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The Time Magnet #1
The Gray Ship
Captain Ashley Patterson is a 36 year old black woman, the Commanding Officer of a nuclear guided missile cruiser. While steaming toward Charleston, South Carolina in April 2013, the ship encounters a time warp or wormhole. Suddenly, Captain Patterson and her 930 crew members find themselves in the year 1861, two days before the start of the Civil War. They were to participate in a ceremony to commemorate the 152nd anniversary of the Battle of Fort Sumter.
Abraham Lincoln wants to win the war, and he sees this ship as a key to victory.
But Captain Patterson and her crew want to return home to the 21st Century.
For them, the Civil War was history. Now, they find that it has only just begun.
Does she risk mutiny, or commit treason.
Abraham Lincoln wants to win the war, and he sees this ship as a key to victory.
But Captain Patterson and her crew want to return home to the 21st Century.
For them, the Civil War was history. Now, they find that it has only just begun.
Does she risk mutiny, or commit treason.
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2013
167 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Russell F. Moran
25 books230 followersRuss Moran is the author of 14 novels. The Gray Ship, Book One of The Time Magnet series, is a story of time travel, alternate history, romance, and a nuclear warship that finds itself in the Civil War. The Thanksgiving Gang is the sequel, A Time of Fear is Book Three, The Skies of Time is Book Four, and The Keepers of Time is book five.
The Shadows of Terror is Book One of The Patterns series, followed by The Scent of Revenge.
A Reunion in Time is a time travel novel, but not in the Time Magnet series.
Sideswiped, a legal thriller, is Book One of the Matt Blake Series. The Reformers is Book Two, and The President is Missing is Book Three.
Robot Depot, published in August, is a novel about our automated future.
The Maltese Incident, a time travel novel, is coming in the spring of 2018.
A Climate of Doubt, a terrorism thriller, will be published in Spring of 2018.
Moran also published five nonfiction books: Justice in America: How it Works—How it Fails; The APT Principle: The Business Plan That You Carry in Your Head; Boating Basics: The Boattalk Book of Boating Tips; If You’re Injured: A Consumer Guide to Personal Injury Law; How to Create More Time. He’s a lawyer and a veteran of the United States Navy. He lives on Long Island, New York, with his wife, Lynda.
The Shadows of Terror is Book One of The Patterns series, followed by The Scent of Revenge.
A Reunion in Time is a time travel novel, but not in the Time Magnet series.
Sideswiped, a legal thriller, is Book One of the Matt Blake Series. The Reformers is Book Two, and The President is Missing is Book Three.
Robot Depot, published in August, is a novel about our automated future.
The Maltese Incident, a time travel novel, is coming in the spring of 2018.
A Climate of Doubt, a terrorism thriller, will be published in Spring of 2018.
Moran also published five nonfiction books: Justice in America: How it Works—How it Fails; The APT Principle: The Business Plan That You Carry in Your Head; Boating Basics: The Boattalk Book of Boating Tips; If You’re Injured: A Consumer Guide to Personal Injury Law; How to Create More Time. He’s a lawyer and a veteran of the United States Navy. He lives on Long Island, New York, with his wife, Lynda.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 28, 2023
The Gray Ship By Russell F. Moran, is a sci-fi time-travel/alternative history novel, that explores the What If ? The scenario being: A modern-American nuclear-powered warship sailed through a time portal and went back 150 years to the 1860s just days before the beginnings of the American Civil War.
In the predawn hours of April 10, 2013, the USS California, a nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser, steaming towards Charleston, SC entered a wormhole and exited April 10, 1861 just two days before the start of the American Civil War. Once Captain Ashley Patterson realizes that she and her ship’s crew are now 152 years in the past, she reports for duty to Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles, who was a staunch abolitionist, and friend and confidant of President Lincoln. Knowing the war lasted four years resulting in over 620,000 deaths, Captain Patterson hopes that by using 21st-century technology and muscle, they can cut the war short and avoid the horrific casualties originally incurred in her world, but in doing so Captain Patterson and the crew of the USS California may change history forever.
I started Russ Moran's The Gray Ship... and I just could not put it down. It is a page turner with great action, wonderful twists and turns, with just enough Navy techo-thriller data to make it all interesting. His history bending time travel was refreshing compared to the various other time travel stories.
The novel moves very quickly with short, pointed chapters, sometimes only a single page in length. The characters aren't terribly well fleshed out, but doesn't particularly distract from the story. The USS California is a real star of the show and her capabilities are showcased quite nicely throughout novel.
Powered by a cast of well-developed characters Lincoln and Lee are among the prominently featured historical figures consistently brisk pacing and a pulse-pounding conclusion, the humanist themes of this novel are momentous and just as timely today as they were back in the 1860s. This provocative, intensely powerful novel is a must-read for sci-fi fans and Civil War aficionados, though mainstream fiction readers will find it heart-rending and inspiring as well.
All in all, A rare read that’s not only wildly entertaining, but also profoundly moving. That I would most definitely recommend to anyone looking for a a good military techno thriller or alternative history novel.
In the predawn hours of April 10, 2013, the USS California, a nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser, steaming towards Charleston, SC entered a wormhole and exited April 10, 1861 just two days before the start of the American Civil War. Once Captain Ashley Patterson realizes that she and her ship’s crew are now 152 years in the past, she reports for duty to Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles, who was a staunch abolitionist, and friend and confidant of President Lincoln. Knowing the war lasted four years resulting in over 620,000 deaths, Captain Patterson hopes that by using 21st-century technology and muscle, they can cut the war short and avoid the horrific casualties originally incurred in her world, but in doing so Captain Patterson and the crew of the USS California may change history forever.
I started Russ Moran's The Gray Ship... and I just could not put it down. It is a page turner with great action, wonderful twists and turns, with just enough Navy techo-thriller data to make it all interesting. His history bending time travel was refreshing compared to the various other time travel stories.
The novel moves very quickly with short, pointed chapters, sometimes only a single page in length. The characters aren't terribly well fleshed out, but doesn't particularly distract from the story. The USS California is a real star of the show and her capabilities are showcased quite nicely throughout novel.
Powered by a cast of well-developed characters Lincoln and Lee are among the prominently featured historical figures consistently brisk pacing and a pulse-pounding conclusion, the humanist themes of this novel are momentous and just as timely today as they were back in the 1860s. This provocative, intensely powerful novel is a must-read for sci-fi fans and Civil War aficionados, though mainstream fiction readers will find it heart-rending and inspiring as well.
All in all, A rare read that’s not only wildly entertaining, but also profoundly moving. That I would most definitely recommend to anyone looking for a a good military techno thriller or alternative history novel.
April 2, 2016
The idea behind this book is interesting if not very original but that all there is to it. The writing is generally bad, uneven and sometimes plain wrong. The characters are childish, cardboardy and not very well thought out. It's like this was written by a really immature 14 years old who's not very good at English...
I gave it 15 chapters, which is not a lot considering that a chapter is 4 pages long on average on my reader, and just gave up. It's just too stupid for my taste. R.F. Moran is just a really bad writer who's unfortunately is quite representative of modern "S.F.".
Don't waste your time and money and give it a pass. It's not worth it even if you get it free.
I gave it 15 chapters, which is not a lot considering that a chapter is 4 pages long on average on my reader, and just gave up. It's just too stupid for my taste. R.F. Moran is just a really bad writer who's unfortunately is quite representative of modern "S.F.".
Don't waste your time and money and give it a pass. It's not worth it even if you get it free.
March 10, 2020
I have always loved the time travel theme. This story takes you back to the Civil War aboard the USS California, a ship from 150+ years after the war. Interact with all the major historical players in the Civil War and bend history at their command. A very interesting historical fiction, I recommend it.
April 22, 2024
Wonderful book! Kept me totally engrossed. Fast paced and never boring. Frankly, I found it difficult to put the book down! (I don’t believe that I’ve ever read a 400-page book this quickly!)
Mr. Moran is a very talented author. Rest assured that I will be reading the next book in this series. And the next…
Mr. Moran is a very talented author. Rest assured that I will be reading the next book in this series. And the next…
November 24, 2018
A very good time travel story. Kind of Like the PHILADEPHIA STORY back to the Civil War instead of World War II. A quick read. The plots moves quickly. Hard to put down. I read it in three days of long Thanksgiving weekend. I look forward to trying some of his other time travel books.
March 24, 2019
The writing while competent isn't very interesting which makes it impossible to overlook the massive plot-holes. If you're going to write alternative history with such a heavy implied deterministic interpretation than you need to do something to justify it else why alter history at all?
February 14, 2021
Great material
Very well written liked the story line and the twists and turns as it went along as well as the way it ends.
Very well written liked the story line and the twists and turns as it went along as well as the way it ends.
June 19, 2021
Good story
A good read and a clever take on time travel. The characters were done well and the action was interesting.
A good read and a clever take on time travel. The characters were done well and the action was interesting.
February 17, 2014
When I think of time travel, Washington Irving’s short story “Rip Van Winkle” comes immediately to mind. We take a twenty-year forward leap in time to the Catskill Mountains. Conversely, Mark Twain’s novel takes us back in time to “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.” In Charles Dickens’ quasi-time travel novella, “A Christmas Carol,” the author has us heading in both directions of center as Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmases past, present, and the “yet to come” future. Through episodes of Star Trek, we travel, of course, through space. I could go on about episodes from Rod Serling’s “The Twilight Zone,” or H.G. Wells’ quintessential time travel vehicle, “The Time Machine.”
Through short stories, novels, novellas, television episodes and movies, time travel has certainly been addressed both terrestrially and celestially, taking us back into time as well as sending us well ahead into the future. Inspired by Martin Caidin’s novel “The Final Countdown”, a time travel treatment of the USS Naval Carrier Nimitz, Russell F. Moran’s “The Gray Ship” sets the stage for the USS nuclear-guided missile cruiser, California. Moran’s novel is extraordinary in that it takes us on an incredibly convincing time-travel journey on the high seas. Surprisingly, the story is not weighed down with improbabilities often resolved in other works by way of deus ex machina. To the contrary. The occurrences become plausible in that Einstein’s theory of general relativity does more than suggest a scientific basis for the possibility of time travel into the past. Moran frames this theory quite clearly in the minds of his readers, which paves the way for acceptance if not outright believability. Take your pick.
As an award-winning writer of mystery thrillers, I strive to build verisimilitude (credibility) into my fiction. The key is indefatigable research. Russ Moran has certainly done his homework. What is truly commendable is that this is the author’s first novel. The danger of my ever scribing a time-travel novel is that I might end up meeting myself at an earlier point in time, God forbid! Moran captures your mind and imagination and won’t let go. His key? Unforgettable, believable characters wrapped around a wonderful narrative. You’ll feel as separated from the twenty-first century as captain and crew aboard the warship as you enter a traversable porthole (time warp), a passageway back in time—two days prior to the beginning of the American Civil War. If and when becomes the question of the California’s safe return. So permit me to pipe you aboard a nuclear-powered naval ship en route to Charleston, South Carolina on April 10th, 2013, to help celebrate and commemorate the first battle of Fort Sumter, which had begun 152 years ago on April the 12th, 1861. If you do return safely to the present, you’ll want more of Russell F. Moran. Just be sure to take any future journey vicariously.
Need more convincing? See Russ Moran’s magnificent video trailer of “The Gray Ship” on YouTube.
Through short stories, novels, novellas, television episodes and movies, time travel has certainly been addressed both terrestrially and celestially, taking us back into time as well as sending us well ahead into the future. Inspired by Martin Caidin’s novel “The Final Countdown”, a time travel treatment of the USS Naval Carrier Nimitz, Russell F. Moran’s “The Gray Ship” sets the stage for the USS nuclear-guided missile cruiser, California. Moran’s novel is extraordinary in that it takes us on an incredibly convincing time-travel journey on the high seas. Surprisingly, the story is not weighed down with improbabilities often resolved in other works by way of deus ex machina. To the contrary. The occurrences become plausible in that Einstein’s theory of general relativity does more than suggest a scientific basis for the possibility of time travel into the past. Moran frames this theory quite clearly in the minds of his readers, which paves the way for acceptance if not outright believability. Take your pick.
As an award-winning writer of mystery thrillers, I strive to build verisimilitude (credibility) into my fiction. The key is indefatigable research. Russ Moran has certainly done his homework. What is truly commendable is that this is the author’s first novel. The danger of my ever scribing a time-travel novel is that I might end up meeting myself at an earlier point in time, God forbid! Moran captures your mind and imagination and won’t let go. His key? Unforgettable, believable characters wrapped around a wonderful narrative. You’ll feel as separated from the twenty-first century as captain and crew aboard the warship as you enter a traversable porthole (time warp), a passageway back in time—two days prior to the beginning of the American Civil War. If and when becomes the question of the California’s safe return. So permit me to pipe you aboard a nuclear-powered naval ship en route to Charleston, South Carolina on April 10th, 2013, to help celebrate and commemorate the first battle of Fort Sumter, which had begun 152 years ago on April the 12th, 1861. If you do return safely to the present, you’ll want more of Russell F. Moran. Just be sure to take any future journey vicariously.
Need more convincing? See Russ Moran’s magnificent video trailer of “The Gray Ship” on YouTube.
November 4, 2015
I will start this review by stating that fans of time travel fiction should consider adding a half or full star for 'The Gray Ship' by Russell F. Moran.
The concept of the book, like many time travels to the past, serves readers a compelling idea, though the idea may be more relevant - or more poignant - given current and lingering racial tensions in our society. In Mr. Moran's story, a modern Navy cruiser falls back through time to the eve of the Civil War. Throw in a young, capable, female African-American captain, and the plate of possibilities is overflowing. Where 'The Gray Ship' deviates from other past-time travel stories is that it develops a cohesive plot that not only stands the test of credibility in its 'past' events but offers a closing future that mates well with the inescapable changes wrought in the 'new' past.
The book is a brisk read with a satisfying momentum drawing readers forward through its pages with as much efficiency as the book's worm-hole draws the titular ship back in time. Spiced with some intrigue aboard the ship, a few action sequences and a budding romance, readers should be satisfied on all fronts, and can certainly walk away with at least one dinner conversation of alternate futures.
The concept of the book, like many time travels to the past, serves readers a compelling idea, though the idea may be more relevant - or more poignant - given current and lingering racial tensions in our society. In Mr. Moran's story, a modern Navy cruiser falls back through time to the eve of the Civil War. Throw in a young, capable, female African-American captain, and the plate of possibilities is overflowing. Where 'The Gray Ship' deviates from other past-time travel stories is that it develops a cohesive plot that not only stands the test of credibility in its 'past' events but offers a closing future that mates well with the inescapable changes wrought in the 'new' past.
The book is a brisk read with a satisfying momentum drawing readers forward through its pages with as much efficiency as the book's worm-hole draws the titular ship back in time. Spiced with some intrigue aboard the ship, a few action sequences and a budding romance, readers should be satisfied on all fronts, and can certainly walk away with at least one dinner conversation of alternate futures.
February 5, 2015
What if you could change a gruesome part of American history? Captain Ashley Patterson of the Navy and her crew did just that.
Captain Ashley Patterson and her Naval battleship find themselves navigating through a wormhole and then transported to the year 1861, a couple of days from the start of the American Civil War. Ashley encounters iconic political figures such as Abraham Lincoln.
The Gray Ship had everything you would want in a spectacular novel, a thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. The Gray Ship introduced me into an incredible genre that I now find amazing. I would love to see a movie adaptation of The Gray Ship. I recommend The Gray Ship to any reader who enjoys the alternate history genre. I will be looking forward to reading the next book in the Time Magnet series.
Captain Ashley Patterson and her Naval battleship find themselves navigating through a wormhole and then transported to the year 1861, a couple of days from the start of the American Civil War. Ashley encounters iconic political figures such as Abraham Lincoln.
The Gray Ship had everything you would want in a spectacular novel, a thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. The Gray Ship introduced me into an incredible genre that I now find amazing. I would love to see a movie adaptation of The Gray Ship. I recommend The Gray Ship to any reader who enjoys the alternate history genre. I will be looking forward to reading the next book in the Time Magnet series.
January 2, 2014
I liked the wrapup at the end though and that the story in the present continue. The cover was also nice. The authors view on females are extremely dated though, normal readers will cringe several times.
Example: Lets say we have a woman president holding the original constitution in her hands and she suddenly sees some pink frills. All women including our female president would then throw the constitution out the window and run up to the pink frills panting and exclaiming how wonderful they are. This is how women are, they just cant help it.
Its hard not to gape at the author for his views on females.
