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The Timerman
An all-new novel set in the world of sci-fi cult classic Fitzpatrick’s War. A moral spy must navigate a world of political manipulation and war in a postapocalyptic future with no electricity or computers, and a pseudo-Victorian hierarchy of unchanging stasis he is dutybound to uphold—no matter what the personal cost.
Timerman’s Dilemma
In the year 2444, what remains of a United States that was nearly annihilated centuries ago now dominates the globe. The Yukon Confederacy’s power comes not through technological progress, but by deliberately suppressing most forms of it. Orbiting Storm Machines flood the ionosphere with positrons, instantly neutralizing industrial electrical activity and electronics. Above them, Blinking Stars satellites relay code that grants flawless communications and near-omniscient surveillance to the Yukon military. These systems—guarded by the secretive order of Timermen—have frozen civilization in a controlled steam-and-gas era powered by brute manpower and constant labor.
The result? Stasis. The alternative? A new age of barbarism and death.
John Randel, brilliant botanist and decorated soldier, was born a bastard orphan on the streets of Grand Harbor—once San Francisco. Through genius and hard work, he’s made a fortune from his scientific discoveries and forged a place in society. Randel is recruited by the Timermen to infiltrate the court at Cumberland, the capital city. His penetrate the orbit of Lady Chelsea, the de facto ruler of the Yukon Confederacy.
Chelsea is the dazzling and dangerous “Chrysanthemum Woman,” who seeks to reforge the old technologies, centralize power, and build a new empire of pleasure, spectacle, and dominance. She’s rumored to be hoarding a cache of ancient energy weapons, and Randel suspects she intends to burn the Old Lords’ aristocracy—and the Timermen’s stable order—to a literal crisp.
In the capital, Randel must navigate decadent salons, political conspiracies, and philosophical struggles while maintaining loyalty to the Timermen. But they are just as harsh and pitiless in their way as Lady Chelsea. Nevertheless, Randel believes the Timermen’s ultimate aim is true, and the fight becomes a good man’s heroic battle to come to grips with the brutal, implacable currents of history. From firefights in Mexico to a final showdown in Cumberland, Randel’s choice will determine whether the old order endures—or humanity burns again on the stake of technological excess and descends into a new Dark Age.
Timerman’s Dilemma
In the year 2444, what remains of a United States that was nearly annihilated centuries ago now dominates the globe. The Yukon Confederacy’s power comes not through technological progress, but by deliberately suppressing most forms of it. Orbiting Storm Machines flood the ionosphere with positrons, instantly neutralizing industrial electrical activity and electronics. Above them, Blinking Stars satellites relay code that grants flawless communications and near-omniscient surveillance to the Yukon military. These systems—guarded by the secretive order of Timermen—have frozen civilization in a controlled steam-and-gas era powered by brute manpower and constant labor.
The result? Stasis. The alternative? A new age of barbarism and death.
John Randel, brilliant botanist and decorated soldier, was born a bastard orphan on the streets of Grand Harbor—once San Francisco. Through genius and hard work, he’s made a fortune from his scientific discoveries and forged a place in society. Randel is recruited by the Timermen to infiltrate the court at Cumberland, the capital city. His penetrate the orbit of Lady Chelsea, the de facto ruler of the Yukon Confederacy.
Chelsea is the dazzling and dangerous “Chrysanthemum Woman,” who seeks to reforge the old technologies, centralize power, and build a new empire of pleasure, spectacle, and dominance. She’s rumored to be hoarding a cache of ancient energy weapons, and Randel suspects she intends to burn the Old Lords’ aristocracy—and the Timermen’s stable order—to a literal crisp.
In the capital, Randel must navigate decadent salons, political conspiracies, and philosophical struggles while maintaining loyalty to the Timermen. But they are just as harsh and pitiless in their way as Lady Chelsea. Nevertheless, Randel believes the Timermen’s ultimate aim is true, and the fight becomes a good man’s heroic battle to come to grips with the brutal, implacable currents of history. From firefights in Mexico to a final showdown in Cumberland, Randel’s choice will determine whether the old order endures—or humanity burns again on the stake of technological excess and descends into a new Dark Age.
405 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 11, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 24, 2026
I would rate this 2.5 stars, but Goodreads does not allow that, and because it is an extremely late sequel to a novel I very much I enjoyed I am inclined to round up.
It had several excellent parts, but as a cohesive work was lackluster compared to Fitzpatricks War itself, especially on the question of the narrators morality and/or suspciously missing moral crisis. Anyone who (correctly) understands the original novel and has read this one will understand what I mean.
It seemed in the end a sequel was being setup. I might be wrong, but if this is the case then I strongly suspect this is what partly compromised some of the books themes.
It had several excellent parts, but as a cohesive work was lackluster compared to Fitzpatricks War itself, especially on the question of the narrators morality and/or suspciously missing moral crisis. Anyone who (correctly) understands the original novel and has read this one will understand what I mean.
It seemed in the end a sequel was being setup. I might be wrong, but if this is the case then I strongly suspect this is what partly compromised some of the books themes.
August 19, 2026
This is a continuation of the story. The real value in this book is getting into the Yukon mindset - their values, their bigotry, their etiquette, and their worldview. It is a weird world to examine: one in which people are fighting to keep the status quo and their folksy ways, with their bigotries enforced and validated. It's very brave by the author to trust the audience to not be coddled and to buy in to the notion that the optimal society is highly regimented and rigid feudalism.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews