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Stranded in Eloi

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What do an elderly couple with amnesia have in common with a biker boy from Boulder? All three are stranded in Eloi. Beware of the WOEs!

252 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 20, 2020

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2 people want to read

About the author

Jim Hamilton

16 books13 followers
I've been an avid science fiction fan for most of my life, but only as a consumer and never a contributor. A couple of years ago, I decided to change that by publishing my first novel. For roughly twenty years, I had been toying with the basic story line and various plot devices and I finally managed to put my thoughts into words.

I personally believe that it's possible to have an engrossing science fiction novel without sex, violence, and mass destruction. I also like to think the best of mankind and that good will always win out over evil. That rational minds might persist whenever conflict occurs. That we can all somehow learn to get along with each other. And that a little bit of humor never hurt anyone.

My first three books, The Chaos Machine, Second Contact, and Mankind 2.0, have been combined into one book as The Chaos Trilogy*. While there may not be any sex or violence in any of these, there is definitely love, romance, and danger. And, oh yeah, lots of food.

If you find The Chaos Trilogy enjoyable, Second Contact is chronologically followed by two more Cassiopeia Adventures: Colony Ship New Hope (New Haven or Bust!) and Goddess of the Gillani. 5,341 years later, in The Race at Valli Ha'i, some distant relatives of Cassiopeia use her legacy to save the Universe and end the Universal Depression. They return in the sequel, Vacation on New Haven, that also revisits the characters in Colony Ship New Hope. A prequel to the series, Before the Fall, describes the early history of Shoomar leading up to the departure of the colony ship New Hope. Its companion piece, After the Fall, recounts the tale of those left behind.

There is also an orphan chapter to The Chaos Machine about how Leonardo da Vinci became a Renaissance Man. The da Vinci Butterfly is based on a reference that da Vinci made about a mysterious cave in his childhood.

On the other hand, if you like your stories more down-to-Earth, you might enjoy Raising Miss Ellie†. A novella about an elderly woman who offers refuge to a young runaway. However, the more she learns about him, the more she begins to wonder who he really is.

Finally, there is The Conqueror, a short story that I wrote for Valentine's Day (2019). It has generally been described as "cute" by everyone who has read it.

I hope that you enjoy reading these as much as I have enjoyed writing them ... Happy Landings!

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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Profile Image for BooksCoffee.
1,068 reviews
September 16, 2020
Hamilton adeptly mixes gentle science fiction elements with just enough romance, a dash of fantasy, a nostalgic small-town setting, and the sweetly exotic storytelling of a classic fairytale in his latest SF tale.

Nick and Edna, an elderly couple, end up in small town of Eloi, Kansas after being kidnaped from their home and deposited in the middle of nowhere. Meanwhile, Jack Evanland, in his perusal of finding the meaning of life finds himself stranded in Eloi. Determined to help the couple, Jack, the town Sheriff and others set on to build an omni and in doing so, they seem to procure a new lifeline for the gradually-dying town.

Hamilton tells a smoothly paced story that combines just the right amount of SF elements, fantasy, action, and romance. The foodies will be delighted to come across a horde of mouth-watering classic American breakfasts and baking goodies. Hamilton concentrates on building characters’ backstories in the first half and piles on the action in the second half, making his protagonists earn their happy ending.

Hamilton’s superb character development brings to life a multitude of convincing characters, especially Nick and Jack. He creates an extremely good-hearted, if somewhat naive, old dear in Edna and an appealing, feisty heroine in Janice. The comradeship between Nick, Carl, Jack, and others and the peculiar situation that they find themselves in add extra levity to this SF tale.

Jack and Janice’s gradually developed romance enlivens the usual SF plot.

The cosplay festival and the SF-themed wedding are the stars here.

Hamilton has delivered a finely crafted, satisfying SF romance
Profile Image for Shirley Gilmore.
Author 9 books70 followers
December 23, 2023
Light-Hearted Sci-Fi Romance Is a Winner

“Stranded in Eloi” by Jim Hamilton is a slow-burn, fantasy/sci-fi romance set in the little town of Eloi, Kansas. It’s tricky for an author to seamlessly weave all of those elements together so the reader can suspend their disbelief and sit back and enjoy the ride, but Hamilton has pulled it off. The reader might wonder where in the world is all this headed, but Hamilton wraps up everything in an ending where everybody wins — the characters, the town, the reader, and even Santa Claus!
This reviewer has lived in a little town similar to Eloi and can confirm that Hamilton has captured the essence of small-town life, including the WOEs.
If you gravitate toward books with sex, violence, blood, and gore, then this book is probably not for you. But if you like good, clean writing with likeable characters, an interesting plot, surprises, and a laugh sprinkled in here and there, then you will enjoy getting “Stranded in Eloi” for a few hours.
Profile Image for Wendy Bayne.
Author 23 books68 followers
April 22, 2024
I just finished Standed in Eloi, and I'd like to congratulate Mr Hamilton on crafting a brilliant novel.
Quirky and engaging characters abound, and the adorable women of Eloi plot hijink after hijink, following the main characters throughout.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a fun, light-hearted read, and as Mr Hamilton says in his synopsis, you’ll love the Women of Eloi, and I did.
You don’t have to love sci-fi to enjoy Stranded in Eloi. I heartily recommend this book, which, in my opinion, is suitable for all ages.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews

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