Example: Lets say we have a woman president holding the original constitution in her hands and she suddenly sees some pink frills. All women including our female president would then throw the constitution out the window and run up to the pink frills panting and exclaiming how wonderful they are. This is how women are, they just cant help it.
Its hard not to gape at the author for his views on females.
October 14, 2013
Rating: 9.0/10.0
Review: I really, really enjoyed this book. I loved the concept, I loved the story, and I loved the twists. The way the author introduced each character was fantastic, especially Seaman Jack! I do think that the author should go through an editor, as there were some grammar errors and continuity errors throughout the book, but I would still recommend this book to any Sci-Fi fan out there. I'd read this book over again for sure ^_^
Reviewed by IABookReviews.com
Review: I really, really enjoyed this book. I loved the concept, I loved the story, and I loved the twists. The way the author introduced each character was fantastic, especially Seaman Jack! I do think that the author should go through an editor, as there were some grammar errors and continuity errors throughout the book, but I would still recommend this book to any Sci-Fi fan out there. I'd read this book over again for sure ^_^
Reviewed by IABookReviews.com
gave-up
March 27, 2014Reminded me too much of "Zipang".
The main plot is the same: Ship from the future went back in time and the captain had to decide if they'd join in the war. The crew broke down into two groups; one for war and one against war. Someone knew about the ship with super advanced technology, and decided they need the ship in order to win the war.
Who knows, maybe there's something different between the two. I'll read the book later.
The main plot is the same: Ship from the future went back in time and the captain had to decide if they'd join in the war. The crew broke down into two groups; one for war and one against war. Someone knew about the ship with super advanced technology, and decided they need the ship in order to win the war.
Who knows, maybe there's something different between the two. I'll read the book later.
January 17, 2016
A fascinating, fast-paced time travel/alternate history novel. Good characterizations, some plot twists, and I enjoyed the ending(to a point), but I won't spoil it for you. This is the author's first fictional effort, and it's a good one. A couple of the characters weren't completely realistic, but it is fiction, and if you buy the premise, and realize that it's a first novel, that is a very minor problem.
January 9, 2014
The story was fun with a steady stream of action. I enjoyed the history of the book. It did have some fun side stories and wrapped up very well.
History buffs may not appreciate the story as it does re imagine the whole Civil War, but if the reader likes a well imagined idea then they will like this one.
History buffs may not appreciate the story as it does re imagine the whole Civil War, but if the reader likes a well imagined idea then they will like this one.
January 26, 2015
just what I was wanting to read
Like the author I love this genre and was excited to find this series. The story is fun and the book is an easy read. Some of the characters are a little too transparent and their motivations a bit obvious but I enjoyed it. I'll read the next in the series. It's a good escape.
Like the author I love this genre and was excited to find this series. The story is fun and the book is an easy read. Some of the characters are a little too transparent and their motivations a bit obvious but I enjoyed it. I'll read the next in the series. It's a good escape.
November 16, 2013
I liked the concept of the book very much as I love alternate histories and time travel, but I think the book could have used a little more editing. However, that didn't spoil my pleasure in reading it. If you like time travel and alternate histories I do recommend it.
December 18, 2013
The Gray Ship was very interesting in the way the author did his research and used "real" people in this book. Great concept showing how history can change by present day war ship to the 1800s.
March 7, 2016
Interesting plot, but it dragged for a bit (hence my putting it aside for several months), but halfway through, it picked up steam and kept my interest. Wrapped up nicely, but a bit quickly.
April 21, 2015
Very good book
After 20 year naval career.I was extremely satisfied .a true great read.thank you for a bit of my favorite past.
After 20 year naval career.I was extremely satisfied .a true great read.thank you for a bit of my favorite past.
May 15, 2016
A good read
I love time travel books,movies,whatever,this one was fun can't wait to read the other three they should be fun too.
I love time travel books,movies,whatever,this one was fun can't wait to read the other three they should be fun too.
December 29, 2015
I don't usually read this type of book but I am thrilled I did..
Not only a history lesson but a great read about time travel. Will buy the other three books very soon
Not only a history lesson but a great read about time travel. Will buy the other three books very soon
Read
June 8, 2018A must read for time travel fans
Very good book on time travel and alternate history. I look forward to reading the rest of this interesting series.
Very good book on time travel and alternate history. I look forward to reading the rest of this interesting series.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews