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Bridgers #1
The Lure of Infinity
Some worlds are better left alone.
Infinity Fowler has been fighting all her life. As a child, she had to fight for survival. Then she fought professionally. But when humans obtained the technology to bridge to alternate versions of Earth, she saw a chance for a new life. She signed up to become a bridger—an elite fighter and survival expert who protects tourists bridging to alternate worlds.
Desmond Weaver is a tourist making a last-ditch effort to complete his PhD in evolutionary biology. He has booked the excursion of a lifetime, a data collection mission to a vastly different version of Earth. If he fails, his career will be over.
Infinity is Desmond’s assigned trainer and bridger. She is one of the best, willing to die protecting tourists. And also willing to kill. When it’s time to bridge, Desmond and his two college roommates feel well prepared.
But they aren’t. Naked and weaponless, on an extraordinary world teeming with lethal predators, the team becomes entangled in a life-and-death struggle more terrifying than anything they could ever have imagined.
Infinity Fowler has been fighting all her life. As a child, she had to fight for survival. Then she fought professionally. But when humans obtained the technology to bridge to alternate versions of Earth, she saw a chance for a new life. She signed up to become a bridger—an elite fighter and survival expert who protects tourists bridging to alternate worlds.
Desmond Weaver is a tourist making a last-ditch effort to complete his PhD in evolutionary biology. He has booked the excursion of a lifetime, a data collection mission to a vastly different version of Earth. If he fails, his career will be over.
Infinity is Desmond’s assigned trainer and bridger. She is one of the best, willing to die protecting tourists. And also willing to kill. When it’s time to bridge, Desmond and his two college roommates feel well prepared.
But they aren’t. Naked and weaponless, on an extraordinary world teeming with lethal predators, the team becomes entangled in a life-and-death struggle more terrifying than anything they could ever have imagined.
204 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2018
723 people are currently reading
526 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
March 19, 2020
Original and intense!
Bridgers 1 is an intense and exciting sci-fi action series that takes the reader to other times and parallel worlds. Tourist travel with "Bridgers" to keep them save on their 36 hour trip. Lots of creative genius going on to make these books flow so well! I loved this! Great creatures, characters, action, concept, and plot! I have book two ready to go!
Bridgers 1 is an intense and exciting sci-fi action series that takes the reader to other times and parallel worlds. Tourist travel with "Bridgers" to keep them save on their 36 hour trip. Lots of creative genius going on to make these books flow so well! I loved this! Great creatures, characters, action, concept, and plot! I have book two ready to go!
May 15, 2018
“Heart to blood, muscle to bone, tourist flesh above my own. With self-sacrifice near, my fuel is fear. By bridger means and might, tourists will not fight”, Infinity’s mantra- the heroine- keeps her always on the edge for survival, a demonstration of strength and the determination of the so called “tourists”.
I’m overwhelmed and very impressed with the commence of a superb and magnificent new series! A high octane sci fy action/adventure thriller written with great realism as only Stan knows how! Vivid, unique, creative plot of parallel universes, Earth. A wonderful description of nature and it’s wicked horrors, an imaginative intelligent avian race, and one of the best part is the unsuspecting end!
Every book Stan C. Smith writes is a hit! Impatient already for the next release! A definite recommendation!
I’m overwhelmed and very impressed with the commence of a superb and magnificent new series! A high octane sci fy action/adventure thriller written with great realism as only Stan knows how! Vivid, unique, creative plot of parallel universes, Earth. A wonderful description of nature and it’s wicked horrors, an imaginative intelligent avian race, and one of the best part is the unsuspecting end!
Every book Stan C. Smith writes is a hit! Impatient already for the next release! A definite recommendation!
April 9, 2018
This is a very interesting spin on the parallel worlds theme. Bridgers travel from our present earth to another earth that has diverged from our timeline by a preselected period of time. This is not exactly time-travel – more a ‘what-if’ scenario. The greater the period of divergence, the less predictable the world visited will be.
In the early days of bridging, scientists used the facility for research. Nowadays, those bridging are more likely to be tourists out for the ultimate thrill.
One big catch is, that the Bridgers can take nothing with them – not clothing nor tools, and not even the hair on their heads. Anything they need for their 36-hour trip must be created on the spot, from whatever is available in the target world, including weapons and shelter for survival. Likewise, when they are automatically pulled back to our world, they can bring nothing through.
Each bridging group consists of one or two ‘tourists’ accompanied by 2 professional Bridgers, who are trained to protect the tourists from whatever dangers or difficulties may arise, often at risk of their own lives.
Infinity has been a Bridger for a long time. Trained in martial arts and survival techniques, her status as a prime Bridger is clear from the fact that she is still alive. Bridgers do not tend to live long.
The first bridging episode in the book involves a rather dangerous altercation with Neanderthals, the result of a 100,000-year divergence. Infinity’s next trip is to have a divergence is to be 80 million years, so all bets are off. The three tourists are to be Desmond (a scientist with eidetic memory), Xavier (the financier) and Lenny (a friend along for the ride). What they encounter is beyond their wildest nightmares. This is earth, but not as we know it – or want to know it. Their trip should be exactly 36 hours long – but time is stretched out alarmingly, and hours become eons in their minds. The pace never lets up, and the ending (and anyone’s survival) is never certain.
The invention of the bridging process is kept secret from the public, and its consequences become apparent only near the end of the book (nicely setting up the sequels). It goes to show that all knowledge is a double-edged sword.
This book is not for the squeamish, nor for those who need their Sci-Fi to be realistic, but it is a very exciting and thought-provoking read. I look forward to the next book(s).
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book at no cost from the author in exchange for an honest review
In the early days of bridging, scientists used the facility for research. Nowadays, those bridging are more likely to be tourists out for the ultimate thrill.
One big catch is, that the Bridgers can take nothing with them – not clothing nor tools, and not even the hair on their heads. Anything they need for their 36-hour trip must be created on the spot, from whatever is available in the target world, including weapons and shelter for survival. Likewise, when they are automatically pulled back to our world, they can bring nothing through.
Each bridging group consists of one or two ‘tourists’ accompanied by 2 professional Bridgers, who are trained to protect the tourists from whatever dangers or difficulties may arise, often at risk of their own lives.
Infinity has been a Bridger for a long time. Trained in martial arts and survival techniques, her status as a prime Bridger is clear from the fact that she is still alive. Bridgers do not tend to live long.
The first bridging episode in the book involves a rather dangerous altercation with Neanderthals, the result of a 100,000-year divergence. Infinity’s next trip is to have a divergence is to be 80 million years, so all bets are off. The three tourists are to be Desmond (a scientist with eidetic memory), Xavier (the financier) and Lenny (a friend along for the ride). What they encounter is beyond their wildest nightmares. This is earth, but not as we know it – or want to know it. Their trip should be exactly 36 hours long – but time is stretched out alarmingly, and hours become eons in their minds. The pace never lets up, and the ending (and anyone’s survival) is never certain.
The invention of the bridging process is kept secret from the public, and its consequences become apparent only near the end of the book (nicely setting up the sequels). It goes to show that all knowledge is a double-edged sword.
This book is not for the squeamish, nor for those who need their Sci-Fi to be realistic, but it is a very exciting and thought-provoking read. I look forward to the next book(s).
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book at no cost from the author in exchange for an honest review
April 12, 2018
The author strikes again, this time with a tale of parallel earths, and the people (Bridgers) who risk their lives to keep tourists safe as they travel to these alternate earths, which have diverged from our earth's timeline.
The story focuses mainly on Infinity, a former troubled youth and MMA fighter who jumped at the prospect of excellent pay as a bridger, despite the obvious risks of jumping to an unknown world without even the clothes on your back for protection. The bridger's role is to ensure all the travellers (tourists) make it back alive. Infinity is the best, and she's offered a big payday to take some college students on a trip to a world that diverged 80 million years ago, one she can't say no to.
The author creates interesting worlds (in all his works), believable and similar to ours but also very different. Bridgers rattles along at a breakneck pace, as 36 hours on a hostile alternate earth should, and doesn't let up until the end. There is a greater plot simmering in the background, but we are kept ignorant due to being stranded on the other earth with Infinity and her charges.
The book isn't out for another month or so, but if you like Sci-Fi with action, do yourself a favour and check this one out.
The story focuses mainly on Infinity, a former troubled youth and MMA fighter who jumped at the prospect of excellent pay as a bridger, despite the obvious risks of jumping to an unknown world without even the clothes on your back for protection. The bridger's role is to ensure all the travellers (tourists) make it back alive. Infinity is the best, and she's offered a big payday to take some college students on a trip to a world that diverged 80 million years ago, one she can't say no to.
The author creates interesting worlds (in all his works), believable and similar to ours but also very different. Bridgers rattles along at a breakneck pace, as 36 hours on a hostile alternate earth should, and doesn't let up until the end. There is a greater plot simmering in the background, but we are kept ignorant due to being stranded on the other earth with Infinity and her charges.
The book isn't out for another month or so, but if you like Sci-Fi with action, do yourself a favour and check this one out.
April 5, 2018
Stan C. Smith's gripping sci-fi novel, Bridgers 1: The Lure of Infinity explorers the "existence of infinite parallel universes” as Bridger Infinity Fowler and her partner help tourists navigate thirty-six-hour bridging experiences. The lead character, Infinity, immediately pulled me in with her no-nonsense attitude and tough exterior. Because she considers “every minute of life to be sacred,” Infinity doesn't waste words, time, or energy as she struggles to help three tourists survive in an environment that diverged from ours eighty million years ago. Each tension-filled scene evokes the reader's senses and creates an ebb and flow pulling the reader along. As soon as one problem is solved or a question is answered, another emerges. Will they all return alive at bridge-back, and what impact will this have on their future?
August 7, 2022
Los "Bridgers" traducido a nuestro idioma podría ser "puenteros" son personas entrenadas en la supervivencia, un grupo selecto de personas encargadas de acompañar y proteger a los "turistas". Pero no se trata de viajar a la playa o al bosque, sino nada más y nada menos que a universos paralelos. El libro se basa en la premisa de la existencia de los universo paralelos, y de que gracias a una máquina pueden saltar de un universo a otro en cualquier punto de la historia y ver en qué se diferencia. Y como se pueden imaginar, las cosas no siempre salen como lo esperado. En esta ocasión, Infinity, Nuestra protagonista viajará al pasado acompañando a tres turistas, en un viaje que les llevará a los tiempos de los grandes dinosaurios.
Con criaturas inesperadas, mucha acción y aventuras, Bridgers es un comienzo intenso para esta saga que augura mucha más acción y momentos de gran tensión.
El único pero, es a gusto personal, que faltaron más criaturas, más dinosaurios, que le vamos a hacer, los dinos son mi debilidad.
Con criaturas inesperadas, mucha acción y aventuras, Bridgers es un comienzo intenso para esta saga que augura mucha más acción y momentos de gran tensión.
El único pero, es a gusto personal, que faltaron más criaturas, más dinosaurios, que le vamos a hacer, los dinos son mi debilidad.
April 4, 2018
Wow! Another great read by Stan C. Smith. I am not much of a Science Fiction reader but Bridgers is more time travel and survival in a past time period you pick. Human's want to survive and only a few thousand of those with important skills will be get the opportunity to pick time periods and go back and start new communities. Earth's destruction is near.
Would highly recommend it. Can't wait until the next one in the series comes out.
Would highly recommend it. Can't wait until the next one in the series comes out.
August 3, 2022
I read Infinity: A Bridger's Origin first and then this one and....well, Infinity: A Bridger's Origin was really interesting and I really liked Passerina a.k.a. Infinity. She was intelligent and vicious in the way that she was intended to be to get into this program. The Infinity in this book is...not the woman I met in that one. I understand that Infinity: A Bridger's Origin was written after The Lure of Infinity and I am hoping that we recapture the person Infinity was in that book. I liked her a lot more than this....brainwashed shell of a person. What happened to the intelligent, steel backboned woman who told off Doyle and listed all the things that Bridgers needed to know and all the things that Clients needed to learn BEFORE bridging? That Infinity would have put the "Tourists" through boot camp, trained them how to fight and how to make weapons from basic materials before they stepped in and stomped down on the idea of going to the carnivore heavy world. Anyway, again, I know I'm looking at a solidified character in Infinity: A Bridger's Origin verses the rough outline she started out with in this book....I just felt I should explain why this one got such a HARD rating after Infinity: A Bridger's Origin got a 5 star.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2018
que dire sans trop dévoiler ? des univers parallèles terrestres mais à l'évolution différente à explorer
Une héroïne sympathique et forte qui mérite le respect du lecteur , quelques personnages annexes qui ne demandent qu'à être développés
mon reproche est que l'auteur est tombé dans le piège de la "série" en proposant des suites à 200 pages (je suis déjà allé voir ... ) alors que, à mon humble avis, il aurait été plus judicieux de moins délayer et de se concentrer, non sur une répétition des actions (combats décès /survies) mais plus sur le fond (développement sans l'être humain, risque technologique, univers parallèle sujets passionnants ici évoqués mais peu développés)
En résumé, c'est une lecture plutôt agréable, sans difficulté, pour qui aime les histoires d' aventures et d'actions mais qui risque de lasser si l'auteur "traîne" en longueur en explorant des possibilités infinies mais au schémas trop semblables et donc répétitifs...
Une héroïne sympathique et forte qui mérite le respect du lecteur , quelques personnages annexes qui ne demandent qu'à être développés
mon reproche est que l'auteur est tombé dans le piège de la "série" en proposant des suites à 200 pages (je suis déjà allé voir ... ) alors que, à mon humble avis, il aurait été plus judicieux de moins délayer et de se concentrer, non sur une répétition des actions (combats décès /survies) mais plus sur le fond (développement sans l'être humain, risque technologique, univers parallèle sujets passionnants ici évoqués mais peu développés)
En résumé, c'est une lecture plutôt agréable, sans difficulté, pour qui aime les histoires d' aventures et d'actions mais qui risque de lasser si l'auteur "traîne" en longueur en explorant des possibilités infinies mais au schémas trop semblables et donc répétitifs...
December 25, 2024
A little hard to get into the story at first, but once the action starts ot never stops.
Hard to break from reading once I passed that point.
I didn't like the prospect that the world they entered would just disappear after 36 hours, and the depiction of the bird creatures was comic-book like. Their world is all evil . . . No shades of grey.
And bridging to alternate universes to start over? Fanciful.
Hard to break from reading once I passed that point.
I didn't like the prospect that the world they entered would just disappear after 36 hours, and the depiction of the bird creatures was comic-book like. Their world is all evil . . . No shades of grey.
And bridging to alternate universes to start over? Fanciful.
September 15, 2018
Stan Smith continues to come up with original and fascinating sci-fi adventures and Bridgers is no exception. In this, he imagines a device that allows you to travel to an alternate universe of our world, one that had somehow diverged from the current evolutionary path where, perhaps, humans are not the apex creature on the planet. This mode of travel is called bridging and believe me once the characters "bridge" you won't be able to put the book down! Additionally, Stan's character perspective is written with a masterful ability so that the reader is weaving in and out of multiple perspectives yet in never confusing. The story is riveting and action-packed and I can't wait to see what happens next!
January 13, 2019
Average
Initial concept of this story sounds exciting but sadly did not delivered on the initial promise. I will maybe eventually buy the second book but at this stage it looks doubtful.
Initial concept of this story sounds exciting but sadly did not delivered on the initial promise. I will maybe eventually buy the second book but at this stage it looks doubtful.
August 21, 2024
As I said in my review of "Infinity", the prequel to this series, Bridgers is a combination of the TV shows "Survivor" and "Naked and Afraid" with action throughout.
Infinity and her "tourists" fight to survive their 36-hour excursion.
I hope the rest of the series is just as good.
Infinity and her "tourists" fight to survive their 36-hour excursion.
I hope the rest of the series is just as good.
August 11, 2018
Original story premise, action a mile a minute, I love Stan's stories!
July 1, 2022
Very interesting science and characters.
I think I'm hooked.
I think I'm hooked.
September 12, 2024
Great Series! I honestly didn't have high expectations. I thought it's going to be another book where people go in prehistoric world and run away from Dinosaurs. Thankfully it was nothing like it. It's very interesting premise and story, high stakes, good action. Kudos.
December 1, 2019
Well that escalated fast! I hadn't expected the twist in the end that raised the stakes to monumental proportions. Let's see if the author can pull it off in the next book.
March 31, 2021
This book was a fun romp. It’s an edge of your seat, primordial fight for your life that makes you think about how well you would do in a prehistoric and helpless situation.
Review: https://youtu.be/xJDjAtFGa8g
Premise +1
Flow/Pacing +1
Character Development +.5
World Building +.5
Conclusion +1
Bonus point: Outstanding concepts +1
=⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Style: Light read.
Why I liked it…
Imagine you are shipped off to caveman times without a stitch of clothing on your body nor an ounce of food in your belly. How long you could last when fighting the beasties of that time with clumsy rocks and hastily crafted spears? That is this book. What a fun freaking concept. That’s it. It’s just a neat trip to a place I never thought my brain would go, and I’m totally going to read the next one.
Where it struggled…
This isn’t a deep read, but I’m kind of glad it wasn’t. However, the beautiful surroundings and scientific data provided in relation to the bridging experience could have been fleshed out a bit more. Additionally, some of the side characters lacked distinction.
Summary…
An unnerving yet thrilling story of naked helplessness in the face of prehistoric threats. I had a great time reading it and would recommend it to anyone who likes action adventure books.
Review: https://youtu.be/xJDjAtFGa8g
Premise +1
Flow/Pacing +1
Character Development +.5
World Building +.5
Conclusion +1
Bonus point: Outstanding concepts +1
=⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Style: Light read.
Why I liked it…
Imagine you are shipped off to caveman times without a stitch of clothing on your body nor an ounce of food in your belly. How long you could last when fighting the beasties of that time with clumsy rocks and hastily crafted spears? That is this book. What a fun freaking concept. That’s it. It’s just a neat trip to a place I never thought my brain would go, and I’m totally going to read the next one.
Where it struggled…
This isn’t a deep read, but I’m kind of glad it wasn’t. However, the beautiful surroundings and scientific data provided in relation to the bridging experience could have been fleshed out a bit more. Additionally, some of the side characters lacked distinction.
Summary…
An unnerving yet thrilling story of naked helplessness in the face of prehistoric threats. I had a great time reading it and would recommend it to anyone who likes action adventure books.
October 20, 2020
A hint of spoilerism about mid-point and another right at the end, here.
I liked the MC, tho i wasn't as emotionally invested in her as i wished to be. I thought the idea of the story was intriguing and the science of the actual bridging very plausible. I believed it in the story. The writing was clear and clean--i had no problem with SPaG.
The pre-bridge chs held my interest.
The time they spent in the alt-world? Very forgettable, i'm afraid. This horrible thing happened, then that horrible thing happened, and everyone got terrible ouchies, and I had almost zero feelings about any of it, really. The death of one of the characters was just a throw-away to me--the characters didn't feel almost anything and i was right with 'em--which made me kinda sad. What's the point of a character death if no one feels anything about it?
I got to around the 35% mark and then skipped to the last 2 chs--with a short stop at some point between 50-70%, where close interactions with the advanced dinosaur denizens threated to be engaging for about 5 pages and then turned into more of the above (horrible things, ouchies.)
The big twist ending wasn't a surprise, either--the author set it up too clearly in the beginning, so i knew what they were basically gonna come back to. The thing is--the big twist that leads to more books had nothing to do with the what they did in that alt-world with those advanced dinos. Nothing they did in that world created or mitigated the Big Twist.
And here's the major plot twist spoiler:
The first time someone used the bridger tech, the world was doomed, and our MC and her tourist didn't make things better or worse by what they went through in that other place. And that made the whole thing kinda meh for me.
The whole alt-world struggle felt pointless. They saved the other two tourists! But when we got back, it was pretty much assured that they'd die on our world. Who bridges a couple cripples when you can only choose 718 people to go?
And if I think about that ending--it's just there to sell more books in the series, but the premise of that whole thing seems silly to me. Why go to worlds potentially like dino-world when you can find a dozen worlds inhabited by humans that are almost like ours? And since those worlds don't exist until we notice them, why not spend your time noticing as many worlds as possible with humans instead of trying to find worlds without humans to colonized? Blend into entire human civilizations rather than cave-manning it in small groups, people! Or find one world and start shuffling as many from our world as you can in the time left. Either of those scenarios make more sense to me than the one the author chose.
I liked the MC, tho i wasn't as emotionally invested in her as i wished to be. I thought the idea of the story was intriguing and the science of the actual bridging very plausible. I believed it in the story. The writing was clear and clean--i had no problem with SPaG.
The pre-bridge chs held my interest.
The time they spent in the alt-world? Very forgettable, i'm afraid. This horrible thing happened, then that horrible thing happened, and everyone got terrible ouchies, and I had almost zero feelings about any of it, really. The death of one of the characters was just a throw-away to me--the characters didn't feel almost anything and i was right with 'em--which made me kinda sad. What's the point of a character death if no one feels anything about it?
I got to around the 35% mark and then skipped to the last 2 chs--with a short stop at some point between 50-70%, where close interactions with the advanced dinosaur denizens threated to be engaging for about 5 pages and then turned into more of the above (horrible things, ouchies.)
The big twist ending wasn't a surprise, either--the author set it up too clearly in the beginning, so i knew what they were basically gonna come back to. The thing is--the big twist that leads to more books had nothing to do with the what they did in that alt-world with those advanced dinos. Nothing they did in that world created or mitigated the Big Twist.
And here's the major plot twist spoiler:
The first time someone used the bridger tech, the world was doomed, and our MC and her tourist didn't make things better or worse by what they went through in that other place. And that made the whole thing kinda meh for me.
The whole alt-world struggle felt pointless. They saved the other two tourists! But when we got back, it was pretty much assured that they'd die on our world. Who bridges a couple cripples when you can only choose 718 people to go?
And if I think about that ending--it's just there to sell more books in the series, but the premise of that whole thing seems silly to me. Why go to worlds potentially like dino-world when you can find a dozen worlds inhabited by humans that are almost like ours? And since those worlds don't exist until we notice them, why not spend your time noticing as many worlds as possible with humans instead of trying to find worlds without humans to colonized? Blend into entire human civilizations rather than cave-manning it in small groups, people! Or find one world and start shuffling as many from our world as you can in the time left. Either of those scenarios make more sense to me than the one the author chose.
February 24, 2020
With this book Stan C Smith has created something different, something instantly addictive, something brilliant. Breathtakingly original, I can’t wait to see where he takes the rest of this series. The story features Infinity, a bridger, who leads tourists to alternate worlds to explore what Earth could have been like. The process is simple: pick a divergent point at which Earth could have turned out differently, travel there via some little understood alien technology and go explore. Okay, that’s over simplifying Stan C Smith's brilliant story somewhat but you get the idea. Right from the start Infinity's latest excursion is a disaster, with death lurking at every turn. The world they visit is brought vividly to life by the author and the action throughout is fast paced and packed with tension. Will Infinity and her tourists survive? Will she lose another bridging partner? Where will the story go after these questions are answered? The end of the book ramps the tension even higher but I don’t want to spoil it for potential readers. Overall, the author has given us something quite unlike anything I’ve ever read before full of fascinating characters, vivid strange landscapes and nail biting tension making for a truly breathtaking read. This is great fantasy/sci-fi/alternate reality/apocalypse writing. If a writer can mix all of those separate ideas and write a compelling and believable story then it’s going to be something special. A must read book that has me salivating for the rest of the series and one I recommend very highly.
May 29, 2019
A first-rate series from the author of the Diffusion books
Excellent reading experience, from one of the best world-builders in the indie author/publisher category.
The technology that permits “bridging” to alternative timelines is alien, and was received as a transmission from a civilization many lightyears from Earth.
Bridgers are guides and protectors for “tourists” who want to make a 36-hour visit to an alternative reality of modern earth, hundreds or thousands of years in the past. Survival rate for Bridgers is low, as they are sworn to protect their “tourists” regardless of whether or not they can survive doing so.
Infinity is the chosen name of a Bridger, and unquestionably she is the best one available. As the lead character in the series, she is one of the strongest female protagonists in non-super-hero stories – both mentally, and physically.
I have books 2 – 4 in this series, as well as a prequel – Bridgers Origins-0. I am presently reading book #2 – The Cost of Survival – saving the prequel for after I finish this one.
I read and loved Stan C. Smith’s Diffusion series. And his emails to his readers are the best ones I have ever read. I highly recommend that you get on his email list.
Excellent reading experience, from one of the best world-builders in the indie author/publisher category.
The technology that permits “bridging” to alternative timelines is alien, and was received as a transmission from a civilization many lightyears from Earth.
Bridgers are guides and protectors for “tourists” who want to make a 36-hour visit to an alternative reality of modern earth, hundreds or thousands of years in the past. Survival rate for Bridgers is low, as they are sworn to protect their “tourists” regardless of whether or not they can survive doing so.
Infinity is the chosen name of a Bridger, and unquestionably she is the best one available. As the lead character in the series, she is one of the strongest female protagonists in non-super-hero stories – both mentally, and physically.
I have books 2 – 4 in this series, as well as a prequel – Bridgers Origins-0. I am presently reading book #2 – The Cost of Survival – saving the prequel for after I finish this one.
I read and loved Stan C. Smith’s Diffusion series. And his emails to his readers are the best ones I have ever read. I highly recommend that you get on his email list.
December 20, 2021
I got this book as part of a box set and the review below has been repeated as part of the review of that set.
This is the first book in the Bridger series although there is a prequel called "Infinity: A Bridger's Origin". If you read the prequel first it is possible you would get more out of this book. This is because the prequel introduces Infinity as a character and tells you more about bridging - moving between Earth and alternate versions of our planet in parallel universes.
This book continues the story of Infinity (the infinity in the title actually being the infinite number of parallel universes rather than the character). People on Earth pay large sums of money to bridge to versions of our planet as it was thousands of years ago. Although they are only there for a maximum of 36hrs the reader discovers that a lot can happen in such a short time. The characters also discover that a lot can happen in the same time on our planet when they bridge back.
This was a very gripping read, where the reader sometimes wonders how the characters are going to get out of some pretty hairy situations. The only downside in the book I thought was that it seemed to end rather abruptly. I am, however, looking forward to reading further books in this series..
This is the first book in the Bridger series although there is a prequel called "Infinity: A Bridger's Origin". If you read the prequel first it is possible you would get more out of this book. This is because the prequel introduces Infinity as a character and tells you more about bridging - moving between Earth and alternate versions of our planet in parallel universes.
This book continues the story of Infinity (the infinity in the title actually being the infinite number of parallel universes rather than the character). People on Earth pay large sums of money to bridge to versions of our planet as it was thousands of years ago. Although they are only there for a maximum of 36hrs the reader discovers that a lot can happen in such a short time. The characters also discover that a lot can happen in the same time on our planet when they bridge back.
This was a very gripping read, where the reader sometimes wonders how the characters are going to get out of some pretty hairy situations. The only downside in the book I thought was that it seemed to end rather abruptly. I am, however, looking forward to reading further books in this series..
September 9, 2018
Bridgers 1: The Lure of Infinity is a fascinating and intricately woven thrill ride by Stan C. Smith that involves a different take on Time Travel. This will capture and hold the reader's attention the entire time.
The fast paced, full of action and adventure story has superb depth, and is a veritable roller coaster ride for the reader, it is full of danger, is unpredictable and has a lot happening in a well thought out world that has been created.
The Author has shown very creative imagination in describing the various scenes and settings, and the good detailed descriptions of the various animals, flora and fauna encountered are easily envisioned.
Book one is an excellent introduction to limitless worlds and the people who explore them known as Bridgers. These are warriors who protect visitors during their adventure into the past. Both people and places are described vividly. The strong, well defined and likeable characters are Infinity Flowers and Desmond her partner, who seem alive and make you want to meet them.
This is an awesome story by a fantastic writer. I look forward to the next book.
Recommended!
Gifted with a copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
The fast paced, full of action and adventure story has superb depth, and is a veritable roller coaster ride for the reader, it is full of danger, is unpredictable and has a lot happening in a well thought out world that has been created.
The Author has shown very creative imagination in describing the various scenes and settings, and the good detailed descriptions of the various animals, flora and fauna encountered are easily envisioned.
Book one is an excellent introduction to limitless worlds and the people who explore them known as Bridgers. These are warriors who protect visitors during their adventure into the past. Both people and places are described vividly. The strong, well defined and likeable characters are Infinity Flowers and Desmond her partner, who seem alive and make you want to meet them.
This is an awesome story by a fantastic writer. I look forward to the next book.
Recommended!
Gifted with a copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
June 21, 2019
Stan Smith is my drug dealer!
Although I am not a drug user. I can only imagine drug addicts feel for drugs the way I feel for Stan Smith books. Once I start I could not stop. When I am not reading them I am thinking about them.
In book one of The Bridger series , Infenity is a Bridger. She accompanies Taurus to parallel universes as their bodyguard and protector. She has very little respect for tourist, she only does it because the paycheck is good and she is good at it. Then Desmond becomes a terrorist, not only will he prove that he is her equal who will also open up her heart to something she was on expecting. After his dangerous trek into his chosen parallel universe, he to becomes a bridger and they both find out it’s not just parallel universes that are dangerous. I know I say this about every Stan Smith book, but I love this book. Besides violence, there is nothing else the reader needs to be warned about. I suggest anyone who can deal with the violence issue should definitely read this book.
Although I am not a drug user. I can only imagine drug addicts feel for drugs the way I feel for Stan Smith books. Once I start I could not stop. When I am not reading them I am thinking about them.
In book one of The Bridger series , Infenity is a Bridger. She accompanies Taurus to parallel universes as their bodyguard and protector. She has very little respect for tourist, she only does it because the paycheck is good and she is good at it. Then Desmond becomes a terrorist, not only will he prove that he is her equal who will also open up her heart to something she was on expecting. After his dangerous trek into his chosen parallel universe, he to becomes a bridger and they both find out it’s not just parallel universes that are dangerous. I know I say this about every Stan Smith book, but I love this book. Besides violence, there is nothing else the reader needs to be warned about. I suggest anyone who can deal with the violence issue should definitely read this book.
July 21, 2018
Short story, to the point.
It's a refreshingly shorter story than most, and goes straight to the point. The title is a double entendre over the infinity of parallel universes that is the core of the scifi aspect of the book, and the main character's nickname. The idea behind Bridgers is that you can go to parallel timelines. You pick the divergence point and then you get a random universe that branched from then. Travel naked, stay 36h, be yanked back.
Of course, rather than exploring known history, our characters decide to explore a divergent evolution, and we get the usual "what if the dinosaurs survived" story, because the expedition sponsor wanted a more original PhD. But the premise of people dropping naked on intelligent dinosaurs, and having to survive until recall makes a more original story than you'd expect.
Plus, we get a massive turning of the tables at the end to prepare the next book. Interesting.
It's a refreshingly shorter story than most, and goes straight to the point. The title is a double entendre over the infinity of parallel universes that is the core of the scifi aspect of the book, and the main character's nickname. The idea behind Bridgers is that you can go to parallel timelines. You pick the divergence point and then you get a random universe that branched from then. Travel naked, stay 36h, be yanked back.
Of course, rather than exploring known history, our characters decide to explore a divergent evolution, and we get the usual "what if the dinosaurs survived" story, because the expedition sponsor wanted a more original PhD. But the premise of people dropping naked on intelligent dinosaurs, and having to survive until recall makes a more original story than you'd expect.
Plus, we get a massive turning of the tables at the end to prepare the next book. Interesting.
May 15, 2018
Stan Smith’s new book, the first of his new Bridgers series, starts out with a bang. We have a Infinity, a Bridger protecting a “Visitor” from what appears to be Neanderthals 100,000 years ago. All of a sudden they return back to present time. Strange? Yes. Explanations? OK, here goes.
A Bridger is a warrior and whose mission is to protect Visitors on their trip to what appears to be a parallel earth. A Visitor is a researcher or anyone else who has paid to take these trips. And they choose what time they wish to visit. The company who arranges these trips is SafeTrek Bridging.
Follow Infinity and her fellow Bridgers as they protect other Visitors during their adventures into the past. Along the way you get to find out how Bridging occurs as well as explanation of other mysteries.
You won’t be disappointed.
A Bridger is a warrior and whose mission is to protect Visitors on their trip to what appears to be a parallel earth. A Visitor is a researcher or anyone else who has paid to take these trips. And they choose what time they wish to visit. The company who arranges these trips is SafeTrek Bridging.
Follow Infinity and her fellow Bridgers as they protect other Visitors during their adventures into the past. Along the way you get to find out how Bridging occurs as well as explanation of other mysteries.
You won’t be disappointed.
May 15, 2018
I received an early free copy of Stan C. Smith’s “Bridgers 1: The Lure of Infinity” in exchange for a last minute proofread, and I have to say it was one of the most compelling readings I have encountered in a long time. The characters portrayed are very believable, the storyline equally so, and the action non-stop. It’s based on the recent concept of multi-Universes, but with a different – and very acceptable – twist to it. As it’s often the case, this book is the first of a series; but even so, it is complete in and of itself. True, the ending is a cliff-hanger and yet it did not take away any of the enjoyment in the reading. I can give this a five-star rating without hesitation!Stan Smith
June 5, 2023
This was my 2nd time reading - I remembered that I enjoyed it but the details were hazy - So the read was a bit quicker than it would have been if it'd been my 1st read. Looking at my history I had borrowed the 3 book set.. so Now to read 2-3 again..
And to make a better review for my poor memory.
This was a good introduction to the series- (but now I have seen that there is a prequel- soo)
Reminds me of the TV shows - Sliders, Travelers and Quantum Leap
I loved the world building it happens in our future - and the characters are well developed and believable. The story is well written and full of things that make you want to read and miss it when you have to put it down to get life done.. ya'know real life.. food, cleaning and socializing with loved ones.
I left me thinking about what if .. I enjoy a book that makes me think after I've read it.
And to make a better review for my poor memory.
This was a good introduction to the series- (but now I have seen that there is a prequel- soo)
Reminds me of the TV shows - Sliders, Travelers and Quantum Leap
I loved the world building it happens in our future - and the characters are well developed and believable. The story is well written and full of things that make you want to read and miss it when you have to put it down to get life done.. ya'know real life.. food, cleaning and socializing with loved ones.
I left me thinking about what if .. I enjoy a book that makes me think after I've read it.
March 10, 2025
The Lure of Infinity
Bridgers #1
Sci-Fi
Stan C. Smith
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛʀᴀᴠᴇʟ • ᴘᴀʀᴀʟʟᴇʟ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅꜱ • ʀᴀᴄᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴꜱᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇ •
This was such an interesting book. I really enjoyed the technology and the world building, especially because the characters "bridge" to other worlds with strange creatures and environments.
The pacing was good and there was always something interesting happening.
I liked the characters but I wanted more POVs. Infinity was strong and fierce. I felt bad for her when she lost her colleagues. The "tourists" were good too, even when they went again Infinity's orders.
The explanation of how the bridging devices were causing Earth to die was a little underwhelming. As bad as it was, I wanted it to be a bit more dramatic.
I liked the ending and I'm curious enough that I'll be reading the next book
Bridgers #1
Sci-Fi
Stan C. Smith
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛʀᴀᴠᴇʟ • ᴘᴀʀᴀʟʟᴇʟ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅꜱ • ʀᴀᴄᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴꜱᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇ •
This was such an interesting book. I really enjoyed the technology and the world building, especially because the characters "bridge" to other worlds with strange creatures and environments.
The pacing was good and there was always something interesting happening.
I liked the characters but I wanted more POVs. Infinity was strong and fierce. I felt bad for her when she lost her colleagues. The "tourists" were good too, even when they went again Infinity's orders.
The explanation of how the bridging devices were causing Earth to die was a little underwhelming. As bad as it was, I wanted it to be a bit more dramatic.
I liked the ending and I'm curious enough that I'll be reading the next book
April 3, 2018
I was given an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and have volunteered to post a review. I absolutely loved the book. It is a terrific start to a new series by Stan Smith. Bridgers 1 is a genuine thriller as all Smith's books promise to be. Infinity Fowler is a great heroine you will want to follow on all her exceptional adventures. Smith has a very creative mind and bases his stories on scientific facts and possibilities. Book 1 presents fertile ground for unknown and unexpected adventures to come. The characters are well developed and the environments are colorful and authentic.
Be prepared at the end of Book 1 of Bridgers: The Lure of Infinity to have an overwhelming desire for more, much more!
Be prepared at the end of Book 1 of Bridgers: The Lure of Infinity to have an overwhelming desire for more, much more!
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