Overlap: The Lives of a Former Time Jumper

by N. Joseph Glass

This interview with the man who ‘sort of’ invented time travel is a touching story of love, regret, loss, and the hope for redemption. Nearing the end of his life, wealthy 'time travel' inventor Marcus Hollister—famously known for creating the technology behind Vacations in Time —wishes to tell his story to a hopeful young reporter, Jessica Matthews. Why her? Wy now? She was most interested in his motivations for creating a means of time travel, how it came to be nothing more than a recreational tool, and why he shut down the multi-trillion-dollar business it spawned. Their one-hour meeting stretched into three days, in which they discovered some secrets were best kept buried.

Genres: Time Travel, Science Fiction

234 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2023

About the author

Reading is a passion. Writing is an obsession.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, I live and write in Milan, Italy. As an independent author, I invest in my writing by working with coaches, using beta readers, polishing every manuscript with professional human editors, and finishing with a proofreader. Added to my passion for crafting stories, this offers you quality books that are an enjoyable read and often provide a thought-provoking experience.

I love to expound stories that are driven by relatable characters on meaningful journeys. Drawing from personal experiences enriches the writing process and leaves readers feeling like they know the characters they spend time with in a story. That human connection between my characters, readers, and myself, fuels my drive as an author.

Optimistic views of the future through art always interest me, as I believe ours will be bright.

Reviews

[Hannah Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Overlap” feels like the best of classic Black Mirror; it is poignant and hard-hitting, focusing on the human condition and the lengths people will go to accomplish their aims– whether that be grieving widowers creating a pseudo time travel to see a version of their spouse, or criminals using those inventions for their own deplorable intents. It is sometimes chilling– an elegant and raw take on the control of technology and the power of those who live above and outside the law. Other times, Glass depicts a touching story of a grieving man trapped in his regret and desperate for a second, third, and fourth chance. Full review of the book on Back Shelf Books

* received as an arc, but I am leaving a review voluntarily *

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overlap a poignant tale of what people will do and go through for love. This original story is sci fi based, but it is also a love story, and mostly told by the main character in an interview.

I found this concept of this book very interesting and it really captured my attention as I read through all Marcus had accomplished and why he did so. I really felt his heartbreak, and the regret he felt while recounting all that occurred with the “time machine” he invented. But the entire story is not sad, there is also joy in it, especially towards the end.

If you’re looking for a smart, different, sci fi based love story, this is the book for you. I highly enjoyed it, and being a novella, I was able to finish it in one afternoon.

I received an advance reader copy from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Eirlys · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

Marcus is an old man, with an aversion to interviews. He makes an exception to, Jessica, who arrives to interview him. The interview brings out a lot of complex issues, and drama.

[Racheal Chitondwe · Rating 5 out of 5]

While all time travel stories are unique, few can really grab your attention, never let go and resonate with you and leave you with a sense of some kind of renewal. As a widely read and written subject, it comes down to how something is written and, not so much, what is written. Just like, it is not what you say that is important, but how you say it. In this way, we appreciate the writer’s craftsmanship in penning such an intriguing tale of loss, love, and grief.
Such thrill, such suspense from a science fiction novel is to be savoured. Overlap: The Lives of a Former Time Jumper was written by N Joseph Glass. It is about a man named Marcus Hollister who was pushed by the loss of his dear wife Ellie to build a time travel machine.
In the opening scene of the novel, we see a young couple by the name of Ellie and Marcus Hollister on their way home from a restaurant in the ‘’least posh part of town.’’ When all of a sudden, they are ambushed by robbers seemingly out of nowhere and are stripped of their prized possessions. However, a gun, as if by mistake, goes off and kills Marcuse’s dear Ellie and the robbers scurry off into the night.

Until this dreadful night, this ‘’least posh part of town’’ was the safest. However, the rug was pulled from under their feet. It was at that moment where Marcus made up his mind. He was going to build a time machine in order to reunite himself with his dear wife. On this fateful night, a mad scientist was born.
Years later, he sits across from Jessica Matthews. A young upcoming reporter with brilliant reporting skills won his heart, or was it the eerily striking resemblance to his dead wife ? Besides her looks, Jessica Matthew’s conversationalist skills won her the chance to interview the man who shunned and turned down any media interviews for years and shut himself off from the world.
Marcus Hollister was now ready to tell the world his life story, or at least parts that were not in the media. Stories only he could tell, as if on trial or under trial, he was ready to tell his side of the story unfiltered and undiluted. After years of hiding behind the shadows, it was as if the guilt and shame had driven him out into the open. It was as if he was turning himself in. Through the interview and memoir, he would later leave for the public to decide if he was friend or foe, hero or villain. The public was the jury, and he was the accused, he would leave it up to them to decide if he really deserved to be exalted or dishonoured.

Did the good he gave to many outweigh the bad that followed? Having never left his house for leisure or religion, this was, in a certain sense, his confession. The confession of his sins before he left the world, he relishes this moment because of a variety of reasons. For years, he had been a ‘’recluse’’ and had closed himself off from the world. On the outside, he was a multi-millionaire and an accomplished scientist, on the inside, only he knew the demons he battled.
While he was a hero for everyone, he toed the fine line between hero and villain. Feelings of guilt over what his inventions helped spawn were not always so favourable. And so there he was in his chesterfield with drink in hand going back and forth with Miss Jessica Matthews relaying the foundations or events that had set him and Peter’s business in motion.
Peter and Marcus met at university and tossed business ideas around until one stuck. Their first project was, ‘’Subsidized by the depths of Peter’s trust fund and made a simple AI-based network routing system that transformed existing data connections to instantaneous synchronous flow channels making possible the growth of the metaverse and its successor, Transcend.’’

While Peter provided the necessary funds, Marcus was the brains behind the operation. Peter mostly focused on the marketing side of things, sweet-talking investors was his strong suit. We could say it was a passion, but he was driven by the monetary gain and fame, while Marcus was driven by the sheer will to reunite with his love.
The creations that Marcus deemed failures were taken by Peter and rolled out into production. Where there is a will, there’s a way, it seems. Peter, rather than tossing out what Marcus thought were failures, repackaged them for the world, and marketed them in such a way that found them rich soon after.
Though they failed to create the versions of time travel they wanted, they developed Transcend, a virtual reality built on memories and not on time travel. It allows people to relive their memories in a virtual augmented environment and the AI can take all the information provided and build a memory.
They would go onto create Vacations in time, this time there was no virtual reality, everything was real, and they could send people back in time not to experience a memory but to relive that moment. They could even choose to do something differently at that moment, but it would not change anything in the future. It is in this little detail that Marcus saw his failure.
While he could go back in time and do things differently, it did not change anything once he got back to his own time, meaning he never got to unite with Ellie in the present. Instead, he went back in the chamber as many times as he wanted to meet her.
Though Marcus pretty much lived his life as a vegetable in ‘real life’ he spawned new worlds and lives in the chamber each time he went. The more he went in, the more he discovered the limits his body and mind could take before it got dangerously hazardous for his health. His constant yearning for Ellie made him addicted to the chamber, he went back each time and even had a family with her in his other lives and went on holiday destinations she wanted.
It was only befitting that, like the machine’s inventor and creator, his customers would be equally intrigued. Also, driven by unhealthy feelings, they began to practice more nefarious things with the machine. While Marcus used the machine to cure his loneliness, his customers used it to feed their nefarious obsessions and others to plan pre-meditated murders and crimes.
The Military would use the time chambers for military training and war practice, which often involved thermonuclear weapons which obliterated most life on earth. Only when inevitable global devastation was undeniable did they seek an alternative.
It was in this way that Marcus saved the planet and had the world enjoy a nuclear-free planet. Or had he? Insanity is the act of doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, according to Albert Einstein. Henry Shorter was a healthy man, judging by the constant use of the time chamber that only the rich could only afford to abuse now and then. His trips in the overlaps were always short, which prompted Marcus and his team to probe a bit. Only to find out that the man was trying to find the best way in which to kill himself. Marcus tried to get him help in the form of paying for his therapy, to no avail. He only ended up succeeding in his efforts to end his life in the present. Overwhelmed with feelings of guilt, he flew to see his wife in order to console and share in her grief, but only succumbed to sins of the flesh. Not Marcuse’s proudest moment, he felt he betrayed himself and Ellie.

His other unnamed female client used the time chamber to replay the outcomes of a mass murder. Each time she went in the chamber,she would always try to ‘’rack up’’ the body count. She also ended up succeeding in real life and took her own life.

Other cases were that of a jilted lover named Adam Solomon, whose whirlwind romance with an office employee was the envy of all. Perfect in every way until the day his love broke up with him, suddenly. Having access to the chambers as an employee, he began to use the chambers for a brutal pre-meditated murder. At first, Adam convinced Marcus that he was using the chamber as a coping mechanism after the break-up and reliving his memories with his ex-girlfriend Lanisha. As was now Marcuse’s hobby, he monitored his travels and noticed he was brutally murdering her in each one of his overlaps. He finally succeeded even after Marcus tried to stop him because he had anticipated that since he was always the only one left in the building he must have tried to stop him and was ready for him.

The final straw or nail in the coffin that made Marcus shut down the program was Ash Hamilton, a sex offender who used the chamber to find male child victims to molest. What makes the crime more heinous is that his lawyers try to justify his use of the chamber as a precautionary and preventive method, as he didn’t harm any real boy in real life. They try to justify him fulfilling his unhealthy sexual urges in the time chamber as harmless, which would have held had it not been discovered that in each of his trips he tried to perfect ways in which he lured his victims and to swear them to secrecy.

They say life is a game, but who is the real winner? What did Marcus really gain when he treated life like a video game in which he went into a new world and gained new life but always left a loser? There’s nothing more painful than waking up from a good dream and only realizing it was a dream, and nothing more dreadful than being awake in a nightmarish situation and realizing it’s not a dream. This is how Marcuse’s life can be summed up, the lives he lived were in some sense a little fabrication of reality which tore at the seams and didn’t always last.

While his mundane miserable life felt like an eternity in hell. Marcus defied the laws of physics and tried to play God, but soon later found out it was overwhelming for one ordinary man. The weight of one world is one thing, but he had the weight of so many worlds on his shoulders, the weight of the ‘’façade’’ worlds that were created by his chambers and that of the lives of the people his machine ruined.
In some ways, his lonely life felt like a suitable punishment and him being confined to his house or estate was more like a self-imposed house arrest than a ‘’recluse’’. Maybe his ‘’victims’’ would feel better knowing he led a miserable life. Maybe it would pacify their grief and anguish to some extent, as it is human nature to want something or someone to blame after a tragedy.
With all this in mind, it’s clear Marcus never forgave himself and has never been able to move on with his life. He stayed stagnant but still aged, an indication that time only moved forward even if he didn’t. While we all hope for a chance to go back in time and do things differently, this story teaches us to always take each new day as a clean slate to start again. We must not linger in the past and allow good memories to haunt us rather than encourage us to look forward to better days. Enjoyed reading this story from start to finish, but I’m still debating in my mind whether the shocking revelations in the end are enough closure for a man who was half dead, or were they a thorn in old wounds or a double-edged sword?

[Kriti | Armed with A Book]

Overlap has a sharp beginning. Moments full of panic and desperation as Marcus and his wife, Ellie, are involved in a mugging incident gone horribly wrong. Her death drives Marcus to build the machine for time travel, or specifically time jumping. In the present, many years have passed since. Marcus is a recluse, living far away from society, with minimum human contact. Something about a reporter named Jessica Matthews catches his eye and for the first time ever, he decides to accept her request for an interview. Her resemblance to his wife is giving him new feelings. He has missed being around her.

Jessica and the history of Vacations in Time
Jessica is smart and intelligent. She has been diligent in her research about him, his invention, his business endeavors and the life he leads since his commercial time jumping business, Vacations in Time, shut down. The first part of the book dives into Marcus’ deepest darkest secrets that he is willing to lay bare in front of Jessica – the illegal experiments he did to test his technology, the success he found, how he let it be used for profit even though he himself only wanted to keep going back in time and building new lives with Ellie. He talks about the business model, all the skeletons that his business partner buried by throwing money at them and the number of times he saw his invention used for inhuman deeds. All this has taken a toll on him and this story is heavy with regret and guilt. But at its core is sorrow and grief. All Marcus wanted was to be with his wife, the one person in the world who understood him, and his time travelling could only make that possible for short periods of time.

There were moments in the book when I was creeped out. Marcus uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to keep an eye on Jesscia. He plans to extend her visit as much as he can and even the guest room she sleeps in has Ellie’s clothes. There are many times throughout the book when he assures the reader that he has no bad intentions towards Jessica but it is hard to not feel uncomfortable with his narrative in the beginning.

Exploring the Concept of Time Jumping through Marcus
I enjoyed the concept of time jumping in this book. A person could go back to a moment in time that they had already lived. They could live it again, change the outcome, should they want, but the traveler would always return to their present and the past would be unchanged there.

Marcus experimented with his machine extensively and jumped many times for different motivations. Through the book, I pondered the effects of time jumping on the traveler, the question of what is reality and what is a dream. Having jumped so many times, sometimes when real events are too overwhelming to process, Marcus has a hard time keeping his grip on reality, “There is no tank. This is real”. It was heartbreaking to imagine the good times he was living with the constant knowledge that his time would be up and his connection to his jumped-to reality would sever. He would again be returned to the world where is the inventor of time travel but also alone, without Ellie.

Marcus is filled with the beautiful memories he built in his time jumping and his mind is heavy with sorrow of all that he has lost in his quest to live more. Through Marcus, and later Jessica’s insights, Overlap effectively uses the concept of time jumping to explore themes of love, regret, and loss. Jessica asks insightful and thought-provoking questions that I had as a reader as well and as Marcus concludes the events of how Vacations in Time shut down, she reveals her true connection to him. I enjoyed their conversation even more after this and the second half of the book gave another glimpse of Marcus, in a life that he had when he was a jumper, leading to why he stopped jumping.

When I first started reading this book, I didn’t get the impression that Marcus would have been a family man. He has lived by himself for decades and it’s clearly established early on in Marcus and Jessica’s conversation that he doesn’t keep any friends. The important people in Marcus’ life are either dead or he knew them only in the course of his time jumping. He misses them deeply and I liked learning the familial and loving side of him beyond him in the second half of the book.

The World Building
There are mentions of current events to ground the reader on a common understanding of the 2020s though they have been long past and the world is decades ahead and different from our present today. There are mentions of AI technology and advancements as well as thoughtful details are added to effects of jumping on the human body and mental health. Marcus is an isolationist and the outside world matters very little in this story. While I may have been interested in this future where jumping to another time existed and then didn’t anymore, I was so engrossed in Marcus and Jessica that I did not waver from their story.

Conclusion
Overall, this is a great story that I was hooked on from the start to the end. It is perfect as a novella! The writing is concise and N. Joseph Glass masterfully balances the elements of suspense and emotional depth.

Many thanks to the author for a review copy of the book.

If you are a fan of The Time Machine by H G Wells, Dark Matter by Blake Crouch, The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas, Tell Me An Ending by Jo Harkin and/or the Travellers TV show, I am sure you will enjoy this perspective. Very well done!

This review was first posted to my blog and you can find more detailed thoughts here. :) Have you read this book?

- Kriti, Armed with A Book | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

N. Joseph Glass's novel Overlap refreshingly reimagines the often-overused concept of time travel, presenting it as a complex and emotionally charged journey rather than a straightforward trope. Time travel is not a simple leap across quantum space but a path fraught with challenges, consequences, and profound human interactions. Glass excels in crafting a universe where every action is significant and where the mechanics of time travel are both logically sound and emotionally resonant.

The story centers around Marcus, who, after losing his wife Ellie in a tragic incident, dedicates himself to unraveling the mysteries of time in a bid to reverse his loss. His quest, driven by deep personal grief, leads him into a labyrinth of temporal experiments and business ventures. Glass's portrayal of Marcus's invention of time travel stands out as a highlight, evolving throughout the novel into a captivating and dynamic plot element.

Glass's narrative prowess and character development in Overlap are commendable. His work rivals that of more established authors in the genre, showcasing a remarkable consistency in both the complex mechanics of time travel and the richly developed characters. The dialogue is clear and effective, skillfully driving the narrative forward. There are moments when the dialogue subtly invites the reader to engage more deeply with the text, offering an opportunity to discern the characters' distinct voices through context rather than relying on dialogue tags. This nuanced approach adds a layer of sophistication to the narrative. This story is a standout example of time travel fiction, captivating in its execution and memorable in its storytelling. Glass has created a world where consistency in character development, narrative mechanics, and overall quality is paramount.

Overlap by N. Joseph Glass is a thought-provoking and intricately woven tale that challenges and redefines the conventions of time travel fiction. Its strengths lie in its well-crafted narrative, complex character development, and innovative approach to time travel mechanics. Glass's work is a testament to the imaginative possibilities within the genre and a must-read for those who appreciate a story that combines intellectual rigor with emotional depth.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

At its heart, this book is a riveting conversation between Marcus Hollister, a wealthy inventor, and Jessica Matthews, a young reporter. The premise is simple yet tantalizing: a recluse nearing the end of his life chooses Jessica to unveil his story. The mystery behind his choice and the enigmatic closure of his once-thriving time travel business, Vacations in Time, sets the stage for an unforgettable exploration.

What truly captivates is Glass's ability to weave an intricate web of storytelling. As Marcus and Jessica delve into the genesis of the Chamber, an invention that birthed a global phenomenon, the narrative takes unexpected turns. The unraveling of secrets buried for years becomes a gripping saga, blurring the lines between past and present, invention and reality.

Moreover, the characters are brilliantly portrayed, each with their own complexities and depths. Marcus's motivations, his grief over his wife's tragic death, and the evolution of his invention resonate on a profoundly human level. Jessica's journey from an aspiring reporter to an integral part of Marcus's story adds layers of intrigue and empathy to the narrative.

Overlap transcends the boundaries of conventional storytelling. It’s a tale of time travel and an exploration of human emotions, relationships, and the consequences of manipulating time itself. Glass's writing is a symphony of suspense, emotion, and revelation that will leave readers spellbound.

For those seeking an immersive, thought-provoking narrative that blends elements of science fiction, mystery, and human drama seamlessly, Overlap is an unequivocal must-read. It's a masterpiece that lingers in the mind long after the final page, a testament to the power of storytelling at its finest.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold onto your time machines, folks! Overlap: The Lives of a Former Time Jumper is not your typical sci-fi fantasy snoozefest; it's a rollercoaster of secrets, regrets, and mind-bending time travel drama. Marcus Hollister, the once-addicted time jumper, spills the tea on his wild ride through the past, present, and future. Picture this: a recluse inventor, a shut-down time travel business, and a 'nobody' reporter named Jessica Matthews ready to uncover the juiciest secrets. It's like a cosmic conspiracy theory meets an emotional rollercoaster that'll make your head spin. Why read it? Because it's not just about time travel; it's about the tangled mess of regrets, the allure of altering the past, and the unexpected consequences that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. Overlap is the sci-fi fantasy you didn't know you needed, so buckle up and get ready for a journey through time that'll leave you questioning everything!

[Abigail L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A riveting sci-fi fantasy that explores the complex consequences of time travel. Marcus Hollister, a wealthy inventor addicted to time jumping, takes readers on an unexpected journey through secrets, heartache, and hope. Living a secluded life with grief and regret, Marcus decides to share his story with the world as he nears the end of his life. The book explores the intriguing concept of a 'time travel' business, Vacations in Time, which Marcus created and abruptly shut down. Through an interview with a reporter named Jessica Matthews, Marcus unveils the multitrillion-dollar business's dark secrets. What excited me about this novel is its unique take on time travel, blending science fiction with elements of suspense.

[Abdul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creative approach to time travel

Overlap by N. Joseph Glass is an alluring exploration of the consequences of time travel and the intricacies of altering the past.

Through the lens of wealthy inventor Marcus Hollister, readers are taken on an unexpected journey filled with secrets, heartache, and hope.

What sets this science fiction tale apart is its innovative approach to time travel mechanics.

Glass skillfully creates a tale that challenges conventional tropes; it will leave you pondering the weight of guilt and the possibility of redemption.

"Overlap" is a must-read for fans of time travel fiction seeking a fresh perspective on the genre.

[Holly Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overlap: The Lives of a Former Time Jumper is a phenomenal read filled with intrigue and suspense! I couldn’t wait to turn every page. Glass is a very talented writer and easily draws readers into his books to care about his characters and their next move. I enjoyed every moment and found it quite engaging. It’s a must read filled with loss and hope for redemption that you will not be able to put down. I love the glossy cover, too. Well done, N. Joseph Glass! I’m already looking forward to your next book!

[Ginger Sewell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sounded super interesting and I enjoyed it for the most part. It was a short, quick sci-fi novella that is out of my usual genre. I was very invested in the first half of the story but I feel like it lost momentum during the last part of the book. I felt like it was very predictable. A lot of the book was also a bit complicated to understand. However, overall it was decent and I liked that it had short chapters and was a quick read. Sci-fi lovers would enjoy it and it gave Dark Matter vibes.

Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Graisi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you N Joseph Glass and Netgalley for this free ARC in exchange for a review.

I can't finish this. It's too creepy that he watches her, even with a privacy filter. Not only that, but he recognizes that it's wrong, and yet right away goes on to say "something so right, so true and natural stirs" within him. I can't consider someone who behaves in this type of unhinged way to be a protagonist. A dead wife is no excuse.

[Dan Cornford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just Read It

Great idea, great science fiction, great world building, great character building. Yes, there is science fiction behind it, but this is really a story about a family, a family I cared about.

[Andrew Borrs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, very interesting read. Would highly recommend. This is one book you can not just put down, wanting to know what comes next. Looking forward to what else this author has written.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

The tone of this one was a bit off, but the story was interesting. I don't know why we had to be told several times in the first part that the main character was not being creepy. He could have just not had creepy thoughts, and we could have inferred his motivations. Or go ahead and leave it a little ambiguous for a bit. But even with the reminders, he did seem creepy at first. And then another character kinda brings it up later.... that was weird. It's hard to say anything about this one without spoilers, even if the spoiler can be guessed early on. There were some conveniences that can be overlooked. And also, the blurb makes it seem more sinister than it is. But overall, I was still curious as at what was happening, and it was an easy read.