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I Am John Titor
In the world of internet legends, time traveler John Titor is the ultimate prize.
Idealistic filmmaker Ramon Jimenez is stuck shooting mundane reality shows when he longs to create documentaries that change the world. But needing to keep food on the table has put his ambitions on hold…
Until Ramon spots a broken-down car linked to John Titor, an infamous internet legend who, at the turn of the century, claimed to be a time traveler from 2036. This could be the break he’s waiting for – if he can find a fresh angle.
RJ tracks down six different witnesses – each claiming to know “the real” John Titor.
But their stories don’t add up.
One says Titor was sent from the future to stop a world-ending war.
Another insists he was nothing more than a bored college kid creating an internet hoax to impress his frat brothers.
A third claims to have been set up to take the fall in an elaborate heist orchestrated by Titor in 1970s New York.
As RJ dives deeper, the lines between fact and fiction blur. Who was John Titor? Was he really from the future, or just a cleverly spun hoax? The closer RJ gets to the truth, the higher the stakes become.
I Am John Titor is a time-traveling epic that jumps between decades, genres, and timelines as RJ tries to solve the mystery of the true legend of John Titor.
Idealistic filmmaker Ramon Jimenez is stuck shooting mundane reality shows when he longs to create documentaries that change the world. But needing to keep food on the table has put his ambitions on hold…
Until Ramon spots a broken-down car linked to John Titor, an infamous internet legend who, at the turn of the century, claimed to be a time traveler from 2036. This could be the break he’s waiting for – if he can find a fresh angle.
RJ tracks down six different witnesses – each claiming to know “the real” John Titor.
But their stories don’t add up.
One says Titor was sent from the future to stop a world-ending war.
Another insists he was nothing more than a bored college kid creating an internet hoax to impress his frat brothers.
A third claims to have been set up to take the fall in an elaborate heist orchestrated by Titor in 1970s New York.
As RJ dives deeper, the lines between fact and fiction blur. Who was John Titor? Was he really from the future, or just a cleverly spun hoax? The closer RJ gets to the truth, the higher the stakes become.
I Am John Titor is a time-traveling epic that jumps between decades, genres, and timelines as RJ tries to solve the mystery of the true legend of John Titor.
446 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2025
236 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 7, 2025
TL;DR
I didn't enjoy this book as much as other people. In my opinion the book focused too much on the people around John Titor than his story. I think I would prefer if the author had come up with a more interesting story about him other than this "realistic" trying to explain how it could have happened.
My Scoring System
I have five things I look for in a book, if the book checks all five it's a 5/5 stars book, if it checks none it's a 1/5 stars and everything else is a combination:
X - Main Story: The parts with John Titor were interesting but they're about 10% of the book, the rest is people who met with John and their experiences with him. I think it would have been a better idea to just focus on him instead of the direction the author took.
X - Side Stories (if it applies): The only interesting one was the IBM heist. The rest are pretty boring and uninteresting.
X - Characters: John Titor is the most interesting one and that's not saying much at all. Any one in his shoes would be with the foresight of the future. I didn't find him intriguing at all, especially after what he does to time travel.
X - Setting/Ambiance: Nothing interesting, a few nice things when we go back to those years in the past but we don't get anything described in detail just the year.
X - Ending: I didn't like the ending. The book starts a bit slow, gets more interesting towards the mid and after that in my opinion is downhill concluding with the ending.
Extensive Review
The reason I disliked this book so much is all of the cultural references. I've never previously read a book that has this but now I will stay away from books where this is prominent because it was not enjoyable. I kept rolling my eyes whenever I read "Oh this is like in The Matrix...", "I've just watched The Usual Suspects...", "People would kill to watch Fight Club in the theaters...", "What's Toy Story? (and then have some one explain the entire plot of the Toy Story movie)", "Are you listening to that Slim Shady guy? I like that song that starts with Hey kids, do you like violence?" In my opinion this is not fun to read.
The worst part is definitely towards the end when we get the perspective of Jacob. I know young kids are annoying but I would be okay to sacrifice a bit of realism and not have them written like some of the worst characters ever. I had to skim through these chapters because it was infuriating to read. Constantly jokes about having sex with each others mothers and swearing left and right. I know this is how they behave but in my opinion it only damages the book because I don't want to read it.
I didn't enjoy this book as much as other people. In my opinion the book focused too much on the people around John Titor than his story. I think I would prefer if the author had come up with a more interesting story about him other than this "realistic" trying to explain how it could have happened.
My Scoring System
I have five things I look for in a book, if the book checks all five it's a 5/5 stars book, if it checks none it's a 1/5 stars and everything else is a combination:
X - Main Story: The parts with John Titor were interesting but they're about 10% of the book, the rest is people who met with John and their experiences with him. I think it would have been a better idea to just focus on him instead of the direction the author took.
X - Side Stories (if it applies): The only interesting one was the IBM heist. The rest are pretty boring and uninteresting.
X - Characters: John Titor is the most interesting one and that's not saying much at all. Any one in his shoes would be with the foresight of the future. I didn't find him intriguing at all, especially after what he does to time travel.
X - Setting/Ambiance: Nothing interesting, a few nice things when we go back to those years in the past but we don't get anything described in detail just the year.
X - Ending: I didn't like the ending. The book starts a bit slow, gets more interesting towards the mid and after that in my opinion is downhill concluding with the ending.
Extensive Review
The reason I disliked this book so much is all of the cultural references. I've never previously read a book that has this but now I will stay away from books where this is prominent because it was not enjoyable. I kept rolling my eyes whenever I read "Oh this is like in The Matrix...", "I've just watched The Usual Suspects...", "People would kill to watch Fight Club in the theaters...", "What's Toy Story? (and then have some one explain the entire plot of the Toy Story movie)", "Are you listening to that Slim Shady guy? I like that song that starts with Hey kids, do you like violence?" In my opinion this is not fun to read.
The worst part is definitely towards the end when we get the perspective of Jacob. I know young kids are annoying but I would be okay to sacrifice a bit of realism and not have them written like some of the worst characters ever. I had to skim through these chapters because it was infuriating to read. Constantly jokes about having sex with each others mothers and swearing left and right. I know this is how they behave but in my opinion it only damages the book because I don't want to read it.
August 12, 2025
DNF - While the prose isn't at the level of "purple prose" it's still too overwrought and weighs down the narrative in a way that makes me think the author doesn't understand the medium. Screen-time people really do need to read a lot before attempting to write a book. It's like the words are trying too hard to describe things the author sees in his head. This isn't a TV show or a movie and it's not much of a novel either.
If the mystery man in the prologue is the protagonist, I don't know enough about him to feel invested in his story. While I suspect he is the titular figure, it wasn't enough to keep me engaged. If RJ is the protagonist, he's got no redeeming qualities. I'm not rooting for him as a failed auteur or frustrated filmmaker. 25% into the eBook and I realized I don't care. IDK why he cares about finding this shadowy figure. I don't care to find out who John Titor is or why the mother-in-law is connected to him. The gator gitters part was the most compelling thing about the whole first act. If this is supposed to be some X-Files thing, RJ needs a partner like Scully to humanize him. As it's presented, I don't care if RJ finds Titor. I don't care if RJ is Titor. It's trying so hard to be mysterious that it forgot to be substantive enough to be engaging or compelling.
If the mystery man in the prologue is the protagonist, I don't know enough about him to feel invested in his story. While I suspect he is the titular figure, it wasn't enough to keep me engaged. If RJ is the protagonist, he's got no redeeming qualities. I'm not rooting for him as a failed auteur or frustrated filmmaker. 25% into the eBook and I realized I don't care. IDK why he cares about finding this shadowy figure. I don't care to find out who John Titor is or why the mother-in-law is connected to him. The gator gitters part was the most compelling thing about the whole first act. If this is supposed to be some X-Files thing, RJ needs a partner like Scully to humanize him. As it's presented, I don't care if RJ finds Titor. I don't care if RJ is Titor. It's trying so hard to be mysterious that it forgot to be substantive enough to be engaging or compelling.
August 23, 2025
DNF. I picked this up because at one time I was friendly with Joseph Matheny, who was involved in the original Titor hoax. (Or game. Or performance art. Whatever.) This just didn't grab me at all.
October 15, 2024
An interesting take on time travel and old internet lore. If John Titor is/was real, just what all did he do and how did he affect things?
While I used the internet in the early 2000s, I hadn't heard of John Titor until hearing about him in an anime, Steins:Gate, but it was enough to peak my curiosity.
Part historical novel, part science fiction, part mystery, we follow a film documentarian burned out on his job trying to reclaim some of the magic he envisioned when starting out. One for money, one for passion was the plan, but it never seemed to work that way. After a disaster on set he finally manages to convince his partner to let him loose on a topic of his choice, and a chance encounter with an odd car sets him off on his old interest, John Titor, leading us on a winding trail of a myth of a man.
Interestingly the book jumps back and forth through John's life through those he met, how does a man from a changing future get people to listen to him if what he says happened in one timeline, don't in another? Well, by being an excellent con man. John comes off as being a hero to the people he meets, but is he? Yes and no. Nothing is ever free in life, good or bad as those he meets learn, but do they regret John's actions? Did the good outweigh the bad? Following a family he loves, gives us an interesting view of John, and I highly recommend reading the book to see how it pans out.
Ratings: 4/5 overall
Plot: 5/5 The plot was interesting and I found myself wanting to see how it all tied together and how past actions affected the future. It might have been neat to see things subtly change.
Characters: 4/5 The characters are interesting though the way some tie together seems a bit too convenient at times, but with a time traveler involved, I suppose that is expected in some ways. I found myself wondering just how this documentarian was so connected and how his family stuck with his obsession at times when they didn't want to dwell on things.
Flow: 3/5 The time and POV jumping while interesting, felt off at some points and felt like they could have been reordered at some points. With certain ones maybe best being saved for last.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC read of this book.
While I used the internet in the early 2000s, I hadn't heard of John Titor until hearing about him in an anime, Steins:Gate, but it was enough to peak my curiosity.
Part historical novel, part science fiction, part mystery, we follow a film documentarian burned out on his job trying to reclaim some of the magic he envisioned when starting out. One for money, one for passion was the plan, but it never seemed to work that way. After a disaster on set he finally manages to convince his partner to let him loose on a topic of his choice, and a chance encounter with an odd car sets him off on his old interest, John Titor, leading us on a winding trail of a myth of a man.
Interestingly the book jumps back and forth through John's life through those he met, how does a man from a changing future get people to listen to him if what he says happened in one timeline, don't in another? Well, by being an excellent con man. John comes off as being a hero to the people he meets, but is he? Yes and no. Nothing is ever free in life, good or bad as those he meets learn, but do they regret John's actions? Did the good outweigh the bad? Following a family he loves, gives us an interesting view of John, and I highly recommend reading the book to see how it pans out.
Ratings: 4/5 overall
Plot: 5/5 The plot was interesting and I found myself wanting to see how it all tied together and how past actions affected the future. It might have been neat to see things subtly change.
Characters: 4/5 The characters are interesting though the way some tie together seems a bit too convenient at times, but with a time traveler involved, I suppose that is expected in some ways. I found myself wondering just how this documentarian was so connected and how his family stuck with his obsession at times when they didn't want to dwell on things.
Flow: 3/5 The time and POV jumping while interesting, felt off at some points and felt like they could have been reordered at some points. With certain ones maybe best being saved for last.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC read of this book.
January 15, 2025
Elusive Legend . . .
The legend of time traveler John Titor is explored here. Film-maker Ramon Jimenez is in a slump and finds a broken-down car supposedly linked to John Titor, an internet legend claiming he was a time traveler just might take RJ to fame as well. But proving John Titor was real is not an easy task as people weave their own stories about him. Was he really from the future? Is it all a lie? And will RJ discover the “truth” or have to walk away proving nothing?
The legend of time traveler John Titor is explored here. Film-maker Ramon Jimenez is in a slump and finds a broken-down car supposedly linked to John Titor, an internet legend claiming he was a time traveler just might take RJ to fame as well. But proving John Titor was real is not an easy task as people weave their own stories about him. Was he really from the future? Is it all a lie? And will RJ discover the “truth” or have to walk away proving nothing?
