The Map of Time” by Felix J. Palma, published by Atria Books.

Category – Sci/Fi/Fantasy

In Victorian England one could go to Murray’s Time Travel and be transported to the year 2000. They could witness the climatic conclusion of a fight for world domination between Solomon, the King of the Automatons, and Captain Derek Shackleton, the last hope for the human race.

The story begins with Andrew Harrington, from a well to do family, contemplating taking his life because his new found love, a prostitute, has been murdered by none other than Jack the Ripper. Andrew’s friend Charles tries to avert the suicide by taking Andrew to Murray and have him travel back in time to save his love. Murray can only go forward in time and has him contact H.G. Wells who he believes has a time machine that will go back in time. An elaborate scheme is made up to get Andrew back in time to kill Jack the Ripper before he murders his love.

A nice side this story is a visit by Wells to see John Merrick, the Elephant Man, in which the reader will be told of his gross deformity and how he was able to get through life under very difficult circumstances.

Claire Haggerty finds the world she is living in quite mundane and devoid of any true suitor for her hand. She finds herself at Murray’s Time Travel and witnesses the victory of Shackleton and falls in love with him. Unfortunately, he lives in another time period and although she tries she is unable to remain in the year 2000. Shackleton, also smitten, travels back in time to meet Claire.

I read very little Science Fiction/Fantasy but I found this a very well done story that brings to life the Victorian age and the people of that period. It is fascinating to see how the author brings into the story the likes of H.G. Wells, Henry James, Bram Stoker, and Jack the Ripper.

Although there are some parts that are a little prolonged the overall book moves along at a brisk pace and provides a different and very satisfying read.