What do you think?
Rate this book
Borrowed Time
Richard Carpenter, a forty year old boatyard worker living on Long Island in New York, has just been told by his doctor that he has cancer again and that it will kill him within one year's time. He has been plagued by medical problems for most of his life and recent genetic research seems to indicate that he has inherited faulty DNA from some relative whose own health was negatively affected by environmental factors. All of this points to Richard's grandfather who was an alcoholic and exposed to numerous noxious chemicals during his time of working on the U.S. Navy's first submarines. Things get worse when the boatyard that Richard has been working at is forced to shut down, but he answers a job ad run by the Brookhaven National Laboratory for a position that requires many of the welding and construction skills that he has learned. He is hired to work on a top secret project that turns out to involve time travel, and when the project funding is cut and they have to rush their final testing, Richard volunteers to be the test subject sent back into the past. His only stipulation is that they send him back to 1899 where he hopes to meet his grandfather and help him to get sober and avoid some of the hazardous conditions at the submarine plant. Richard recognizes that this may be the only chance that he has to alter his defective DNA and save his life. He adopts a false identity, meets his grandfather and is hired to work along- side him at the Holland Torpedo Boat Company. Having brought certain knowledge with him from his own time (around 1985), Richard is able to play a key role in the building of these early submarines. He becomes somewhat famous due to the success of some early trials of the submarine "Holland VI," and after several failed attempts is finally able to keep his grandfather sober and reduce his exposure to harmful gasses and exhaust fumes on the submarines. Along the way he meets and falls in love with the owner of local boarding house, but is tormented by guilt for having been unfaithful to Susan, the wife that he left behind. He also spends a Christmas holiday with his grandfather and grandmother in unusual circumstances since they are both younger than him at the time of his visit in 1899. Author Ralph Brady is a retired executive from the transportation industry with a lifelong thirst for travel and adventure. He has traveled throughout Europe and the United States as well as to China and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Checking off items on his bucket list has allowed him to SCUBA dive, skydive, fly gliders and small aircraft and attend a race car driving school. Ralph holds a second degree black belt in Shorin Ryu karate and has completed more than twenty full marathon road races. "Borrowed Time" is Ralph's third book and his first attempt at a novel. His other works involve the histories of Long Island and the Glendale section of New York City where he spent his childhood. He is married to his childhood sweetheart, has three married children who have given him seven grandsons. Ralph and his family all live on Long Island in New York. Keywords: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Historical Fiction, Nostalgia, Romance, Action, Time Travel, Naval History, Alternative History
278 pages, Paperback
First published June 26, 2014
4 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 17, 2021
Submarine history at its best, NEW SUFFOLK NY
Being a LINY Submarine veteran I enjoyed this work of fiction especially since it included many facts about the First US Navy Submarine base in New Suffolk, LI, NY. I highly recommend this to every Submarine Sailor who enjoy’s a good read.
Being a LINY Submarine veteran I enjoyed this work of fiction especially since it included many facts about the First US Navy Submarine base in New Suffolk, LI, NY. I highly recommend this to every Submarine Sailor who enjoy’s a good read.
June 2, 2015
Thanks to First Edition Design Publishing for the ARC received for review via NetGalley.
This is a highly entertaining blend of historical and science fiction with a strong premise. Its execution is also fairly successful, with the sci-fi elements explained in just enough detail to get that out of the way in order to proceed with the plot.
The time period in which Richard finds himself is not only very well researched, but also fairly convincingly written. We get far more than just a glimpse of life in Greenport and New York at the turn of the century - the people and places described seem realistic and palpable, aglow with life and activity.
Another significant redeeming quality is the fact that the plot taken in itself follows the formula of an adventure/sci-fi story: the protagonist risks his life on a delicate mission that involves time-travel and has far-reaching consequences. What makes it all even more exciting is that the close third person narration provides us with insight into every stage of the mission and a doorway into the protagonist's thoughts and feelings. I remember that certain episodes were particularly suspenseful, and there was a satisfying balance between moments of doubt and self-reflection and jumping back into the thick of the action.
And now, my main point of interest. Without giving away too much, I'll just say that the kind of ending this book had is likely to divide readers into two groups - those who find it a delightful, in-your-face scream into the void, an ode to the absurd, and those who feel slightly cheated and are bothered by the arguably paradoxical nature of this kind of messing with the wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey stuff. Me? My first instinct was to follow the latter school of thought, but the more I think about it, the more rapidly I tend to ricochet in between, which is the reason why I took my sweet time writing a review.
What is certain is that the book truly offers a lot of discussion material.
This is a highly entertaining blend of historical and science fiction with a strong premise. Its execution is also fairly successful, with the sci-fi elements explained in just enough detail to get that out of the way in order to proceed with the plot.
The time period in which Richard finds himself is not only very well researched, but also fairly convincingly written. We get far more than just a glimpse of life in Greenport and New York at the turn of the century - the people and places described seem realistic and palpable, aglow with life and activity.
Another significant redeeming quality is the fact that the plot taken in itself follows the formula of an adventure/sci-fi story: the protagonist risks his life on a delicate mission that involves time-travel and has far-reaching consequences. What makes it all even more exciting is that the close third person narration provides us with insight into every stage of the mission and a doorway into the protagonist's thoughts and feelings. I remember that certain episodes were particularly suspenseful, and there was a satisfying balance between moments of doubt and self-reflection and jumping back into the thick of the action.
And now, my main point of interest. Without giving away too much, I'll just say that the kind of ending this book had is likely to divide readers into two groups - those who find it a delightful, in-your-face scream into the void, an ode to the absurd, and those who feel slightly cheated and are bothered by the arguably paradoxical nature of this kind of messing with the wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey stuff. Me? My first instinct was to follow the latter school of thought, but the more I think about it, the more rapidly I tend to ricochet in between, which is the reason why I took my sweet time writing a review.
What is certain is that the book truly offers a lot of discussion material.
February 16, 2015
I received an advanced ecopy of this book in return for an honest review.
Borrowed Time begins with Richard Carpenter finding out that he has a terminal cancer. He researches the type of cancer, and sees a geneticist, and learns that his many health problems may stem from his grandfather's lifestyle. Right after this blow, the boatyard where he works goes under, and he loses his job.
By fate, Richard is able to travel back to his grandfather's time, determined to change his lifestyle, hoping it will change his future. He has six months to live in the past, and achieve his goal, not knowing what the outcome will be.
I enjoyed "Borrowed Time". The story was different for a time-traveling book. The author had obviously researched the time period very well, and the descriptions were very vivid. At times the writing was a bit stilted, but not enough to slow down the pace of the book. The ending was a bit abrupt, and jolting.
I can recommend this book to persons interested in time travel, and historical fiction.
Borrowed Time begins with Richard Carpenter finding out that he has a terminal cancer. He researches the type of cancer, and sees a geneticist, and learns that his many health problems may stem from his grandfather's lifestyle. Right after this blow, the boatyard where he works goes under, and he loses his job.
By fate, Richard is able to travel back to his grandfather's time, determined to change his lifestyle, hoping it will change his future. He has six months to live in the past, and achieve his goal, not knowing what the outcome will be.
I enjoyed "Borrowed Time". The story was different for a time-traveling book. The author had obviously researched the time period very well, and the descriptions were very vivid. At times the writing was a bit stilted, but not enough to slow down the pace of the book. The ending was a bit abrupt, and jolting.
I can recommend this book to persons interested in time travel, and historical fiction.
February 5, 2015
ARC: Netgalley
Richard Carpenter has cancer and believes that it was triggered by his grandfather's exposure to toxic chemicals in the 1800's. He stumbles upon a government research project concerning time travel and manages to be sent back in time to try to change the events that lead to his cancer.
Interesting story, but at times it seemed as if the author couldn't decide if he was writing a historical account of events from that time or a novel. The book became bogged down with historical details and would skim over the personal aspects of the story.
Richard Carpenter has cancer and believes that it was triggered by his grandfather's exposure to toxic chemicals in the 1800's. He stumbles upon a government research project concerning time travel and manages to be sent back in time to try to change the events that lead to his cancer.
Interesting story, but at times it seemed as if the author couldn't decide if he was writing a historical account of events from that time or a novel. The book became bogged down with historical details and would skim over the personal aspects of the story.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews