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Travel Bug
A prestigious family is hiding a dangerous secret. It’s deep within the walls of their grand estate. But no secret can stay buried forever.
When a wealthy young seminarian learns that his family has been trusted with a centuries old power, he decides to unleash it. The adventure takes him through the very ends of time, leading to a stunning ending that will haunt long after the story is over.
This time travel novel follows in the tradition of books like Time Bound and Cloud Atlas, to take readers on an unforgettable sci-fi adventure.
When a wealthy young seminarian learns that his family has been trusted with a centuries old power, he decides to unleash it. The adventure takes him through the very ends of time, leading to a stunning ending that will haunt long after the story is over.
This time travel novel follows in the tradition of books like Time Bound and Cloud Atlas, to take readers on an unforgettable sci-fi adventure.
- GenresScience Fiction
624 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 25, 2016
13 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
David Kempf
55 books28 followersDavid Kempf has written over fifty short stories, many of which deal with themes of horror fiction. He has won several writing awards including first place in the short story competition of Millersville University’s Lemuria magazine. Two of his short stories were selected in the 2007 publication of The Grackle, his graduate school’s literary magazine. David is featured on two short fiction websites, one American and one British. He holds an M.S. from Chestnut Hill College and a B.A. from Millersville University. Dark Fiction is his first novel. His novel Travel Bug combines dystopian science fiction and horror. His next novel Damned Fiction is a sequel to his first novel His latest book They Laughed at Me is a dark comedy. David resides in Dublin, Pennsylvania.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 2, 2017
I was asked to read this book for an honest review, so this is what I think...
This is a very long story that has one message threaded through it - think for yourself. It tackles controversial and sensitive issues such as faith and religion to argue the human desire for power and control. It also compels those who are willing to open their minds to pure thinking and philosophical debate. I do wonder, however, if many would be willing, as it severely tests beliefs and assumptions and could offend some people.
Although I consider this an intelligent read, I did think that there was unnecessary repetition and some confusing episodes, and maybe some of the historical facts should have been better researched. However, it was well written and brilliant for those with an open mind. And I must say that I did agree with the majority of the arguments. The 'stranger' chapter was particularly disturbing, especially as history demonstrates how the arrogant and ignorant choose to act.
An odd tale, one that questions many things...but one that will not be read by those who need to open their minds and learn.
Certainly worth a look.
This is a very long story that has one message threaded through it - think for yourself. It tackles controversial and sensitive issues such as faith and religion to argue the human desire for power and control. It also compels those who are willing to open their minds to pure thinking and philosophical debate. I do wonder, however, if many would be willing, as it severely tests beliefs and assumptions and could offend some people.
Although I consider this an intelligent read, I did think that there was unnecessary repetition and some confusing episodes, and maybe some of the historical facts should have been better researched. However, it was well written and brilliant for those with an open mind. And I must say that I did agree with the majority of the arguments. The 'stranger' chapter was particularly disturbing, especially as history demonstrates how the arrogant and ignorant choose to act.
An odd tale, one that questions many things...but one that will not be read by those who need to open their minds and learn.
Certainly worth a look.
November 19, 2018
This was a read that left me honestly craving more. Between the pages I wanted to go even more in depth with the stories presented. It was like, each little turn and thought provoking strung along sentence was crafted solely to leave readers with a new perspective, a new thought process, and the question of 'will there be another story with another lesson?'. This was a humbling read from the get go, challenging me as a lover of books, but also as a lover of life. It created a mass of curiosities and left me wanting another 'chapter' to lose myself in. The only thing I could wish for would be more to read and more to learn from. This is a must if you want to take a psychological adventure through words and what feels like much more as you read!
December 24, 2016
If I had to describe Travel Bug in a word, it would be “Edgy”, thought-provoking also comes to mind with this tale. The author, David Kempf, takes you someplace in this novel I’m not sure every reader is ready for. Moving fluidly through space and time the story line brings you effortlessly through several narratives, some of which may lie on the darker side of mankind’s heart. A touch dystopian, a heavy heaping of science fiction and a good dose of exposing the flaws in the human condition, Travel Bug will keep you thoroughly entertained from the first page to the last and then wanting more… it even may keep you up at night. When a book’s plot is constructed in layers and has dimensions such as this story, it will leave you to discover something new even after you may have read it for the tenth time, and I believe that is a true sign and a testament to the intelligences of the author.
The flow of Travel Bug is solid, a bit below average at first, but gradually builds through the story, this works well in setting the atmosphere of the storyline. Kempf’s reading style is also a strong positive for this novel; he uses a fair amount of transitional phrasing and adjectives to really paint a vivid picture for the reader. Many sci-fi authors don’t properly portray their vision of the fictional world they’ve created and therefore it becomes hard for the reader to correctly envision where the author wanted to take him or her.
Overall, Time Bug was imaginative, deeply philosophical, and a very enjoyable journey for me. I will be recommending this book to friends. For a grade…I’m giving it a solid A… Great Job David Kempf!
The flow of Travel Bug is solid, a bit below average at first, but gradually builds through the story, this works well in setting the atmosphere of the storyline. Kempf’s reading style is also a strong positive for this novel; he uses a fair amount of transitional phrasing and adjectives to really paint a vivid picture for the reader. Many sci-fi authors don’t properly portray their vision of the fictional world they’ve created and therefore it becomes hard for the reader to correctly envision where the author wanted to take him or her.
Overall, Time Bug was imaginative, deeply philosophical, and a very enjoyable journey for me. I will be recommending this book to friends. For a grade…I’m giving it a solid A… Great Job David Kempf!
February 6, 2017
A quite extraordinary book. Travel Bug is unlike any other story I can ever remember reading. Essentially it tells the tale of Andrew, his long dead great-grandfather Harold (who comes to life again) and an ‘unnamed species’ – an enormous bug that resides in the basement of Andrew’s family home. Harold and Andrew embark on a voyage of discovery through time. By eating a small piece of the comatose bug, they are enabled to witness a frequently dystopian future, all the while being pursued by a strange ‘witch’ with vengeance on her mind.
Put like this, it sounds straightforward enough, but that is (for me) the genius of this story. It is in the execution of these mindbending adventures that the author weaves his most fantastic tale. The effects of all this time travel play havoc with Andrew’s mind, but enable him to create strange and scary stories which he writes down in his notebook. Meanwhile, the relationship between Harold and his great-grandson grows and is told with real poignancy at times. The author is also adept at painting vivid word pictures. I would love to see a film made of this – although it would be a challenge to most directors!
Disturbing, entertaining, thoughtful and, at times, uncomfortably close to reality, Travel Bug is a book that will keep you hooked and guessing right up to the end.
Put like this, it sounds straightforward enough, but that is (for me) the genius of this story. It is in the execution of these mindbending adventures that the author weaves his most fantastic tale. The effects of all this time travel play havoc with Andrew’s mind, but enable him to create strange and scary stories which he writes down in his notebook. Meanwhile, the relationship between Harold and his great-grandson grows and is told with real poignancy at times. The author is also adept at painting vivid word pictures. I would love to see a film made of this – although it would be a challenge to most directors!
Disturbing, entertaining, thoughtful and, at times, uncomfortably close to reality, Travel Bug is a book that will keep you hooked and guessing right up to the end.
October 6, 2016
I’ve always been a big fan of time travel stories. I loved the Terminator movies and the television series, and who didn’t like “Back to the Future”. Travel Bug by David Kempf is a time travel story, but offers quite more than that. The story line is much more multifaceted than Back to the Future or even the Terminator saga and has stories nested within each other. Following these intricate story lines tickles your thought process and produces some “Ah ha!” connections inside of your mind. While most time travel stories have some type of device that actually moves people through time (a DeLorean for example), Travel Bug uses something completely different. Reading Travel Bug will take some work on your part because it is long and reminds me of an epic sci-fi novel with lots of characters and places. You also might want to be prepared for some controversial topics that enter into the story line as Kempf builds a creative dystopian world for the reader. Travel Bug is truly something unique.
February 22, 2017
Travel Bug is not your average time-travel story for a few reasons.
First, the author goes deep into philosophical topics regarding religion and government. The long discussions draws many parallels to politics today. I enjoyed these parts of the book.
Second, the method by which the characters travel through time is original and clever. I've never read anything like it, but I don't want to give it away for someone who hasn't read the book yet. The clue is in the title.
Third, the trips via time travel lets the main character see the past of others, perhaps even letting the reader feel sympathy for those who may seem beyond pity at first. That would make anyone think that we never know a person until we walk in his shoes, or in this case, see their past firsthand.
The story had an element of bittersweet nostalgia and loneliness, even amidst the excitement and power of time-travel.
First, the author goes deep into philosophical topics regarding religion and government. The long discussions draws many parallels to politics today. I enjoyed these parts of the book.
Second, the method by which the characters travel through time is original and clever. I've never read anything like it, but I don't want to give it away for someone who hasn't read the book yet. The clue is in the title.
Third, the trips via time travel lets the main character see the past of others, perhaps even letting the reader feel sympathy for those who may seem beyond pity at first. That would make anyone think that we never know a person until we walk in his shoes, or in this case, see their past firsthand.
The story had an element of bittersweet nostalgia and loneliness, even amidst the excitement and power of time-travel.
February 13, 2018
I found Travel Bug more of a collection of short stories instead of just one complete novel. One story that stood out to me was Man Farm. This was more of Animal Farm and Planet of the Apes merged together. It has more of an atheist background in place of communism. Although the apes were suppose to have evolved above man, the main character, Yusef, was still behaving as a primitive drunk with too much power given to him.
As some have mentioned, the editing in this book could have been better. I found each chapter pushed evolution and atheism instead of being classified as gory.
As some have mentioned, the editing in this book could have been better. I found each chapter pushed evolution and atheism instead of being classified as gory.
December 17, 2016
I hope the future doesn't look like this.
A total lack of freedom awaits us in America. A future world of despair and suffering coming from extreme secularists and extreme religionists. I hope the future doesn't look like this, the book is very frightening.
A total lack of freedom awaits us in America. A future world of despair and suffering coming from extreme secularists and extreme religionists. I hope the future doesn't look like this, the book is very frightening.
March 24, 2020
David Kempf has a way with words… and the way is good.
TRAVEL BUG is a treatise on religion and politics in America filtered through a lens of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and satire. Whatever genre you fancy, this book's got you covered. It is a literary romp through time - past, present, and future - where pop culture references abound, and dogma and rhetoric become intertwined.
I find myself almost unable to review this book beyond saying it is extremely well written, and it is a book you must experience for yourself. I knew it was a 5-star read after the first few pages. I am in awe of Kempf's ability to combine chapters of reality and those where stream of consciousness into a coherent whole.
I don't do spoilers, so you will need to discover TRAVEL BUG for yourself. Buy it! Read it! You won't be sorry.
TRAVEL BUG is a treatise on religion and politics in America filtered through a lens of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and satire. Whatever genre you fancy, this book's got you covered. It is a literary romp through time - past, present, and future - where pop culture references abound, and dogma and rhetoric become intertwined.
I find myself almost unable to review this book beyond saying it is extremely well written, and it is a book you must experience for yourself. I knew it was a 5-star read after the first few pages. I am in awe of Kempf's ability to combine chapters of reality and those where stream of consciousness into a coherent whole.
I don't do spoilers, so you will need to discover TRAVEL BUG for yourself. Buy it! Read it! You won't be sorry.
February 7, 2018
'Men have done unspeakable evil, everything from burning others alive to crucifixion.’
Pennsylvania author David Kempf gained a B.A. from Millersville University and his M.S. from Chestnut Hill College. David has written over fifty short stories, many with themes of horror fiction, and some winning awards such as his graduate school’s literary magazine The Grackle. He is a frequent contributor to the British website Masters of Horror. He has published three novels: Dark Fiction, The Petsorcist, and Travel Bug. In 2014 his book The Horror of It All, featuring interviews with prominent figures in the horror community. All the proceeds from that book went to help those suffering from ALS.
Electing to write dystopian science fiction horror books is a challenge for any author: to transport the reader into strange places, past and future lives, but for David Kempf the genre seems so credible that despite the shock and terror of the tale, it seems possible …. David opens his book with an apt quotation from HG Well’s THE TIME MACHINE that lends credibility to the story to follow: ‘“Man can go up against gravitation in a balloon, and why should he not hope that ultimately he will be able to stop or accelerate his drift along the Time Dimension or even turn-about and travel the other way.”
The book opens with a moment of terror the pervades the entire book – ‘“If life is random and meaningless, then faith is something that makes them feel important.” “Do you feel important yourself, Enoch?” At that moment, the two men heard an odd noise, a strange humming sound that was coming down at them from the heavens. Enoch and Erasmus looked up at a creature that looked like some kind of flying monster from Greek mythology. It was gray so it must have had armor on. The many red eyes shining through the armor made the men tremble with fear. No. Not eyes but perhaps fire? They were terrified. The thing was lit up but not with fire. At close range, it appeared as if it were made of iron. It was large and round and loud and terrifying! Suddenly Enoch vanished before his friend’s eyes. Erasmus watched in utter disbelief as the iron beast flew back into the heavens.’
Rarely has an author introduced such terrifying elements in a book in a manner that seems so possible that reading this book is so mesmerizing that it transports us to a new dimension of thought. David’s synopsis hold the long story together well – ‘A prestigious family is hiding a dangerous secret. It’s deep within the walls of their grand estate. But no secret can stay buried forever. When a wealthy young seminarian learns that his family has been trusted with a centuries old power, he decides to unleash it. The adventure takes him through the very ends of time, leading to a stunning ending hat will haunt long after the story is over.’
Two periods of time join over a bizarre Scarab beetle with powers as strange as the voyage of the story. David Kempf is a master weaver of the bizarre – and this is a book as fine as any in its genre before the public today.
Pennsylvania author David Kempf gained a B.A. from Millersville University and his M.S. from Chestnut Hill College. David has written over fifty short stories, many with themes of horror fiction, and some winning awards such as his graduate school’s literary magazine The Grackle. He is a frequent contributor to the British website Masters of Horror. He has published three novels: Dark Fiction, The Petsorcist, and Travel Bug. In 2014 his book The Horror of It All, featuring interviews with prominent figures in the horror community. All the proceeds from that book went to help those suffering from ALS.
Electing to write dystopian science fiction horror books is a challenge for any author: to transport the reader into strange places, past and future lives, but for David Kempf the genre seems so credible that despite the shock and terror of the tale, it seems possible …. David opens his book with an apt quotation from HG Well’s THE TIME MACHINE that lends credibility to the story to follow: ‘“Man can go up against gravitation in a balloon, and why should he not hope that ultimately he will be able to stop or accelerate his drift along the Time Dimension or even turn-about and travel the other way.”
The book opens with a moment of terror the pervades the entire book – ‘“If life is random and meaningless, then faith is something that makes them feel important.” “Do you feel important yourself, Enoch?” At that moment, the two men heard an odd noise, a strange humming sound that was coming down at them from the heavens. Enoch and Erasmus looked up at a creature that looked like some kind of flying monster from Greek mythology. It was gray so it must have had armor on. The many red eyes shining through the armor made the men tremble with fear. No. Not eyes but perhaps fire? They were terrified. The thing was lit up but not with fire. At close range, it appeared as if it were made of iron. It was large and round and loud and terrifying! Suddenly Enoch vanished before his friend’s eyes. Erasmus watched in utter disbelief as the iron beast flew back into the heavens.’
Rarely has an author introduced such terrifying elements in a book in a manner that seems so possible that reading this book is so mesmerizing that it transports us to a new dimension of thought. David’s synopsis hold the long story together well – ‘A prestigious family is hiding a dangerous secret. It’s deep within the walls of their grand estate. But no secret can stay buried forever. When a wealthy young seminarian learns that his family has been trusted with a centuries old power, he decides to unleash it. The adventure takes him through the very ends of time, leading to a stunning ending hat will haunt long after the story is over.’
Two periods of time join over a bizarre Scarab beetle with powers as strange as the voyage of the story. David Kempf is a master weaver of the bizarre – and this is a book as fine as any in its genre before the public today.
June 19, 2019
Once again I am not reviewing my own book. This is from Amazon reviewer Ron Baker "This is best compared to Cloud Atlas, in ambitiousness and complexity. The theme of Cloud Atlas is that we are all interconnected, across time and space. The theme of Travel Bug is that ignorance, lack of critical thinking and blind faith are the cause of people's imposition of suffering on others. Both Cloud Atlas and Travel Bug are told in vignettes that span past, present, and future. In Travel Bug these vignettes are quite diverse but stick with the inherent issues with blind faith in deities and rejection of clear empirical evidence of man's origins. Quite the ambitious work and I applaud its message and the diversity of the ways that message is delivered. I did feel the theme was becoming beat to death by a bit over halfway through the novel but I kept on because the message is logical, well thought out and delivered in so many different examples and possibilities. Ignorance is the great enemy and always has been. Recommended."
November 4, 2016
Let’s start with the positive.
This book has an amazing cover. I really love the cover. It also sports a novel interpretation of time travel and it is far deeper than most books sold under fiction.
However, that said the complications in this plot reminds me a lot of all those long summer nights at Uni with friends and a few bottles of hard liquor. The validity of the premises is not faulty but it comes across as forced and the manner in which it is drawn into the plot feels forced and is very disjointed.
At one stage I figured I would put the book down as a dnf. But the side trips into philosophy and the main plot itself were not half bad so I stuck with it. I am not disappointed that I did but I can tell you now that if you are not a die-hard fan of the genre then I don't think this book is for you.
This book has an amazing cover. I really love the cover. It also sports a novel interpretation of time travel and it is far deeper than most books sold under fiction.
However, that said the complications in this plot reminds me a lot of all those long summer nights at Uni with friends and a few bottles of hard liquor. The validity of the premises is not faulty but it comes across as forced and the manner in which it is drawn into the plot feels forced and is very disjointed.
At one stage I figured I would put the book down as a dnf. But the side trips into philosophy and the main plot itself were not half bad so I stuck with it. I am not disappointed that I did but I can tell you now that if you are not a die-hard fan of the genre then I don't think this book is for you.
December 11, 2019
A wild, sweeping epic, literally unlike anything I've read before.
There's no good way to synopsize this epic novel. It involves aliens, time-travel, prehistoric insects, religion, politics, and a thousand other themes, all woven together into a very unique book about a boy and his great-grandfather having the adventure of a lifetime.
The prose of the novel is very straightforward with very little stylistic flair, yet this seems to serve the story. Much of this book is observational, the two main characters eating snippets of flesh from an ancient bug that sends them through time, seeing the past, witnessing the future. But when they get to a given time, it's like it is its own story with our heroes watching what happened--or what WILL happen--unfold so that they can find the truth.
This would most accurately be considered a science fiction novel, though it has elements of horror throughout. It also has elements of wonder and awe, and the ending is a bittersweet tear-jerker.
This is a grand, epic novel. That means it isn't short! But, dig in, get comfortable, and stay awhile. Maybe learn some new things or at the very least see them from a new perspective. There's a ton to unpack here, and I think if you take the time to read it, you won't be sorry.
Check it out. It's not like ANYTHING else.
There's no good way to synopsize this epic novel. It involves aliens, time-travel, prehistoric insects, religion, politics, and a thousand other themes, all woven together into a very unique book about a boy and his great-grandfather having the adventure of a lifetime.
The prose of the novel is very straightforward with very little stylistic flair, yet this seems to serve the story. Much of this book is observational, the two main characters eating snippets of flesh from an ancient bug that sends them through time, seeing the past, witnessing the future. But when they get to a given time, it's like it is its own story with our heroes watching what happened--or what WILL happen--unfold so that they can find the truth.
This would most accurately be considered a science fiction novel, though it has elements of horror throughout. It also has elements of wonder and awe, and the ending is a bittersweet tear-jerker.
This is a grand, epic novel. That means it isn't short! But, dig in, get comfortable, and stay awhile. Maybe learn some new things or at the very least see them from a new perspective. There's a ton to unpack here, and I think if you take the time to read it, you won't be sorry.
Check it out. It's not like ANYTHING else.
June 25, 2019
David Kempf has penned a chilling tale of science fiction, horror and the unknown that will leave you pondering, or maybe dreading the chances of an afterlife. Four stars.
-Sherry Decker, contributing author Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and author of Hook House and Other Horrors novel, Hypershot, A Summer With the Dead, Best of Cemetery Dance 2
-Sherry Decker, contributing author Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and author of Hook House and Other Horrors novel, Hypershot, A Summer With the Dead, Best of Cemetery Dance 2
February 8, 2020
I took my time in reading this book by David Kempf, to completely understand the meaning it was putting out there. I found it to be very well written and thought provoking. I enjoyed the story line and found the quotes from numerous well known people to be quite fitting to the story. Well worth reading!
July 18, 2019
Time, space, dystopian adventure. Travel Bug is one of those books that just works and is a pleasure to read. Great pace and story while keeping the human factor in place through great characters and narratives.
July 23, 2019
An incredibly ambitious time travel novel which tackles bigger issues of religion, philosophy, and politics all within the scope of its edgy and quite scary story. A must-read for sci-fi, horror, and thought-provoking intellectual novels!
October 17, 2018
Incoherent drivel
December 17, 2016
Travel Bug takes some patience to read but it's worth it to continue the journey. It makes you uncomfortable sometimes with the topics of politics and religion but it really got me thinking about why we believe what we do.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews