The Engineer's Assistant

by Adam Middlemas

You only live If you’re lucky. My life was a drudge. Long hours, soul-destroying work, barely keeping up with the mortgage on our “dream” home. The home we bought to raise a family. By the time we could afford kids, we’d be too old. Modern Chasing carrots with strings attached. My life turned around, no, turned upside down, when Pete, wealthy retired chief engineer, bought the house next door. Forty years on cargo ships, he’d had time to experiment. Time to build a device that would be quite amazing if he could get it to work. Forty years obsessively tinkering. Almost working, already showing an apparently magical effect. Tantalisingly close to something so radical it could reshape life on Earth. And as close as he would ever get. But then he became my neighbour and friend. I was a software engineer with a dead end job and fading dreams. I was in need of a cause. Applying my digital skills to Pete’s genius mechanical wizardry we smashed through the barriers of metallurgical limits. We brought about the breakthrough that Pete proclaimed would realize a new golden age for mankind. It didn’t. Quite the opposite.

256 pages, Paperback

Published August 23, 2016

Reviews

[Lucinda Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

INTERESTING BUT TECHNICAL
Science fiction is not my usual genre, but the author was recommended, so I thought I would give it a try. The earlier part of the book when Adam and Peter were constructing the space ship was very technical and I admit I speed-read some of the pages but I found it more interesting in the second half. Well written in places that heightened the tension leasing to a satisfactory ending.

[victor turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant !

I normally read history alongside sci-fi books and whilst this book is neither it does raise the question 'what if' - or as Rene Descartes said
" I think therefore I am" . . . But what this book proposes is 'am I real ?'
-on top of that, this book is a damn good easy read. Roll on it's follow-up.

[Chris Bullock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - an interesting style and ideas. I liked the concept. There were a few 'dark' bits in the storyline, which were stated and then seemingly glossed over; but generally it was quite light-hearted. Also there were a few minor typos which fortunately didn't detract from the story.
It certainly held my interest and I would look forward more stories in this vein.

[Natalie Jordan Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of many parts, that would make a great TV series.
What it lacks in description in makes up in action.
I liked it.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book. The third and final update : ‘The full story’ moved on and improved the original ending 100%

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the writing style, mostly written in the first person. The change to third person was carefully separated by chapter which worked well, the plot had several "factions" and unexpected turns.
At the start I thought it was going to be a quick, lighthearted read. It became deeper and darker as the plot progressed. I found some of it disturbing, some of it scary.
The end was satisfactory but there obviously needs to be more. I hope there will be. For me, best read this year, but the darkness won't suit some.

[Sadie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting story / plot which I found very engaging. Sci-Fi lovers will enjoy this new writer - I will definately read a follow-up book.