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Anachronism
It's the same old story: Time traveler meets girl, time traveler tells girl she's the future president, time traveler and girl go on a road trip to prevent a war...
Petra Vincent is at the end of her rope - or rather, the edge of a bridge. Her world is falling apart around her and she sees no way out of the meaningless existence the future has in store. But when stranded time traveler Moses Morgan tells her that she will one day lead the country out of the rubble of a nuclear civil war as President of the United States, she's intrigued - and when another time traveler starts trying to preemptively assassinate her, she realizes Moses might be telling the truth...
Anachronism is a time-traveling, adventure-filled novella with a whole bagful of danger, twists, and snarky banter.
Petra Vincent is at the end of her rope - or rather, the edge of a bridge. Her world is falling apart around her and she sees no way out of the meaningless existence the future has in store. But when stranded time traveler Moses Morgan tells her that she will one day lead the country out of the rubble of a nuclear civil war as President of the United States, she's intrigued - and when another time traveler starts trying to preemptively assassinate her, she realizes Moses might be telling the truth...
Anachronism is a time-traveling, adventure-filled novella with a whole bagful of danger, twists, and snarky banter.
119 pages, Paperback
First published May 30, 2018
7 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Lee Rossman
80 books47 followersI am a sci-fi geek from upstate New York, where I crochet, watch Doctor Who, and threaten to run over people in my wheelchair. My work has been featured in several anthologies and my debut novella Anachronism is now available.
I write weird and hopeful sci-fi and fantasy full of LGBTQIA+ characters, disabled characters, and the occasional Jurassic Park references. I hope my stories can be a safe and welcoming place no matter your gender, ability, race, religion, or orientation.
I write stories I want my grandma to read without blushing - sex may be mentioned (I do love a good innuendo) but will never happen on the page, violence is handled with care and is not gory, and most stories do not contain swear words (the ones that do are used sparingly and only when appropriate to the character).
I'm that nerd who can recite the periodic table backwards, can talk about dinosaurs for hours, and has a betta fish named Fincess Leia.
My debut novel, JACK JETSTARK'S INTERGALACTIC FREAKSHOW, will be published by World Weaver Press in 2019.
Find my work here.
I'm on the Twitter and I have a blog.
I write weird and hopeful sci-fi and fantasy full of LGBTQIA+ characters, disabled characters, and the occasional Jurassic Park references. I hope my stories can be a safe and welcoming place no matter your gender, ability, race, religion, or orientation.
I write stories I want my grandma to read without blushing - sex may be mentioned (I do love a good innuendo) but will never happen on the page, violence is handled with care and is not gory, and most stories do not contain swear words (the ones that do are used sparingly and only when appropriate to the character).
I'm that nerd who can recite the periodic table backwards, can talk about dinosaurs for hours, and has a betta fish named Fincess Leia.
My debut novel, JACK JETSTARK'S INTERGALACTIC FREAKSHOW, will be published by World Weaver Press in 2019.
Find my work here.
I'm on the Twitter and I have a blog.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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July 1, 2018No, I'm not reviewing my own book. My mother doesn't have a Goodreads account but wants me to share her thoughts on Anachronism.
"The snark gets to be a little much by the end. Did you base her father on your father?"
("No.")
"Mmhm sure you didn't. Are you sure you aren't going to get sued for libel over this part?"
"(Yes." [I based one small detail of a bad motel room on a real motel we stayed at. Fifteen years ago. In a different state than the one my characters stay at.])
"I knew what the twist ending was. You told me all about it. But I got so into the story that I forgot about it and now I'm mad because--can I give spoilers?"
("I mean, I'd rather you didn't.")
"Fine. The THING I WANTED TO HAPPEN doesn't happen. You need a sequel so I can know what happens to all of them afterwards. Also, did you finally fix that typo on page 33?"
"The snark gets to be a little much by the end. Did you base her father on your father?"
("No.")
"Mmhm sure you didn't. Are you sure you aren't going to get sued for libel over this part?"
"(Yes." [I based one small detail of a bad motel room on a real motel we stayed at. Fifteen years ago. In a different state than the one my characters stay at.])
"I knew what the twist ending was. You told me all about it. But I got so into the story that I forgot about it and now I'm mad because--can I give spoilers?"
("I mean, I'd rather you didn't.")
"Fine. The THING I WANTED TO HAPPEN doesn't happen. You need a sequel so I can know what happens to all of them afterwards. Also, did you finally fix that typo on page 33?"
January 8, 2023
This is one of those books that you have to just give yourself up to. It's an unusual story, told in an unusual way but if you let that put you off, then you'll miss out on the fun.
The writing style is so energetic and enthusiastic that it just rolls right over some of the rules of grammar that might otherwise have slowed it down. It reminded me of the quote about Gladstone being 'inebriated with the exuberance of his own verbosity'. The thing is, it works. The same way that spinning a plate on a stick works - energy stops it from falling but you're always waiting for it to crash.
The plot is a dizzying ride that manages to balance on the edge of being too chaotic to follow. This is a story for readers who are well-versed in time travel stories. Much of the humour comes from our eighteen-year-old heroine constantly referencing famous time travel plots and Science Fiction tropes as she tries to figure out what's going on and who she should believe.
The reader is kept off balance by the fast pace, some very unlikely events and a self-declared time traveler from the future who speaks English in a way that suggests he was raised by stern grammarians with a predilection for polysyllabic verbosity. It's all great fun, until people start dying.
A major feature of this book is that it had a very surprising twist before the end. I won't say what it was but I liked it, It made me rethink everything I thought I knew but didn't leave me feeling cheated.
'Anachronism' is original and brave and occasionally a little ragged at the edges but its energy more than makes up for that.
The writing style is so energetic and enthusiastic that it just rolls right over some of the rules of grammar that might otherwise have slowed it down. It reminded me of the quote about Gladstone being 'inebriated with the exuberance of his own verbosity'. The thing is, it works. The same way that spinning a plate on a stick works - energy stops it from falling but you're always waiting for it to crash.
The plot is a dizzying ride that manages to balance on the edge of being too chaotic to follow. This is a story for readers who are well-versed in time travel stories. Much of the humour comes from our eighteen-year-old heroine constantly referencing famous time travel plots and Science Fiction tropes as she tries to figure out what's going on and who she should believe.
The reader is kept off balance by the fast pace, some very unlikely events and a self-declared time traveler from the future who speaks English in a way that suggests he was raised by stern grammarians with a predilection for polysyllabic verbosity. It's all great fun, until people start dying.
A major feature of this book is that it had a very surprising twist before the end. I won't say what it was but I liked it, It made me rethink everything I thought I knew but didn't leave me feeling cheated.
'Anachronism' is original and brave and occasionally a little ragged at the edges but its energy more than makes up for that.
August 11, 2018
So this is an action-packed story where the main protagonist, Petra, finds her life turned upside down by an encounter with Moses, just at a point in her life where everything is going wrong. I found Petra sympathetic as her problems were immediately believable and contemporary and I also liked the fact that it took her some time and a frightening encounter before she began to accept that he might be back from the future with a very important message.
Unfortunately, his appearance draws down other attention, which is far less welcome. Davenport was a convincing villain and I was really rooting for Petra to survive so that she could become the great leader Moses knows from his history books. As she goes on a desperate road trip to meet her estranged father, this turns into a classic chase. What I hadn’t expected, was the ultimate twist at the end – I certainly didn’t see it coming and it was a doozy. I went back and reread the start just to ensure that Rossman hadn’t cheated in any way – she hadn’t. It’s really clever and memorable and turns the book into something else altogether.
This is an entertaining, well-written take on the time travelling trope and if you enjoy those types of stories and want a fast-paced read, then I highly recommend this one.
10/10
Unfortunately, his appearance draws down other attention, which is far less welcome. Davenport was a convincing villain and I was really rooting for Petra to survive so that she could become the great leader Moses knows from his history books. As she goes on a desperate road trip to meet her estranged father, this turns into a classic chase. What I hadn’t expected, was the ultimate twist at the end – I certainly didn’t see it coming and it was a doozy. I went back and reread the start just to ensure that Rossman hadn’t cheated in any way – she hadn’t. It’s really clever and memorable and turns the book into something else altogether.
This is an entertaining, well-written take on the time travelling trope and if you enjoy those types of stories and want a fast-paced read, then I highly recommend this one.
10/10
June 2, 2018
I really enjoyed this one. The general tone and pacing make for a fun, almost frenetic read, and the main character is just adorable with her sass and attitude.
The story starts with a self-professed time traveller turning up in a supposedly impregnable vault and asking to speak with the president. However, the president he wants to speak to hasn't been elected yet and is actually having a less than stellar eighteenth birthday. Once the two characters get together the craziness just explodes outwards from there.
Despite its short length, there's a lot packed into this story, and for once I can honestly say I didn't wan to put this one down. It had me gripped all the way through to an ending that certainly wasn't what I expected.
A very strong four and a half stars for this one, and further evidence if needed of the quality of work being put out by the small presses these days.
The story starts with a self-professed time traveller turning up in a supposedly impregnable vault and asking to speak with the president. However, the president he wants to speak to hasn't been elected yet and is actually having a less than stellar eighteenth birthday. Once the two characters get together the craziness just explodes outwards from there.
Despite its short length, there's a lot packed into this story, and for once I can honestly say I didn't wan to put this one down. It had me gripped all the way through to an ending that certainly wasn't what I expected.
A very strong four and a half stars for this one, and further evidence if needed of the quality of work being put out by the small presses these days.
June 4, 2018
A smart, fast-pasted novella about a girl with a future and the man determined to guide her toward it. I really enjoyed the sardonic, erudite distant-third narrator, as well as grumpy protagonist Petra. A great read for Twilight Zone fans!
August 21, 2018
Before I start on this review, I have to say that I read this book over a very busy period of time, with too long between reading sessions, and that this may influence my thoughts. If I were able to travel back in time and start reading later for a more optimal experience, I would, but unfortunately I'm unable to do so.
Warning for major spoilers below, between the spoiler tags!
When I started on the first chapter, it looked like Anachronism had everything to be the perfect book for me. A witty writing style full of puns, time travel, a queer main character. And yet I ended up having mixed feelings about it. At certain points, the extra facts that were inserted for reasons of humour were a little too much for me, distracting me from the course the sentence was actually taking and breaking my immersion. On the other hand, there were also several real gems among the puns and metaphors.
Halfway, the book really picked up its pace and I couldn't put it down anymore as it led to a conclusion that was certainly unexpected. And yet I found myself frowning at the end because the interactions between the characters didn't feel realistic in the given situation.
However, I certainly rooted for the characters
I will definitely pick up more books and stories by Jennifer as she is a very funny and skilled storyteller, but this particular novella was less up my street than I had expected going in.
Warning for major spoilers below, between the spoiler tags!
When I started on the first chapter, it looked like Anachronism had everything to be the perfect book for me. A witty writing style full of puns, time travel, a queer main character. And yet I ended up having mixed feelings about it. At certain points, the extra facts that were inserted for reasons of humour were a little too much for me, distracting me from the course the sentence was actually taking and breaking my immersion. On the other hand, there were also several real gems among the puns and metaphors.
Halfway, the book really picked up its pace and I couldn't put it down anymore as it led to a conclusion that was certainly unexpected. And yet I found myself frowning at the end because the interactions between the characters didn't feel realistic in the given situation.
However, I certainly rooted for the characters
I will definitely pick up more books and stories by Jennifer as she is a very funny and skilled storyteller, but this particular novella was less up my street than I had expected going in.
July 20, 2018
3.5 stars. It was an interesting book, and I did enjoy it-except for the twist. I was hoping it would go in a different direction. Having said that, It's a twist I did not see coming.
June 23, 2018
This book is an absolute delight. The main character, Petra, is clever and snarky and I want to be her best friend. It’s a speedy time travel adventure that sucks you in, literally makes you laugh out loud, and has a twist at the end that is brilliant. I’m a hard reader to completely surprise, but I did not see that one coming. Definitely recommend this book!
October 12, 2018
This book is AWESOME. It's a time-travel, road-trip, coming-of-age, thriller/comedy, with so many plot twists and turns that you'll be totally lost by the time everyone reaches Washington, DC. I won't spoil it for you, but the ending was a COMPLETE SHOCKER.
And you'll just about die laughing!
Honestly, put the ambulance on speed dial or you'll regret it.
And you'll just about die laughing!
Honestly, put the ambulance on speed dial or you'll regret it.
November 11, 2019
I really enjoyed this time travel novella. The character of Petra was really wonderful and I also really enjoyed the twist at the end. Overall, I gave this 4/5 stars!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews