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The Legend of Garison Fitch #1
First Time
"What if history didn't happen that way ... the first time?"
Garison Fitch was a scientist and something of a celebrity in the Soviet Americas in the early 21st century until dropping off the map to pursue his theories in the remote La Plata Canyon. Living in a log home he built himself (which was too close to the Empire of Japan (30 miles to the west) and the Republic of Texas (15 miles to the south), Garison began to experiment with interdimensional travel.
An experiment with such travel surprised him when he landed him in 1744. There he discovered a primitive world of somewhat suspicious people, but a freedom he had never experienced before--which may have been most frightening of all. As he was trying to discover how to return to the future, he met and fell in love with Sarah, a beautiful young woman who is an outcast due to the fact that it was never known who her father was. They married and had three children and he decided to stay in the past and raise his children with the woman he loved.
When he tried to rid himself of his time machine by sending it into the future, however, it took him with it. Now, he finds himself back in the twenty-first century where a woman (Heather) he has never met claims to be his wife and the country he grew up in is gone, replaced by something called “The United States of America”. He quickly realizes that something he did in the past has changed the future but he doesn't know what until he stumbles across a strange item in Heather's purse.
Should he live in this new world, or try to travel once more through time and return the world to “normal”? As he becomes convinced he can’t return to Sarah, he’s not really sure if he can live in this new world he created, either.
Garison Fitch was a scientist and something of a celebrity in the Soviet Americas in the early 21st century until dropping off the map to pursue his theories in the remote La Plata Canyon. Living in a log home he built himself (which was too close to the Empire of Japan (30 miles to the west) and the Republic of Texas (15 miles to the south), Garison began to experiment with interdimensional travel.
An experiment with such travel surprised him when he landed him in 1744. There he discovered a primitive world of somewhat suspicious people, but a freedom he had never experienced before--which may have been most frightening of all. As he was trying to discover how to return to the future, he met and fell in love with Sarah, a beautiful young woman who is an outcast due to the fact that it was never known who her father was. They married and had three children and he decided to stay in the past and raise his children with the woman he loved.
When he tried to rid himself of his time machine by sending it into the future, however, it took him with it. Now, he finds himself back in the twenty-first century where a woman (Heather) he has never met claims to be his wife and the country he grew up in is gone, replaced by something called “The United States of America”. He quickly realizes that something he did in the past has changed the future but he doesn't know what until he stumbles across a strange item in Heather's purse.
Should he live in this new world, or try to travel once more through time and return the world to “normal”? As he becomes convinced he can’t return to Sarah, he’s not really sure if he can live in this new world he created, either.
- GenresParanormal
Paperback
First published October 7, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 29, 2025
What a fun book! Apparently I bought this set 14 years ago and I’m just now getting around to reading them. I’m actually sorry I waited so long. I think it was the covers that were offputting. So obviously you can’t judge a book by its cover.
This was a time travel story, but the scientist who put this machine together thought that he was traveling to another dimension, not another time. He starts off in 2005 and ends up in the colonial era in a different part of the country.
Honestly, fascinating story I couldn’t put down. Oh, and it’s actually quite Christ focused which I didn’t know when I started reading it. It was a delight.
This was a time travel story, but the scientist who put this machine together thought that he was traveling to another dimension, not another time. He starts off in 2005 and ends up in the colonial era in a different part of the country.
Honestly, fascinating story I couldn’t put down. Oh, and it’s actually quite Christ focused which I didn’t know when I started reading it. It was a delight.
December 2, 2012
What drew me to this book was the concept it was intriguing and I wanted to see how it would be executed. Because time travel is not a new concept and it takes finesse to keep the story from becoming a cartoonish mess. Still First Time was entertaining a few twist that kept the story interesting. I loved the subplot entertaining the idea of alternate histories and parallel dimensions. As well as the time paradox element it was provocative. Especially the repercussions that had realistic consequences resulting from Garison’s mishap. Raising all sorts of questions about one’s reality. The romantic facet was sweet but if not a little confusing with the different time lines.
Having said that I had an issues I couldn’t ignore—the religious element scattered (and I do mean scattered) through out the book at times felt heavy handed (maybe that’s just me). But I’d be reading along and bam there’d be some religious reference to Christianity. Though it’s not distracting from the story you do notice it’s presence. Four hundreds pages was adventurous undertaking and it started to show some. The plot’s pacing was slow most of the time but when any action occurred I found myself feverishly plowing through to find out what happened next. Still at the the end of the day it was a fun read for a sunday afternoon after church, but for me this was three point five rating. The religious element was the down fall–honestly I don’t have a problem with religion but this book’s genre is not clearly stated as or listed among the Christian fiction. And forewarned at least you know what to expect otherwise it can be a turn off coming upon it unexpectedly.
3.5 / 5
Having said that I had an issues I couldn’t ignore—the religious element scattered (and I do mean scattered) through out the book at times felt heavy handed (maybe that’s just me). But I’d be reading along and bam there’d be some religious reference to Christianity. Though it’s not distracting from the story you do notice it’s presence. Four hundreds pages was adventurous undertaking and it started to show some. The plot’s pacing was slow most of the time but when any action occurred I found myself feverishly plowing through to find out what happened next. Still at the the end of the day it was a fun read for a sunday afternoon after church, but for me this was three point five rating. The religious element was the down fall–honestly I don’t have a problem with religion but this book’s genre is not clearly stated as or listed among the Christian fiction. And forewarned at least you know what to expect otherwise it can be a turn off coming upon it unexpectedly.
3.5 / 5
December 2, 2012
First of all, I am not normally a time travel fan. I often avoid these books, but once in a while, I find myself enjoying a book in this genre. "The Time Machine" is one of my favorite classic books, and this book is reminiscent of this story. In other words, this time travel book is fantastic, and I highly recommend it. The writing is phenomenal, and the story is absolutely intriguing. The characterization is masterful, and I had to keep reading so I would know how it ended. And I have to say the ending was a bit of a surprise to me.
The message of the book truly spoke to me. So often, we think of someone doing something horrible and changing history for the worse. I don't think of someone doing something good and changing history in an unbelievable way. When the book began, I was confused by the history that was detailed. In fact, I only understood about halfway through the book. Then everything made sense, and I was completely captivated.
There is one more aspect to this book that was so refreshing. While I cannot guarantee it, I tend to think that the author is a Christian or has Christian background. It was neat to see the main character come to faith. And it was so nice not to have a single inappropriate thing in the book. No profanity, bad language nor loose morals! I definitely want to read the other books in this series and by this author.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
The message of the book truly spoke to me. So often, we think of someone doing something horrible and changing history for the worse. I don't think of someone doing something good and changing history in an unbelievable way. When the book began, I was confused by the history that was detailed. In fact, I only understood about halfway through the book. Then everything made sense, and I was completely captivated.
There is one more aspect to this book that was so refreshing. While I cannot guarantee it, I tend to think that the author is a Christian or has Christian background. It was neat to see the main character come to faith. And it was so nice not to have a single inappropriate thing in the book. No profanity, bad language nor loose morals! I definitely want to read the other books in this series and by this author.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
November 25, 2012
When I first started reading First Time I couldn't help but think about the Back to the Future movies, even though Garison (the scientist and main character in First Time) is much younger than Doc (and not so crazy).
The book starts out in present day and goes back in time. Between each chapter there are excerpts from a family history book. The jumping around confused me somewhat, although if I'd focused a little more and realized that the family history book was not referring to Garison, I would have saved myself a lot of confusion.
Once I clued in, I enjoyed the story. I really felt for the characters, especially Sarah and Heather. I felt bad for Garison too, although my feelings for him were mixed due to the circumstances that came about from his living in two time periods.
*Visit my review blog, Literary Time Out, on 11/28/12 and 11/29/12 for chances to enter the First Time Book Blast and Blog Tour giveaways.
The book starts out in present day and goes back in time. Between each chapter there are excerpts from a family history book. The jumping around confused me somewhat, although if I'd focused a little more and realized that the family history book was not referring to Garison, I would have saved myself a lot of confusion.
Once I clued in, I enjoyed the story. I really felt for the characters, especially Sarah and Heather. I felt bad for Garison too, although my feelings for him were mixed due to the circumstances that came about from his living in two time periods.
*Visit my review blog, Literary Time Out, on 11/28/12 and 11/29/12 for chances to enter the First Time Book Blast and Blog Tour giveaways.
December 17, 2012
I have always been a huge fan of time travel books. This is one unlike others I have read before. I liked the different twists and turns that you will find in this novel.After a little bit of a confusing beginning, you soon understand what is happening in the different chapters. The reader is reading two different stories, one from the main character Garison's POV, and the other from one of his relatives. Even with all of the cool Sci-Fi elements in this novel, there are also some great themes about finding love and finding God in your life. I was surprised about how there was a small, underlying theme of Christianity.
First Time was a fun story with elements of Sci-Fi, history, romance and religion. I'm excited that the next two books in the series are already written.
First Time was a fun story with elements of Sci-Fi, history, romance and religion. I'm excited that the next two books in the series are already written.
July 17, 2016
After a rather confusing start I really got into the story.With all the twists and turns I took the time to actually read back and sort out who was who.
Genius story about overlapping timelines and the consequences of actions that might have an influence on them, whether positive or negative.
The characters are all authentic and I was totally taken into the different circumstances that Garison found himself in.
Brilliant!
Genius story about overlapping timelines and the consequences of actions that might have an influence on them, whether positive or negative.
The characters are all authentic and I was totally taken into the different circumstances that Garison found himself in.
Brilliant!
January 15, 2013
Review later.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews