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Time Travel for Fun and Prophet

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Limited-time pre-launch price. Reviews are greatly appreciated. You'll never see it this cheap again :)

"If you know the future, it's easy to be a prophet."A plumber from Pacoima (Los Angeles). A flapper trapped in Elizabethan England. They're about to meet and embark on a roller coaster journey through history. This humorous sci-fi tale follows Dan and Freddie from frozen wastelands to outer space and back to earth as they ride the surf of time, share sandwiches, fall in love, and try to avoid saving the universe.

Time Travel for Fun and Prophet is a blend of sci-fi and offbeat absurdity that should appeal widely to fans of Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, and Doctor Who.

The ideal reader is between the ages of 20 and 70, who enjoys science fiction and humor. They are someone who likes movies such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Galaxy Quest. Laugh as you follow the protagonist as he unravels the mystery of his sudden time travel dilemma and finds a soul mate along the way.

They enjoy TV shows like Resident Alien and The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. Their book preferences run toward novels such as Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, the Lemony Snicket series, and Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series.About the AuthorsTerry Willey and Carol Baker's micro-mini-movie Code Blue! (1997) world premiered at the Johns Hopkins Film Festival (April 1998), screened at the Brainwash Fourth Annual Movie Festival (July 1998), and toured with Brainwash Movies.

They have worked with various theaters in Bakersfield as writers, actors, stage crew, and directors. They co-wrote and co-directed several one-act plays. Terry spent five years making people laugh performing improv with ComedySportz.

Their original full-length comedy/drama screenplay *The Boys* was a semi-finalist in the 9th Annual Writer’s Network Screenplay & Fiction Competition. Terry co-starred in the play version produced at Phoenix Theatre in Bakersfield in June 2001.

Terry and Carol co-wrote both the stage and film versions of “Bubba and Sissy Git Hitched?” acting as producers, assistant directors, and catering on the film.

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 2, 2023

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Terry Willey

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5 stars
14 (35%)
4 stars
12 (30%)
3 stars
13 (32%)
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1 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for D.S. Watson.
31 reviews2 followers
March 5, 2024
If you are a fan of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, you will enjoy this book tremendously. This story is a hilarious, mind-bending roller coaster ride.

The plot is centered around Dan, a guy jumping through time without any way to control it. It's a great premise that Terry Willey works into a solid story arc. The characters are funny and just weird enough to make them interesting. I quickly became invested in them and wanted to see them come out victorious.

My main complaints are minor but still should be addressed. The narrator often breaks the fourth wall, which is fine, except that it is sometimes more distracting than it should be. Some points in the story could have used more showing and less telling, while some of the asides could have been cut down or negated. These are all style choices and a matter of opinion.

Otherwise, I had a great time with this book and I highly recommend it to others.
Profile Image for Sheila Samuelson .
1,206 reviews25 followers
March 6, 2024
Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
Thank you to Librarything for picking me to win this FREE Copy in a giveaway on their website last year.

This was my first time reading a Time Travel Fantasy by Terry and Carol so i wasnt sure what to expect but i have to say i throughly enjoyed this one so much more then i thought i would.

The Characters were so fun and enjoyable to read about. Dan, Freddie, Chanell were definately my favorites especially Dan when he comically got upset that everytime he heard a Beatles song he ended up time traveling to a different time era.

The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in the book Time Traveling with the characters especially when the scenery of each Time Era was described.

I do wish this was part of a series cause i'd love to see what other adventures Dan, Freddie and Chanell would go on next.

Overall a Phenomenal Time Travel Fantasy!! Can't wait to read more by Terry and Carol in the future!!
Profile Image for Julie H. Ernstein.
1,544 reviews27 followers
February 19, 2024
Allow me to begin this review with thanks to the Goodreads friend who offered a copy of Terry Willey and Carol Baker's Time Travel for Fun and Prophet in return for a candid review here on Goodreads. The description of the book as one ". . . that will appeal to fans of Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, and Monty Python" (back jacket) was a definite plus for this reader. On balance, I'd award the book 3 1/2 stars--that is, if Goodreads afforded us the luxury of half-stars.

In the plus column, the book is broken into short, readily digestible chapters that each describes a "jump" as our protagonist, a 32-year old divorced plumber of average intelligence named Dan Baker is caught off guard one day while lunching with his friend Ambrose. In short order, Dan is whisked away into the unpredictable world of "jumpers" who move across time and space. It isn't until his third jump--landing him in Elizabethan London--that he meets someone who can assist him in making sense of what's been happening to him. This individual, a jumper whose abilities have abandoned her and left her stranded, becomes Dan's travel companion and tutor in learning to quickly assess where a jump has taken him, the location and "time" of that place, and any immediate threats posed by that place or its inhabitants. The pace is fast, the repartee witty, and the narrator's willingness to break the "fourth wall" of the page and speak directly to the reader are all welcome attributes. On the less desirable end of things, despite seeing the book's title on a chapter heading it never truly became apparent why the book was titled that. Most notably, time travel for Dan and Freddie was never fun, it thankfully involved no religious prophet, and any references to finances were fleeting (e.g., Chantell invested wisely and was able to establish clubs where jumpers occasionally stopped to swap stories and share a drink), and never quite made sense to me as we didn't see the characters heading to ATMs to withdraw funds to support them when they land in other times/locations. In short, what was decidedly less successful in my estimation were the details of the why were some people able to "jump," what was the purpose of jumping, was club owner-cum-Bond villain Chantell working alone, and will Dan ever be able to stop jumping. So as honest-to-goodness sci-fi, the overarching backbone for what we were reading was less clear.

Those points aside, I read the book more as a script or "pitch" for a TV show along the lines of Eureka where the quirky humor would play just fine and the willing suspension of disbelief was essential to one's enjoyment. I have no way of knowing whether that might have been the authors' intent but, if so, they could readily drop little breadcrumbs in from episode-to-episode to flesh out the rudimentary framework of that backstory.

Bottom line, Time Travel for Fun and Prophet is not Adams, Pratchett, or Python, but you can readily see where it is a good-spirited homage to those trailblazing sources. As such, it's a fun book. Take it to read on the plane. Take it to the beach. Pass it among the family and cast your version of the TV series it so wants to be.
Profile Image for Alex Orcutt.
48 reviews1 follower
January 14, 2024
I was delighted to receive a copy of this book to review.

When I saw Time travel for fun and prophet described as Douglas Adams meets time travel I was skeptical as he pioneered a genre with his unique wit. If you've explored the entire Hitchhikers Guide, you will enjoy this book. The book, bordering on older-young adult, offers an easy yet fun read with well developed characters and spot on humor. Each chapter unfolds a new adventure, although some could benefit from deeper exploration, a compromise perhaps to maintain the brisk pace. As a promising debut in the time-travel genre, the author's universe-building sets a strong foundation, and left me eager for more adventures. With hopes for a series, I hope the authors take more risks, venturing into some of the more "alien" worlds and expanding their universe. In their first foray into the genre I look forward to their time traveling universe where the next stop is only a jump away!

As people find different meanings in different places here is my personal scale
0 - Absolutely couldn't finish
1 - Dreaded every minute of finishing the book, weak plot/story/characters
2 - Didn't feel the urge to pick up the book, not engaged
3 - Somewhat engaged, didn't leave a lasting impression, but perhaps a good escape
4 - Highly engaged. The book was entertaining, looked forward to reading, had a hard time putting it down.
5 - Found myself staying up way too late and trying to sneak a chapter in here and there. Engaging plot/characters that had me thinking about it after putting down.
Profile Image for HannahsHeartstrings.
39 reviews2 followers
January 25, 2024
⭐️3

Was very excited to receive the e-book in exchange for an honest review! This was a fun, quick read; it was not something that I would usually pickup but the plot was interesting enough that it kept my attention while also being simple enough that I didn't have to focus too hard on what I was reading. Kind of like your favorite sitcom that you throw on in the background while completing everyday tasks.

Dan is your average, run of the mill 30ish year old. Living an average life as a plumber until one day, he is thrown through time, ending up in the past. Eventually, after a couple of jumps through time, he ends up in Shakespearean England, without a clue of what he is doing or how time travel works. There, he meets Freddie, a fellow time traveler that has been stuck in the past for 27 years. With Dan's help, Freddie follows Dan through time, teaching him the ropes and forming a connection along the way.

There is a rhythm accustom to live theater, in this case improv, that I could sense within this book immediately! Which, after looking up the authors, made SO MUCH sense. It is also written in third person, with the narrator frequently addressing the reader with quick comedic jabs or remarks. I would recommend this to a slightly middle-aged crowd, based on the references, to someone that enjoys a fast paced sci-fi with a heavy sketch comedy feel.
70 reviews
February 6, 2024
What if Douglas Adams wrote the scripts for the TV show “Quantum Leap?” That thought may have crossed the minds of the authors before writing this novel. And the premise – random time travel which the traveler(s) have no control over plus a bit of wacky humor and romance, is fun. I'm not claiming that the authors have Adams' style of high absurdity, but the situations that the two protagonists are thrown into are clever, the bad guy (or in this case, gal) is sufficiently bad, and the story keeps moving. Occasionally the authors go off on a personal tangent that is superfluous and slows the plot down and I was struck by the lack of description of the appearance of the characters, but these aren't major shortcomings. “Time Travel” avoids the peril of explaining how the whole thing works in much detail. I've read books that really bog down when they try to describe this impossibility, so that's a relief. If you're the type of reader that is always asking, “how did that happen?” or “why didn't they just...” this book probably isn't for you. I enjoyed it.

I received this book through the LibraryThing “Early Reviewers” program, for which I am thankful.
Profile Image for Mayda.
3,862 reviews65 followers
December 16, 2023
Dan is a ordinary but talented plumber on his way to an extraordinary adventure. Driving home one evening, he is suddenly whisked out of his truck. It feels like he’s gone through a shredder. He finds himself in a different place and time. And it happens over and over and over again. He meets Freddie, who appears to be an elderly apothecary, but is really someone totally different. Together, they go on the adventure of a lifetime, or maybe several lifetimes. This well-written and very imaginative book will enthrall sci-fi readers, especially those who enjoy time travel. The characters are well-drawn, and if the method of time travel eludes readers, it doesn’t matter. The story is enjoyable even if the details are fuzzy. At times humorous and at other times scary, the story speeds along at a frantic pace. Tag along with Dan and Freddie, but watch out for Chantelle - you don’t want to mess around with her! A great story for anyone who wants something far different from their ordinary lifestyle.
Profile Image for Sherrie.
329 reviews9 followers
May 1, 2024
An everyday plumber gets pulled into the timestream one day, kicking off a series of uncontrollable jumps through time, first on his own, then in the company of a more experienced time traveler who just happens to be extremely attractive.

I've read a fair amount of time travel fiction, and this one falls mid-pack. I like time travel to have consistent rules, and I appreciated Dan and Freddy trying to figure them out. The characters are cute but flat, and there isn't that much of a plot. It's just a lark, with quick chapters, a bit of danger, corny jokes, and narration that finds itself rather more clever than I did. Good fun.

I appreciate the opportunity to read a Kindle copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
1,347 reviews
December 10, 2023
Dan is driving home from a plumbing job and suddenly he’s somewhere else. After winding up several other places he finds himself in Shakespearean England and meets Freddie, a stranded time traveler, who explains that he’s traveling in time.

This was a difficult book to review. Because each short chapter is a different jump in time it took me a while to get into the book. Partway through the book becomes more cohesive and the earlier jumps make more sense as the plot develops. And that’s where the book became much more readable for me. If you enjoyed A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, give this a try.
Profile Image for Derek.
17 reviews1 follower
February 18, 2024

'Time Travel for Fun and Prophet' is a fun, quick read. It's a Douglas Adams-esque humor woven around a time jumping tale. If you're looking for something high literature or incredibly deep in plot, this isn't it, but if you just want something to sit down with for an afternoon of light reading, this is a great book to fill that void.

There's a bit of romance, a lot of humor, and a nice dose of timey-wimey wibbly wobbly stuff to keep it from feeling too stale. I'm not sure I'd call it a buyer-book, but if you can find it at your local library or request it in, I'd do that in a heartbeat!

1,732 reviews8 followers
February 9, 2024
A very interesting read

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This is not my usual genre but I enjoyed it. If you have read Hitchhikers guide and liked it you will enjoy this book. The book is based in time travel and follows Dan a new traveler who makes several jumps without really understanding what is happening. Then he meets another traveler and she begins to explain it to him. Over time and jumps a romance begins to build. This is an easy quick read and I recommend it.
Profile Image for Julie.
125 reviews
March 9, 2024
Thank you to the Goodreads friend who offered a free copy of Time Travel for Fun and Prophet.

In the vein of Sir Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams, this book is about time travel, questionable science, and silliness. Told by an omniscient narrator, the book is able to cover a lot of ground and time. The footnotes are especially entertaining. Three and a half to four stars; not bad at all for what I believe is a first book by these authors.
599 reviews2 followers
December 19, 2023
A fun and light read. Very tongue-in-cheek. Colorful characters. Supporting characters not so much. Rather witty. The time jumps could have been a bit more interesting. Some time jumps were a bit flat. It had me chuckling in a few places. Maybe more sex would have been helpful? All in all, a cute book.
Note: I was given a free copy as a reviewer.
Profile Image for Rachel Ellis.
100 reviews1 follower
January 13, 2024
3.5 stars would be my true review. Great, witty writing but the story would start to get really interesting and than fall flat for me. However, it did this about 4 times throughout the book. Disjointed would be the best way to describe it.
Profile Image for Kathleen DuVall.
408 reviews
January 3, 2024
I was pleased to receive a complementary review copy of Time Travel for Fun and Prophet and asked to do a review. It is honor to be asked to read someone's work. At the end is an explanation of my rating scale so you can match it to yours.

Fun. Fast. Witty. Charming.

This book was an entertaining, quick read. I would sneak-read a couple of chapters, put it down to do chores and then do a few more in stolen minutes. It was like a compilation of short stories but with the same great characters throughout. You never knew where the next chapter was going to land you (literally) and what mayhem Dan and Freddie would encounter. Sometimes it would go to the absurd, but that all made sense based on Dan and Freddie's time travel abilities. This will be one that I'll reread on a hot summer day, sitting poolside with a nice cool drink.

My rating scale explanation:
1 star - could not even finish the book
2 stars - I finished it but it was a waste of time
3 stars - I finished it and enjoyed it, but probably won’t read again
4 stars - I could read this one again!
5 stars - this goes on my “stranded on a desert island list!”
Profile Image for Kari Morrison.
15 reviews7 followers
January 11, 2024
Quick read, not my usual so good for getting out of a reading slump. Quirky story, and entertaining enough.
1,053 reviews4 followers
January 11, 2024
I received a copy of this ebook in a Goodreads giveaway. While this book was funny it felt like it was trying too hard to be funny in a way I found kind of annoying.
1 review
May 17, 2025
Funny

Humorous along the lines of my favorite Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Time travel at its best and worst. Great reading.
Profile Image for Paul Eastley.
168 reviews4 followers
January 12, 2024
I really couldn't get into this book, but I did persevere. Only 3 stars for me.
Profile Image for Regina Carlton.
87 reviews1 follower
April 11, 2024
Finished the book - Time Travel for Fun and Profit by Terry Willey and Carol Baker. I thought this was a fun and light book. If you like the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, then this book is for you! I liked this one even better though as it actually had time travel throughout the book and interesting characters along the way. You follow Dan (from current times a new traveler) and Freddie (traveler with years of time jumping experience) as they learn to survive each point of time they happen to drop into sharing sandwiches, admiration for each other and finally fall in love. I think the teenagers would like this book too. 4 Stars
Profile Image for Roxanne Cantrell.
23 reviews
February 26, 2024
I won Time Travel for Fun and Prophet by Terry Willey and Carol Baker from a Goodreads giveaway via Kindle. I read the description of the book being similar to Monty Python and Doctor Who but was still on the fence until I saw the authors enjoy a classic TV show called The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. I immediately entered the giveaway after that because mostly anyone who has watched Brisco I would consider my type of people.And, wow! I am glad that cue drove me to enter the giveaway because this book was hysterically funny. I believe this is my first book from the comedy genre and I genuinely laughed out loud many times which complicated things cause I read my kindle when I sleep beside my 5 year old son at night! The chemistry between the main characters, Dan and Freddie, was really well done and felt progressive with the story. My only critique would be how abrupt the ending felt, otherwise a great and funny book. 4.5/5 stars.


#goodreads #giveaways
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