Ghost Phone: Episode 1 - The Professor's Gambit

by Kevin Candela

Time Weathers didn’t so much mind the car breakdown...just another hassle, albeit at an extremely inconvenient locale. But now reality itself is threatening to do the same, and she’s not quite as adaptable to that. Time was just minding her own business, ambling along on an old road under the blistering Nevada sun, hoping for the kind of road rescue help you aren’t typically going to find in the middle of the desert anyway, when the disconnected phone in the dusty booth outside the dilapidated gas station she was passing began to ring. Curiosity finally won out and she answered, expecting the whole thing to be a prank despite the remote location—after all, who ever went by the nowhere spot? The thing was, not only was someone at the other end of the it was someone famous...someone important...someone, above all else, who’d died in the 1950s. And now Time is running out—to save the world—and it’s all because she’s convinced that Albert Einstein is really trying to get her to stop a potentially disastrous experiment based on his work.

First in a series of “calls from famous ghosts” by the mind behind the Piper Gods, Krakenstein and Bob the Interdimensional Trucker. Future installments will feature other hapless modern day folks answering more phone calls that shouldn’t even be happening—calls coming from other long gone names, both famous and infamous. That’s The messages won’t all be coming from noble scientists—just “ghosts” with the clout and drive to use the time-spanning, dimension-crossing “telephone line.”

Genres: Science Fiction

Kindle Edition

Published November 21, 2020

Reviews

[Beverly Laude · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tyme Weathers is traveling through Nevada when her car breaks down. As she starts walking to find help, she comes upon a deserted gas station with an old phone booth outside. And, the phone inside the booth is ringing, even though the phone line has been cut.

Of course, Tyme can't pass by the phone without answering it. Who could be on the other end? And, why are they calling this deserted phone booth?

The concept of this story was intriguing with a voice from the dead connecting to the present day. And, that person has a dire warning for humanity and urges Tyme to try to stop the end of the world. The story was full of interesting characters and conspiracy theories.

There was a lot of hard science in the form of physics in this story which made it a little hard to follow at times. All in all, it was a short, entertaining read and I look forward to seeing what happens in subsequent episodes with more ghostly phone calls.

[Norma · Rating 4 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook )
"Morning glory."
Alone under the blazing Nevada sun, her car broken down and no cell phone signal available, Time is surprised to hear the ringing of a telephone, an old, broken down land line no longer even connected by wires. So she answers it.
This is a fun, short story, understanding of the reader, perfect to fill a couple of aimless hours. Narration is by Daniel Dawer, his English accented voice easy to follow if a little clunky, with reasonable modulation to retain interest and understanding.

Not a 'simply must read' book, but entertaining and the first in a series.
My thanks to the rights holder who made a complimentary copy of the book freely available on request via Free Audiobook Codes

[Georgia Tumbleweed McNabb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tyme is Driving when her car breaks down, now she has to walk to find Assistance. She finally comes upon a Old gas station, but it looks to have been abandoned long ago. The strangest thing though is that there is a public phone booth and the phone is ringing. As she gets closer she sees that the phone is not even connected to anything. Phone still ringing her curiosity gets the better of her and she answers it. Need to read or listen to find out anymore.

[Deedra · Rating 5 out of 5]

audible:So,a pay phone not hooked to any grid rings and is finally answered by a pesserby.Who do YOU think is on the other end?A really clever story! It was nicely narrated by Daniel Dawes.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'

[Thais · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so good! The concept is smart and engaging, but what makes it even better is the execution. The author know how to write 2-dimensional characters and a fund yet intelligent storyline. There is a lot of rocket science, but it was easy to follow. the author show us and explained to us without much exposition in form of info dump, it was great.