January 20, 2025
I have read many time travel genres- / futuristic / sci-fi / romance.
I have not read any time travel where they are actually trying to make changes to influence the future. That always seemed to be the one big rule.
The jumping back and forth was a bit disjointed in getting the storyline to fall into place.
All of that being said - I still enjoyed the story even if I am dissatisfied with the ending.
I have not read any time travel where they are actually trying to make changes to influence the future. That always seemed to be the one big rule.
The jumping back and forth was a bit disjointed in getting the storyline to fall into place.
All of that being said - I still enjoyed the story even if I am dissatisfied with the ending.
August 9, 2025
This time travel novel bends the genre in ways I've never seen before. It's less about the mechanics of time travel, and more about growing the characters and their world... Telling the story out of order and from multiple perspectives was a bold choice by the authors, and I'm stunned by how well this WORKED! I did not want to put the book down. It's sweet, slightly salty, mysterious, and wonderfully rich in detail and depth. All the stars!
January 30, 2025
Good stuff!
I used to bartend, so I had many late night drives home, and spent a lot of those nights listening to Art Bell after a friend told me it was fun to listen in. I remember some of the John Titor calls and conversations. Good trip down memory lane with a well written story around it. Kudos.
I used to bartend, so I had many late night drives home, and spent a lot of those nights listening to Art Bell after a friend told me it was fun to listen in. I remember some of the John Titor calls and conversations. Good trip down memory lane with a well written story around it. Kudos.
August 11, 2025
I like time travel stories of all kinds and this was no exception. I may need to go back and read it again to clear up some of my confusion about the FBI cover up and where the mafia got involved siphoning money but the Titor part and changing history to save Amelia and prevent the war is right up my street.
August 11, 2025
Loved this book!
Really enjoyed reading this novel 📖. Loved the characters and the flow of story. Kudos on a novel well done. Unfortunately, our world doesn't look much better ( if not worse) than the story you tell and wish there was a restart button we could use. Thank you for the possibility of change, however sweet.
Really enjoyed reading this novel 📖. Loved the characters and the flow of story. Kudos on a novel well done. Unfortunately, our world doesn't look much better ( if not worse) than the story you tell and wish there was a restart button we could use. Thank you for the possibility of change, however sweet.
August 17, 2025
Great Read
This was just one fantastic read! It’s been a long time since I’ve read a story with the changing of characters that went as smooth as this book did. I also find it rather amazing that the authors took what was possibly a prank, maybe the truth of another reality, it made a fantastic story out of it. Too bad there wasn’t a sequel.
This was just one fantastic read! It’s been a long time since I’ve read a story with the changing of characters that went as smooth as this book did. I also find it rather amazing that the authors took what was possibly a prank, maybe the truth of another reality, it made a fantastic story out of it. Too bad there wasn’t a sequel.
August 27, 2025
Helluva ride
I’ve been obsessed with the John Titor story since I first read about it in the early 2000s. This book does a great job of taking everything from it and weaving it into a single cohesive story. The only nitpick I have is to point out to the authors that there are absolutely no mountains in Florida.
I’ve been obsessed with the John Titor story since I first read about it in the early 2000s. This book does a great job of taking everything from it and weaving it into a single cohesive story. The only nitpick I have is to point out to the authors that there are absolutely no mountains in Florida.
August 24, 2025
I really liked this book, I wasn't sure if it was for me at the start but as it went on I became engrossed. I loved the way it turned out, not what I was expecting and really I enjoyed the story telling. I thought it was clever and I didn't want it to end.
September 7, 2025
Time travel confuses me, hence why I'll never write about it. All the threads came together in the end, which would have been a 3 star rating for me. However, there were too many grammatical mistakes, so I dropped it down to a 2 star rating.
August 9, 2025
Held my nose and made it to 34% because I like time travel. BUT when there appeared a kid who needed an operation…NOPE.
September 7, 2025
confusing at times
The change in times from chapter to chapter can be disorienting. The reader really needs to pay attention. The overall premise is cool
The change in times from chapter to chapter can be disorienting. The reader really needs to pay attention. The overall premise is cool
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews