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Time Traveller’s Best Friend #1
A Time-Traveller's Best Friend
Alternate cover edition of ASIN B00O2XPAZQ
Meet Marx. Meet Kez. Marx is a small, angry man with a time machine and a chip on his shoulder. Kez is a homicidal little girl with a price on her head and a penchant for kicking people where it hurts the most.
When Marx crash-lands on Second World, he has no idea that he has plunged headfirst into the middle of an assassination plot- or a one day war that’s about to make his day a very bad one.
From their first meeting at gun point, to their sometimes turbulent and always sarcastic relationship, Kez and Marx leave a trail of destruction and death behind them. Kez holds the secret to unfettered travel in time and space, and it’s not just the Time Corp who want her. Join Kez and Marx's adventures in time and space as they try to stay one step ahead of doom, certain death, and the Time Corp.
Meet Marx. Meet Kez. Marx is a small, angry man with a time machine and a chip on his shoulder. Kez is a homicidal little girl with a price on her head and a penchant for kicking people where it hurts the most.
When Marx crash-lands on Second World, he has no idea that he has plunged headfirst into the middle of an assassination plot- or a one day war that’s about to make his day a very bad one.
From their first meeting at gun point, to their sometimes turbulent and always sarcastic relationship, Kez and Marx leave a trail of destruction and death behind them. Kez holds the secret to unfettered travel in time and space, and it’s not just the Time Corp who want her. Join Kez and Marx's adventures in time and space as they try to stay one step ahead of doom, certain death, and the Time Corp.
176 pages, ebook
Published September 30, 2014
127 people are currently reading
825 people want to read
About the author
W.R. Gingell
46 books1,081 followersW.R. Gingell is a Tasmanian author of urban fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, and madcap science fiction who doesn’t seem to be able to write a book without a body suddenly turning up. She solemnly swears that all such bodies are strictly fictional in nature.
W.R. spends her time reading, drinking a truly ridiculous amount of tea, and slouching in front of the fire to write. Like Peter Pan, she never really grew up, and is still occasionally to be found climbing trees.
GOODREADS FRIEND POLICY: I don't tend to friend anyone unless they're a personal friend or someone from my close author circle. I have a limited social battery which needs constant care. If you want to keep up with my reading/writing, you can absolutely follow me here or on pretty much any social media site.
W.R. spends her time reading, drinking a truly ridiculous amount of tea, and slouching in front of the fire to write. Like Peter Pan, she never really grew up, and is still occasionally to be found climbing trees.
GOODREADS FRIEND POLICY: I don't tend to friend anyone unless they're a personal friend or someone from my close author circle. I have a limited social battery which needs constant care. If you want to keep up with my reading/writing, you can absolutely follow me here or on pretty much any social media site.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
July 17, 2022
A small and angry man meets a small and angry girl, becomes the self-appointed protector of said small and angry girl, and forms a beautiful partnership full of banter and delightful time-space shenanigans.
Reminiscent of Doctor Who, Loki, N.D. Wilson’s Outlaws of Time series, and slightly Star Wars, this book was such fun. Gingell’s distinct, matter-of-fact style is grand, and her characters’ mannerisms and behavior are always so consistent with their personalities. Enjoyably non-linear and confusing, this book gives the impression of being a big ball of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff (to paraphrase a certain two-hearted, time-traveling alien).
I have no idea what just happened or what is going on, but I enjoyed myself immensely.
Content: violence. References to Kez’s abusive father. A captain walks around in nothing but a towel for a while after showering. A kiss.
Reminiscent of Doctor Who, Loki, N.D. Wilson’s Outlaws of Time series, and slightly Star Wars, this book was such fun. Gingell’s distinct, matter-of-fact style is grand, and her characters’ mannerisms and behavior are always so consistent with their personalities. Enjoyably non-linear and confusing, this book gives the impression of being a big ball of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff (to paraphrase a certain two-hearted, time-traveling alien).
I have no idea what just happened or what is going on, but I enjoyed myself immensely.
Content: violence. References to Kez’s abusive father. A captain walks around in nothing but a towel for a while after showering. A kiss.
November 5, 2024
One of my favourite series, and a comfort read. The timely-wimey, the Robin Hood meets Dr Who vibes… *chef’s kiss*
Y’all read these books so the author can write more in this series. PLEASE. 🥹
Y’all read these books so the author can write more in this series. PLEASE. 🥹
May 2, 2019
Read this a few days ago, over the course of a week. I feel like it did not quite work. It *almost* works, and I generally enjoy W.R. Gingell's books a lot (a couple are go-to's if I'm in the mood for a fun, feel-good read). I feel like while elements of this are good (I continue to enjoy how she writes characters and their interactions a lot), overall, the structure/feel misses the mark.
Basically, I feel like it needed to either be zanier, or more straightforward. Instead, it's in this weird middle ground, that misses the mark (for me).
It leans a bit crazy and random, but doesn't fully commit, and it experiments with a non-traditional storytelling structure, but requires more clarity to make it truly effective.
Thing is, it's a non-linear story about time-travel, and that's fine... in theory. The problem is that I feel like this doesn't have enough narrative signposts for me to get a sense of what's really going on. I think part of the issue is that this has a sequel (I think it's a sequel at least), that appears to be full-novel length, where this is more of a novella. And this doesn't feel like it ends. It stops at what could be a convenient stopping-off place (I'm not 100% clear on the significance of the ending, see issue above of there not being enough clear narrative signposts), but it doesn't really feel finished. If there's a sequel I get the reason for a lack of complete resolution, but I felt like something more needed to be resolved/achieved (or at least the reason for the achievement needed to be better hinted at).
Either that, or the thing needed to go full-on Hitchhiker's, and go for sheer absurdity, randomness and non-sequitur, such that it didn't really need to make sense or resolve itself, because it's really just random antics from start to finish.
Or possibly there needed to be a stronger character-development arc of some kind to distract from the lack of plot resolution.
Thing is, this feels like it's meant to have a strong narrative plot thread that advances. And... I get the central conflict of the plot thread (two Time Traveller's on the run from 1-3 big baddies, aided and abetted by a few people along the way), but beyond that, I'd struggle to say what happens, beyond random bouncing about space and timeline carrying out schemes - desired outcome of scheme, or reason for any action taken by our protagonists unknown at this time (okay, beyond not dying due to pursuit from those giving chase).
I just wanted it to be a bit more... something.
2019 - A book set in space (stretching a bit)
Basically, I feel like it needed to either be zanier, or more straightforward. Instead, it's in this weird middle ground, that misses the mark (for me).
It leans a bit crazy and random, but doesn't fully commit, and it experiments with a non-traditional storytelling structure, but requires more clarity to make it truly effective.
Thing is, it's a non-linear story about time-travel, and that's fine... in theory. The problem is that I feel like this doesn't have enough narrative signposts for me to get a sense of what's really going on. I think part of the issue is that this has a sequel (I think it's a sequel at least), that appears to be full-novel length, where this is more of a novella. And this doesn't feel like it ends. It stops at what could be a convenient stopping-off place (I'm not 100% clear on the significance of the ending, see issue above of there not being enough clear narrative signposts), but it doesn't really feel finished. If there's a sequel I get the reason for a lack of complete resolution, but I felt like something more needed to be resolved/achieved (or at least the reason for the achievement needed to be better hinted at).
Either that, or the thing needed to go full-on Hitchhiker's, and go for sheer absurdity, randomness and non-sequitur, such that it didn't really need to make sense or resolve itself, because it's really just random antics from start to finish.
Or possibly there needed to be a stronger character-development arc of some kind to distract from the lack of plot resolution.
Thing is, this feels like it's meant to have a strong narrative plot thread that advances. And... I get the central conflict of the plot thread (two Time Traveller's on the run from 1-3 big baddies, aided and abetted by a few people along the way), but beyond that, I'd struggle to say what happens, beyond random bouncing about space and timeline carrying out schemes - desired outcome of scheme, or reason for any action taken by our protagonists unknown at this time (okay, beyond not dying due to pursuit from those giving chase).
I just wanted it to be a bit more... something.
2019 - A book set in space (stretching a bit)
December 19, 2021
4 stars // read December 2021 (currently free on Smashwords.)
A Time Traveller’s Best Friend is very much like time-travel itself: non-linear, kind of confusing, and absolutely a blast. There’s bits and pieces of a rather unexpected side romance that I’m very much rooting for. 😍 Overall, don’t take it too seriously, and enjoy the “aha!” moments when they arise.
Recommend for fans of: W.R. Gingell, sci-fi and time travel stories, puzzles, Doctor Who
Content:
Violence: Medium. Mention of a man being tortured. One semi-disturbing (but short) scene in an asylum.
A Time Traveller’s Best Friend is very much like time-travel itself: non-linear, kind of confusing, and absolutely a blast. There’s bits and pieces of a rather unexpected side romance that I’m very much rooting for. 😍 Overall, don’t take it too seriously, and enjoy the “aha!” moments when they arise.
Recommend for fans of: W.R. Gingell, sci-fi and time travel stories, puzzles, Doctor Who
Content:
Violence: Medium. Mention of a man being tortured. One semi-disturbing (but short) scene in an asylum.
May 30, 2015
I received this book free for review from the author or publisher in exchange for an honest review. Despite the privilege of receiving a free book, I’m absolutely candid about it below because I believe authors and readers will benefit most from honest reviews rather than vacuous 5-star reviews.
The nutshell view of this book is difficult to constrain simply. A pair of time-travelers (a'la Doctor Who) skip about between a series of diverse worlds and engage in various rather disconnected adventures mostly involving criminal activities of a non-threatening sort.
To the positive, the author's work has a tongue-in-cheek Douglas Adams feel about it though it must be admitted Gingell's main theme of stealing a spacecraft (which can communicate verbally and has an annoying personality) and taking off in it does have somewhat of a derivative and familiar feel to it. The writing is solid in style and flows along quite nicely from a textual standpoint. The pace is fast, the action is reasonably gripping and the sense of world and character is intriguing and original.
To the negative, the work as a whole seems somewhat fragmented. I arrived at the end and wasn't entirely sure how (or if) the beginning, middle and end related to each other. Certainly the characters are consistent throughout but there was no solid sense of A then B then C. In part this is a result of the non-linear construction and is a typical result of time-travel as a plot element but generally one expects things to finally come together in a more cohesive corpus when the end is finally reached.
In summary, this is a solid first effort in this series and has much potential but I think that in order to really take off the over-arching plot needs more solidity and consistency to give the reader a firmer sense of completion and narrative arc once the last page is reached.
PS: I hope my review was helpful. If it was not, then please let me know what I left out that you’d want to know. I always aim to improve.
The nutshell view of this book is difficult to constrain simply. A pair of time-travelers (a'la Doctor Who) skip about between a series of diverse worlds and engage in various rather disconnected adventures mostly involving criminal activities of a non-threatening sort.
To the positive, the author's work has a tongue-in-cheek Douglas Adams feel about it though it must be admitted Gingell's main theme of stealing a spacecraft (which can communicate verbally and has an annoying personality) and taking off in it does have somewhat of a derivative and familiar feel to it. The writing is solid in style and flows along quite nicely from a textual standpoint. The pace is fast, the action is reasonably gripping and the sense of world and character is intriguing and original.
To the negative, the work as a whole seems somewhat fragmented. I arrived at the end and wasn't entirely sure how (or if) the beginning, middle and end related to each other. Certainly the characters are consistent throughout but there was no solid sense of A then B then C. In part this is a result of the non-linear construction and is a typical result of time-travel as a plot element but generally one expects things to finally come together in a more cohesive corpus when the end is finally reached.
In summary, this is a solid first effort in this series and has much potential but I think that in order to really take off the over-arching plot needs more solidity and consistency to give the reader a firmer sense of completion and narrative arc once the last page is reached.
PS: I hope my review was helpful. If it was not, then please let me know what I left out that you’d want to know. I always aim to improve.
April 3, 2017
I really liked this first installment(?) in what looks to be several short stories/book-in-process about time-travelling anti-heroes and their time-travelling opposition. I'm a 'wait for the whole book' reader so when I hit the end and found it was really only a beginning I was a bit cranky, but that's just me.
Gingell writes without a net (i.e., independently published), an act of bravery I admire greatly, and she delivers fully realized characters in a very short time. In Time-Traveller this comes across more in the secondary characters; perhaps the apparent MCs (Kez & Marx) aren't really the MCs? Hmmm
Now I want THE WHOLE STORY!! Please?
Gingell writes without a net (i.e., independently published), an act of bravery I admire greatly, and she delivers fully realized characters in a very short time. In Time-Traveller this comes across more in the secondary characters; perhaps the apparent MCs (Kez & Marx) aren't really the MCs? Hmmm
Now I want THE WHOLE STORY!! Please?
February 22, 2021
This is a W.R. Gingell book. So I expected to be vaguely confused throughout most of the book even while basking in its chaotic greatness. I expected the lack of linear plot.
But this book...wow. I'm still not sure what exactly happened or what the plot truly was or even which scene happened when, exactly. Yet, I don't care. It was AWESOME.
Most time travel books still have a fairly linear narrative and plot despite the time travel wonkiness. But this book captures the true chaos that would ensue if time travel were a thing. The characters just pop in here and there and everywhere and back track and jump forward and crisscross their own timelines so much that the story is as tangled as their messy lives. And I LOVE it for its chaotic mess!
But this book...wow. I'm still not sure what exactly happened or what the plot truly was or even which scene happened when, exactly. Yet, I don't care. It was AWESOME.
Most time travel books still have a fairly linear narrative and plot despite the time travel wonkiness. But this book captures the true chaos that would ensue if time travel were a thing. The characters just pop in here and there and everywhere and back track and jump forward and crisscross their own timelines so much that the story is as tangled as their messy lives. And I LOVE it for its chaotic mess!
July 28, 2018
A quick, fast-paced story that had me both gripped and confused . . . I almost feel as if I should read it over again from the beginning to know quite what happened!
Being a time-travel book, it has a decidedly un-consecutive nature. As in, the first things do not come first, etc.
But I really liked Marx and Kez, and Annabelle and Mikkel, and the ending was quite clever . . . although I'm still not entirely sure how it connects to the beginning . . .
I look forward to reading book 2, Memento Mori.
Being a time-travel book, it has a decidedly un-consecutive nature. As in, the first things do not come first, etc.
But I really liked Marx and Kez, and Annabelle and Mikkel, and the ending was quite clever . . . although I'm still not entirely sure how it connects to the beginning . . .
I look forward to reading book 2, Memento Mori.
February 23, 2025
-Having read the second book, I would certainly recommend the series. It works best however if you see this one as more of an introduction to the characters and setting. The second book is where it all starts to make sense and have a cool plot. -
I enjoyed it, it was a fun read with entertaining characters :)
Luckily, I have the next book and will be reading that ASAP. :)
I enjoyed it, it was a fun read with entertaining characters :)
Luckily, I have the next book and will be reading that ASAP. :)
December 13, 2025
Do I know what happened? Not really. Do I hate time travel with the passion of a moralist (and think everyone else should, too)? Yes. But was it a ton of fun? Well…it was about a homicidal little girl and a grumpy middle-aged time traveller who would die and/or kill for her running around the universe dodging the time cops. So heck yes it was fun.
September 20, 2019
I love the characters, and I don't know what's going on with the plot because it's all timey-wimey, but it's still super fun regardless!
September 12, 2017
A fun, quick read full of humor, sass, and adventure! Full revoew to come
September 9, 2017
This was a super cute book. I can't wait for the second one to come out.
September 15, 2016
I really liked this first part of the series. It's very difficult not to like Marx (a small, angry man) and Kez (a rather vicious urchin who just happens to be able to be able to move instantly through time and space). Add to this that they have serious criminal tendencies and are constantly trying to stay one step ahead of the various people and organisations who are trying to either catch them or kill them and you have a recipe for a good story. It is very well written and flows nicely, even though some parts are a little confusing due to the non-linear factor which is difficult to avoid in a time travel story. I would have liked to have given this book four and a half stars but have to settle for giving it four. I am looking forward to reading more of this authors work.
March 10, 2017
2.75 stars, maybe. Entertaining, but deliberately disjointed: that's the nature of time travel. I feel like I just got a look at a few near-random pages from their album or dossier. I wonder whether later installments will clarify all the events/encounters that came before/after these scenes (chronology depending on whose perspective you consider).
September 18, 2017
A thoroughly enjoyable read. The time travel genre rarely has anything truly novel spring forth, but in this story, W.R. Gingell creates just such an occurrence with precocious Kez. No spoilers, but she is more than meets the eye, in a most amusing sort of way.
Timelines jump around, as they are wont to do in a story of this nature, but the seeming confusion is kept in check by a well-crafted timeline (more of which I'm looking forward to in Memento Mori, the sequel). All-in-all, a fun romp and well-worth your time if you enjoy the time travel genre. Or the surly mercenary genre. Or the smart-assed, hidden talent kid genre.
Timelines jump around, as they are wont to do in a story of this nature, but the seeming confusion is kept in check by a well-crafted timeline (more of which I'm looking forward to in Memento Mori, the sequel). All-in-all, a fun romp and well-worth your time if you enjoy the time travel genre. Or the surly mercenary genre. Or the smart-assed, hidden talent kid genre.
April 2, 2017
Such a fun and interesting story!
I love the characters in this story. They are funny and engaging. The plot is interesting and full of twists and turns. I can't wait to read the next book.
I love the characters in this story. They are funny and engaging. The plot is interesting and full of twists and turns. I can't wait to read the next book.
April 28, 2021
I think I like the storyline but it jumped around so much I am not sure what happened and when. Time traveling books are not my favorite.
July 12, 2024
Five stars for great characters, minus most of a star for being very confusing and not resolving much at the end. (I'll continue the series, and I'm sure it will resolve and explain more in later books.)
Confusing is perhaps the wrong word... I'm very familiar with time travel stories, and I was able to follow all the information I was given well enough, with just a slight adjustment as things happened out of the expected order. However, a lot seems to be left out in between scenes, and that was a bit more jarring.
"Why are the main characters doing this? How did they get to this point after the previous scene?" No idea.
Honestly, still worth it though. Much fun in the scenes we do get.
There are depictions of an intense form of bullying, general adventure story violence and tension, and slight depictions of torture.
Confusing is perhaps the wrong word... I'm very familiar with time travel stories, and I was able to follow all the information I was given well enough, with just a slight adjustment as things happened out of the expected order. However, a lot seems to be left out in between scenes, and that was a bit more jarring.
"Why are the main characters doing this? How did they get to this point after the previous scene?" No idea.
Honestly, still worth it though. Much fun in the scenes we do get.
There are depictions of an intense form of bullying, general adventure story violence and tension, and slight depictions of torture.
September 29, 2017
This is an installment, not a full-fledged story. It has lots of potential, but there's not enough of a foundation (plot, backstory, character development, etc.) to make it of substance. It is mostly composed of action vignettes, but the lack of foundation made that not work for me. YMMV.
I'd consider it more of a serial. It was cheap, and enjoyable enough, but didn't really go anywhere. You'll need to commit to reading and buying the rest of the series if you want the whole thing. This is more of a teaser.
I'd consider it more of a serial. It was cheap, and enjoyable enough, but didn't really go anywhere. You'll need to commit to reading and buying the rest of the series if you want the whole thing. This is more of a teaser.
January 1, 2023
More please :)
I don't think there is any character or world that W.R. Gingell creates that I don't want to know more about or join on their journeys.
Completely different to the Two Monarchies Series (which I am also hoping for more of) but still grabs you like quicksand until your totally immersed.
Looking forward to more adventures with Marx & Kez
I don't think there is any character or world that W.R. Gingell creates that I don't want to know more about or join on their journeys.
Completely different to the Two Monarchies Series (which I am also hoping for more of) but still grabs you like quicksand until your totally immersed.
Looking forward to more adventures with Marx & Kez
August 13, 2016
What a fun romp thru time and space! I am so ready for Volume Two!
A fast paced story with likable (and unlikely) heroes, a mysterious villain, and with a supporting cast that you root for!
A fast paced story with likable (and unlikely) heroes, a mysterious villain, and with a supporting cast that you root for!
August 16, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this. This reminds me a bit of James H. Schmitz's "Witches of Karres" except with time travel and a bit more snark. I like to see more with these characters.
September 12, 2023
Content:
Language: None.
Violence: Moderate. There is off screen torture, shooting people in the head, creepy psychotically violent people, and lots of spanners to the cranium. There is little graphic depiction of any of these things though, nothing gratuitous, which made it okay for me, just a wince in passing.
Sexual: High mild. There is a character who spends one scene in only a towel,(which was mostly comedic) and he also is fairly aggressive in getting into the space of the woman he likes and enjoys flustering her. It was mildly uncomfortable for me, mostly because he seems to enjoy trying to make her uncomfortable and I found that to be irritating on a personal level. (My interpretation could be very different than others, it's all in your own experience).
CW: Child endangerment. MC is 10-12 years old and is actively being hunted. It is also hinted that she may have experienced some abuse. There is also a scene that takes place in a psychiatric type hospital with violent patients.
My poor linear brain had to re-wire itself to read this book. The first chapter was straightforward, and then things went, to borrow The Doctor's words, "wibbly wobbly, timey-wimey". I never knew from one chapter to the next if the previous chapters had already happened, or were yet to happen in the current version of events in the chapter I was on. So, I had to just file my brain down to...it'll probably make sense later? I felt the need to make some sort of timeline board to see if I could figure out when things were happening and put them in order.
That being said, confusion and all, I was grinning at the end. It was so delightfully odd. And different. And seat-of-your-pants engrossing. Time travel books are typically either about finding yourself fixed in a different timeline and trying to get home, or there is some sort of loop that you get stuck in that is fairly fun to be a part of, but this one is chaos. And it makes perfect sense for time travel. Chaos is what time travel would be.
Mikkel was the only part of the book that made me uncomfortable. He's crushing on Annabel and he's the personality type where he's gonna push the boundary a little because he enjoys making her blush and not know what to do. But he'll never do anything without her permission at the same time. I HATE that type of romantic trope. It's because if that was happening to me I'd feel stalked and pressured and like a piece of meat. Thankfully Annabel can kick his trash and doesn't have this issue. So, the one thing I don't like about the book is truly just because of personal preferences.
I am looking forward to the next book and seeing where the chaos takes me. Marx's Mamma Bear attitude with Kez is also cackle-inducing. I love that guy.
Language: None.
Violence: Moderate. There is off screen torture, shooting people in the head, creepy psychotically violent people, and lots of spanners to the cranium. There is little graphic depiction of any of these things though, nothing gratuitous, which made it okay for me, just a wince in passing.
Sexual: High mild. There is a character who spends one scene in only a towel,(which was mostly comedic) and he also is fairly aggressive in getting into the space of the woman he likes and enjoys flustering her. It was mildly uncomfortable for me, mostly because he seems to enjoy trying to make her uncomfortable and I found that to be irritating on a personal level. (My interpretation could be very different than others, it's all in your own experience).
CW: Child endangerment. MC is 10-12 years old and is actively being hunted. It is also hinted that she may have experienced some abuse. There is also a scene that takes place in a psychiatric type hospital with violent patients.
My poor linear brain had to re-wire itself to read this book. The first chapter was straightforward, and then things went, to borrow The Doctor's words, "wibbly wobbly, timey-wimey". I never knew from one chapter to the next if the previous chapters had already happened, or were yet to happen in the current version of events in the chapter I was on. So, I had to just file my brain down to...it'll probably make sense later? I felt the need to make some sort of timeline board to see if I could figure out when things were happening and put them in order.
That being said, confusion and all, I was grinning at the end. It was so delightfully odd. And different. And seat-of-your-pants engrossing. Time travel books are typically either about finding yourself fixed in a different timeline and trying to get home, or there is some sort of loop that you get stuck in that is fairly fun to be a part of, but this one is chaos. And it makes perfect sense for time travel. Chaos is what time travel would be.
Mikkel was the only part of the book that made me uncomfortable. He's crushing on Annabel and he's the personality type where he's gonna push the boundary a little because he enjoys making her blush and not know what to do. But he'll never do anything without her permission at the same time. I HATE that type of romantic trope. It's because if that was happening to me I'd feel stalked and pressured and like a piece of meat. Thankfully Annabel can kick his trash and doesn't have this issue. So, the one thing I don't like about the book is truly just because of personal preferences.
I am looking forward to the next book and seeing where the chaos takes me. Marx's Mamma Bear attitude with Kez is also cackle-inducing. I love that guy.
October 5, 2020
I'm not much of a fan of time travel stories in general. Many lack ambition: if you could travel relatively freely and accurately in time, why would you be beholden to the normal course of events? You can go back and place a gun where you are going to need it. (A E Van Vogt was a master of this style, never using a gun when a whole roomful of gadgets would do) But if you mess about, the illusion of being in a normal linear narrative just visiting a quaint time and place (eg most Dr Who) becomes impossible and circular paradoxes the norm, risking complete narrative continuity collapse. Like this book.
This book doesn't just face the weirdness. It slathers itself it and does a sort of trippy naked dance in it. It starts off feeling a bit like Dr Who fan fiction that got splinched with Firefly, but requires quite a dedicated effort to follow. The result does actually fit together eventually but the disjointed style and frequent POV changes left me feeling not especially attached to any of the characters, something Gingell's other work has done quite well. Maybe I'm just not cut out for time travel.
This book doesn't just face the weirdness. It slathers itself it and does a sort of trippy naked dance in it. It starts off feeling a bit like Dr Who fan fiction that got splinched with Firefly, but requires quite a dedicated effort to follow. The result does actually fit together eventually but the disjointed style and frequent POV changes left me feeling not especially attached to any of the characters, something Gingell's other work has done quite well. Maybe I'm just not cut out for time travel.
October 4, 2019
5
A Time Traveller’s Best Friend first book in the series of the same name by W. R. Gingell.
The story was hard to keep up with in the beginning, just sort of plunks you in the muck of it without any warning or introductory course into what one should expect. Their simply disjointed way of conversing, and unique and 100% made-up names for normal everyday things such as seconds and minutes helped in the confusion aspect. If following along the dialogue and the narrative didn’t send you in your own mindful tailspin, the wonderfully fantastic world building and flow of the story should assist you in completing that endeavor.
I endlessly enjoyed Kez and Marx pulling me along with him through their weird and sort of discombobulated adventures, vaguely reminiscent of Dr. Who and River. Eventually having to understand that you may have just met them, but they haven’t just met you.
A Time Traveller’s Best Friend first book in the series of the same name by W. R. Gingell.
The story was hard to keep up with in the beginning, just sort of plunks you in the muck of it without any warning or introductory course into what one should expect. Their simply disjointed way of conversing, and unique and 100% made-up names for normal everyday things such as seconds and minutes helped in the confusion aspect. If following along the dialogue and the narrative didn’t send you in your own mindful tailspin, the wonderfully fantastic world building and flow of the story should assist you in completing that endeavor.
I endlessly enjoyed Kez and Marx pulling me along with him through their weird and sort of discombobulated adventures, vaguely reminiscent of Dr. Who and River. Eventually having to understand that you may have just met them, but they haven’t just met you.
September 18, 2019
It's been way too long since I read a time travel book. I used to devour them as fast and as often as I could. So I was super excited when I stumbled upon A Time Traveller's Best Friend by one of my favorite, newly-discovered authors W.R. Gingell. I discovered her City Between series earlier this year and have been slowly making my way through her backlist.
This book was so good! So much fun. Full of so much heart. Things did get a little confusing at times. Events don't happen in a “straight-line” way, but bounce all over the place. It is time travel, though, so that's to be expected. And it was fun, in a way, trying to figure it all out. Trying to connect all the dots. And things did get straightened out before long.
All in all, if you're a fan of time travel, then I'd definitely recommend picking up a copy of this book. I'm eager to check out the sequel.
This book was so good! So much fun. Full of so much heart. Things did get a little confusing at times. Events don't happen in a “straight-line” way, but bounce all over the place. It is time travel, though, so that's to be expected. And it was fun, in a way, trying to figure it all out. Trying to connect all the dots. And things did get straightened out before long.
All in all, if you're a fan of time travel, then I'd definitely recommend picking up a copy of this book. I'm eager to check out the sequel.
September 11, 2020
This is a wild ride!
The story begins with Marcus stealing a time travel ship, unfortunately in the shoot out to get out of the hangar some damage is done and the ship goes out of control. He is forced to move into an area and has no idea where he is going to end up - not an ideal situation. He ends up a part of a large building, at the roof, where a 10 year old girl sits waiting for him gun in hand. This is how Marcus meets Kez, a snarky slang using little girl who can skip through time and space at will. This comes in handy as they work their way through time trying to bring down Time Corp, the people who control time travel, and desire to control much more than that.
Lots of people want Kez dead or captured so they can exploit her very rare ability. Marcus ends up being her protector and friend.
The story ended rather abruptly, but it was a clean read other than the slang.
The story begins with Marcus stealing a time travel ship, unfortunately in the shoot out to get out of the hangar some damage is done and the ship goes out of control. He is forced to move into an area and has no idea where he is going to end up - not an ideal situation. He ends up a part of a large building, at the roof, where a 10 year old girl sits waiting for him gun in hand. This is how Marcus meets Kez, a snarky slang using little girl who can skip through time and space at will. This comes in handy as they work their way through time trying to bring down Time Corp, the people who control time travel, and desire to control much more than that.
Lots of people want Kez dead or captured so they can exploit her very rare ability. Marcus ends up being her protector and friend.
The story ended rather abruptly, but it was a clean read other than the slang.
March 24, 2024
Oh. My.
So. Much. Fun.
Breakneck pace, new worlds… scrappy little girl who can take on anything and anyone. A grumpy guy is her unwilling companion. (Favorite trope? Yes, top ten!) Plus a mystery that bounces through time. Yes. All the things that make me squeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!, even though the genre isn’t usually one that I read.
Will definitely be on hand for the rest of the series!
Only downside… the chapters are longer than expected. So the “one more chapter” vibe is a bit more of a commitment, but definitely worth it.
So. Much. Fun.
Breakneck pace, new worlds… scrappy little girl who can take on anything and anyone. A grumpy guy is her unwilling companion. (Favorite trope? Yes, top ten!) Plus a mystery that bounces through time. Yes. All the things that make me squeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!, even though the genre isn’t usually one that I read.
Will definitely be on hand for the rest of the series!
Only downside… the chapters are longer than expected. So the “one more chapter” vibe is a bit more of a commitment, but definitely worth it.
March 6, 2019
For fans of the In Between series...
I was not able to appreciate/finish this until after I fell in love with the author’s In Between series.
This book/story is lovingly convoluted. I was thrown in, kind of not understanding much but very pleased as my confusion unraveled and bits of pieces began to click together. I’m about to dive into book 2 right now! I am excited to see the big picture of this story/series!
I was not able to appreciate/finish this until after I fell in love with the author’s In Between series.
This book/story is lovingly convoluted. I was thrown in, kind of not understanding much but very pleased as my confusion unraveled and bits of pieces began to click together. I’m about to dive into book 2 right now! I am excited to see the big picture of this story/series!
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