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Torchwood #5
Trace Memory
Tiger Bay, Cardiff, 1950: A mysterious crate is brought into the docks on a Scandinavian cargo ship, the Kungssangen. Its destination: The Torchwood Institute. As the crate is offloaded by a group of local dockers it explodes, killing all but one; a young Butetown lad called Michael Bellini. Fifty-eight years later a radioactive source somewhere inside Torchwood leads the team to discover the same Michael Bellini, still young and dressed in his 1950s clothes, cowering in the vaults. As they question the intruder, it becomes apparent that each of them has met him in the past. All of them remember him talking incoherently about terrifying "Men In Bowler Hats" and little more, but it's Jack who remembers him best of all...
256 pages, Hardcover
First published March 27, 2008
12 people are currently reading
800 people want to read
About the author
David Llewellyn
111 books33 followersDavid Llewellyn is a Welsh novelist and script writer. He grew up in Pontypool and graduated from Dartington College of Arts in 2000. His first novel, Eleven, was published by Seren Press in 2006. His second, Trace Memory, a spin-off from the BBC drama series Torchwood, was published in March 2008. Everything Is Sinister was published by Seren in May 2008. He has written two novels for the Doctor Who New Series Adventures: The Taking of Chelsea 426, featuring the Tenth Doctor, and Night of the Humans, featuring the Eleventh Doctor and Amy Pond.
In addition to writing novels, Llewellyn wrote the Bernice Summerfield audio play Paradise Frost and the Dark Shadows audio drama The Last Stop for Big Finish Productions.
Llewellyn lives in Cardiff.
In addition to writing novels, Llewellyn wrote the Bernice Summerfield audio play Paradise Frost and the Dark Shadows audio drama The Last Stop for Big Finish Productions.
Llewellyn lives in Cardiff.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
October 2, 2018
A mysterious create is brought to Cardiff in 1953, whilst being unloaded it explodes and kills everyone except Michael Bellini.
The Torchwood crew discover Michael in the hub and all realise that they have seen him before...
The story has plenty of flashbacks and wonderfully explores the teams backstories.
The Torchwood crew discover Michael in the hub and all realise that they have seen him before...
The story has plenty of flashbacks and wonderfully explores the teams backstories.
January 13, 2014
In 1953, four men agreed to come late to the docks and take one crate from a Swedish ship. A huge explosion leaves only one, Michael Bellini, alive. The item that was in the crate ended up in Torchwood vaults. Present day: this same Michael Bellini ends up cowering in the Torchwood basement. He wears the same 1950s clothes and he keeps talking about men in bowler hats who seem to follow him everywhere. Soon all of them realize they have seen this man sometime in their past. The rest of the book consists of the memories each of the Torchwood team member has of Michael Bellini and Michael's own.
It is a sad story. You don't get that right from the start. Michael is one of those wrong time, wrong place people. The story is confusing only at first. The time travel aspect, how he ends up in a time line where either he knows a person, or a person knows him is pretty sad.
The story may be better for watching rather than reading. The time travel aspect of the story makes the plot a bit jumbled, but near the end most of the things are resolved. The origin of the threat itself stays a mystery though. All you get is a vague explanation, but it isn't crucial to the story.
Gwen being jealous of Ianto over Jack opening to him about how he knows Michael when there are more pressing things to worry about was very annoying and out of place.
It is a sad story. You don't get that right from the start. Michael is one of those wrong time, wrong place people. The story is confusing only at first. The time travel aspect, how he ends up in a time line where either he knows a person, or a person knows him is pretty sad.
The story may be better for watching rather than reading. The time travel aspect of the story makes the plot a bit jumbled, but near the end most of the things are resolved. The origin of the threat itself stays a mystery though. All you get is a vague explanation, but it isn't crucial to the story.
Gwen being jealous of Ianto over Jack opening to him about how he knows Michael when there are more pressing things to worry about was very annoying and out of place.
August 14, 2016
(From my blog: Quill Café)
In accordance with the FTC, I would like to disclose that I purchased this book. The opinions expressed are mine and no monetary compensation was offered to me by the author or publisher.
Michael Bellini is just a local docker doing his job, until the crate he is meant to be retrieving explodes and kills his three co-workers. Soon he is transplanted into different places in time, with one particular memory. The label on the crate read: Torchwood.
In present day, Torchwood is a secret organisation that deals with the strange and the…alien. The members of Torchwood are all bored out of their minds – for a change – when Michael comes blundering in, scared and confused.
It isn’t long before all five members of Torchwood realise they have crossed paths with Michael before. How is this possible and what is the reason for Michael’s random time travel? The answer lies in the mystery of the crate but what will become of Michael and who are the men in the bowler hats that seem to be following him?
I’m a sucker for intertwined storylines and I love me some time travel. Do you know what I love most? Well-written books. This one had me.
This book comes packed with a lot of science fiction goodness but it is more than anything an interesting exploration of characters. Not just a further insight into the members of Torchwood but a look at the life of Michael Bellini, whose world is torn apart and stitched together as an array of broken puzzle pieces, never quite connecting in the right order. It was fascinating to observe time in such an alternate fashion and witness the toll it took on Michael.
'Trace Memory' is one of many Torchwood novels but the first I picked up and read. You do not need to read any of the previous novels in order to read this one, although it does focus on the members of Torchwood, taking place near the beginning of the second season of the UK original series.
I picked this up because I wanted more from Torchwood. I wanted to know more about the characters I love and to see them all in action together again. It was a fandom craving but my prior interest in the series and the characters wasn't the only reason I loved this book. Like I said, I am a sucker for well-written fiction.
When I went to the science fiction section in the Strand bookstore, I think a wall of it was just Star Wars novels. That's how I thought of telivision-to-print sci-fi stories. Although I'd never read one, they seemed so mass produced. I thought, Could this really be any good? I don't know about the rest of them but 'Trace Memory' was.
I loved seeing into the character's pasts - for instance, Ianto's early experiences at Torchwood One - and getting glimpses into their lives before they joined Jack at Torchwood Three. Back story, while usually tedious, when tied in with current events and Michael's forever in-the-moment time stream, is very captivating.
Michael is a wonderful character. So vulnerable and tortured and confused. I liked seeing things as they were from his perspective as well as how he appeared to the other characters. It fleshed out his character so well and he became so much more than the fleeting moments in time he inhabited.
The greatest character insight next to Michael, was Jack Harkness: the immortal man. Jack has lived countless lives and is such a mystery. It was amazing to see more into his past and how one man's broken existence could affect him in such a small period of time.
I would recommend 'Trace Memory' by David Llewellyn to any Torchwood fan who wants more from the series but just as a good science fiction read. The author manages to take the extraordinary and materialize it in the reader's mind. I look forward to reading more of the Torchwood novels.
In accordance with the FTC, I would like to disclose that I purchased this book. The opinions expressed are mine and no monetary compensation was offered to me by the author or publisher.
Michael Bellini is just a local docker doing his job, until the crate he is meant to be retrieving explodes and kills his three co-workers. Soon he is transplanted into different places in time, with one particular memory. The label on the crate read: Torchwood.
In present day, Torchwood is a secret organisation that deals with the strange and the…alien. The members of Torchwood are all bored out of their minds – for a change – when Michael comes blundering in, scared and confused.
It isn’t long before all five members of Torchwood realise they have crossed paths with Michael before. How is this possible and what is the reason for Michael’s random time travel? The answer lies in the mystery of the crate but what will become of Michael and who are the men in the bowler hats that seem to be following him?
I’m a sucker for intertwined storylines and I love me some time travel. Do you know what I love most? Well-written books. This one had me.
This book comes packed with a lot of science fiction goodness but it is more than anything an interesting exploration of characters. Not just a further insight into the members of Torchwood but a look at the life of Michael Bellini, whose world is torn apart and stitched together as an array of broken puzzle pieces, never quite connecting in the right order. It was fascinating to observe time in such an alternate fashion and witness the toll it took on Michael.
'Trace Memory' is one of many Torchwood novels but the first I picked up and read. You do not need to read any of the previous novels in order to read this one, although it does focus on the members of Torchwood, taking place near the beginning of the second season of the UK original series.
I picked this up because I wanted more from Torchwood. I wanted to know more about the characters I love and to see them all in action together again. It was a fandom craving but my prior interest in the series and the characters wasn't the only reason I loved this book. Like I said, I am a sucker for well-written fiction.
When I went to the science fiction section in the Strand bookstore, I think a wall of it was just Star Wars novels. That's how I thought of telivision-to-print sci-fi stories. Although I'd never read one, they seemed so mass produced. I thought, Could this really be any good? I don't know about the rest of them but 'Trace Memory' was.
I loved seeing into the character's pasts - for instance, Ianto's early experiences at Torchwood One - and getting glimpses into their lives before they joined Jack at Torchwood Three. Back story, while usually tedious, when tied in with current events and Michael's forever in-the-moment time stream, is very captivating.
Michael is a wonderful character. So vulnerable and tortured and confused. I liked seeing things as they were from his perspective as well as how he appeared to the other characters. It fleshed out his character so well and he became so much more than the fleeting moments in time he inhabited.
The greatest character insight next to Michael, was Jack Harkness: the immortal man. Jack has lived countless lives and is such a mystery. It was amazing to see more into his past and how one man's broken existence could affect him in such a small period of time.
I would recommend 'Trace Memory' by David Llewellyn to any Torchwood fan who wants more from the series but just as a good science fiction read. The author manages to take the extraordinary and materialize it in the reader's mind. I look forward to reading more of the Torchwood novels.
March 17, 2008
Oh, I really liked this. A lot. It was just quiet and haunting and sad and lovely. I liked the way the narrative was set up, floating in and out of time. The look at Torchwood 1 was terrifying, honestly. The characterization was exactly spot on, and the Jack/Ianto moments were perfect. I love their relationship, and love that Ianto is the one he confided in. Oh, and Jack and Michael. Those boys broke my heart. I really liked the glimpse of Jack in the past, and all of the main character bits, especially Owen. This feels like it was written by someone who understands what makes this show tick. I really hope he writes more.
August 18, 2013
Now this is the type of story I really enjoy. My favourite "Torchwood" trope -- the flashback -- is used to wonderful effect. Glimpses into everyone's past, more insight into Jack's long journey through the 20th century, and a beautiful sense of melancholy and love that permeates the best "Torchwood" stories, both televised and in prose. Extra bonus points for preempting Steven Moffat's idea of the Whipermen...except these aliens are more terrifying. This is easily my favourite of David Llewellyn's literary dips into the expanded "Doctor Who/Torchwood" universe, and one of the best novels in this range.
Read
August 5, 2016An excellent book that would have made an awesome episode featuring a man who becomes unstuck in time (very similar to Babylon 5 plot).
August 7, 2018
This is the story of Michael, who was seen in different points of time, over the span of years, never in order, and every where that Michael went, death was sure to go.
This was a good story, sad but good.
My only complaint is it felt short to me though. The jumping between the pasts of different characters, explaining how they all knew this one man who, out of thin air, breached Torchwood and had no idea how or where he was, made it feel almost like those episodes of TV shows where they show you pieces of older episodes. Filling the present with the past instead of something new. I understand it was the best way to show how everyone knew Michael.... But then there wasn't enough going on in the present.
Obviously being Torchwood, people die. One of them being Jack, which isn't a spoiler at this point. He dies a lot. He actually dies more than once in this book. One violently, one .... Well. One is super sad, but sweet. You'll see when you read it.
Over all ⭐⭐⭐⭐ for being a gruesome, sad, lovely and emotional ride.
I never did like bowler hats.
This was a good story, sad but good.
My only complaint is it felt short to me though. The jumping between the pasts of different characters, explaining how they all knew this one man who, out of thin air, breached Torchwood and had no idea how or where he was, made it feel almost like those episodes of TV shows where they show you pieces of older episodes. Filling the present with the past instead of something new. I understand it was the best way to show how everyone knew Michael.... But then there wasn't enough going on in the present.
Obviously being Torchwood, people die. One of them being Jack, which isn't a spoiler at this point. He dies a lot. He actually dies more than once in this book. One violently, one .... Well. One is super sad, but sweet. You'll see when you read it.
Over all ⭐⭐⭐⭐ for being a gruesome, sad, lovely and emotional ride.
I never did like bowler hats.
August 29, 2018
Fifteen Torchwood novels were produced in hardcover by BBC Books, and the quality seems to have been remarkably varied, from the intricate plot to the simple, from characters who felt instantly familiar to viewers, to others where it can be difficult to recognize them as the same Jack, Ianto, Owen, Gwen and Toshiko we saw in the spin-off from evergreen favorite Doctor Who. I’ve read ten of these tie-ins, and though some are good SF and others are great Torchwood -- and occasionally a novel would find a way to be both! -- in every instance, a key element was missing.
Trace Memory (2008) is the first where the character of Jack Harkness is written as a sensual human being with a romantic side, and where his “omnisexuality” is given more than a throwaway nod and wink, often in the form of a witticism, somewhere in the course of 250pp. In other words, getting down to brass tacks, Trace Memory is the first Torchwood tie-in I’ve seen where there’s a gay element. In fact, after I’d read eight of these, I’d begun to wonder if Jack’s sexuality was taboo in the tie-in novels, because it was consistently ignored.
Surprise: Llewellyn had the courage and vision to give Jack a sensual and romantic side; moreover he had the courage (or publisher’s permission? One wonders) to write a relationship between Captain Jack and “guest star” Michael Bellini, with implicit (not explicit), or implied sex, and a couple of tender kisses. There's just about enough to award this one the glbt tag.
Trace Memory is an excellent story involving a young man, Michael, caught in an explosion of alien technology and as a result being literally zapped, for want of a better expression, back and forth through the time stream from 1953 -- the scene of the original event -- to the present. The involuntary time-traveling is agonizingly traumatic. In this hell there's one common denominator: Torchwood Cardiff.
If you know the premise of the show you’ll grasp at once, the alien tech at the root of these misadventures was labeled for Torchwood as it arrived on the docks at Tiger Bay in ’53. Michael Bellini was one of a gang of cargo handlers: the only one to survive the explosion. The next he knows, he’s miles and years away, shifting back and forth through time without warning, always pursued by an enemy right out of nightmare: the Men in the Bowler Hats.
Leave it to Jack to make sense of all this, because only Jack is savvy enough, old enough, and even alien enough himself, to just … know this stuff. However, along the way the other members of Torchwood Cardiff play good parts in the unfolding mystery.
The story idea is the strongest part of Trace Memory; the gay relationship between Jack and Michael is the most poignant. The execution of the book is not quite what one would have hoped for, with a denouement feeling rushed to the point of needless brevity. I've a feeling the novel was developed from a scripted story not optioned for the aired show. It has the pace of a filmed episode, and the imagery one expects. However, whereas an episode can get away with the rush-rush pacing and narrative abbreviation, the model doesn't work so well in a book. When we read, we simply expect more reading, scenes properly staged and developed.
Working backwards from movie script to novelization of same, a writer always has to put flesh on the bones, whereas this flesh is deliberately stripped away when a novel becomes a movie. What’s missing from Trace Memory is the meat on the bones of the script. To make 250pp, the print layout uses too much whitespace, a large font and wide line spacing. How I'd have loved to see this one filled out with fiction rather than blank paper! I estimate the length is ~65k words, max. It could easily have been half as long again, rendering a better-rounded, more satisfying book.
All this said, Trace Memory is still a very good read. The story idea is a beauty; the character of Michael is well done; the relationship between him and Jack is poignant and moving; and the ending is not “happy ever after.” You’ll taste the bittersweet quality you remember from the show itself.
And, marvel of marvels, Jack Harkness himself is written well. Llewellyn has the character spot-on, from Jack’s smart, acid tongue to the deep melancholy that comes from being so very old, and so very alone. Given the richness of performance by John Barrowman, one would have imagined Captain Jack should be easy to write. In fact, few Torchwood tie-in authors managed it. Kudos to Llewellyn.
Recommended as a very good SF story with a mildly, tastefully crafted gay relationship; but recommended first for Torchwood fans. You really need to know the show to get the most out of this. It’s a quick read which will keep you guessing till the midpoint. I want to give it 3.5 stars because it's so abbreviated, but we'll round this up to 4 since there's a lot about Trace Memory to like.
Trace Memory (2008) is the first where the character of Jack Harkness is written as a sensual human being with a romantic side, and where his “omnisexuality” is given more than a throwaway nod and wink, often in the form of a witticism, somewhere in the course of 250pp. In other words, getting down to brass tacks, Trace Memory is the first Torchwood tie-in I’ve seen where there’s a gay element. In fact, after I’d read eight of these, I’d begun to wonder if Jack’s sexuality was taboo in the tie-in novels, because it was consistently ignored.
Surprise: Llewellyn had the courage and vision to give Jack a sensual and romantic side; moreover he had the courage (or publisher’s permission? One wonders) to write a relationship between Captain Jack and “guest star” Michael Bellini, with implicit (not explicit), or implied sex, and a couple of tender kisses. There's just about enough to award this one the glbt tag.
Trace Memory is an excellent story involving a young man, Michael, caught in an explosion of alien technology and as a result being literally zapped, for want of a better expression, back and forth through the time stream from 1953 -- the scene of the original event -- to the present. The involuntary time-traveling is agonizingly traumatic. In this hell there's one common denominator: Torchwood Cardiff.
If you know the premise of the show you’ll grasp at once, the alien tech at the root of these misadventures was labeled for Torchwood as it arrived on the docks at Tiger Bay in ’53. Michael Bellini was one of a gang of cargo handlers: the only one to survive the explosion. The next he knows, he’s miles and years away, shifting back and forth through time without warning, always pursued by an enemy right out of nightmare: the Men in the Bowler Hats.
Leave it to Jack to make sense of all this, because only Jack is savvy enough, old enough, and even alien enough himself, to just … know this stuff. However, along the way the other members of Torchwood Cardiff play good parts in the unfolding mystery.
The story idea is the strongest part of Trace Memory; the gay relationship between Jack and Michael is the most poignant. The execution of the book is not quite what one would have hoped for, with a denouement feeling rushed to the point of needless brevity. I've a feeling the novel was developed from a scripted story not optioned for the aired show. It has the pace of a filmed episode, and the imagery one expects. However, whereas an episode can get away with the rush-rush pacing and narrative abbreviation, the model doesn't work so well in a book. When we read, we simply expect more reading, scenes properly staged and developed.
Working backwards from movie script to novelization of same, a writer always has to put flesh on the bones, whereas this flesh is deliberately stripped away when a novel becomes a movie. What’s missing from Trace Memory is the meat on the bones of the script. To make 250pp, the print layout uses too much whitespace, a large font and wide line spacing. How I'd have loved to see this one filled out with fiction rather than blank paper! I estimate the length is ~65k words, max. It could easily have been half as long again, rendering a better-rounded, more satisfying book.
All this said, Trace Memory is still a very good read. The story idea is a beauty; the character of Michael is well done; the relationship between him and Jack is poignant and moving; and the ending is not “happy ever after.” You’ll taste the bittersweet quality you remember from the show itself.
And, marvel of marvels, Jack Harkness himself is written well. Llewellyn has the character spot-on, from Jack’s smart, acid tongue to the deep melancholy that comes from being so very old, and so very alone. Given the richness of performance by John Barrowman, one would have imagined Captain Jack should be easy to write. In fact, few Torchwood tie-in authors managed it. Kudos to Llewellyn.
Recommended as a very good SF story with a mildly, tastefully crafted gay relationship; but recommended first for Torchwood fans. You really need to know the show to get the most out of this. It’s a quick read which will keep you guessing till the midpoint. I want to give it 3.5 stars because it's so abbreviated, but we'll round this up to 4 since there's a lot about Trace Memory to like.
May 29, 2021
The first part was good, when we get all the flashbacks of the team meeting Michael at some point in the past. But then it turned into a random “love” story between him and Jack? And that was the whole middle? It was boring. And they defeated the Vondrax by standing by reflective surfaces and they disappeared on their own? Sure Jan. 🙄
This could have been way longer and fleshed out a lot more, I think it would have been better. It’s like a blip in their lives and not an actual case? The fact that Michael was travelling all over the place in time also wasn’t clearly stated, and it left me confused.
All in all this really wasn’t very good.
This could have been way longer and fleshed out a lot more, I think it would have been better. It’s like a blip in their lives and not an actual case? The fact that Michael was travelling all over the place in time also wasn’t clearly stated, and it left me confused.
All in all this really wasn’t very good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2008
i wish these books were half as good as the episodes, and not such lame pretenders to the throne of torchwoodyness. i thought the last t-book (another life) i read was mediocre...this was worse, and i think because it tried too hard. the different vantage points, story lines, just left it feeling fractured and flat. the only depth in this story was the michael-jack thread; if the author had chosen to focus here, instead of trying to cover everyone, i think it would've made for better reading.
kudos, though, for not being riddled with spelling and grammar errors like 'another life' was.
kudos, though, for not being riddled with spelling and grammar errors like 'another life' was.
April 11, 2021
David Llewellyn definitely is one of my favorite TW writeres and this is no exception. I really, really loved this story. It jumps back and forth through time and keeps you questioning what is going on. The whole idea about when is happening what for each of the characters was really well done. The whole team had very nice character moments, even that the story had his main focus on Jack. And I always love to learn more about what Jack was up to in his past. A real page turner that kept me entertained almost in one sitting.
May 10, 2010
I haven't been impressed with the Torchwood novels, but I really enjoyed this one. The story is cleverly written, and the characters are true to their TV form. The author didn't forget that one of the reasons people love Torchwood so much is due to the characters' complex relationships, not just the action scenes and goofy innuendos. It was a good blend of all.
Also, this book was properly edited! Can't say that for its predecessors.
Also, this book was properly edited! Can't say that for its predecessors.
December 31, 2020
One of my favourite Torchwood novels so far.
A young dockworker is unwittingly swept up with an alien artefact that transports him through time, in ways that tie in with each member of the Torchwood team in turn, before landing him in the modern-day Hub as the owners of the artefact decide they want it back.
The characterisation is spot on, the story moves apace, there are some beautiful, tender -and painful- moments, and I didn't want it to end.
A young dockworker is unwittingly swept up with an alien artefact that transports him through time, in ways that tie in with each member of the Torchwood team in turn, before landing him in the modern-day Hub as the owners of the artefact decide they want it back.
The characterisation is spot on, the story moves apace, there are some beautiful, tender -and painful- moments, and I didn't want it to end.
May 11, 2024
DNF most of the way through - I read almost all of this in one sitting at the library and kept meaning to come back to it, but it's been enough months that I don't think I'll be getting around to it.
That said, I really enjoyed what I did read. The plot is interesting and ties in well with established Torchwood lore, leaning in to tropes and worldbuilding the show utilised heavily in the first couple of seasons. (I couldn't comment as to anything later; I stopped watching at about the point I think most people did.) It felt consistent and well structured, as though it could just as easily have been a fairly good two-parter episode and I'd be happy. The time jumps and flashbacks were clever, and kept the pace moving along nicely.
The biggest strength honestly was the character voice - I found myself laughing out loud at the dialogue a couple of times, as it hit me exactly the way it would have in the show. The voices are spot on, dialogue phrased exactly as the characters would to a point where you can practically hear the actors inflections. I actually wound up rewatching the first couple of seasons out of nostalgia after reading this.
All around, this was a good book, and felt right at home alongside the TV show. Fans of the show will likely have a great time with this one.
That said, I really enjoyed what I did read. The plot is interesting and ties in well with established Torchwood lore, leaning in to tropes and worldbuilding the show utilised heavily in the first couple of seasons. (I couldn't comment as to anything later; I stopped watching at about the point I think most people did.) It felt consistent and well structured, as though it could just as easily have been a fairly good two-parter episode and I'd be happy. The time jumps and flashbacks were clever, and kept the pace moving along nicely.
The biggest strength honestly was the character voice - I found myself laughing out loud at the dialogue a couple of times, as it hit me exactly the way it would have in the show. The voices are spot on, dialogue phrased exactly as the characters would to a point where you can practically hear the actors inflections. I actually wound up rewatching the first couple of seasons out of nostalgia after reading this.
All around, this was a good book, and felt right at home alongside the TV show. Fans of the show will likely have a great time with this one.
June 12, 2024
“Why do you look at me like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you know me. Like…like you’ve always known me.”
Set in Cardiff, Wales.
A quiet Sunday at The Hub turns into anything but. Suddenly, there’s an intruder in the basement…
Michael Bellini is 24. Each member of the team, one after the other—they realize that they’ve all had previous (profound) encounters with Michael.
Lots of flashbacks to the past—specifically the night of November 20, 1953. It was a very formative evening for Michael.
Cromwell and Valentine. The man in the bowler hat—and the Vondrax—are very scary.
The character exposition could be much stronger. There isn’t a whole lot it…these flawed people saving the world and protecting us…Torchwood shines the brightest when we are in the characters’ heads/minds.
This is a very plot-driven installment. Also leans quite heavily into Michael’s memories…
But it’s very readable, with strong pacing.
Tachyonradiation. Michael’s damage.
Michael’s revelation. The Traveler. Betrayal. Hugo. Tatiana.
Good to see (Finally! For the first time in the books!) a former paramour of Jack’s. Ianto is, of course, very understanding.
Solid ending—but extremely bittersweet.
“How does all this end?”
“I don’t know. Maybe somebody will find a way home for you. I just wish it could have been me.”
“Like what?”
“Like you know me. Like…like you’ve always known me.”
Set in Cardiff, Wales.
A quiet Sunday at The Hub turns into anything but. Suddenly, there’s an intruder in the basement…
Michael Bellini is 24. Each member of the team, one after the other—they realize that they’ve all had previous (profound) encounters with Michael.
Lots of flashbacks to the past—specifically the night of November 20, 1953. It was a very formative evening for Michael.
Cromwell and Valentine. The man in the bowler hat—and the Vondrax—are very scary.
The character exposition could be much stronger. There isn’t a whole lot it…these flawed people saving the world and protecting us…Torchwood shines the brightest when we are in the characters’ heads/minds.
This is a very plot-driven installment. Also leans quite heavily into Michael’s memories…
But it’s very readable, with strong pacing.
Tachyonradiation. Michael’s damage.
Michael’s revelation. The Traveler. Betrayal. Hugo. Tatiana.
Good to see (Finally! For the first time in the books!) a former paramour of Jack’s. Ianto is, of course, very understanding.
Solid ending—but extremely bittersweet.
“How does all this end?”
“I don’t know. Maybe somebody will find a way home for you. I just wish it could have been me.”
March 8, 2018
in 1953 3 Cardiff dockworkers are waiting for a mysterious crate labelled Torchwood. It explodes. 2 of the men are killed but the third, Michael gets laced with Tachyon radiation which causes him to randomly time shift into the pasts and presents of the Torchwwod crew. Mean while two very freaky aliens in Bowler hats chase Michael through time always seeming to arrive too late to catch him....
This one reminded me a bit of the Tommy episode - 2.3 to the last man - however instead of Tosh getting a tragic romance with an time shifting hero it's Jack who falls for Michael in the 1960's - I like the use of time in this one because it's not linear so when Jack meets Michael in the present he of course recalls their past and knows how things end but for Michael those events have yet to happen. I also like some of the flashbacks particularly Tosh's childhood and the Japanese fairytale.
As Torchwood novels go I thought this was pretty good. It's decently edited and fits into the spirit of the show. Wish there'd been more emotion/jealousy from Ianto and maybe a little more fun but over all not bad at all - story unfolded well with a good pacing to it.
This one reminded me a bit of the Tommy episode - 2.3 to the last man - however instead of Tosh getting a tragic romance with an time shifting hero it's Jack who falls for Michael in the 1960's - I like the use of time in this one because it's not linear so when Jack meets Michael in the present he of course recalls their past and knows how things end but for Michael those events have yet to happen. I also like some of the flashbacks particularly Tosh's childhood and the Japanese fairytale.
As Torchwood novels go I thought this was pretty good. It's decently edited and fits into the spirit of the show. Wish there'd been more emotion/jealousy from Ianto and maybe a little more fun but over all not bad at all - story unfolded well with a good pacing to it.
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June 4, 2024This one is more short story-esque with the premise of a time traveller by mistake briefly entering the others' lives at various points. A nice look into the previous lives (I loved how Michael's appearance during Owen's time as a regular doctor is compared with the tragic death of a child under Owen's watch, as well as the brief glimpses at the relationship that Ianto had with Lisa) with a tragic conclusion.
May 28, 2019
Very entertaining
It was kind of hard to understand at first with all the flashbacks, but you got into the story it got better. I love the insight into Ianto and Jack relationship here, at least the beginning of it. You could really tell how much Ianto cared for Jack. Which we didn’t get to see in the series. Must read for all fans.
It was kind of hard to understand at first with all the flashbacks, but you got into the story it got better. I love the insight into Ianto and Jack relationship here, at least the beginning of it. You could really tell how much Ianto cared for Jack. Which we didn’t get to see in the series. Must read for all fans.
November 28, 2025
Wow what a book definetly one of the best Torchwood book even one of the best Whoniverse books at all!
The story and format was incredible! I loved how detrimental the flashbacks were to the story as a whole and how they wern't just a neccarsarily a chapter look some where even large parts of the book which built it up so well and made it amazing!
The story and format was incredible! I loved how detrimental the flashbacks were to the story as a whole and how they wern't just a neccarsarily a chapter look some where even large parts of the book which built it up so well and made it amazing!
February 19, 2019
It's been a long time since I've visited my friends, Jack, Gwen, Ianto, Tosh and Owen. I think this is my favorite Torchwood story yet. I've always been a sucker for time travel and this one involves a blast from Jack's past.
January 29, 2020
A good read but I found my self distracted at times trying to place when and where Micahel was in everyone's respective timelines in relation to the timeline of the show. It felt more like a filler book rather than one that adds to the overall story.
March 22, 2021
A man has an accident involving an alien artifact and keeps moving through time.
It's interesting to see how the characters of Torchwood used to be, but the ending feels a bit like a damp squib. It is a fun book with some good set pieces, and the characters are spot on.
It's interesting to see how the characters of Torchwood used to be, but the ending feels a bit like a damp squib. It is a fun book with some good set pieces, and the characters are spot on.
November 7, 2017
I enjoyed this! My first Torchwood and my inly criticism is that it was too short. I liked the characters and the storyline and could really have done with some more.
November 12, 2017
An easy read which I totally enjoyed.
February 7, 2019
If you enjoyed the Torchwood series on TV, chances are you will enjoy being able to revisit the Torchwood universe introduced by the Dr. Who spinoff.
January 14, 2020
An enjoyable story that played out exactly like an episode of the show would. The characters felt real and I could hear the actors delivering the lines.
May 4, 2020
A really nice story, well paced with good characterization. Travelling through the characters past can be tricky but it's really well done and in tune with the canon of the show and audiodramas.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
May 6, 2022
Good, gripping story within the torchwood universe.
Read
June 6, 2022can’t have a torchwood story without a little homosexuality
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