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Alf and Bert, security, play with an experimental gadget that transports them back to the twelfth century. Frightened to tamper with history, they tread carefully–at first. Unable to withstand the challenge, they end in a tournament, fighting with knights, the threat to history forgotten…
34 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 25, 2015
9 people want to read
About the author
James Field
28 books138 followersHello, fellow book lovers,
I’m James Field — reader, writer, and lifelong lover of stories.
I write soft science fiction and fantasy, usually with a touch of humour, and I’m always more interested in ideas, people, and curiosity than in strict genre boundaries. I also share a free short story collection, What on Earth, with readers who choose to join my newsletter.
Born and bred in England, I spent much of my working life in automation engineering before life took an unexpected — and very welcome — turn north. I married a Norwegian lass and have lived for the past thirty-five years in Norway, much of that time in the Arctic regions, whose landscapes and light have quietly worked their way into my imagination.
Now that I’m a pensioner, I finally have the time to read widely and write steadily. Alongside science fiction and fantasy, I’m increasingly drawn to books that explore the human condition — philosophical, spiritual, and occasionally uncomfortable ones included.
One author who has always fascinated me is Roald Dahl — his adult stories are mischievous, imaginative, and far darker than he’s often given credit for. That mixture of playfulness and edge has stayed with me.
On Goodreads, I’m here first and foremost as a reader. I enjoy thoughtful discussion, honest reviews, and the slow discovery of books I’d never have found on my own. If that sounds like your sort of thing, I’m glad we’ve crossed paths.
Warm wishes,
James
I’m James Field — reader, writer, and lifelong lover of stories.
I write soft science fiction and fantasy, usually with a touch of humour, and I’m always more interested in ideas, people, and curiosity than in strict genre boundaries. I also share a free short story collection, What on Earth, with readers who choose to join my newsletter.
Born and bred in England, I spent much of my working life in automation engineering before life took an unexpected — and very welcome — turn north. I married a Norwegian lass and have lived for the past thirty-five years in Norway, much of that time in the Arctic regions, whose landscapes and light have quietly worked their way into my imagination.
Now that I’m a pensioner, I finally have the time to read widely and write steadily. Alongside science fiction and fantasy, I’m increasingly drawn to books that explore the human condition — philosophical, spiritual, and occasionally uncomfortable ones included.
One author who has always fascinated me is Roald Dahl — his adult stories are mischievous, imaginative, and far darker than he’s often given credit for. That mixture of playfulness and edge has stayed with me.
On Goodreads, I’m here first and foremost as a reader. I enjoy thoughtful discussion, honest reviews, and the slow discovery of books I’d never have found on my own. If that sounds like your sort of thing, I’m glad we’ve crossed paths.
Warm wishes,
James
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 18, 2021
Yoikes was the first short story I read by James Field. It was a slow start but it was definitely good! I usually dislike short stories, but this one was simply amazing! It draws you in and keeps you there just like Doomsday Diary. James Field has such a spectacular view on world-building as he builds it just perfectly for readers to be able to visualize and play the stories in their head like a movie.
The storytelling is immaculate and I absolute adored the way he mixed Old English and Modern English. It definitely had me laughing a few times at the way there was such confusion. This is a good story if you have a short-period of time, however this one does seem a bit long, but not nearly as long as an actual book. I do wish there was a bit more background on the characters, seeing as they were fantastic.
I would love to know more about them! I actually would love to see a full book based on this short story!
This review can be found on my website: https://queensbookreviews.wixsite.com...
The storytelling is immaculate and I absolute adored the way he mixed Old English and Modern English. It definitely had me laughing a few times at the way there was such confusion. This is a good story if you have a short-period of time, however this one does seem a bit long, but not nearly as long as an actual book. I do wish there was a bit more background on the characters, seeing as they were fantastic.
I would love to know more about them! I actually would love to see a full book based on this short story!
This review can be found on my website: https://queensbookreviews.wixsite.com...
June 2, 2015
Alf and Bert’s latest adventure involves a tumble through time. If you only need one reason to read this story, you should for their unique interpretation of ‘the butterfly effect’, which had me rolling about laughing. I enjoyed this scene so much I read it twice before carrying on with the rest of the story.
Alf and Bert are an odd duo. I guess you could think of them as the sci-fi equivalent of the two murderers from Shakespeare’s Richard III; men of ill deeds, suddenly faced with moral questions, forced the choose whether they should do the right thing or not. Without adding spoilers, they handle their predicament in a distinctly Alf and Bert manner.
With plenty of action, laughs, and trouble at every turn, this story definitely challenges for the position of the best Alf and Bert adventure yet.
Alf and Bert are an odd duo. I guess you could think of them as the sci-fi equivalent of the two murderers from Shakespeare’s Richard III; men of ill deeds, suddenly faced with moral questions, forced the choose whether they should do the right thing or not. Without adding spoilers, they handle their predicament in a distinctly Alf and Bert manner.
With plenty of action, laughs, and trouble at every turn, this story definitely challenges for the position of the best Alf and Bert adventure yet.
October 26, 2015
The book cover did catch my attention because I sort of have a lingering taste for medieval tales. Left over from my college days of reading stories of the era. The title was sort of strange to me but that's why it also grabbed my attention. I kept thinking "YIKES!" but the title is YOIKES. Since the cover is meant to get your attention, I'd say this one did the job.
This time travel tale has a fair amount of subtle humor. Mostly good natured insults and ignorance of a couple of numbskulled guys named Alf and Bert. It's a fun read going between the dialect and terminology of a more "modern" form of English and that of Medieval English. I found myself chuckling as I read because of this. The reader is likely to chuckle as I did at the outrageous names given the royal characters. Not to mention how the two aforementioned buffoons mispronounce the names. All which makes the story a fun experience in linguistic gymnastics. If you endured Chaucer, Shakespeare, Bacon et al you'll grasp most or all the medieval stuff.
Alf and Bert, and lest I forget, their two dogs are brave and kindhearted oafs who seemingly can't stay out of trouble. But you can't help liking them. The dogs however are well-trained but you wouldn't want to be on their bad side. Yoikes is a fun read that pulls you into two different worlds era-wise. It has fun, a bit of drama, and sort of a touch of fantasy. Let's say your plane's delayed or you just had a bad day and you're ticked off. Yoikes will offer amusement to take your mind off your predicament.
The main characters simply can't stay out of trouble. Yet as dumb as they are, they're not as dumb as you'd think.
This time travel tale has a fair amount of subtle humor. Mostly good natured insults and ignorance of a couple of numbskulled guys named Alf and Bert. It's a fun read going between the dialect and terminology of a more "modern" form of English and that of Medieval English. I found myself chuckling as I read because of this. The reader is likely to chuckle as I did at the outrageous names given the royal characters. Not to mention how the two aforementioned buffoons mispronounce the names. All which makes the story a fun experience in linguistic gymnastics. If you endured Chaucer, Shakespeare, Bacon et al you'll grasp most or all the medieval stuff.
Alf and Bert, and lest I forget, their two dogs are brave and kindhearted oafs who seemingly can't stay out of trouble. But you can't help liking them. The dogs however are well-trained but you wouldn't want to be on their bad side. Yoikes is a fun read that pulls you into two different worlds era-wise. It has fun, a bit of drama, and sort of a touch of fantasy. Let's say your plane's delayed or you just had a bad day and you're ticked off. Yoikes will offer amusement to take your mind off your predicament.
The main characters simply can't stay out of trouble. Yet as dumb as they are, they're not as dumb as you'd think.
September 8, 2015
Two not very bright security guards get transported back in time and end up in a tournament in 1100s England.
The story was quite clever, but an introduction / some scene setting would have helped and more explanation / description of the action / scenes would have been useful.
The story was quite clever, but an introduction / some scene setting would have helped and more explanation / description of the action / scenes would have been useful.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews