Tachyon Tunnel 2: The Daklin Empire

Tachyon Tunnel #2

by Michael Gorton

With a breathtaking fusion of science, adventure, romance, and the boundless human spirit, the #1 bestselling Tachyon Tunnel series has won 14 literary awards continues.
In Tachyon Tunnel 2 , engineer and explorer Alex Durant leads humanity beyond the known limits of time and space, where discovery and danger intertwine beyond the speed of light. From the depths of alien empires to the farthest stars of the Milky Way, the crew of the Tranquility must navigate cosmic forces, ancient mysteries, and the fierce choices that define love, courage, and destiny.
Celebrated for its real science, rich characters, and masterful storytelling, this chapter in the Tachyon Tunnel series delivers a sweeping adventure that blends cutting-edge physics, timeless romance, and the thrill of exploration into an unforgettable journey.
With the series earning fourteen literary awards and achieving #1 bestseller status, Tachyon Tunnel has become a phenomenon that has captured hearts, minds, and imaginations across the globe.
And the story is far from over…
Tachyon Tunnel 3 was published in October 2025 and the highly anticipated Tachyon Tunnel 4 will be release in the spring of 2026, promising to take readers even deeper into the mystery, the wonder, and the destiny that began with a single step through the tunnel.

356 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 10, 2025

About the author

About the author
Michael Gorton has written books that entertain, educate, and inspire. The Tachyon Tunnel series combines time travel, romance, adventure, and great mysteries of science into a novel that takes fiction to an all-new level!

Michael grew up as an Air Force brat in a lower middle-class family. Because of great influence from his parents and four siblings, Michael reached for the stars. With virtually no money in his pocket, he went off to college and earned degrees in Physics, Engineering and Law - all while working full time. After working 11 years as an engineer in corporate America, he is now a serial entrepreneur who has founded 16 companies. Amongst those are notables: Internet Global, Palo Duro Records and TelaDoc, now the world’s largest telemedicine company. Michael has been a prolific writer, authoring technical articles on a wide range of topics including Internet, power systems, remote metering and disconnect, solar, electric vehicles, healthcare, telemedicine, astronomy, physics and music.

Broken Handoff was Michael's first business book. It was the amalgamation of three decades as an entrepreneur developing companies. The two authors bring a wealth of new perspectives that addresses one of the biggest problems in funding and M&A events. Broken Handoff was named the #1 M&A book in 2019 by Book Authority and has been in the Top 10 on Amazon's chart.

Forefathers & Founding Fathers was Michael’s 5th novel, earned several awards, and reached the #1 slot in Historic Fiction on Amazon's chart. The first four: USSA, Lex Talionis, Tachyon Tunnel, and Born Again American were all written for fun with the intent of giving copies to a small group of friends and family. That was in fact the goal with Forefathers, but while researching the topic, Gorton realized this was an important and unknown story that needed to be heard. Forefathers has received positive reviews from some of the world's best-known authors, including best-selling author Mark Victor Hansen (Chicken Soup for the Soul) and Jim Stovall (The Ultimate Gift).

Michael is a runner, martial artist and mountain climber. He and his family are currently climbing the highest points of elevation in the fifty states. They have 42 done.

Michael is an 11th generation descendant of Samuel Gorton. His lineage is: Samuel, Samuel, Samuel, Benjamin, Amos, Oliver, Guy, Dayton, DeForest, Everett (dad).

Reviews

[BookBelow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tachyon Tunnel 2: The Daklin Empire is a sequel to Michael Gorton's first book, Tachyon Tunnel, that not only elevates science fiction adventure to new heights but also touches the reader's heart with emotional depth. This novel, a story of time travel, humanity's destiny, and personal sacrifice, will keep you hooked from the first page to the last.

The story begins with Paula Campbell returning to Earth, standing in the New Mexico desert, where her car is about to collide with a tanker truck just a few miles away—the very collision that would kill her. Through tachyon tunneling, a time-travel technology, she survives the accident. The scene is so vivid and tense that you feel yourself standing with Paula in that desert night, where the stars and the flames of the explosion combine to dramatize the beginning of the story. Paula's fall in the desert, her discovery by John Prinz, and John's subsequent death in another car accident immediately send the story on an emotional rollercoaster. Paula's memory loss deepens the mystery as she tries to understand who she is and what her true path is.

Meanwhile, Alex Durant and his team—including Alexander Bell, Lyra, and the AI Emily—are busy traveling through time and space. They return to the planet EtaKatz, where Paula and Alex's ancestors founded a new civilization. The descriptions of EtaKatz are so vivid that you can feel the low gravity, blue skies, and strange familiarity. Lyra's emotional attachment to her birthplace and Paula's mysterious connection to the planet give the story a philosophical dimension, raising questions about how much of our memories and identities are our own versus those of our ancestors.

Michael Gorton's writing style is the novel's greatest strength. He explains complex scientific concepts like tachyon tunneling and time travel so simply that even a general reader can easily understand them. From the calm yet mysterious atmosphere of the desert to the vibrant world of EtaKatz, his descriptions are so vivid that you feel present in every scene. Quotes at the beginning of each chapter—such as John Lennon’s “There’s nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be” or Dr. Seuss’s “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened”—deepen the story’s themes. Though the complex mix of timelines can be confusing at times, the author manages to untangle everything by the end.

Tachyon Tunnel 2: The Daklin Empire is a book that blends intense science fiction adventure with deep human emotions. It is a story that will make you laugh, cry, and think. If you are a fan of stories like Interstellar or The Time Traveler’s Wife, this book will be a remarkable experience. Read it after the first book, Tachyon Tunnel, to enjoy this complex and beautiful story fully. This novel is not only for science fiction enthusiasts but for anyone seeking a tale that touches both the heart and the mind.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Gorton’s Tachyon Tunnel 2: The Daklin Empire picks up right where its predecessor left off—interstellar travelers Alex Durant and Paula Campbell have returned to Earth after a mind-bending adventure through time and space. But home is anything but normal. Between Paula’s memory loss, a tragic second car crash, and a rapidly unraveling timeline, the book blends quantum physics with emotional stakes, then rockets forward into a high-tech corporate thriller. All of it rests on a central question: can you outmaneuver fate, or does it always find you?

This book surprised me in the best way. I expected a sci-fi sequel with more spaceships and techy jargon, but what I got was a personal and often exhilarating look at relationships, ambition, and betrayal. The emotional core hit me hardest early on, with Paula waking up in a hospital after her second crash, her memories scrambled and her heart fractured. The way she searches for clarity while Alex stands by, trying not to break the illusion, was actually heartbreaking. There's a line when Alex watches Paula light up while solving equations on a whiteboard, and all he can think is, "She was chaos, beauty, and brilliance..." That line stuck with me.

Then there’s the whole startup saga with Zander and his teleportation company, T-Portal Co. At first, I was grinning ear to ear. A sci-fi story about turning teleportation into a consumer business? Brilliant. But things go dark fast. Maillew, the smooth-talking board member who teaches Zander about capitalism, turns out to be a snake. If you’ve ever built something and had it ripped from your hands, this section will sting.

Still, what really makes this book shine is the weird and beautiful connection between Paula and Alex. Her dreams of other lives, other galaxies, and the humming of a ship called Tranquility—and how those dreams slowly turn into memories—was so well done. The whole "reverse aging through frequency" subplot was wild, and I honestly don't care how plausible it is. It made me want to believe in something impossible. When Paula whispers to Alex about their shared past—memories she shouldn't have—it feels intimate and magical. It’s not just science fiction; it’s about finding each other through all the noise of time, memory, and loss.

Tachyon Tunnel 2 is not just for science fiction fans. Yes, there's time travel, AI, tachyon particles, and interstellar tech, but it's also got heart. If you enjoy stories about second chances, brilliant women solving cosmic mysteries, or just want a good ol’ tale of love, loss, and betrayal wrapped in quantum physics—this book is for you. If you liked The Martian or Project Hail Mary, but wish they had a bit more soul and less sarcasm, Gorton’s got you covered.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free.
This book is really well researched and the author has a good balance of bringing believable science theory into this fictional world. I really like the character development and wondered what each of them may do next, as I read the story. I was particularly fascinated with Alexander Bell’s venture into the business world and how he was leveraging technology that He, Alex, and Paula came up with when they were on EtaKatz (and Earth based on the first book).
Each of the main characters are brilliant in their own way, and I appreciate how the author has balanced out their strengths and weaknesses. I think Alexander Bell a.k.a. ‘Zander’ is probably my favorite character because I can relate to him with my own interests in technology and AI. I also like his entrepreneurial spirit and his ability to learn quickly. I also like Emily, the supercomputer-AI. She is very interesting and sort of parallels some of the stuff happening in the real world of AI, except she is farther along (several hundred years the book said).

**POTENTIAL MINOR SPOILERS**

There was some things that I disagreed with, such as Megan hacking into Emily where, “Megan studied the code and firewalls. They were sophisticated, but compared to the work done by her colleagues, some of the best hackers in the world, they were amateurish. Breaking in took less than ten minutes.” How can this be the cases when Emily is a supercomputer with very advanced Artificial Intelligence and Alex, Zander, and other in his circle have worked on technology much more advanced than Earth cybersecurity? It was even specifically said that “Alex quickly learned that there was not a single network that Emily couldn’t hack into.” And “Emily broke into the hospital database in less than thirty seconds”. It just doesn’t make sense that Megan thinks that the security can be sophisticated and at the same time amateurish when clearly Emily is very capable.

[Kassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

sci-fi rollercoaster of adventure

My first draft of the review:

Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of Tachyon Tunnel 2 by Michael Gorton.]
Buckle up because you are in for fantastic ride in Tachyon Tunnel 2. The book begins with a review of the first book. Then you are thrown into a world with a cast of characters.
If science lights your fire, Tachyon Tunnel 2 is for you. The hard science is spot on while also not so overtly done that the reader is lost in the jargon.
Time travel, life lessons, alien worlds, betrayal, love, and impending doom this book has it all.
Join Alex and his crew as they navigate saving his lost love to saving Earth. The adventures are endless. You never know what or who the crew will encounter next.
If I were to criticize this book it would be that there was not enough of it. The climaxes and conclusions to some of the dilemmas were covered in a chapter. Giving the feeling of an overview of the situation instead of the reader being immersed into the world. At times felt more like an onlooker than part of the experience.
The sparse love scenes were awkward and unnecessary for the development of the story. The development of the relationships throughout the book are great.
There are so many worlds they encounter, characters they meet, and dangerous situations that there is not enough time to fully develop the situation or appreciate the world before you are moved on to the next adventure or problem to solve. The world building is lacking. Leaving you not fully immersed into the universe.
Overall an enjoyable read. The characters are lovable and you cannot wait to find out what the next adventure for the crew is. This is a quick and easy read. The science is explained beautifully so you never miss a beat in the story. There is some profanity used in conversations, but nothing strong or uncomfortable.

[Bonnie DeMoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a fresh start in this second book of the series, and it goes in a new direction. New characters are introduced, as well as a new enemy, the Daklin, who will wipe out any civilization that opposes their total domination. But they haven’t found Earth yet. The race to stop the Daklin from finding Earth has Alex seeking out a reclusive group who may be able to help them.

In the first book, the rules of time travel were not necessarily made clear. I would say new rules have been introduced by the author in this book, as previous mistakes are discussed and not repeated. The new characters are strong and compelling, and the evil Daklin Empire lurks as a frightening spectre to avoid. The science of time travel provided is intriguing, and the author manages to make technical discussions entertaining. The book takes a dip into the paranormal as well as science fiction, but I hope it stays science-forward as the series progresses. There is some “telling” instead of “showing” early in this book, but I found it worked and helped the reader adjust to the new direction this series is heading.

The relationship between Alex and Paula is the deepest and most meaningful in the series, and I would like to see the series delve deeper into some of the other relationships as well.

The attempts to evade and stop the Daklin kept me glued to the story, and the addition of an evil empire adds new layers to the novel. Overall, Tachyon Tunnel 2 comes in strong. Having learned lessons from the events of the past, it charges forward in a new and interesting way.

Although I received a print copy from the author, I also purchased the ebook on Amazon. It is only 99 cents on Amazon!

[Matthew R · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked most about this book was how alive it felt when it moved between really personal scenes and much bigger sci-fi ideas. The early stuff with Paula pulled me in fast because it felt tense and personal before the book started opening out into all the bigger concepts. That helped a lot, because once the story moved more into the portal side, the tachyon idea, and the larger interplanetary stuff, I was already hooked and curious.
I also liked how the book made the science feel like it mattered to people and not just to the plot. The T-Portal Co. parts stood out to me for that reason. It made the whole concept feel more real, like this was something that could actually affect lives and not just exist as a cool theory. The Pronimos sections stuck with me too, especially Alex arriving there and meeting Maria, because that was one of the moments where the story started to feel much bigger. The Mars and Mount Olympus material gave me that same feeling. Those parts had mystery to them and made me want to slow down and think about what the story was showing.
I really like Emily's development. Her integration into the AI side of the story gave the technology more emotional weight. It made that whole part feel more human and not just technical.
One thing that worked a little less for me was the flow in some places. I got pulled out now and then by wording, paragraph movement, or how certain sections were structured. It didn’t ruin the book for me, but it did affect the immersion a bit.
Overall, I liked how ambitious and curious this book felt.

[R J Naik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Gorton takes us on another high-speed, mind-expanding ride through science, philosophy, and speculative future tech in Tachyon Tunnel 2. As someone who enjoys science fiction grounded in real-world theory, I found the second installment even more gripping than the first.

The sequel doesn't just continue the story—it deepens it. The science feels thrilling yet plausible, with quantum mechanics, time travel, and parallel universes interwoven in a way that challenges your brain and your sense of morality. What I appreciated most is how the book never loses sight of its characters amid all the techno-wonder. Their personal stakes and growth kept the story emotionally anchored.

Gorton’s narrative voice balances complexity with clarity. While some sections lean heavily into theory, they’re counterbalanced by fast-paced action and smart dialogue. It’s evident the author is passionate about merging scientific thought with fiction.

If you’re someone who enjoys sci-fi that dares to think big—think Michael Crichton meets Interstellar—this series continues to deliver.

Recommended for: fans of hard sci-fi, science enthusiasts, and readers looking for intellectually engaging adventures.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Sc-Fi book is the second in a series, but functions completely as a stand alone story. It features time travel (back 80 million years) visits to Mars when it was inhabited by humanoids, and an extremely evil empire that either controls or destroys entire planets and their inhabitants. A very small team of scientists from Earth are determined that Earth will be neither destroyed nor controlled. This reviewer has almost no scientific background, but the book is written in such a way that I could follow both the story and the scientific accomplishments that pushed the team to succeed. There are love stories, friendships, and a computer that can program herself. The story of the Daklin Empire continues into the next book and I look forward to reading it as well.

[Shawna Resnick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for a free version of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Tachyon Tunnel 2 picks up with the same fast-paced, time travel energy of book one. The sci-fi elements are incredibly fun, developed, and believable. It's easy to forget you're reading science fiction. The time travel portals add a lot of intrigue and depth to the story. The AI & robot elements are completely believable. The characters in this book are enjoyable, and there is a decent amount of character development and growth throughout the story - I found myself laughing at times and rooting for the characters throughout. Definitely a fun and engaging sci-fi series!

[Jaime Garza]

I am looking forward to book 3. The ending was a big setup for the next adventure. Worth reading.

Paula is like Kenny on South Park. Sh ed dies and comes back up like nothing happened. The plot was interesting. It devoted a lot of time with technology and how things work, and less time with action or plot twists. The relationships are strong and there is really not a bad person in the group. It is perfect for a peaceful reading experience.

There was very little with the Daklin and their future defeat but I guess that will possibly come in book 3.

[J M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sci-fi books are my absolute favorite genre, and this book definitely delivers. I love diving into developed stories with no context, but I could imagine for some that you probably want to start with the first book which I have not read but plan on reading after having finished this one. The writing is pretty dialogue heavy, which keeps it moving pretty fast. It is a great thoughtful Sci-fi fi that keeps you engaged and thinking. Author does an amazing job in my opinion of creating a story/world to get lost in.

[Sub Lime · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this right after finishing the first book, so expectations were kinda high. It’s still a solid read, especially if you’re into the whole sci-fi/tech angle, but it didn’t hit me quite the same as book one. Some parts dragged a bit and I had to push through, but then it picks up again.

What I did like was how things start getting a bit messier, not just “cool idea = everything works.” The characters feel more pressured here, which I liked.

Overall not amazing, not bad either. If you liked the first one, you’ll probably still enjoy this.

[Loher Marco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex and the team facing off against this ancient, unbeatable Daklin Empire that’s been crushing galaxies for 50 million years had me glued to the pages. The way Michael Gorton weaves hard sci-fi concepts like timeline inertia and quantum weirdness with genuine emotional moments (Paula’s memory struggles hit hard) makes it feel both epic and personal.
It’s a very good sequel that keeps the adventure rolling while digging deeper into the consequences of messing with time

[Paulina Darwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tachyon Tunnel 2: The Daklin Empire by Michael Gorton is an interesting science fiction story about space and time travel. The book follows a group of scientists whose experiments start to change the past and bring danger from a powerful alien empire. The story is easy to understand and full of adventure. It is a good book for readers who enjoy simple and exciting sci-fi stories.

[Lisa Gassmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read. The character development is fabulous and the storyline thrilling. Keeps you turning the pages eager for the next part of the adventure. I can’t wait for TT3. Perfect for a summer adventure and leaves you wanting more!

[Gareth Simeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by Michael Gorton is really exciting. The space adventure and time travel kept me hooked. The characters feel real, and the story is full of action. Great for anyone who likes fun, smart sci‑fi.

[AMAO · Rating 5 out of 5]

⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡

[Philip R Elvidge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tachyon 2, grate sequel, excellent story, well written, if you can get your head around it.
Overall excellent.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 2, it might help to read book 1. However, there is a brief recap at the beginning and the story can be appreciated as a standalone. This book is dialogue-driven and provides a perspective from all characters, focusing on their relationships (platonic and romantic).


I received a free review copy. Thank you to OnlineBookClub and author.