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After the Jump
Frank Novak’s seven-year-old daughter Audrey awakes one night screaming, “Get her out of me!” When he asks who, she replies, “Me!” It is the beginning of an adventure for the father and daughter that includes shadowy agents, alien invaders, two computer geniuses named “Steve,” a homicidal child aviator, and Ronald Reagan.
“…an easy affection for his characters and a sense of natural, unforced humor.” - Booklist
“Sheppard’s characters pretend to not be funny, to not be emotional, to not need each other, when of course, they are, and they do. There’s a clarity to the chaos, the restraint, the vulnerability Sheppard creates, something so human and essential you can’t help but turn the page.” —Entropy Magazine
“…an easy affection for his characters and a sense of natural, unforced humor.” - Booklist
“Sheppard’s characters pretend to not be funny, to not be emotional, to not need each other, when of course, they are, and they do. There’s a clarity to the chaos, the restraint, the vulnerability Sheppard creates, something so human and essential you can’t help but turn the page.” —Entropy Magazine
196 pages, Paperback
First published April 10, 2015
9 people want to read
About the author
John Sheppard
141 books5 followersA veteran of the U.S. Army, John Sheppard's short stories have appeared in Bridge magazine, the2ndhand and Exquisite Corpse. He is a frequent contributor to ParagraphLine.com and B2L2.com.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 15, 2015
I've rarely (if ever) encountered a book that combines elements of both science fiction and the road novel, but "After the Jump," does it, and does it seamlessly. The novel also does a bang-up job of pairing complete opposites together in the form of its main protagonists, one completely lovable, the other evil down to his very core.
The plot, in brief: A woman named Audrey Novak travels back in time, leaving the future and her septuagenarian body and returning to her seven year-old form. She has several reasons for doing this, but it would be giving away too much of the plot to enumerate those reasons. Audrey is accompanied by her coworker from the future, Bobby, a blithe little sociopath with few qualms about killing anyone or anything that interferes with his mission.
The pacing of the book is brisk, and, as with all of Sheppard's work, the humor is always spot-on and surprising. Indeed, Sheppard gets in more than a few pointed swipes at the much-vaunted "Pirates of Silicone Valley" throughout the course of the book. It should also be said that the period detail is spot-on, and whether one was alive during the seventies or not, Sheppard's attentive, deft touch will be appreciated.
The book is also written in such a way that a sequel seems almost like a foregone conclusion. Additionally it should be said that women, regardless of whether they are feminists or not, will dig the hell out Audrey, the book's kick-ass protagonist.
The plot, in brief: A woman named Audrey Novak travels back in time, leaving the future and her septuagenarian body and returning to her seven year-old form. She has several reasons for doing this, but it would be giving away too much of the plot to enumerate those reasons. Audrey is accompanied by her coworker from the future, Bobby, a blithe little sociopath with few qualms about killing anyone or anything that interferes with his mission.
The pacing of the book is brisk, and, as with all of Sheppard's work, the humor is always spot-on and surprising. Indeed, Sheppard gets in more than a few pointed swipes at the much-vaunted "Pirates of Silicone Valley" throughout the course of the book. It should also be said that the period detail is spot-on, and whether one was alive during the seventies or not, Sheppard's attentive, deft touch will be appreciated.
The book is also written in such a way that a sequel seems almost like a foregone conclusion. Additionally it should be said that women, regardless of whether they are feminists or not, will dig the hell out Audrey, the book's kick-ass protagonist.
May 10, 2015
Once you know an author whose work you already know and admire, I think one of the greatest compliments to them is when their work manages to surprise you. I've read a number of Sheppard's books by this point and I really like his writing style. He lays down a great line and brings forth both character and emotion in a convincing and unforced manner. "After the Jump," however, is still something else entirely. It's just so unlike anything of Sheppard's I've read...and it's great. It has all that Sheppard already does well with sincere feeling emotion and moments of beauty where you don't expect them, but it brings fantastical elements I've never seen Sheppard do. It's a wonderful book and shows Sheppard can do much more than I previously suspected. Even with high expectations, this one met and exceeded without even getting winded.
May 30, 2015
I received a free download of this book from Story Cartel, thank you!
This was such a fun book. I was born in 1972, so I got a kick out of the fact that Audrey chooses to go back to that year. I loved reading about all of the things from the 70's. (Just like Audrey, I squealed when I read about the rotary phone.)
It was interesting to read about how the characters' younger selves dealt with being taken over by their older selves. I loved how they still had to deal with the limitations of their younger bodies, but would sometimes freak people out with their vocabulary.
The whole concept of time travel is mind boggling for me. I can't wrap my head around the logistics of it, but nevertheless, this story was a very entertaining read.
I would recommend this story to readers who like science fiction. I would read more by this author.
This was such a fun book. I was born in 1972, so I got a kick out of the fact that Audrey chooses to go back to that year. I loved reading about all of the things from the 70's. (Just like Audrey, I squealed when I read about the rotary phone.)
It was interesting to read about how the characters' younger selves dealt with being taken over by their older selves. I loved how they still had to deal with the limitations of their younger bodies, but would sometimes freak people out with their vocabulary.
The whole concept of time travel is mind boggling for me. I can't wrap my head around the logistics of it, but nevertheless, this story was a very entertaining read.
I would recommend this story to readers who like science fiction. I would read more by this author.
March 14, 2019
I found this book to be very entertaining with occasional bits of humor sprinkled throughout. The characters are extremely well-describe. It also brought back lot of good memories I had not thought about in years. I highly recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
Read via Kindle Unlimited
November 16, 2015
I received a Kindle copy of this book in return for a review.
Initially I was very intrigued by the story. Basically a young girl is possessed by her much older self, for a purpose we are slowly introduced to. I enjoyed the leaps of faith of the father, and the short chapter format. But the sudden jump to the future seemed rushed and not fully developed. A good shortstory...
Initially I was very intrigued by the story. Basically a young girl is possessed by her much older self, for a purpose we are slowly introduced to. I enjoyed the leaps of faith of the father, and the short chapter format. But the sudden jump to the future seemed rushed and not fully developed. A good shortstory...
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews