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Quantum Leap #13
Quantum Leap: Independence
Leaping into the body of one of his own ancestors, Sam Beckett finds himself at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, where his actions depend upon whether the Beckett from the past was a Tory, patriot, or double spy. Original.
247 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 29, 1996
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About the author
John Peel
422 books166 followersJohn Peel is the author of Doctor Who books and comic strips. Notably, he wrote the first original Doctor Who novel, Timewyrm: Genesys, to launch the Virgin New Adventures line. In the early 1990s he was commissioned by Target Books to write novelisations of several key Terry Nation Dalek stories of the 1960s after the rights were finally worked out. He later wrote several more original Daleks novels.
He has the distinction of being one of only three authors credited on a Target novelisation who had not either written a story for the TV series or been a part of the production team (the others were Nigel Robinson and Alison Bingeman).
Outside of Doctor Who, Peel has also written novels for the Star Trek franchise. Under the pseudonym "John Vincent", he wrote novelisations based upon episodes of the 1990s TV series James Bond Jr..
He has the distinction of being one of only three authors credited on a Target novelisation who had not either written a story for the TV series or been a part of the production team (the others were Nigel Robinson and Alison Bingeman).
Outside of Doctor Who, Peel has also written novels for the Star Trek franchise. Under the pseudonym "John Vincent", he wrote novelisations based upon episodes of the 1990s TV series James Bond Jr..
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 3, 2023
Nothing to say that hasn't been said already. Sam Beckett leaps into the body of an ancestor in the year 1776. I could imagine Sam and Al saying all the dialogue within this book, with the exception of a few curses. I also couldn't picture Sam killing a few people throughout, as I don't believe that was part of his moral standards.
To simply knock them out, I can see, but to instantly shoot someone before they fire first and then have Sam think to himself, "I had no choice" felt very out of character, but it was still a good read, compared to what I have read from the series so far.
I will say, I get that it had to be done, but there were too many instances where Sam was growing attracted to his great great and so-forth Grandmother and had to keep telling us, the reader that he can't partake in anything because it would be incest, regardless of the fact he's in someone else's body.
Anyway, I would recommend for a quick July 4th read---though Sam doesn't really spend any time in the battleground setting. Still, some good writing from John Peel, known mostly as a DJ.
To simply knock them out, I can see, but to instantly shoot someone before they fire first and then have Sam think to himself, "I had no choice" felt very out of character, but it was still a good read, compared to what I have read from the series so far.
I will say, I get that it had to be done, but there were too many instances where Sam was growing attracted to his great great and so-forth Grandmother and had to keep telling us, the reader that he can't partake in anything because it would be incest, regardless of the fact he's in someone else's body.
Anyway, I would recommend for a quick July 4th read---though Sam doesn't really spend any time in the battleground setting. Still, some good writing from John Peel, known mostly as a DJ.
July 27, 2022
In this adventure Sam travels a few generations back to his ancestor in the American War for Independence. Rather than being set on the battlefield, this story is set in a quiet rural area with a burgeoning rebellion which has Sam smack in the middle.
The story is very readable, though does suffer from a lot of unknowns that leave Sam and the reader not really sure what's going on. However. everything does clear up and make for a satisfying conclusion.
There was a big twist regarding Sam's great great grandmother that, as only a casual viewer of the show, meant nothing to me.
The story is very readable, though does suffer from a lot of unknowns that leave Sam and the reader not really sure what's going on. However. everything does clear up and make for a satisfying conclusion.
There was a big twist regarding Sam's great great grandmother that, as only a casual viewer of the show, meant nothing to me.
March 7, 2024
There was one particular aspect that made me very uncomfortable.
Sam and Al's characterization was overall good, but some of the dialogue was off. And some of Sam's actions were out-of-character.
Overall, the book was a solid meh.
Sam and Al's characterization was overall good, but some of the dialogue was off. And some of Sam's actions were out-of-character.
Overall, the book was a solid meh.
April 15, 2014
Another good chapter in the Further Adventures of Sam and Al. I had a few problems with the author using dialogue that was inconsistent with the characters. I can't imagine Al ever saying that there were "brambles all about," or Sam saying, "Live, damn you, live!" Other than that, it was a pleasant read.
June 19, 2015
Interesting. I never realised this was written by former DJ John Peel. The plot is similar to the TV episode The leap Between States, as Sam leaps into an ancestor during the revolutionary war. A pretty good read, especially considering John Peel isn't best remembered as a writer.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews