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The Grandfather Paradox
PROLOGUE
BIRD-BEAST
It is a hot summer’s day on the pampas of central Ancòn some twenty kloms inland from the briny sea. A herd of small, horse-like animals are grazing peacefully in the warm sun. None of the animals are aware of the vigilant creature lurking fifty meters away in the tall grass. This creature — the female of the species — is an aggressive hunter. She is presently hidden from view by the lush vegetation that blankets the lower elevations.
The she-hunter is a carnivore, one that resembles a giant, oversized parrot, though much more dangerous. She is equipped with a trim, feathered body, a pair of reptilian eyes, and a massive beak she uses to gulp down huge swaths of flesh. The eyes are set far apart on opposite sides of her disproportionately large head. They remain fixed at all times on the grazing herd.
The creature’s immense head sits atop a long and powerful neck. The head swings from side to side in rapid jerks. This is a reflex habit. It permits the predator to keep a fix on her prey, even without benefit of stereoscopic vision.
Before long the head drops down to the level of the grass. The creature edges forward. But, after several meters, she seems to change her mind. She stops, again raises her oversized head and renews her surveillance. With cold, reptilian eyes the female bird-beast scans the herd for any sign that she has been spotted. Seeing none, she puts her head back down again and advances further. At a distance of perhaps thirty meters, the carnivore is ready to strike.
The creature scratches at the ground now with her claw. She lowers her head to a large rock close by her feet. Then she rubs her cavernous snout against the boulder. This is instinctual behavior. Such rubbing sharpens the beak’s bladelike edges and completes her preparations for the impending attack. Back and forth she goes, until the beak’s edges are razor sharp.
Now the terrible bird-like beast bristles her short feathers and springs from the tall grass. She dashes forward toward the herd at high speed propelled by a pair of long, muscular legs. Within seconds, she is bearing down on her prey at close to seventy kloms per hour. Her small wings, useless for flight, are extended out to the sides for balance and maneuverability.
Stricken with fright, the herd bolts in disarray as the predator bears down upon them. Undeterred, the attacker fixes her attention on an old male. He is lagging behind the rest of the fleeing animals. Although the old male is running desperately fast to escape annihilation, the she-beast quickly gains on him. Only moments later, she is at his side.
Now, with a stunning sideswipe of her powerful left foot, the attacker knocks her prey off balance. She seizes the fallen male in her massive beak and beats the hapless animal against the ground with repeated swinging motions of her giant head. All too quickly the victim succumbs and the attacker swallows the limp body whole. It is an impressive feat, even when one considers the bird-beast’s meter-long head and nearly as wide gape of her beak.
With stomach bulging, the gorged predator lumbers slowly back to her round nest of twigs in the nearby grass, where she resumes incubating her eggs. There are two eggs in the nest, each roughly the size of a basketball.
She squats down upon the eggs and, like a good mother, grunts with satisfaction. Something approaching a contented smile erupts on her giant, parrotlike face.
BIRD-BEAST
It is a hot summer’s day on the pampas of central Ancòn some twenty kloms inland from the briny sea. A herd of small, horse-like animals are grazing peacefully in the warm sun. None of the animals are aware of the vigilant creature lurking fifty meters away in the tall grass. This creature — the female of the species — is an aggressive hunter. She is presently hidden from view by the lush vegetation that blankets the lower elevations.
The she-hunter is a carnivore, one that resembles a giant, oversized parrot, though much more dangerous. She is equipped with a trim, feathered body, a pair of reptilian eyes, and a massive beak she uses to gulp down huge swaths of flesh. The eyes are set far apart on opposite sides of her disproportionately large head. They remain fixed at all times on the grazing herd.
The creature’s immense head sits atop a long and powerful neck. The head swings from side to side in rapid jerks. This is a reflex habit. It permits the predator to keep a fix on her prey, even without benefit of stereoscopic vision.
Before long the head drops down to the level of the grass. The creature edges forward. But, after several meters, she seems to change her mind. She stops, again raises her oversized head and renews her surveillance. With cold, reptilian eyes the female bird-beast scans the herd for any sign that she has been spotted. Seeing none, she puts her head back down again and advances further. At a distance of perhaps thirty meters, the carnivore is ready to strike.
The creature scratches at the ground now with her claw. She lowers her head to a large rock close by her feet. Then she rubs her cavernous snout against the boulder. This is instinctual behavior. Such rubbing sharpens the beak’s bladelike edges and completes her preparations for the impending attack. Back and forth she goes, until the beak’s edges are razor sharp.
Now the terrible bird-like beast bristles her short feathers and springs from the tall grass. She dashes forward toward the herd at high speed propelled by a pair of long, muscular legs. Within seconds, she is bearing down on her prey at close to seventy kloms per hour. Her small wings, useless for flight, are extended out to the sides for balance and maneuverability.
Stricken with fright, the herd bolts in disarray as the predator bears down upon them. Undeterred, the attacker fixes her attention on an old male. He is lagging behind the rest of the fleeing animals. Although the old male is running desperately fast to escape annihilation, the she-beast quickly gains on him. Only moments later, she is at his side.
Now, with a stunning sideswipe of her powerful left foot, the attacker knocks her prey off balance. She seizes the fallen male in her massive beak and beats the hapless animal against the ground with repeated swinging motions of her giant head. All too quickly the victim succumbs and the attacker swallows the limp body whole. It is an impressive feat, even when one considers the bird-beast’s meter-long head and nearly as wide gape of her beak.
With stomach bulging, the gorged predator lumbers slowly back to her round nest of twigs in the nearby grass, where she resumes incubating her eggs. There are two eggs in the nest, each roughly the size of a basketball.
She squats down upon the eggs and, like a good mother, grunts with satisfaction. Something approaching a contented smile erupts on her giant, parrotlike face.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 1998
4 people are currently reading
849 people want to read
About the author
Steven Burgauer
24 books53 followersSteven Burgauer, Biography
Avid hiker, Eagle Scout, and founder of a mutual fund, Steven Burgauer resides in Florida. A graduate of Illinois State University and the New York Institute of Finance, Steve writes science fiction and historic fiction. A member of the Society of Midland Authors, Steven is included in The Dictionary of Midwestern Literature, Volume 2: Dimensions of the Midwestern Literary Imagination and the ALA’s Librarian’s Guide to Cyborgs, Aliens, and Sorcerers by Derek M. Buker.
Burgauer’s The Road to War: Duty & Drill, Courage & Capture is based on the journals of an American WWII infantryman who landed at Normandy, was wounded and taken prisoner by the Nazis. Publishers Daily Reviews says of it: Five-plus unequivocal stars . . . an extraordinary read that everyone should enjoy.
Some of his SF titles include The Grandfather Paradox, The Railguns of Luna, The Fornax Drive, and SKULLCAP. Other books of his include The Night of the Eleventh Sun, a Neanderthal’s first encounter with man, and The Wealth Builder’s Guide: An Investment Primer. Steven contributed to the zany, serial mystery, Naked Came the Farmer, headlined by Philip Jose Farmer.
His work has been reviewed in many places, including LOCUS, the EUREKA LITERARY MAGAZINE, PUBLISHERS DAILY REVIEWS, MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW, THE BOOK REVIEWERS, BOOKVIRAL, and PROMETHEUS, the journal of the Libertarian Futurist Society. Science Fiction Chronicle (June 2001) says of his The Railguns of Luna: Steven Burgauer writes old style science fiction in which heroes and villains are easily identified, the action is fast and furious, and the plot twists and turns uncontrollably . . . This is action adventure written straight-forwardly and not meant to be heavily literary or provide pithy commentary on the state of humanity.
Of his book Nazi Saboteurs on the Bayou, The Book Reviewers write: “An engaging, slow-burning wartime thriller with an epic feel and a large cast of characters.” Midwest Book Review writes: “In a war that rips apart entire worlds, who can truly be the winner? Add a dash of romance to the intrigue for a solid World War II thriller that’s intricate, frighteningly realistic, and hard to put down.”
When Steven lived in Illinois, the State of Illinois Library included him in a select group of authors invited to the state’s Authors’ Day. He has often been a speaker and panel member at public library events and science-fiction conventions all across the country.
His websites are:
http://sites.google.com/site/stevenbu...
http://midlandauthors.com/burgauer.html
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
https://www.undergroundbookreviews.or...
https://www.facebook.com/TheRoadToWar...
Avid hiker, Eagle Scout, and founder of a mutual fund, Steven Burgauer resides in Florida. A graduate of Illinois State University and the New York Institute of Finance, Steve writes science fiction and historic fiction. A member of the Society of Midland Authors, Steven is included in The Dictionary of Midwestern Literature, Volume 2: Dimensions of the Midwestern Literary Imagination and the ALA’s Librarian’s Guide to Cyborgs, Aliens, and Sorcerers by Derek M. Buker.
Burgauer’s The Road to War: Duty & Drill, Courage & Capture is based on the journals of an American WWII infantryman who landed at Normandy, was wounded and taken prisoner by the Nazis. Publishers Daily Reviews says of it: Five-plus unequivocal stars . . . an extraordinary read that everyone should enjoy.
Some of his SF titles include The Grandfather Paradox, The Railguns of Luna, The Fornax Drive, and SKULLCAP. Other books of his include The Night of the Eleventh Sun, a Neanderthal’s first encounter with man, and The Wealth Builder’s Guide: An Investment Primer. Steven contributed to the zany, serial mystery, Naked Came the Farmer, headlined by Philip Jose Farmer.
His work has been reviewed in many places, including LOCUS, the EUREKA LITERARY MAGAZINE, PUBLISHERS DAILY REVIEWS, MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW, THE BOOK REVIEWERS, BOOKVIRAL, and PROMETHEUS, the journal of the Libertarian Futurist Society. Science Fiction Chronicle (June 2001) says of his The Railguns of Luna: Steven Burgauer writes old style science fiction in which heroes and villains are easily identified, the action is fast and furious, and the plot twists and turns uncontrollably . . . This is action adventure written straight-forwardly and not meant to be heavily literary or provide pithy commentary on the state of humanity.
Of his book Nazi Saboteurs on the Bayou, The Book Reviewers write: “An engaging, slow-burning wartime thriller with an epic feel and a large cast of characters.” Midwest Book Review writes: “In a war that rips apart entire worlds, who can truly be the winner? Add a dash of romance to the intrigue for a solid World War II thriller that’s intricate, frighteningly realistic, and hard to put down.”
When Steven lived in Illinois, the State of Illinois Library included him in a select group of authors invited to the state’s Authors’ Day. He has often been a speaker and panel member at public library events and science-fiction conventions all across the country.
His websites are:
http://sites.google.com/site/stevenbu...
http://midlandauthors.com/burgauer.html
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
https://www.undergroundbookreviews.or...
https://www.facebook.com/TheRoadToWar...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 30, 2017
This was a tightly woven time travel. There were quantum physics sections that I might have skimmed through a bit, but otherwise, the special people and places were well told. The relationships were all realistic and the characters were warm enough to care about.
I so enjoyed the time spent in the company of the riverboat pilot was just heavenly. That character stole the show in many ways. The prospects of a small character lead me to hope for a sequel. There were twists and turns that made me wonder what exactly was going to happen next. Well executed time traveling by Steven Burgauer.
With skill, the technical jargon and the adventure danced into one fun and entertaining book. I am ready for more.
I so enjoyed the time spent in the company of the riverboat pilot was just heavenly. That character stole the show in many ways. The prospects of a small character lead me to hope for a sequel. There were twists and turns that made me wonder what exactly was going to happen next. Well executed time traveling by Steven Burgauer.
With skill, the technical jargon and the adventure danced into one fun and entertaining book. I am ready for more.
April 5, 2017
The Grandfather Paradox: a time-travel story
Marooned in the present, their only hope for the future lay in the past.
But first there was still the small matter of staying alive. The planet they were marooned on was crawling with bird-beasts, immense parrotlike carnivores that stood two meters tall, weighed upwards of fifty klogs, and had a giant scooped beak like a pelican. They normally swallowed their prey whole, though not before crushing them to death in their vise-like jaws.
Then there were the vipers — writhing snake-like creatures armed with dozens of sucker-bearing tentacles. They sprayed their victims with acid, then ate them while they were still alive.
But it got worse. Much worse . . .
Now, join Andu Nehrengel and his female clone companions on an intense voyage through time. First stop: the Civil War and the Battle of Shiloh, April 1862, one of the most horrendous land battles of all time. Meet Mark Twain when he is still a riverboat pilot. Journey with him north to Missouri when he joins the Confederacy.
Then it’s back to the future and on to Mars!
=============================================
— Publishers Daily Reviews, January 21, 2017
First, watch the short video book trailer, then read the review . . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO1Pw...
In this brilliant new science fiction adventure, veteran storyteller Steven Burgauer weaves an intricate narrative bristling with technological insights and historical detail.
And, along the way, he spins a good old-fashioned space opera about a stranded trio of female clones, a man with a mission rooted in the past, and a sweeping journey across time and space to put an end to a genetic curse.
In the opening pages of this tale, Captain Andu Nehrengel, the victim of a mutiny in deep space, finds his way to a nearby planet to discover giant, carnivorous parrot-beasts and — astonishingly — human footprints close by. He follows these footprints and winds up as the prisoner of three gorgeous female clones — the sole surviving members of an expeditionary band of Mormons dispatched from Earth more than two centuries earlier to establish a new colony.
Things progress in a satisfactory manner — at least for Nehrengel. The trio has never seen a man before and — well, let’s just say they are delighted to finally meet one. However, on a trip back to recover batteries from his downed ship, the bird-beasts attack and kill two of the triplets before Capt. Nehrengel can lay waste to the avian attackers.
Heartbroken and now alone, the surviving clone — named Prime Alpha — cozies up to Nehrengel and agrees to go with him on a trip back in time to try and change history.
But before you say: “Been there, done that on a million time-travel stories before,” hang on. This one delves deep into uncharted fictional waters for one of the most imaginative plot twists we’ve seen in years.
After acquiring a space-worthy ship, Nehrengel and his lovely new friend set their sights on a place Prime Alpha has never seen — the storied home world she has only read about: Terra. Soon the lovely blue-white ball is growing in their forward viewscreen — Planet Earth, circa 1861.
In Part 2 of this exciting adventure, Nehrengel and Prime Alpha — now going by the name of Margaret — find that they have miscalculated a key component of their journey and must adjust their plans to contact the object of their trip — Nehrengel’s great-great-granduncle Byron Matthewson — and correct a calamitous wrinkle in the fabric of time.
Along the way, they sail on a riverboat, discover that Alpha/Margaret can put her telepathic powers to profitable use in a friendly game of poker, meet an American writer of some fame — Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain — and become embroiled in the terrible conflict that was the American Civil War.
“It has been said that war is the continuation of politics by other means. This was unquestionably the case with the American War Between the States. Not for another five hundred years — not until the Great War — would more American blood be spilled for less reason.”
Some passages of this novel are purely poetic in their power to convey a sense of scene to the reader. Nowhere is this power more clearly on display than in the section in which Andu — playing the part of a Union soldier in search of his kinsman — gets caught up in the fray:
“Shiloh was a battle fought on a rough, wooded plateau. It was a battle fought up and down and along the ridges of deep gullies and sloping hills. One fought amid thick underbrush and heavy timber. A battle saved only at the eleventh hour by reinforcements. A battle so potent in its results it very likely changed the entire course of the war.”
Can they do it? Can they alter time to suit their purposes and survive all the adventures they encounter? Pack your things and tag along as Andu, Alpha/Margaret and the venerable Sam Clemens get themselves into one seemingly inextricable situation after another on the way to a surprising and satisfying conclusion.
Five stars to The Grandfather Paradox. It’s a saga worth savoring, from beginning to end.
http://publishersdailyreviews.com/gra...
https://donsloanauthor.wordpress.com/...
http://www.theindieview.com/latest-in...
==============================================================
“an interesting and intriguing work . . . that will keep many reading straight through to the very end. Author Steven Burgauer clearly has an extremely creative mind, and a great ability with world creation, a skill that is paramount in the genre of science fiction. His writing is clear and his characters are vividly drawn.”
— Readers Favorite, January 26, 2017, Tracy A. Fischer
In an interesting and intriguing work by author Steven Burgauer, The Grandfather Paradox is a book that will keep many reading straight through to the very end. Follow the story of protagonist Andu Nehrengel as he careens from the 25th century through history, including to the American Civil War, where he and his band of female clone companions visit the horrendous Battle of Shiloh in April of 1862, meet Mark Twain, and join the Confederacy. When they return to Mars and the 25th century, Andu needs to prepare himself to fight off the ferocious bird-beasts ready to make them their next prey. Will what they learned in the past help them in their present? You’ll have to read the book to find out!
I enjoyed The Grandfather Paradox. Author Steven Burgauer clearly has an extremely creative mind, and a great ability with world creation, a skill that is paramount in the genre of science fiction. His writing is clear and his characters are vividly drawn. I certainly enjoyed his descriptions of the environments in the future as well as those that took place during the time of the American Civil War. While there were areas in the book where the author seems to wander a bit from the main story line, most readers who enjoy science fiction will find the overall read to be one that is well worth it.
I am pleased to be able to recommend this book, and will certainly look into reading more from author Steven Burgauer when I am able to do so!
https://readersfavorite.com/book-revi...
“ . . . a rip-roaring science fiction adventure story that will resonate with SF readers on multiple levels, The Grandfather Paradox proves another highly enjoyable read from Burgauer and is strongly recommended.”
— BookViral, John Reese, February 6, 2017
A Highly Original Time Travelling Science Fiction Novel
As with any popular genre, science fiction has its share of clichés and anything relating to time travel is certainly one of them. Far too often novels with time travelling themes seem cobbled together from half-baked ideas with overly complicated plots so it’s always refreshing to come across something a little different. Burgauer always brings a certain zeal and element of social commentary to his novels and though The Grandfather Paradox is a step change from previous works this is still very much in evidence along with his ability to create a strong visual contrast between his futuristic characters and their incongruous settings. Particularly notable is the way in which he has weaved Mormon beliefs into the tapestry of his narrative and the consideration he has given as to how these beliefs might change in a future science fiction world setting. This is one of the softer elements, along with the inclusion of historical figures such as Mark Twain, that distinguishes Burgauer’s novel from harder Science Fiction and in doing so makes it highly relatable without becoming overly embroiled in the contradictions of time travel.
Simply telling a rip-roaring science fiction adventure story that will resonate with SF readers on multiple levels, The Grandfather Paradox proves another highly enjoyable read from Burgauer and is strongly recommended.
http://www.bookviral.com/the-grandfat...
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“ . . . readers who seek more complex and changing scenarios and who read both sci-fi and time-travel literature will appreciate The Grandfather Paradox’s unusual complexity and appeal as it moves between three very different worlds . . . a delightful read with several unexpected twists and turns that takes the main theme of time travel and adds more to the story than most time-slip novels would offer.”
— Diane Donovan, Senior Editor, Midwest Book Reviews, March 2017
The Grandfather Paradox begins with mutiny aboard the spaceship Tachyon, where Captain Andu Nehrengel finds himself stranded on a dangerous planet filled with fierce beasts and strange women, alone for the first time in his world-hopping explorations.
Gone is the comfort of technology, and newly present are mysteries that eventually lead him on a time-travel odyssey back to 19th century Earth, accompanied by a beautiful companion charged with finding her own heritage and place in an unfamiliar land and time.
As the two confront a time before electricity and a place where forces are gathering to battle, each discovers a new challenge. For Andu, this involves the special uncertainties of affecting his own past and its possible impact on his future. It even means encountering Samuel Clemons (Mark Twain) and revealing information about his impossible circumstances.
His clone companion Alpha (newly renamed Margaret, for this world) faces different choices: love, commitment, and a journey that takes her far from the one man who knows who she really is.
Fans of time travel odysseys will find some different twists and facets to The Grandfather Paradox, which begins as a sci-fi space opera with a mutiny and challenges to survival on an alien world, evolves into a time-jumping leap into Earth’s past, and then centers around historical facts and flavors ranging from riverboat journeys to war. Where other time-travel novels would focus on the journey into the past and the efforts of characters to return to their futures, The Grandfather Paradox offers much more satisfying details about the history and challenges of the times and the conundrums revolving around romance, paradox, and lifestyle choices.
By mid-book, readers have moved far from the sci-fi alien world setting. While this might disappoint those who anticipated a predictable time-travel novel, readers who seek more complex and changing scenarios and who read both sci-fi and time-travel literature will appreciate The Grandfather Paradox’s unusual complexity and appeal as it moves between three very different worlds.
Readers who want more historical detail than a casual time-travel adventure usually provides, and who want their time-jumping action to begin with an interplanetary encounter, will find The Grandfather Paradox a delightful read with several unexpected twists and turns that takes the main theme of time travel and adds more to the story than most time-slip novels would offer.
================================================================
“ . . . a well-structured and exciting time travel story that I think will appeal greatly to fans of the genre . . . ” 5 STARS
— Awesome Indies, March 21, 2017
The Grandfather Paradox is a science fiction time travel adventure by Steven Burgauer that begins with a mutiny aboard an intergalactic space vessel and keeps the action ramped up throughout. Having read another one of Burgauer’s books, Nazi Saboteurs On The Bayou, I was floored by the author’s ability to jump so effortlessly into a different medium. Nazi Saboteurs is a historical fiction, and what really captured my interest throughout that book was the painstaking research that had been done to realistically and accurately bring that story to life. In this book, Burgauer has some history to work with in the beginning, but most of the first part of the book takes place in a world of the author’s own design, and yet he has no problem creating one that fits the futuristic narrative perfectly while still giving the reader some familiarity. This is a future in which time is counted in moons, distance in kloms and weight in klogs. This is a future that finds giant bird-like monsters occupying a comfortable position on the food chain. That is not to say that this is a future that is entirely alien, as we learn quickly that space mutinies work a lot like high-seas mutinies, that people still text and that the Mormon religion has survived. Later in the book, Burgauer gets to show off his historical fiction skills with visits to some famous historic eras, and fans of his other work will be pleased to see that his attention to detail hasn’t changed at all. The time taken to explain some of the theoretical aspects of the science presented is welcomed, although many of these digressions are very long and complex, which might be a turn-off to some.
The book revolves around Andu Nehrengel, who begins the book as the captain of the Tachyon before the previously-mentioned mutiny sends him flying through space aboard the tiny escape vessel, Drift On. The mutiny is part of a larger conspiracy involving Andu, and the motivations of those pulling the strings are not altogether clear at first. One of those string-pullers is Admiral Brigham Smith, whose fiefdom arose from the United States after the Great War from the remnants of the Mormon faith. The descriptions of the Great War and the events of the Space Age are particularly interesting. Another book based on that era would make a great sequel, if one were ever written. Andu quickly befriends three clones (The Primes) who have a link to Admiral Brigham Smith’s fiefdom that quickly becomes clear to Andu. Together, they work to discover the secrets that have been left to Andu by his grandparents, cure a dangerous virus he carries and harness the power of a weapon that can defeat an entire army. Without giving away too much of the plot, it is fantastic adventure that brings Andu into contact with Mark Twain, one of history’s greatest authors, and this is where Burgauer’s historical fiction skills can really shine. The ending is satisfying and leaves the option open for a potential sequel (or prequel), but all of the threads are wrapped up nicely, so the book stands perfectly well on its own.
The Grandfather Paradox is well written and edited, and the characters are fully developed and interesting. There are scenes of brutal action coupled with wit and humor, throughout. There are scenes that could’ve fit perfectly into Time Chasers or My Stepmother is an Alien, and in fact it was hard not to imagine The Primes as three Kim Bassingers, especially after how they are introduced. Overall, this is a well-structured and exciting time travel story that I think will appeal greatly to fans of the genre. It’s not a story for children, and the complexity of some explanations will likely be too much for some readers, but I think most others will have a wonderful time on their adventure with Andu.
5 stars.
Enjoy the video book trailer, then read the book:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO1Pw...
Have fun with it, time-traveler!
http://www.awesomeindies.net/
Marooned in the present, their only hope for the future lay in the past.
But first there was still the small matter of staying alive. The planet they were marooned on was crawling with bird-beasts, immense parrotlike carnivores that stood two meters tall, weighed upwards of fifty klogs, and had a giant scooped beak like a pelican. They normally swallowed their prey whole, though not before crushing them to death in their vise-like jaws.
Then there were the vipers — writhing snake-like creatures armed with dozens of sucker-bearing tentacles. They sprayed their victims with acid, then ate them while they were still alive.
But it got worse. Much worse . . .
Now, join Andu Nehrengel and his female clone companions on an intense voyage through time. First stop: the Civil War and the Battle of Shiloh, April 1862, one of the most horrendous land battles of all time. Meet Mark Twain when he is still a riverboat pilot. Journey with him north to Missouri when he joins the Confederacy.
Then it’s back to the future and on to Mars!
=============================================
— Publishers Daily Reviews, January 21, 2017
First, watch the short video book trailer, then read the review . . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO1Pw...
In this brilliant new science fiction adventure, veteran storyteller Steven Burgauer weaves an intricate narrative bristling with technological insights and historical detail.
And, along the way, he spins a good old-fashioned space opera about a stranded trio of female clones, a man with a mission rooted in the past, and a sweeping journey across time and space to put an end to a genetic curse.
In the opening pages of this tale, Captain Andu Nehrengel, the victim of a mutiny in deep space, finds his way to a nearby planet to discover giant, carnivorous parrot-beasts and — astonishingly — human footprints close by. He follows these footprints and winds up as the prisoner of three gorgeous female clones — the sole surviving members of an expeditionary band of Mormons dispatched from Earth more than two centuries earlier to establish a new colony.
Things progress in a satisfactory manner — at least for Nehrengel. The trio has never seen a man before and — well, let’s just say they are delighted to finally meet one. However, on a trip back to recover batteries from his downed ship, the bird-beasts attack and kill two of the triplets before Capt. Nehrengel can lay waste to the avian attackers.
Heartbroken and now alone, the surviving clone — named Prime Alpha — cozies up to Nehrengel and agrees to go with him on a trip back in time to try and change history.
But before you say: “Been there, done that on a million time-travel stories before,” hang on. This one delves deep into uncharted fictional waters for one of the most imaginative plot twists we’ve seen in years.
After acquiring a space-worthy ship, Nehrengel and his lovely new friend set their sights on a place Prime Alpha has never seen — the storied home world she has only read about: Terra. Soon the lovely blue-white ball is growing in their forward viewscreen — Planet Earth, circa 1861.
In Part 2 of this exciting adventure, Nehrengel and Prime Alpha — now going by the name of Margaret — find that they have miscalculated a key component of their journey and must adjust their plans to contact the object of their trip — Nehrengel’s great-great-granduncle Byron Matthewson — and correct a calamitous wrinkle in the fabric of time.
Along the way, they sail on a riverboat, discover that Alpha/Margaret can put her telepathic powers to profitable use in a friendly game of poker, meet an American writer of some fame — Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain — and become embroiled in the terrible conflict that was the American Civil War.
“It has been said that war is the continuation of politics by other means. This was unquestionably the case with the American War Between the States. Not for another five hundred years — not until the Great War — would more American blood be spilled for less reason.”
Some passages of this novel are purely poetic in their power to convey a sense of scene to the reader. Nowhere is this power more clearly on display than in the section in which Andu — playing the part of a Union soldier in search of his kinsman — gets caught up in the fray:
“Shiloh was a battle fought on a rough, wooded plateau. It was a battle fought up and down and along the ridges of deep gullies and sloping hills. One fought amid thick underbrush and heavy timber. A battle saved only at the eleventh hour by reinforcements. A battle so potent in its results it very likely changed the entire course of the war.”
Can they do it? Can they alter time to suit their purposes and survive all the adventures they encounter? Pack your things and tag along as Andu, Alpha/Margaret and the venerable Sam Clemens get themselves into one seemingly inextricable situation after another on the way to a surprising and satisfying conclusion.
Five stars to The Grandfather Paradox. It’s a saga worth savoring, from beginning to end.
http://publishersdailyreviews.com/gra...
https://donsloanauthor.wordpress.com/...
http://www.theindieview.com/latest-in...
==============================================================
“an interesting and intriguing work . . . that will keep many reading straight through to the very end. Author Steven Burgauer clearly has an extremely creative mind, and a great ability with world creation, a skill that is paramount in the genre of science fiction. His writing is clear and his characters are vividly drawn.”
— Readers Favorite, January 26, 2017, Tracy A. Fischer
In an interesting and intriguing work by author Steven Burgauer, The Grandfather Paradox is a book that will keep many reading straight through to the very end. Follow the story of protagonist Andu Nehrengel as he careens from the 25th century through history, including to the American Civil War, where he and his band of female clone companions visit the horrendous Battle of Shiloh in April of 1862, meet Mark Twain, and join the Confederacy. When they return to Mars and the 25th century, Andu needs to prepare himself to fight off the ferocious bird-beasts ready to make them their next prey. Will what they learned in the past help them in their present? You’ll have to read the book to find out!
I enjoyed The Grandfather Paradox. Author Steven Burgauer clearly has an extremely creative mind, and a great ability with world creation, a skill that is paramount in the genre of science fiction. His writing is clear and his characters are vividly drawn. I certainly enjoyed his descriptions of the environments in the future as well as those that took place during the time of the American Civil War. While there were areas in the book where the author seems to wander a bit from the main story line, most readers who enjoy science fiction will find the overall read to be one that is well worth it.
I am pleased to be able to recommend this book, and will certainly look into reading more from author Steven Burgauer when I am able to do so!
https://readersfavorite.com/book-revi...
“ . . . a rip-roaring science fiction adventure story that will resonate with SF readers on multiple levels, The Grandfather Paradox proves another highly enjoyable read from Burgauer and is strongly recommended.”
— BookViral, John Reese, February 6, 2017
A Highly Original Time Travelling Science Fiction Novel
As with any popular genre, science fiction has its share of clichés and anything relating to time travel is certainly one of them. Far too often novels with time travelling themes seem cobbled together from half-baked ideas with overly complicated plots so it’s always refreshing to come across something a little different. Burgauer always brings a certain zeal and element of social commentary to his novels and though The Grandfather Paradox is a step change from previous works this is still very much in evidence along with his ability to create a strong visual contrast between his futuristic characters and their incongruous settings. Particularly notable is the way in which he has weaved Mormon beliefs into the tapestry of his narrative and the consideration he has given as to how these beliefs might change in a future science fiction world setting. This is one of the softer elements, along with the inclusion of historical figures such as Mark Twain, that distinguishes Burgauer’s novel from harder Science Fiction and in doing so makes it highly relatable without becoming overly embroiled in the contradictions of time travel.
Simply telling a rip-roaring science fiction adventure story that will resonate with SF readers on multiple levels, The Grandfather Paradox proves another highly enjoyable read from Burgauer and is strongly recommended.
http://www.bookviral.com/the-grandfat...
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“ . . . readers who seek more complex and changing scenarios and who read both sci-fi and time-travel literature will appreciate The Grandfather Paradox’s unusual complexity and appeal as it moves between three very different worlds . . . a delightful read with several unexpected twists and turns that takes the main theme of time travel and adds more to the story than most time-slip novels would offer.”
— Diane Donovan, Senior Editor, Midwest Book Reviews, March 2017
The Grandfather Paradox begins with mutiny aboard the spaceship Tachyon, where Captain Andu Nehrengel finds himself stranded on a dangerous planet filled with fierce beasts and strange women, alone for the first time in his world-hopping explorations.
Gone is the comfort of technology, and newly present are mysteries that eventually lead him on a time-travel odyssey back to 19th century Earth, accompanied by a beautiful companion charged with finding her own heritage and place in an unfamiliar land and time.
As the two confront a time before electricity and a place where forces are gathering to battle, each discovers a new challenge. For Andu, this involves the special uncertainties of affecting his own past and its possible impact on his future. It even means encountering Samuel Clemons (Mark Twain) and revealing information about his impossible circumstances.
His clone companion Alpha (newly renamed Margaret, for this world) faces different choices: love, commitment, and a journey that takes her far from the one man who knows who she really is.
Fans of time travel odysseys will find some different twists and facets to The Grandfather Paradox, which begins as a sci-fi space opera with a mutiny and challenges to survival on an alien world, evolves into a time-jumping leap into Earth’s past, and then centers around historical facts and flavors ranging from riverboat journeys to war. Where other time-travel novels would focus on the journey into the past and the efforts of characters to return to their futures, The Grandfather Paradox offers much more satisfying details about the history and challenges of the times and the conundrums revolving around romance, paradox, and lifestyle choices.
By mid-book, readers have moved far from the sci-fi alien world setting. While this might disappoint those who anticipated a predictable time-travel novel, readers who seek more complex and changing scenarios and who read both sci-fi and time-travel literature will appreciate The Grandfather Paradox’s unusual complexity and appeal as it moves between three very different worlds.
Readers who want more historical detail than a casual time-travel adventure usually provides, and who want their time-jumping action to begin with an interplanetary encounter, will find The Grandfather Paradox a delightful read with several unexpected twists and turns that takes the main theme of time travel and adds more to the story than most time-slip novels would offer.
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“ . . . a well-structured and exciting time travel story that I think will appeal greatly to fans of the genre . . . ” 5 STARS
— Awesome Indies, March 21, 2017
The Grandfather Paradox is a science fiction time travel adventure by Steven Burgauer that begins with a mutiny aboard an intergalactic space vessel and keeps the action ramped up throughout. Having read another one of Burgauer’s books, Nazi Saboteurs On The Bayou, I was floored by the author’s ability to jump so effortlessly into a different medium. Nazi Saboteurs is a historical fiction, and what really captured my interest throughout that book was the painstaking research that had been done to realistically and accurately bring that story to life. In this book, Burgauer has some history to work with in the beginning, but most of the first part of the book takes place in a world of the author’s own design, and yet he has no problem creating one that fits the futuristic narrative perfectly while still giving the reader some familiarity. This is a future in which time is counted in moons, distance in kloms and weight in klogs. This is a future that finds giant bird-like monsters occupying a comfortable position on the food chain. That is not to say that this is a future that is entirely alien, as we learn quickly that space mutinies work a lot like high-seas mutinies, that people still text and that the Mormon religion has survived. Later in the book, Burgauer gets to show off his historical fiction skills with visits to some famous historic eras, and fans of his other work will be pleased to see that his attention to detail hasn’t changed at all. The time taken to explain some of the theoretical aspects of the science presented is welcomed, although many of these digressions are very long and complex, which might be a turn-off to some.
The book revolves around Andu Nehrengel, who begins the book as the captain of the Tachyon before the previously-mentioned mutiny sends him flying through space aboard the tiny escape vessel, Drift On. The mutiny is part of a larger conspiracy involving Andu, and the motivations of those pulling the strings are not altogether clear at first. One of those string-pullers is Admiral Brigham Smith, whose fiefdom arose from the United States after the Great War from the remnants of the Mormon faith. The descriptions of the Great War and the events of the Space Age are particularly interesting. Another book based on that era would make a great sequel, if one were ever written. Andu quickly befriends three clones (The Primes) who have a link to Admiral Brigham Smith’s fiefdom that quickly becomes clear to Andu. Together, they work to discover the secrets that have been left to Andu by his grandparents, cure a dangerous virus he carries and harness the power of a weapon that can defeat an entire army. Without giving away too much of the plot, it is fantastic adventure that brings Andu into contact with Mark Twain, one of history’s greatest authors, and this is where Burgauer’s historical fiction skills can really shine. The ending is satisfying and leaves the option open for a potential sequel (or prequel), but all of the threads are wrapped up nicely, so the book stands perfectly well on its own.
The Grandfather Paradox is well written and edited, and the characters are fully developed and interesting. There are scenes of brutal action coupled with wit and humor, throughout. There are scenes that could’ve fit perfectly into Time Chasers or My Stepmother is an Alien, and in fact it was hard not to imagine The Primes as three Kim Bassingers, especially after how they are introduced. Overall, this is a well-structured and exciting time travel story that I think will appeal greatly to fans of the genre. It’s not a story for children, and the complexity of some explanations will likely be too much for some readers, but I think most others will have a wonderful time on their adventure with Andu.
5 stars.
Enjoy the video book trailer, then read the book:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO1Pw...
Have fun with it, time-traveler!
http://www.awesomeindies.net/
April 21, 2017
The Grandfather Paradox is a fun concept, with uniquely interesting characters. I love how we learned with the characters as we are on their journey. The bizarre locations, creatures, and events were extremely entertaining.
I will admit, I found it necessary to reread quite a few sections to make sure I read it right, but that made it all the more interesting. Overall this is an easy 3 Boundless Star book.
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I will admit, I found it necessary to reread quite a few sections to make sure I read it right, but that made it all the more interesting. Overall this is an easy 3 Boundless Star book.
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January 27, 2017
In 2016, I had the pleasure of reviewing two of Steven Burgauer’s novels, the World War II set Nazi Saboteurs on the Bayou and the story of a Neanderthal family in Night of the Eleventh Sun. Both books were very different in both style and substance. And neither is really comparable to the achievement of The Grandfather Paradox.
For one matter, both of Burgauer’s previous stories were fairly well locked into specific places and times. Not so The Grandfather Paradox. While the book’s subtitle signals a time travel adventure, it takes some time, as it were, for this element of the story to be introduced. In fact, the book is really two books sandwiched together.
The book opens with Andu Nehrengel captaining a spaceship exploring a remote part of the galaxy. Then his crew mutinies and forces him off the ship in a small runabout which crash-lands on an alien planet. There, Andu has to survive attacks by large carnivorous alien bird-beasts before he meets three beautiful female human clones who are also marooned on the planet. Andu learns the clones are the lone survivors of a Mormon ship that had been set out to find a new home for the church. On the clones’ ship, Andu learns much more which leads him and one of the beautiful clones to leap through both space and time to, in part, find the gene that will correct a deadly virus Andu is carrying.
Along the way, readers who like hard science in their science fiction are rewarded with in-depth theoretical discussions that make cloning, time travel, and space exploration understandable and plausible. For some, perhaps the physics lessons might seem to bog down the story. For me, I felt I was being educated while going along with the fantastic and very unpredictable events. After all, the whole thing starts light years from earth before taking us to a steamboat on the Mississippi River where a young Mark Twain becomes a central character. Then Burgauer takes us to the 1862 battle of Shiloh where Andu searches for the ancestor with the untainted genetics he needs.
Part two of the book is very much centered on Henry Morgan’s—the name Andu uses in 1861—friendship with Twain as Burgauer pretty much retells the 19th century author’s early biography, lifting whole passages from Twain’s writings, especially Life on the Mississippi. While the book remains very descriptive and detailed, everything is far different from what came before. But Burgauer weaves everything together in a complex tapestry of actual history along with speculative science fiction.
The book’s title comes from a concept argued as far back as 1931 about any historical inconsistencies that might occur if someone went back in time and killed their own grandparent, ostensibly resulting in the demise of the time traveler. The entire idea of time travel has been debated logically as to what implications might arise from any changes to known chronology, and a good overview of the literature and debates on the “grandparent paradox” can be found at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandfa...
Of course, Burgauer’s take isn’t to kill anyone in the past but rather to get uncorrupted DNA from an ancestor to save one of his descendants. The result is a very engaging, often philosophical epic crammed to the gills with twists and turns that span both centuries and light years. Highly recommended.
This review first appeared at BookPleasures.com on Jan. 25, 2016 at:
goo.gl/yFgL92
In 2016, I had the pleasure of reviewing two of Steven Burgauer’s novels, the World War II set Nazi Saboteurs on the Bayou and the story of a Neanderthal family in Night of the Eleventh Sun. Both books were very different in both style and substance. And neither is really comparable to the achievement of The Grandfather Paradox.
For one matter, both of Burgauer’s previous stories were fairly well locked into specific places and times. Not so The Grandfather Paradox. While the book’s subtitle signals a time travel adventure, it takes some time, as it were, for this element of the story to be introduced. In fact, the book is really two books sandwiched together.
The book opens with Andu Nehrengel captaining a spaceship exploring a remote part of the galaxy. Then his crew mutinies and forces him off the ship in a small runabout which crash-lands on an alien planet. There, Andu has to survive attacks by large carnivorous alien bird-beasts before he meets three beautiful female human clones who are also marooned on the planet. Andu learns the clones are the lone survivors of a Mormon ship that had been set out to find a new home for the church. On the clones’ ship, Andu learns much more which leads him and one of the beautiful clones to leap through both space and time to, in part, find the gene that will correct a deadly virus Andu is carrying.
Along the way, readers who like hard science in their science fiction are rewarded with in-depth theoretical discussions that make cloning, time travel, and space exploration understandable and plausible. For some, perhaps the physics lessons might seem to bog down the story. For me, I felt I was being educated while going along with the fantastic and very unpredictable events. After all, the whole thing starts light years from earth before taking us to a steamboat on the Mississippi River where a young Mark Twain becomes a central character. Then Burgauer takes us to the 1862 battle of Shiloh where Andu searches for the ancestor with the untainted genetics he needs.
Part two of the book is very much centered on Henry Morgan’s—the name Andu uses in 1861—friendship with Twain as Burgauer pretty much retells the 19th century author’s early biography, lifting whole passages from Twain’s writings, especially Life on the Mississippi. While the book remains very descriptive and detailed, everything is far different from what came before. But Burgauer weaves everything together in a complex tapestry of actual history along with speculative science fiction.
The book’s title comes from a concept argued as far back as 1931 about any historical inconsistencies that might occur if someone went back in time and killed their own grandparent, ostensibly resulting in the demise of the time traveler. The entire idea of time travel has been debated logically as to what implications might arise from any changes to known chronology, and a good overview of the literature and debates on the “grandparent paradox” can be found at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandfa...
Of course, Burgauer’s take isn’t to kill anyone in the past but rather to get uncorrupted DNA from an ancestor to save one of his descendants. The result is a very engaging, often philosophical epic crammed to the gills with twists and turns that span both centuries and light years. Highly recommended.
This review first appeared at BookPleasures.com on Jan. 25, 2016 at:
goo.gl/yFgL92
March 8, 2017
I liked this book very much. The adventures between the woman and man character were very unique. they were learning from each other. However, the reason i gave this book a 3.9/5 stars is because I was very confuse at the beginning of this book. I did not understand what was happening. Also, I did not understand the direction the author was going with the time traveling. Overall, I did like the middle and ending of this story. The story was starting to make sense. I understand why Andu and the female clone (Prime Alpha) needed to time travel to time.
June 9, 2017
interesting book, found it quite hard to understand in places and put it down a few times because of that, but turned out to be a riveting read once i got into it, some great history in there and all in all a great, enjoyable book. ☺
Read
March 20, 2017this books sounds interesting and different from what I usually read!
February 14, 2017
MY THOUGHTS
This time travel themed book has a relatively easy plot. It takes Mormon beliefs and shows how those beliefs could possibly change in a world of the future. You also get a taste of some figures from the past so you can put the story in some sort of perspective. Time travel is definitely science fiction but this book lets you get in there and possibly see how it could very easily happen. A real adventure and journey. The author includes the historical detail but adds some technology into the web. I loved that he had female clones, a man stuck in the past and took a journey to end a curse, a curse of genetics. The author gives you gigantic beasts that were sort of like parrots and if you look real close you'll discover foot prints. Now who or what left the footprints? Grab a copy of this book and follow the prints. When you do, you'll be surprised where they end. What would you think if you were there and you ran into three female clones that were beautiful.? Find out how these clones connect with the Mormons. There is so much imaginative detail in this book that you might find yourself in uncharted territory and think it's not so bad, or is it? Can time be changed? Can we go back? Can we go forward? Use your imagination and grandfather this story in. I have to admit, I had some trouble following some of the book. I haven't read much time travel stories so I'm not a real fan but the book was good, just a bit long and a lot of characters and a lot of detail. I might save it for a later date and re-read and see what I think then. If you are a fan of science fiction, time travel, take a look and see what you think. It will always be the survival of the fittest, even if we do actually get to the point of time travel.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Word Slinger Publicity and voluntarily decided to review it.
This time travel themed book has a relatively easy plot. It takes Mormon beliefs and shows how those beliefs could possibly change in a world of the future. You also get a taste of some figures from the past so you can put the story in some sort of perspective. Time travel is definitely science fiction but this book lets you get in there and possibly see how it could very easily happen. A real adventure and journey. The author includes the historical detail but adds some technology into the web. I loved that he had female clones, a man stuck in the past and took a journey to end a curse, a curse of genetics. The author gives you gigantic beasts that were sort of like parrots and if you look real close you'll discover foot prints. Now who or what left the footprints? Grab a copy of this book and follow the prints. When you do, you'll be surprised where they end. What would you think if you were there and you ran into three female clones that were beautiful.? Find out how these clones connect with the Mormons. There is so much imaginative detail in this book that you might find yourself in uncharted territory and think it's not so bad, or is it? Can time be changed? Can we go back? Can we go forward? Use your imagination and grandfather this story in. I have to admit, I had some trouble following some of the book. I haven't read much time travel stories so I'm not a real fan but the book was good, just a bit long and a lot of characters and a lot of detail. I might save it for a later date and re-read and see what I think then. If you are a fan of science fiction, time travel, take a look and see what you think. It will always be the survival of the fittest, even if we do actually get to the point of time travel.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Word Slinger Publicity and voluntarily decided to review it.
March 28, 2017
I really should not have started to read this gripping novel late at night... Packed with explosive imagery woven through an enticing plot, "The Grandfather Paradox" was hard to put down - and still is. The blurb and prologue alone paint incredibly vivid backdrops, merely only providing stepping stones for each reader's imagination to draw upon. Caught between enjoying every last drop of evocative descriptions Burgauer has to offer, and a riveting, dynamic story, this novel hasn't ceased to surprise and delight.
February 2, 2017
An immensely intriguing book. Its quite vividly written. The plot is fascinating and unique. I enjoyed reading it. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
April 6, 2017
Mormons on the way to colonize Mars, a time traveling Afgan and Samuel Clements all blended into one historical science fiction roller coaster ride. I loved every minute of this well written page turner. Looking for a sequel.
April 22, 2017
Not Kindle Unlimited, actually got this as one of those amazon gift books after asking a review site to ask the writer if could have a review copy, so needless to say but will say it anyway, free will and all that, and yes all my own opinions and in no way other than being grateful for the chance to read a non-ku book does my review have anything to do with anything other than my usual wanted to read it, read it, and now reviewing it. Needs to have half star ratings because there are some issues to me with this and the other one, just not a star's worth.
The writing, as in the other one, could have been tighter in places and some things left out all together {the extra descriptions of things that didn't really advance the story so slowed it down, the basically not graphic but dealing with sex, what was the point, literally, etcetera}. Maybe if the writer tried to put this in to serialized version he would realize just what parts are sticking out/don't contribute to the story, and then make each story a trilogy or whatever it is they call a 2 set, because even as a natural speedreader it took me a day each for both books {War and Peace only took me 2 days, and that was broken up by school, but nowadays do nothing but mainly read.}
Had already read Nazi Saboteurs on the Bayou by same writer, the same way, the same thoughts overall. Wanted to give it a 4 1/2 but of course not such thing so went to 4, but hopefully the writer will consider the points made, as the stories were good, BUT... Ah and btw, Parker was not the last name in any way of Billy the Kid; Parker was the last name of Bonnie of Bonnie and Clyde infamy.
The writing, as in the other one, could have been tighter in places and some things left out all together {the extra descriptions of things that didn't really advance the story so slowed it down, the basically not graphic but dealing with sex, what was the point, literally, etcetera}. Maybe if the writer tried to put this in to serialized version he would realize just what parts are sticking out/don't contribute to the story, and then make each story a trilogy or whatever it is they call a 2 set, because even as a natural speedreader it took me a day each for both books {War and Peace only took me 2 days, and that was broken up by school, but nowadays do nothing but mainly read.}
Had already read Nazi Saboteurs on the Bayou by same writer, the same way, the same thoughts overall. Wanted to give it a 4 1/2 but of course not such thing so went to 4, but hopefully the writer will consider the points made, as the stories were good, BUT... Ah and btw, Parker was not the last name in any way of Billy the Kid; Parker was the last name of Bonnie of Bonnie and Clyde infamy.
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