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Shift
A serial killer in a world with more than three dimensions
“Heart-pounding suspense and an inventive twist of science fiction” – SciFiChick
A serial killer with multiple personalities. An astronaut who returns from higher dimensional space a changed man. And two unlikely detectives who have to get inside the mind of a killer ... literally. That’s Shift - an eleven-dimensional techno-thriller with a touch of out-of-body horror.
REVIEWS
“Shift is an exciting and shocking futuristic thriller. The characters are original, and the imagery pulls you in. Incorporating heart-pounding suspense and an inventive twist of science fiction.” SciFiChick
“SHIFT is a great science fiction mystery that will have the audience wondering who the killer is. The story line is fast-paced but brilliantly driven by the strong cast.” Alternative Worlds
“A very accomplished, intricate, and entertaining novel. There's lots of neat stuff in this, and the plot is clever and full of surprises.” Don D'Ammassa, Critical Mass
“Shift is a really good science fiction story. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants something a bit different in their science fiction.” SF Signal
“Heart-pounding suspense and an inventive twist of science fiction” – SciFiChick
A serial killer with multiple personalities. An astronaut who returns from higher dimensional space a changed man. And two unlikely detectives who have to get inside the mind of a killer ... literally. That’s Shift - an eleven-dimensional techno-thriller with a touch of out-of-body horror.
REVIEWS
“Shift is an exciting and shocking futuristic thriller. The characters are original, and the imagery pulls you in. Incorporating heart-pounding suspense and an inventive twist of science fiction.” SciFiChick
“SHIFT is a great science fiction mystery that will have the audience wondering who the killer is. The story line is fast-paced but brilliantly driven by the strong cast.” Alternative Worlds
“A very accomplished, intricate, and entertaining novel. There's lots of neat stuff in this, and the plot is clever and full of surprises.” Don D'Ammassa, Critical Mass
“Shift is a really good science fiction story. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants something a bit different in their science fiction.” SF Signal
- GenresScience Fiction
326 pages, Paperback
First published July 3, 2007
4 people are currently reading
554 people want to read
About the author
Chris Dolley
21 books91 followersNew York Times bestselling author, pioneer computer game designer and teenage freedom fighter. That was back in 1974 when Chris was tasked with publicising Plymouth’s Student Rag Week. Some people might have arranged an interview with the local newspaper. Chris invaded the country next door, created the Free Cornish Army and persuaded the UK media that Cornwall had risen up and declared independence. This was later written up in Punch. As he told journalists at the time, ‘it was only a small country and I did give it back.’
In 1981, he created Randomberry Games and wrote Necromancer, one of the first 3D first person perspective D&D computer games. Not to mention writing the most aggressive chess program ever seen and inventing the most dangerous game ever played — the Giant Wrigley’s Spearmint Gum Cliff Top Relay.
He writes SF, fantasy, mystery and humour. His novel, Resonance, was the first book to be chosen from Baen’s electronic slush pile.
Now he lives a self-sufficient lifestyle in deepest France with his wife and a frightening number of animals. They grow their own food and solve their own crimes. The latter out of necessity when Chris’s identity was stolen along with their life savings. Abandoned by the police forces of four countries who all insisted the crime originated in someone else's jurisdiction, he had to solve the crime himself. Which he did, driving back and forth across the Pyrenees, tracking down bank accounts and faxes and interviewing bar staff. It was a mystery writer’s dream.
The resulting book, French Fried: one man's move to France with too many animals and an identity thief, is now an international bestseller.
In 1981, he created Randomberry Games and wrote Necromancer, one of the first 3D first person perspective D&D computer games. Not to mention writing the most aggressive chess program ever seen and inventing the most dangerous game ever played — the Giant Wrigley’s Spearmint Gum Cliff Top Relay.
He writes SF, fantasy, mystery and humour. His novel, Resonance, was the first book to be chosen from Baen’s electronic slush pile.
Now he lives a self-sufficient lifestyle in deepest France with his wife and a frightening number of animals. They grow their own food and solve their own crimes. The latter out of necessity when Chris’s identity was stolen along with their life savings. Abandoned by the police forces of four countries who all insisted the crime originated in someone else's jurisdiction, he had to solve the crime himself. Which he did, driving back and forth across the Pyrenees, tracking down bank accounts and faxes and interviewing bar staff. It was a mystery writer’s dream.
The resulting book, French Fried: one man's move to France with too many animals and an identity thief, is now an international bestseller.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 15, 2019
SHIFT is an immensely intriguing near-futuristic science fiction novel interweaving metaphysics and higher levels of science. With engaging characters and an amazing story line which maintains readers' attention throughout. I anticipate more "thinking Science Fiction" from this author.
March 12, 2021
Oof.
So sad to give this one star. I tried giving it two, because I have adored other Chris Dolley books, and even though I know he will never see this review I’d feel bad if I hurt his feelings.
Oh course if I didn’t like some of his other works Shift wouldn’t be getting a one star review because:
1) I wouldn’t have read it. There are a lot of interesting sounding books in the world, and the description of this one, while mildly interesting didn’t rise to the top of the pile.
2) I wouldn’t have finished it. I was never fully drawn into the story. Once again, my to read pile is...I’m not sure if impressive or scary is the right description. It used to be literally towering, but as I live in the land of earthquakes I had to move it from its lofty heights on my bedside table for safety reasons. With a literal stack of books I want to read but haven’t found the time for, Shift would have been given the shaft rather quickly if I hadn’t been hoping Mr. Dolley would pull a rabbit out of a hat at some point.
3) ....huh. I thought I had three reasons, but am now realizing that “Kept hoping that Mr. Dolley would somehow bring this book to an enjoyable experience, and when that didn’t happen I was more disappointed than I would have been from an author I had no expectations of, so rated it lower than I would have” isn’t actually true. Because with a different author reasons #1 and 2 would have kicked in, and I wouldn’t have finished the book, nor given it one star.
Skip Shift. There are much better Science Fiction books out there. There are much better Chris Dooley books. Go read one of those instead. (Sorry Mr. Dolley)
So sad to give this one star. I tried giving it two, because I have adored other Chris Dolley books, and even though I know he will never see this review I’d feel bad if I hurt his feelings.
Oh course if I didn’t like some of his other works Shift wouldn’t be getting a one star review because:
1) I wouldn’t have read it. There are a lot of interesting sounding books in the world, and the description of this one, while mildly interesting didn’t rise to the top of the pile.
2) I wouldn’t have finished it. I was never fully drawn into the story. Once again, my to read pile is...I’m not sure if impressive or scary is the right description. It used to be literally towering, but as I live in the land of earthquakes I had to move it from its lofty heights on my bedside table for safety reasons. With a literal stack of books I want to read but haven’t found the time for, Shift would have been given the shaft rather quickly if I hadn’t been hoping Mr. Dolley would pull a rabbit out of a hat at some point.
3) ....huh. I thought I had three reasons, but am now realizing that “Kept hoping that Mr. Dolley would somehow bring this book to an enjoyable experience, and when that didn’t happen I was more disappointed than I would have been from an author I had no expectations of, so rated it lower than I would have” isn’t actually true. Because with a different author reasons #1 and 2 would have kicked in, and I wouldn’t have finished the book, nor given it one star.
Skip Shift. There are much better Science Fiction books out there. There are much better Chris Dooley books. Go read one of those instead. (Sorry Mr. Dolley)
September 26, 2019
The serial killer Peter Penndennis is in a mental hospital and the psychiatrists believe he has multiple personalities. One personality claims to be John Bruce, SHIFT astronaut and aspiring politician. Paranormal investigator Nick Stubbs gets a chance to interview Pendennis who presents info to Louise Callander, John Bruce’s former girlfriend, that seems to confirm his identity. In a subsequent interview Pendennis attacks her.
Nick finds a body in the place he’s been using to investigate ghosts. The person was killed and mutilated in the style of Pendennis. When Nick reports it he becomes the prime suspect.
It should be a riveting novel but I kept finding the highly implausible science detracting and eventually I could no longer suspend belief. I also couldn’t find any emotional attachment - I just couldn’t feel much for any of the characters. It might be a good book but it just didn’t catch me.
I received this book as an ARC and chose to write a review.
Nick finds a body in the place he’s been using to investigate ghosts. The person was killed and mutilated in the style of Pendennis. When Nick reports it he becomes the prime suspect.
It should be a riveting novel but I kept finding the highly implausible science detracting and eventually I could no longer suspend belief. I also couldn’t find any emotional attachment - I just couldn’t feel much for any of the characters. It might be a good book but it just didn’t catch me.
I received this book as an ARC and chose to write a review.
October 2, 2020
Preface: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
This book is a weird one. It wants to be half a dozen things, and never really settles down into a conventional plot. At first, it's about a guy whose soul (?) becomes trapped in the mind of a serial killer. Then, it becomes a story about a scientist framed for murder. Then, we get into sci-fi. Then, we get into horror-house-esque spooks. Then, it gets into /really/ crazy sci-fi, and then.....
It's difficult to explain this in any way without getting into spoilers - mostly because every leg of the plot takes off in such a wild and crazy direction. For some people, this might be confusing. I actually found it interesting - it kept me on my toes the whole time, always guessing where the hell we were going next. This book really has that odd genuineness that only comes out in the self-publishing world - that off-the-wall quirkiness that most editors would prefer to stamp out, for good or ill.
Honestly, as batty as it was at times, I enjoyed it. The characters are a little flat, but still lovable. The plot, again, is nuts, but always entertaining. Everything wraps up pretty neatly in the end (well, mostly). It's not a work of art, by any means, but it was enjoyable enough for me to give it a thumb's up. And it was fun trying to explain the story in a coherent way to my friends - though I probably enjoyed the experience more than they did.
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
This book is a weird one. It wants to be half a dozen things, and never really settles down into a conventional plot. At first, it's about a guy whose soul (?) becomes trapped in the mind of a serial killer. Then, it becomes a story about a scientist framed for murder. Then, we get into sci-fi. Then, we get into horror-house-esque spooks. Then, it gets into /really/ crazy sci-fi, and then.....
It's difficult to explain this in any way without getting into spoilers - mostly because every leg of the plot takes off in such a wild and crazy direction. For some people, this might be confusing. I actually found it interesting - it kept me on my toes the whole time, always guessing where the hell we were going next. This book really has that odd genuineness that only comes out in the self-publishing world - that off-the-wall quirkiness that most editors would prefer to stamp out, for good or ill.
Honestly, as batty as it was at times, I enjoyed it. The characters are a little flat, but still lovable. The plot, again, is nuts, but always entertaining. Everything wraps up pretty neatly in the end (well, mostly). It's not a work of art, by any means, but it was enjoyable enough for me to give it a thumb's up. And it was fun trying to explain the story in a coherent way to my friends - though I probably enjoyed the experience more than they did.
November 8, 2008
First I've read of this author, and what a way to get introduced. The opening material reminded me of a James P. hogan novel, but this particular author seems to delight in mental processes far and beyond the grasp of a poor, uneducated youth like myself. A great story if you like that sort of thing: given that I've read thrillers and fantasies lately, a little sci-fi was a welcome refresher. Whilst I'm not averse to the aliens-might-be-taking-over theme, it was old by Heinlein's Puppet masters and no dressing the story up with mind games changes that. The two-people-against-a-world motif reminded me of Robert Ludlum or Greg iles' "Dark Matter" more than anything else. At least here, the sidekick proved useful. A nice read, maybe a little creepy in places, full of mental forces and strange aliens.
June 3, 2014
Overall a fast-paced, keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat read. Even though much of the high-dimensional physics went over my head (I'm not sure how much, if any of the stuff, is true), there was enough meat to the rest of the story to keep me interested. I wouldn't classify this novel as strictly sci fi ... there are definitely fantasy, horror, and thriller elements to it. I would have preferred more emphasis on the sci fi aspects, with less emphasis on the serial killer and all of his demons (leaving all of this a little vague so there are no spoilers).
November 30, 2007
read 11.29.07
weird. a serial killer, aliens, an ex-astronaut presidential candidate and out of body travel.
weird. a serial killer, aliens, an ex-astronaut presidential candidate and out of body travel.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews