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In Times Like These #0.5-4
In Times Like These: Books 1-3
A universe of adventure—All in one place.
Start your time travel adventure today, because yesterday may be too late!
Can you outrun the past? Can you outlive the future? One time traveler must find out.
Accidental time traveler, Ben Travers, is thrown into a multiverse of adventure in this action adventure through past and future.
This compilation includes: Clockwise & Gone, In Times Like These, The Chronothon, The Day After Never, and The Warp Clock.
Start your time travel adventure today, because yesterday may be too late!
1668 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 22, 2018
763 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Nathan Van Coops
28 books505 followersNathan Van Coops lives in St. Petersburg, Florida on a diet comprised mainly of tacos. When not tinkering on old airplanes, he writes heroic adventure stories that explore imaginative new worlds. He is the author of the time travel adventure series In Times Like These, the time travel detective series Paradox PI, and The Skylighter Adventures. His recent series, Kingdom of Engines explores a swashbuckling alternate history where the modern and medieval collide. He also writes aviation mystery thrillers under the name Nate Van Coops. Learn more at www.nathanvancoops.com or www.natevancoops.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 15, 2025
I haven't read any time travel series before this, but seen a lot of time travel movies. This collection was well thought out and entertaining. Sometimes intense and little confusing to follow but always got your mind wrapped around it in the end. Not sure i needed the timestream explanation at the end, but it would definitely help the confused. Will definately read his other books.
August 12, 2016
Where time travel is done right.
How do you review the best time travel books you've ever read? Well, let's start at the beginning where In Times Like These we meet Ben and his very likable and sometimes very funny friends who are accidentally thrown back in time. Then they are challenged to figure out how to get to their own time. They meet a lot of interesting and helpful people along the way. But, not everyone is helpful. They learn how to time travel! And trust me, there is nothing easy about it! The main reason I really like this series is that time travel is a lifestyle for many of the characters. There are jumps all over the place, with our friends traveling forward and backward in time. We meet the charming man who discovered and developed time travel! Van Coops has an extraordinary imagination when it comes to creating the science behind time travel.
The Chronothon is an action packed race through time encompassing many locations and an onslaught of perils! Our hero Ben has his work cut out for him. But he learns creatively how to survive and succeed. There were many scenes that kept competing for my favorite! The storyline has thoughtful and touching moments too, made me cry. This book has a bit more depth and complexity but still a lot of funny parts and also scary, stomach clutching parts! A little something for everyone. Also romance blossoms a bit more and is well done. The interesting characters and the friendships made were strong and well developed in this book. I came to really love and care about many of the people in this story.
The Day After Never starts right from the ending of the Chronoton. Lots of questions are answered with a whole new group now asked!
We switch back and forth between two times and two worlds and I'm not sure how many Ben's! Van Coops does an excellent job of keeping the reader engaged in both worlds with intriguing clues to our mystery. As the story unfolds, emerging events give the reader lots to ponder.
Van Coops does an amazing job creating new developments that build up the suspense but yet tie up all three books beautifully.
My favorite scenes are those of the future which is described so vividly. There are lots of problems for Ben and everyone to solve and the solutions are never what you expect! The twists and turns and surprises in this book are fabulous.
I have read many time travel books and these are by far the best and most satisfying due to the creative imagination and excellent writing of Nathan Van Coops.
How do you review the best time travel books you've ever read? Well, let's start at the beginning where In Times Like These we meet Ben and his very likable and sometimes very funny friends who are accidentally thrown back in time. Then they are challenged to figure out how to get to their own time. They meet a lot of interesting and helpful people along the way. But, not everyone is helpful. They learn how to time travel! And trust me, there is nothing easy about it! The main reason I really like this series is that time travel is a lifestyle for many of the characters. There are jumps all over the place, with our friends traveling forward and backward in time. We meet the charming man who discovered and developed time travel! Van Coops has an extraordinary imagination when it comes to creating the science behind time travel.
The Chronothon is an action packed race through time encompassing many locations and an onslaught of perils! Our hero Ben has his work cut out for him. But he learns creatively how to survive and succeed. There were many scenes that kept competing for my favorite! The storyline has thoughtful and touching moments too, made me cry. This book has a bit more depth and complexity but still a lot of funny parts and also scary, stomach clutching parts! A little something for everyone. Also romance blossoms a bit more and is well done. The interesting characters and the friendships made were strong and well developed in this book. I came to really love and care about many of the people in this story.
The Day After Never starts right from the ending of the Chronoton. Lots of questions are answered with a whole new group now asked!
We switch back and forth between two times and two worlds and I'm not sure how many Ben's! Van Coops does an excellent job of keeping the reader engaged in both worlds with intriguing clues to our mystery. As the story unfolds, emerging events give the reader lots to ponder.
Van Coops does an amazing job creating new developments that build up the suspense but yet tie up all three books beautifully.
My favorite scenes are those of the future which is described so vividly. There are lots of problems for Ben and everyone to solve and the solutions are never what you expect! The twists and turns and surprises in this book are fabulous.
I have read many time travel books and these are by far the best and most satisfying due to the creative imagination and excellent writing of Nathan Van Coops.
February 12, 2024
It was such a good bundle I gave it a try! Wow!
At first, I thought it was more of a YA book with relatively young adult characters. Before long, I was jumping through time in a series of exciting and enjoyable adventures. The science fiction aspects are solid and understandable, and I care about the characters. What impresses me even more is the quality of the writing. The author's use of metaphor and descriptions is fresh, and his use of "period" slang from the far past to the far future is enjoyable. I've been listening to the set as an audiobook, and the narration is above average. I can't wait to start over from the beginning!
At first, I thought it was more of a YA book with relatively young adult characters. Before long, I was jumping through time in a series of exciting and enjoyable adventures. The science fiction aspects are solid and understandable, and I care about the characters. What impresses me even more is the quality of the writing. The author's use of metaphor and descriptions is fresh, and his use of "period" slang from the far past to the far future is enjoyable. I've been listening to the set as an audiobook, and the narration is above average. I can't wait to start over from the beginning!
October 9, 2022
Nice compilation
Four novels in one volume. Each plot is different but they all share some of the main characters. The time travel rules are clearly defined so we know why some things happen and others can’t be done. Great stories.
Four novels in one volume. Each plot is different but they all share some of the main characters. The time travel rules are clearly defined so we know why some things happen and others can’t be done. Great stories.
October 3, 2016
This by far bypasses both the Hunger Games and Divergent series.
DISCLAIMER : Contains spoilers
Nathan Van Coops has out done himself this time.
Nathan Van Coops wrote all three of these books so that they could be read independently of each other.
In Times like These (Book 1):
Ben Travers and his friends are playing a softball game and a series of unfortuent events catapults a normal group of friends into a world that they do not understand or that they do not want to understand. They meet the first scientist that discovered time travel, Dr. Harold Quickly, and he teachs them how to be time travelers and helps them get back to 2009. What I enjoyed the most about this book is how Coops portrayed the confusion and the fear that the friends get when they discover that they went back in time to the 1900's.
I would certainly reccomend this book because if you have a ereader because this book is free for kindle.
The Chronothon (Book 2):
Be Travers is at it again in this thriller. Ben mistakenly signs up for a chronothon, a race through time to get certain objectives. After discovering that the race is rigged, Ben must stop the plan before it can fully take shape. What i liked most about this book is the way that Nathan made this book independent of In Times like These and how he used his vast imagination to come up with the objectives and locations used in the book.
This book costs money, but if you have kindle unlimited, i would certainly reccomend that you check this book out
The Day after Never (Book 3):
Ben Traver is caught up in another time shaping event. A group called the Eternals is trying to ressurect Zurvan, there leader from the Neverwhere, a world thay exists between death and life. The Neverwhere can be changed by your memories and it can allow you to se what is happening in your other selfs body. To stop this group Ben must team up with Quickly and figure out what they are up to before time runs out. What i liked most about this book is the imagination that Coops had in creating the Neverwhere.
Again it is not free but highly recommended if you have kindle unlimited.
Nathan Van Coops is my favorite author and i cant wait to see if he will release a forth book in this series.
ill be waiting
-Nick Pease
DISCLAIMER : Contains spoilers
Nathan Van Coops has out done himself this time.
Nathan Van Coops wrote all three of these books so that they could be read independently of each other.
In Times like These (Book 1):
Ben Travers and his friends are playing a softball game and a series of unfortuent events catapults a normal group of friends into a world that they do not understand or that they do not want to understand. They meet the first scientist that discovered time travel, Dr. Harold Quickly, and he teachs them how to be time travelers and helps them get back to 2009. What I enjoyed the most about this book is how Coops portrayed the confusion and the fear that the friends get when they discover that they went back in time to the 1900's.
I would certainly reccomend this book because if you have a ereader because this book is free for kindle.
The Chronothon (Book 2):
Be Travers is at it again in this thriller. Ben mistakenly signs up for a chronothon, a race through time to get certain objectives. After discovering that the race is rigged, Ben must stop the plan before it can fully take shape. What i liked most about this book is the way that Nathan made this book independent of In Times like These and how he used his vast imagination to come up with the objectives and locations used in the book.
This book costs money, but if you have kindle unlimited, i would certainly reccomend that you check this book out
The Day after Never (Book 3):
Ben Traver is caught up in another time shaping event. A group called the Eternals is trying to ressurect Zurvan, there leader from the Neverwhere, a world thay exists between death and life. The Neverwhere can be changed by your memories and it can allow you to se what is happening in your other selfs body. To stop this group Ben must team up with Quickly and figure out what they are up to before time runs out. What i liked most about this book is the imagination that Coops had in creating the Neverwhere.
Again it is not free but highly recommended if you have kindle unlimited.
Nathan Van Coops is my favorite author and i cant wait to see if he will release a forth book in this series.
ill be waiting
-Nick Pease
March 30, 2017
So good
I've been lost in this trilogy for the past few weeks, and now I'm in mourning. I loved everything about the story and characters in their entirety, and the way the author has woven together the time streams with pseudo science that is so imaginative and yet so believable is just incredible. I wholeheartedly recommend this series to everyone, and I doff my cap to you Mr. Van Coops. I'm planning to blink back to the start and do it all again ;-)
I've been lost in this trilogy for the past few weeks, and now I'm in mourning. I loved everything about the story and characters in their entirety, and the way the author has woven together the time streams with pseudo science that is so imaginative and yet so believable is just incredible. I wholeheartedly recommend this series to everyone, and I doff my cap to you Mr. Van Coops. I'm planning to blink back to the start and do it all again ;-)
July 18, 2017
Kindle Unlimited although must have picked up at least 2 of them on freebie days. Got confused a bit too many times, although that does happen in time travel books, but a bit too much so didn't love it but did like it. Found it odd that the 3 set had same title as the first book.
1 In Times Like These
2 The Chronothon
3 The Day After Never
In Times Like These (3 Book Series)
1 In Times Like These
2 The Chronothon
3 The Day After Never
In Times Like These (3 Book Series)
June 7, 2017
The best most in depth time travel book I've read
This is by far the best ever. This series is complicated in its simplicity and you will find yourself flipping back pages to see what you missed. I'm sorry it's over. I wish I could go back in time and tell my younger self to read it.
This is by far the best ever. This series is complicated in its simplicity and you will find yourself flipping back pages to see what you missed. I'm sorry it's over. I wish I could go back in time and tell my younger self to read it.
November 12, 2019
Time travel adventures
Have to admit that there were a couple of times I lost all track of where and when the main characters and their dopelgangers were located. But I also found great value in the ways that problems were handled and paradoxes in the time line were addressed. This is a very "human" book and addresses both the very best and some of the worst of human nature.
Have to admit that there were a couple of times I lost all track of where and when the main characters and their dopelgangers were located. But I also found great value in the ways that problems were handled and paradoxes in the time line were addressed. This is a very "human" book and addresses both the very best and some of the worst of human nature.
July 6, 2019
Gripping saga spanning eons. Buckle in tight its a wild ride.
This is a roller-coaster of a series. Ben Travers is an accident time traveller who just can't keep out of trouble.
Willhemanage to save the world and not only get, but keep the girl? Read on and find out.
This is a roller-coaster of a series. Ben Travers is an accident time traveller who just can't keep out of trouble.
Willhemanage to save the world and not only get, but keep the girl? Read on and find out.
January 26, 2025
Finally!
I absolutely LOVED this epic boxes set of time travelling adventure.
But I have to admit it didn't start that way, I first borrowed "In times like these" as a single book way back (2023 I think) but dismissed it as being more aimed at teenagers, skip forward to 2024 and the series is being offered as a boxed set, I was still curious about the story and so decided to persevere, an I glad I did!
I still felt most of book one felt as though it was written for younger people but then, maybe half way or more into the book I began to get more interested and by the end was getting sucked into what became a marathon read over a few days full of intrigue, action and adventure.
If you like time travel stories, action and adventure with an old school "Boys own" feel you'll love this series.
I absolutely LOVED this epic boxes set of time travelling adventure.
But I have to admit it didn't start that way, I first borrowed "In times like these" as a single book way back (2023 I think) but dismissed it as being more aimed at teenagers, skip forward to 2024 and the series is being offered as a boxed set, I was still curious about the story and so decided to persevere, an I glad I did!
I still felt most of book one felt as though it was written for younger people but then, maybe half way or more into the book I began to get more interested and by the end was getting sucked into what became a marathon read over a few days full of intrigue, action and adventure.
If you like time travel stories, action and adventure with an old school "Boys own" feel you'll love this series.
August 26, 2019
Awesome!
The best time travel story ever. I love time travel stories but most writers get it wrong, their logic breaks down, but NVC defines the rules well then spends the story finding unexpected loopholes. Also I love the characters, I could read a whole book about them playing softball then getting beer and pizza. I can't wait for the next story so I can visit them again.
The best time travel story ever. I love time travel stories but most writers get it wrong, their logic breaks down, but NVC defines the rules well then spends the story finding unexpected loopholes. Also I love the characters, I could read a whole book about them playing softball then getting beer and pizza. I can't wait for the next story so I can visit them again.
February 12, 2021
Can’t get enough of this story!
This is a great story, and I just never want it to end! The time travelers make the jump through time at the beginning by accident, an accident that could have killed them. But after they discovered when they were, things get increasingly interesting!
This is a great story, and I just never want it to end! The time travelers make the jump through time at the beginning by accident, an accident that could have killed them. But after they discovered when they were, things get increasingly interesting!
October 22, 2024
I like time travel stories and this collection, though uneven, is one of the better ones that I have read. The four stories are generally very good, though I did not particularly like or enjoy the third story, "The Day After Never," which I found to be confusing and odd. Other than that, the stories are fast-paced, the characters are engaging and the plots interesting. Good reading. Recommended.
September 3, 2020
Very good book, long read, many different short stories that continue the timeline. Would have been a little better if the hero brought some better protection on his adventures. Enjoyed reading the ideas that the author came up with.
June 27, 2019
I enjoyed this series very much. The character development was engaging as was the storyline. It kept me going through all four books and I'd read more if the series continues.
August 2, 2019
This book has me thinking in time traveler terms!
I always love a good time travel story. I had a hard time putting book down. I will have to follow this author now!
I always love a good time travel story. I had a hard time putting book down. I will have to follow this author now!
August 26, 2019
Fun but goofy tries too hard to be funny and hip. The time travel elements were cd
November 10, 2019
The books were very well written and I really enjoyed them. I only had problems with book 2 -- I felt it went on to long with the neverworld and real world
March 4, 2020
I liked the first book in the series but sadly, I lost interest. It just didn't grip me thereafter.
August 21, 2020
Less Type errors, yay!
I could not stop reading this book. I love time travel stories. Of all of the books I have read on my Kindle, this one has the least amount of type errors.
I could not stop reading this book. I love time travel stories. Of all of the books I have read on my Kindle, this one has the least amount of type errors.
December 23, 2024
Fun time travel with a bit of practicality thrown in.
Read
November 15, 2025Meeldis
December 27, 2017
The best time travel trilogy I've read to date!
I don't know where to begin. I haven't encountered a time travel trilogy that only gets better in each release.
The author did very awesome in tracking down every single "period" of the travels of each characters in their different versions. As well as interweaving the biggest arc of all in each novel arc and the side arcs and the minor arcs. I can not even imagine how time consuming it all was, unless of course he himself is a time traveler. Then again, he already showed us how he tracked of time for each character, if you think about it.
Great characters. The actions are intense, you want to just skip to know the ending but you know you can't. The growth of the characters, especially, Ben and Mym were simply perfect. The comical dialogues. The adventures in time. The use of various historical records and future imagination combined, made this trilogy one any time travel fanatic should never miss.
I'm sure this series is a legend in the time travelling community.
Then again, the author might actually be a time traveller, could very well be their story, of Ben and Mym.
Or maybe, I'm a time traveler who wants to leave a mark here in December 2017 because I saw my review in the Temporal Academy in 2317. We can't have paradoxes, right?
;)
Mabuhay!
-2317.
I don't know where to begin. I haven't encountered a time travel trilogy that only gets better in each release.
The author did very awesome in tracking down every single "period" of the travels of each characters in their different versions. As well as interweaving the biggest arc of all in each novel arc and the side arcs and the minor arcs. I can not even imagine how time consuming it all was, unless of course he himself is a time traveler. Then again, he already showed us how he tracked of time for each character, if you think about it.
Great characters. The actions are intense, you want to just skip to know the ending but you know you can't. The growth of the characters, especially, Ben and Mym were simply perfect. The comical dialogues. The adventures in time. The use of various historical records and future imagination combined, made this trilogy one any time travel fanatic should never miss.
I'm sure this series is a legend in the time travelling community.
Then again, the author might actually be a time traveller, could very well be their story, of Ben and Mym.
Or maybe, I'm a time traveler who wants to leave a mark here in December 2017 because I saw my review in the Temporal Academy in 2317. We can't have paradoxes, right?
;)
Mabuhay!
-2317.
December 6, 2018
All in the Detail.
I am a huge fan of Time Travel stories This series has to be one of the best that I have read. Van Coops deal with some very complex issues associated with time travel and he does it well. He explains the mechanics meticulously. Some of the concepts he introduces are interesting and essential to the story.
As for the story itself, it is an excellent adventure. Bill and Ted would be proud. It is reasonably fast paced, exploring many periods of human history and possible futures. I thoroughly enjoyed adventuring with Ben and his friends. I would recommend any fan of Time Travel to give this series a read.
I am a huge fan of Time Travel stories This series has to be one of the best that I have read. Van Coops deal with some very complex issues associated with time travel and he does it well. He explains the mechanics meticulously. Some of the concepts he introduces are interesting and essential to the story.
As for the story itself, it is an excellent adventure. Bill and Ted would be proud. It is reasonably fast paced, exploring many periods of human history and possible futures. I thoroughly enjoyed adventuring with Ben and his friends. I would recommend any fan of Time Travel to give this series a read.
July 22, 2021
These books lacked detail. The characters seemed generic. It was like a poorly produced tv show. Great concept but poor execution. I didn’t care for any of the characters.
I didn’t like that everything was right in front of us. I hoped for mind blowing twists. But for the most part all the strings were visible to us the reader.
Describing the scenes in more detail might help put us in the story more.
This is too light of a read for someone who loves to read time travel. And too complicated of a read for anyone just curious about it. Dropping the fact that they’re in a multiverse and doing nothing really with that. The female characters seemed all the same.
I didn’t like that everything was right in front of us. I hoped for mind blowing twists. But for the most part all the strings were visible to us the reader.
Describing the scenes in more detail might help put us in the story more.
This is too light of a read for someone who loves to read time travel. And too complicated of a read for anyone just curious about it. Dropping the fact that they’re in a multiverse and doing nothing really with that. The female characters seemed all the same.
February 18, 2018
Almost 5 Stars
Highly recommend this trilogy. After reading the first book on as a freebie from Kindle Prime, I joined Kindle Unlimited to read the rest of the series. I haven't been able to put it down.
This well worth purchasing as a keeper; I want to read it with my grandchildren in a few years!
There are a quite a few parts of the story from the first book which I think could have been brought forward. There are so many directions which this series of stories could take. Keep writing, @NathaVanCoops. I see so much more than a trilogy here!!!
Highly recommend this trilogy. After reading the first book on as a freebie from Kindle Prime, I joined Kindle Unlimited to read the rest of the series. I haven't been able to put it down.
This well worth purchasing as a keeper; I want to read it with my grandchildren in a few years!
There are a quite a few parts of the story from the first book which I think could have been brought forward. There are so many directions which this series of stories could take. Keep writing, @NathaVanCoops. I see so much more than a trilogy here!!!
September 2, 2019
Refreshingly solid and enjoyable
So many books I have read lately seems they’re just turned out with not a lot of depth. This was enjoyable and well written. Reminiscent of the back to the future trilogy but only in the theme, the stories were original and hard to put down.
So many books I have read lately seems they’re just turned out with not a lot of depth. This was enjoyable and well written. Reminiscent of the back to the future trilogy but only in the theme, the stories were original and hard to put down.
October 13, 2016
Good Read
I enjoyed this series. I loved the ending though not the path there. The author gave me a new perspective on time travel. He got me to really laughing at PBR. YUCK!
I enjoyed this series. I loved the ending though not the path there. The author gave me a new perspective on time travel. He got me to really laughing at PBR. YUCK!
December 26, 2017
Great read
If you enjoy time travel, you will like this book! I bought the three book set and have been very happy!
If you enjoy time travel, you will like this book! I bought the three book set and have been very happy!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews