Counterclockwise

by Roger L. Conlee

A genre-busting book-within-a-book that combines alternative history, science fiction and thriller, featuring a cop, a spy, a glamorous movie star and a dogged newspaper reporter. Could a man from 1988 do something to alter a devastating event that occurred forty-six years before?

Genres: Time Travel, Alternate History, Science Fiction

274 pages, Paperback

First published December 5, 2006

About the author

Roger L. Conlee, who lives in San Diego, is a longtime journalist, author and public relations professional. Highlights include:

- Principal of Conlee Communications, a now-inactive public relations and marketing firm.

- Former features staffer, copy editor and men's fashion columnist, CHICAGO DAILY NEWS. Former chief copy editor and sportswriter, SAN DIEGO EVENING TRIBUNE. Former Communications Director, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.

- Writing awards:

-Winner of the Action/Thriller Fiction Award in the 2010 San Diego Book Awards for The Hindenburg Letter.

-Winner of the Fantasy/Science Fiction Award in the 2007 San Diego Book Awards for Counterclockwise.

-Distinguished Honor Award for Every Shape, Every Shadow, Military Writers Society of America, 2006.

"One of the 100 Best Short Stories of the Year," WRITERS' DIGEST, 1997.

The Nonfiction Award, Southern California Writers' Conference, 1995.

- Affiliations:

Past director of the San Diego Press Club, San Diego County chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), San Diego State University Alumni Association. Past president of the San Diego Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Recipient of PRSA's Eva Irving Achievement Award, 1996; former San Diego Public Relations Professional of the Year.

Novels:

- THE HINDENBURG LETTER . Latest historical thriller. An impetuous reporter for William Randolph Hearst risks his very life to steal into Nazi Germany during World War II on a desperate mission of family revenge.


- COUNTERCLOCKWISE. A tale of war, spies, time travel, and a Southern California few could know or imagine. A place beyond space and time. Did squadrons of Japanese planes attack Los Angeles with a devastating air raid during World War II? And could a man do something about it fifty years later?

- EVERY SHAPE, EVERY SHADOW. A historical novel on the Battle of Guadalcanal, published by Pale Horse Books."

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need to point out right at the start that this is not really a time travel novel. Rather, is is a multi-verse (or at least duo-verse) novel and/or an alternate history novel. The premise focuses on a major Japanese attack on California after the one at Pearl Harbor. I found the story interesting enough and it was a fast read, but probably would not have read this book if it had been obvious when I made the decision to purchase it that it was alternate history rather than time travel.

[J.M. · Rating 1 out of 5]

The premise of this book was intriguing, and every review I read praised the use of a story within the story as a plot device. The main character finds a book in an antique store that was supposedly written by a relative of his about the bombing of Los Angeles after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He reads the book, thinking it's a work of fiction, but comes to realize it's an alternate view of what might have happened if the Japanese had attacked.

I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately, I found the transitions awkward, as if I were being read to and every now and then the main character would interject some commentary that was supposed to be meaningful in some way (but wasn't). The circumstances that led him to finding the book in the first place were improbable, the writing heavy-handed, and I didn't enjoy it at all.

[Tone · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an easy, fast read which shows that there are few unnecessary words. An the author's done his research but he does tend to hit you over the head with it.

[George Richard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting Alt History focusing on one event rather than an entire timeline. Not badly written, good concept.