar, but the technology required to make it work does not yet exist. Fast forward 125 years. A young African American Illinois Tech student in Chicago finds Dr. Johnson's plans and builds a Chronocar. He goes back to the year 1919 to meet the doctor and his beautiful daughter, Ollie, who live in Chicago's Black Belt, now known as Bronzeville. But he has chosen an unfortunate time in the past and becomes involved in the bloodiest race riot in Chicago's history. Black Science Fiction Society Book of the Month 2018 Best Indie Book Literary Award, Science Fiction Category

146 pages, Paperback

Published May 7, 2023

Reviews

[Booktokqutiepie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not usually one for sci fi and historical period stories HOWEVER this is an exception and I can absolutely see why this book has won so many awards thus far.

While this is a short read it is an incredibly impactful one. The story weaves more than just a sci fi tale of futuristic time travel but intertwines period history specifically of 1919 Chicago and the time of the first Race riot.


Simmie Johnson was the son of a slave with the mind of genius far beyond his time who managed miraculously to end up getting a phD from Tuskegee. There he designs his Chronocar but the available tech of the time that was needed to construct the vehicle did not exist yet. Fast forward over 100 years later his plans are found and the machine is built. He of course travels back in time to meet the creator but chose the wrong time period to visit.

The cohesive writing, head turning plot twists, action and tension will have you flipping these pages. Overall I would give this book 5⭐️ and I recommend anyone looking for a sci-fi book woven with troubled historic times to give it a read.

[Regan]

Great characters and great story line. The main character will frustrate you. He reminds me of my hard-headed younger nephews at times when they just think they know better than adults who have lived through it. He made me mad, more than once. Dr. Simmie and his daughter are great characters. Dr. Simmie’s backstory was greatly developed making it easy to root for him.

The historical pieces of the story were intertwined with care and thought. Reading some portions was hard, due to emotion. I happen to read this during a time where my state is in upheaval and some instances hit a little too close to home, even though portions of the book were set in 1919. It brought to the forefront that no matter how much changes over time, so much still remains the same.

This is a good book for lovers of science fiction or historical fiction and great for those that love both.