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Timeloopers #1
A Strange Machine
ACE for ISBN: 1942662009 / ISBN13: 9781942662006
She’s dead.
Samantha, her wavy caramel-colored hair, her little Bambi eyes, her angel face…dead.
I killed her.
Sure, I didn’t crush her skull and bash her brains in. The telephone pole did that. The drugs did that. The other car’s high beams did that.
But I killed her.
She had just said I love you. She said she missed me. She was coming to spend the night. She was high. She asked for a ride.
I was lazy.
But what if there was a way to save her? What if there was a way to send back a warning? What if there was a way to undo it all? The crash. Us. Falling in love. All the way back to the beginning.
What if there was a machine?
She’s dead.
Samantha, her wavy caramel-colored hair, her little Bambi eyes, her angel face…dead.
I killed her.
Sure, I didn’t crush her skull and bash her brains in. The telephone pole did that. The drugs did that. The other car’s high beams did that.
But I killed her.
She had just said I love you. She said she missed me. She was coming to spend the night. She was high. She asked for a ride.
I was lazy.
But what if there was a way to save her? What if there was a way to send back a warning? What if there was a way to undo it all? The crash. Us. Falling in love. All the way back to the beginning.
What if there was a machine?
262 pages, Paperback
First published December 4, 2014
10 people are currently reading
2305 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 31, 2014
I flew through this book.
I was intrigued by the premise of quantum looping and was "looped" in right from the beginning when the key developer of the system was pushed into the computer server tower. Who did it? I still don't know, here at the end of the book, but I now have more important questions. What happens on the senior trip???? Our three main protagonists are Cory Holland; the super-genius, super-hot, It Boy that has it SO easy, Iris Strasser; the nerdy girl that has been invisible all of high school that has a huge competitive streak and can't stand Cory because she has to work so hard to figure what he just knows, and Noah Wright; Cory's best friend who has a scholarship to attend the prestigious Lakeside Upper. All Cory wants to do this year, his Senior Year (yes it's that important) is rule the school and hook up with Samantha-the hottest girl in school and also the ex of his arch-nemesis Dante. Cory and Noah stumble upon the Chronos Supercomputer in the basement of a building on campus after running from the groundskeeper because they had broken into the school. Cory is instantly obsessed with the computer and is constantly sneaking down to it. Iris catches him and the three of them realize that something strange is going on with the computer. It's not until they receive a note from their future selves that they realize what is so odd about the computer. It's a Time Machine! They get a note from themselves saying that Samantha is going to die. By now Cory is in love with Samantha and can't let that happen so they are racing against time and fate to try to save her. Do they save her? What happens if they do save her? Won't that alter the future? And what happens if the future is altered? So many questions. In order to find out the answers, you'll have to buy the book. I'm not giving away any more information.
I was intrigued by the premise of quantum looping and was "looped" in right from the beginning when the key developer of the system was pushed into the computer server tower. Who did it? I still don't know, here at the end of the book, but I now have more important questions. What happens on the senior trip???? Our three main protagonists are Cory Holland; the super-genius, super-hot, It Boy that has it SO easy, Iris Strasser; the nerdy girl that has been invisible all of high school that has a huge competitive streak and can't stand Cory because she has to work so hard to figure what he just knows, and Noah Wright; Cory's best friend who has a scholarship to attend the prestigious Lakeside Upper. All Cory wants to do this year, his Senior Year (yes it's that important) is rule the school and hook up with Samantha-the hottest girl in school and also the ex of his arch-nemesis Dante. Cory and Noah stumble upon the Chronos Supercomputer in the basement of a building on campus after running from the groundskeeper because they had broken into the school. Cory is instantly obsessed with the computer and is constantly sneaking down to it. Iris catches him and the three of them realize that something strange is going on with the computer. It's not until they receive a note from their future selves that they realize what is so odd about the computer. It's a Time Machine! They get a note from themselves saying that Samantha is going to die. By now Cory is in love with Samantha and can't let that happen so they are racing against time and fate to try to save her. Do they save her? What happens if they do save her? Won't that alter the future? And what happens if the future is altered? So many questions. In order to find out the answers, you'll have to buy the book. I'm not giving away any more information.
May 10, 2018
It was a bit slow at first but picked up nicely in the second half. I enjoy many time travel books and like to try to see if the author can keep it all straight. This seemed to do just that. This was a fun read with teen characters acting like spoiled brats that they likely would be if they were real. I'm sure some of the characters that were introduced but left hanging (such as nearly all from the beginning) will return in subsequent books in this series. I did feel like I was missing something, however, as the backstory was completely missing for the most part. I had to stop and check to see if I was truly reading book one. Perhaps that will come together eventually as well. I liked how it was written as if the characters were speaking. That always makes the reader feel as if they are part of the story.
I think this series is likely written for either teens or young adults, however, I don't find it appropriate for teens. Lots of drug use, sex talk, and foul language. Yes, I'm that kind of parent. I actually care. However, I'm an adult and I enjoyed reading it. I may even continue on with book 2!
I think this series is likely written for either teens or young adults, however, I don't find it appropriate for teens. Lots of drug use, sex talk, and foul language. Yes, I'm that kind of parent. I actually care. However, I'm an adult and I enjoyed reading it. I may even continue on with book 2!
January 13, 2025
I got this as a free book a long time ago and now it seems that the sequels have vanished. I liked it enough that I would have tried the sequels.
It's an indie book but done fairly well, no formatting issues, no major typos, and fairly well-written and researched. The computer and quantum descriptions were believable enough without seeming hokey. The teens were immoral but sadly that is probably an accurate enough depiction.
It's an indie book but done fairly well, no formatting issues, no major typos, and fairly well-written and researched. The computer and quantum descriptions were believable enough without seeming hokey. The teens were immoral but sadly that is probably an accurate enough depiction.
June 10, 2017
About Time
I received this book for free and have read many time-machine tales in the past, but this is the first time in years I have enjoyed a book so much I had to write a review. Absolutely first class tale without all the 'glitches' often associated with free books. I take my hat off to Dan Rix for a tale well told!
I received this book for free and have read many time-machine tales in the past, but this is the first time in years I have enjoyed a book so much I had to write a review. Absolutely first class tale without all the 'glitches' often associated with free books. I take my hat off to Dan Rix for a tale well told!
January 7, 2018
Can’t wait for book 2
Looking to read the second book of the series. Dan Rix has some really good books out there to read.
Looking to read the second book of the series. Dan Rix has some really good books out there to read.
June 29, 2014
A Strange Machine starts off with the mysterious disappearance of Franklin Thomas, who walks into the prototype Chronos Quantum Computer and never comes out again. Edgar Faye, the head of the project, closes down the jinxed project and donates the computer to his alma mater - Lakeside Upper. Cory Holland, computer whizz, spoiled rich brat, and all-round annoying jerk, (sounds rather like Tony Stark's playboy, philanthropist, billionaire?) then gets his hands on it after breaking into the school compound. From there, Dan Rix works his quantum physics and time travelling magic, plunging Cory, Noah, and Iris into a crazy loop as they try to change the future in order to change the past. (Time travel paradox, anyone?)
It does Rix credit that his characterisation of Cory Holland is good enough that I really wanted to slap this idiotic teenager several times over. Cory was a very well-rounded character - cocky and egoistical, sometimes even brash, and yet still vulnerable in areas of his life. His two side-kicks, Noah Wright and Iris Strasser (somewhat reluctantly), also manage to live in your imagination as they struggle through the pains of high school, Advanced Physics, and the way Cory bullies them both. (I'm suspecting two possible romances to emerge in the next book from the way it's being set up. Hah.)
On the other hand, Cory's crush, Samantha Silvers, felt a little like a throwaway character - as if she's just there to be his distraction in the book. Part of the reason could be her strange behaviour towards Cory's nemesis, Dante Laurenti (mmm delicious). Her vacillation between the two would have been a perfectly normal confused reaction of a hormone-driven girl with two simultaneous crushes (which can happen!) except for the drugs and her parents' awkward lack of protectiveness and absence, despite knowing that she has a problem.
And that brings up a YA trope Dan Rix has allowed into his book - absentee parents. I didn't quite notice this as strongly in his other books [In [book:Triton|20823076], everyone except the four teens had disappeared - though there was a hint of family dysfunction; In God's Loophole and Eternity’s End, the Rockwell's parents had died (there were an uncle and an aunt) whilst Raedyn was a runaway, however there was the professor who was, in a way, kind of a stand-in parent/mentor]. In A Strange Machine, however, it feels as if the story is littered with absentee/distant parents. Cory's father is too busy with work to pay attention to him, Noah's mother appears to be addicted to the lottery. Samantha's parents conveniently disappear on an anniversary trip just when her ex-boyfriend comes back from juvie and Edgar Faye seems to be drifting too much in and out of reality to be much of a father to Anneliese. Iris' parents weren't mentioned much at all.
I guess it's not ALL bad - certain lack of parental knowledge has to take place in order for the teens to get themselves into trouble, right? - but maybe having so many at once felt a little like overkill.
At any rate, Rix has a good thing going. In most of his books, it's really the way he gets you to identify with his characters and the struggles they go through that makes the story comes to life. That really is his strength, and he manages to continue to harness it, even while improving on his overall writing chops.
I received a pre-release copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It does Rix credit that his characterisation of Cory Holland is good enough that I really wanted to slap this idiotic teenager several times over. Cory was a very well-rounded character - cocky and egoistical, sometimes even brash, and yet still vulnerable in areas of his life. His two side-kicks, Noah Wright and Iris Strasser (somewhat reluctantly), also manage to live in your imagination as they struggle through the pains of high school, Advanced Physics, and the way Cory bullies them both. (I'm suspecting two possible romances to emerge in the next book from the way it's being set up. Hah.)
On the other hand, Cory's crush, Samantha Silvers, felt a little like a throwaway character - as if she's just there to be his distraction in the book. Part of the reason could be her strange behaviour towards Cory's nemesis, Dante Laurenti (mmm delicious). Her vacillation between the two would have been a perfectly normal confused reaction of a hormone-driven girl with two simultaneous crushes (which can happen!) except for the drugs and her parents' awkward lack of protectiveness and absence, despite knowing that she has a problem.
And that brings up a YA trope Dan Rix has allowed into his book - absentee parents. I didn't quite notice this as strongly in his other books [In [book:Triton|20823076], everyone except the four teens had disappeared - though there was a hint of family dysfunction; In God's Loophole and Eternity’s End, the Rockwell's parents had died (there were an uncle and an aunt) whilst Raedyn was a runaway, however there was the professor who was, in a way, kind of a stand-in parent/mentor]. In A Strange Machine, however, it feels as if the story is littered with absentee/distant parents. Cory's father is too busy with work to pay attention to him, Noah's mother appears to be addicted to the lottery. Samantha's parents conveniently disappear on an anniversary trip just when her ex-boyfriend comes back from juvie and Edgar Faye seems to be drifting too much in and out of reality to be much of a father to Anneliese. Iris' parents weren't mentioned much at all.
I guess it's not ALL bad - certain lack of parental knowledge has to take place in order for the teens to get themselves into trouble, right? - but maybe having so many at once felt a little like overkill.
At any rate, Rix has a good thing going. In most of his books, it's really the way he gets you to identify with his characters and the struggles they go through that makes the story comes to life. That really is his strength, and he manages to continue to harness it, even while improving on his overall writing chops.
I received a pre-release copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2014
Wonderful Read! Once again the only let down from Dan Rix was leaving me hanging. LOL He has a way of leaving me wanting more. A Strange Machine was brilliantly written. The characters are so well defined that they pull you into a situation that you know can't exist and each character does their part in explaining how this machine works, then they show you just how much they can do with it and suddenly you understand and see all of the possibilities that could be in our technology. You will absolutely become a believer. Stephen King's early books use to terrorize me. He made me scared of every day normal things like cars, dogs, cats, heavy machinery and little towns in Maine. Dan Rix is now quickly becoming the master of what technology could be in the distant future! It is truly frightening and makes for a most excellent read! I don't want to say to much and give it away. No spoilers from me. I have read and enjoyed all of his books and He only gets better & better. This book is an awesome read and as always, I can't wait for the next one!
January 29, 2017
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I'm not into this genre but once I got past the first few chapters I couldn't put it down!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews