The Time Travel Chronicles

by Crystal Watanabe (Editor), Samuel Peralta, Robert J. Sawyer

Time travel. Humanity has long imagined what it would be like to be able to create a time machine, what we might see if we could travel into the future, or be transported to the distant past. And what if it were possible to travel into our own, more recent past? Would we be able to change our present, or are we prisoners of predestination? Is fate what we make of it?

In this latest title in the acclaimed 'Future Chronicles' series of speculative fiction anthologies, fourteen authors confront the question of time travel and its consequences, exploring a landscape where past, present and future all become imaginable destinations.

"The Time Travel Chronicles" features stories by science fiction grandmaster Robert J. Sawyer (Calculating God), Amazon bestselling author Rysa Walker (the Chronos series), Best American Science Fiction notable Samuel Peralta (Faith), plus eleven more of today's top authors in speculative and science fiction.

Genres: Time Travel, Science Fiction, Short Stories, Anthologies, Fiction, Fantasy, Speculative Fiction

385 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 2, 2015

About the author

A freelance indie editor since 2014, I've edited more than 125 short stories and 30 novels. With an interest in science fiction and fantasy, middle-grade fiction, and young adult, I'm proud to assist my authors in fine-tuning their stories and helping them share them with the world.

Reviews

[Pippa DaCosta]

Gimme, gimme, gimme.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read several anthologies on time travel: The Time Traveler's Almanac, The Mammoth Book of Time Travel SF are the most recent. The Time Travel Chronicles is the latest in a series of speculative fiction anthologies ( The Future Chronicles). It features fourteen authors in speculative fiction and science fiction writing on time travel.

My favorite thing about the anthology (besides the subject is time travel!) is that these writers are all currently writing in the field. I encountered new authors and new ideas. There are a variety of styles and subject matters.

When I read a story on time travel, I'm not reading to find out the science behind time travel! I'm reading to find out how it may have affected the people who traveled and the times they traveled to and from. These stories all did a great job of that; there is not a bad one in the bunch!

Net Galley and the Publisher of this book provided me a copy to read and that in no way affected this review.

[Shay VanZwoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've recently become hooked on anthologies, finding the experience of reading connected short stories to be an excited way to learn about new authors and become reacquainted with worlds I already enjoy. The newest addition to my kindle is The Time Travel Chronicles, part of The Future Chronicles. I have enjoyed every one of the Chronicles I have picked up, and this was no exception.

The collection starts out with a bang... or rather, a blink. Extant, by Anthony Vicino, takes us into a world where the gifted can freeze time, race through it, or blink to the past. But not everything is perfect... can knowing that you're saving the world make up for the horrifying consequences? (5 Stars)

Gambit by Rysa Walker is the second book of the collection, and asks the question that everyone wonders: can you safely change the past to make the future your own? And... if you can, should you? When I completed this story, I immediately bought the first 2 books of the author's CHRONOS series, which tells you how much this premise intrigued me. (5 Stars)

Were unicorns supposed to be on Noah's Ark? Beasts of the Earth by Ernie Lindsey answers that question, and more. (4 Stars)

Excess Baggage takes us into a whirlwind of a tale, where a boy is swept away into the past accidentally. The ending of the story leaves so many possibilities open to fuel the imagination, allowing the reader to wonder not only about the fates of the travelers, but also the world left behind. (4 1/2 Stars)

Stefan Bolz's The Traveler made me cry... it's a bittersweet story about loss, and the lengths that someone will go through to say goodbye. (5 Stars)

Eighty-Three is a story with twists and leaps through time, showing us a man who randomly jumps into his past and future, interacting with the world-to-be, or that left behind. But it is true, or just a delusion? (4 1/2 Stars)

Everyone dreams of living forever... or to somehow jump into a better future. But what if the future isn't what you imagined it would be? Though I had a premonition of what the ending of Life/Time in the New World would be, it was so well-written and had such an edge of truth to it that I can confidently say that it was one of my favorites in the collection. (5 Stars)

I've been a fan of Robert J. Sawyer's work since I picked up his WWW Trilogy a few years back, so I wasn't surprised that I enjoyed his short story, Just Like Old Times. This was a fun tale about an alternate death sentence, leaving us to wonder if the past could change the present. (4 1/2 Stars)

Shades is the tale of a boy who can't stay still.. but not by his own choice. Every five years, since his birth, all proof of his existence is wiped clean and he finds himself ten years in the future, with no past, no family, and no hope of a normal life. Can he find the courage to take control back? (4 1/2 Stars)

The smell of blood on the beach foretells a day of horror, when humanity will go back to try to change the past. The Nothing Gate is a morbid tale that leaves you to wonder about the fate of both the main character and the world itself. (4 1/2 Stars)

Meddler by Ernie Luis is another favorite... when you combine a drug dealer with a conscious with time travel, nothing could possibly go wrong, right? I look forward to looking into more books by this author! (5 Stars)

I'm still trying to figure out my feelings toward The Diatomic Quantum Flop. This is a story that will leave you thinking about the possibilities hidden within the human mind while simultaneously wondering what happens next. While I enjoyed this tale, it was a little chaotic to be a favorite of mine, but was still an excellent and intriguing tale. (4 Stars)

Red Mustang is a standout piece in a collection full of stories that shine. What happens if an action of yours not only ruined your life, but the lives of those around you? If you could go back to that moment and relive your life, knowing that you do now, would you? (5 Stars)

Hereafter by Samuel Peralta is a perfect story to close out the anthology, drawing us into a family tied together by time travel. Not only is the timing of the travel clearly thought out, but the impact on the people involved is so well described that this story made me cry as well... not once, but twice. This author will play with your heartstrings while making you wonder about what the future holds. (5 Stars)

At the end of this collection, I'm left with fourteen outstanding tales, and nothing that I would rate less than four stars. I am very happy that I was given an opportunity to read this book, and I look forward to reading more by all of these authors in the future.

While I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book for review purposes, I have also pre-ordered the anthology because I loved it so much. The good news is that you can buy it too... it's currently listed for pre-order on Amazon for only $0.99! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B016XIY2EC/

[Seamus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading this collection of short stories, which prove that The Future Chronicles series is going from strength to strength!

My favs were from Ann Christy, Stefan Bolz & Lucas Bale.

[Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review to come!

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Future Chronicles – The Time Travel Chronicles
As with all the Future Chronicles Samuel Peralta has done an incredible job of bringing together some incredible authors, this time looking at the intrigue and science of Time Travel.
When reading a collection of short stories of this nature, you generally find that there are a couple that are excellent, some that are average, and maybe one or two that you don't really like. But this time, it was different. I would finish one, and think that was the best one, but then get to the next and think, oh, ok, that was it.
I have found with all the Future Chronicle series that it's a great opportunity to experience some tremendous authors that I have not previously read, or have, and this is another side to them. The Time Travel Chronicles is no exception.
Again, another brilliant chance to read some incredibly creative and compelling work that gives you an insight into some of the best that Independent writing has to offer.
As with so many of the other Chronicles series, I have actually gone on and purchased several of the other works by the Authors in the series as their work is so good.
Below is a brief summary of each of the Stories with a rating;

Extant – Anthony Vicino – 5/5 – This was a very good story, one that being an ex-Police Officer, I resonated deeply with. The Author uses the time travel experience to look at how some people in life can have a greater burden than others from an emotional sense, the impact of the past and what has happened.
I found this story, although it was funny in parts, to be deeply moving in parts.
It follows a single main character Kae – but how her life is intertwined with several other major characters, mainly Abigail, Zoe, Maddix and a low life named Crask.
In this particular Universe, there are people with different abilities to shift time, Blitzers, Pausers and Blinkers, and when something tragic happens to one of them it all comes apart.
This is a fascinating story, with an intricate and detailed back story, with only hints at a bigger world. The Author doesn’t need to give us more, as his Characters and the plot are so good, that what he does give us is so good that it's enough to put it all together, but also keep you very intrigued, and wanting more.
His Characters are meaningful, and well thought out, from the macho Maddix, to the highly intelligent and gifted Zoe. Leading them all is Kae, quietly gifted, with her own back story that you would just love to learn more of (is there a bigger story??) who as the Blinker in charge, feels so responsible for all of them.
And then there is the quiet and tragic Abigail – the soul of the story, and again, as an ex-Police Officer, someone who I can so readily relate to. The Author has captured her tortured soul so very well in this story.
This is an exceptionally good read, from utter amusement in parts to very tormented in others.
This is well worth the read – a brilliant story.

Gambit – Rysa Walker – 5/5 This story is absolutely brilliant, so good on finishing this short story, I went and looked up Rysa Walker and bought several of her other books (including ones related to this story)
For me, this was one of the best short stories in the collection, with a captivating, engaging story line, and characters that were exceptional. Saul is a fantastic character and you will both love and hate him, and given your views on life, you may find that you both agree and disagree with various aspects of his philosophies in this story, Walker writes her characters so well that you can’t help getting absorbed into them. Kathy is also a complex character, starting to learn and as she does, her character becomes more and more interesting.
Without giving anything away, it follows our main characters as they head back in time to witness various events that have occurred in the past, some significant, other of minor significance but with historical importance. The events have very poor historical recordings, so the travel is to try and capture a better understanding of what has happened, allegedly without interfering in the course of history – but what happens if someone decides that history could use a nudge her or to change things for their own benefit?
This is a wonderful Time Travel story, with intrigue, historical references, mystery and best of all, a masterful story line and outstanding characters – if you only read a couple of these short stories – this is a must!

Beasts of the Earth – Ernie Lindsey – 4/5 This story starts with two parents suffering the devastating loss of their 6yr old daughter through disease. One night the man, ‘Duncan’, and his wife, ‘Jess’, discover an anomaly, and from there, the story gets a little bizarre but very interesting.
As with the other reviews I don't want to give spoilers. The main story follows the Father, Duncan, and he interaction with the anomaly, and what happens as a result.
As I said, the story becomes a little bizarre when he steps through, but at the same time, it's well written with sensational characters.
The ending was probably a little easy to see coming, but even then, it was a great ending.
This is a fun read, and well worth it.

Excess Baggage – Carol Davis – 3.5/5 I was a bit confused by this one if I am completely honest. A young teenager is out looking at homes with his parents when he is crashed out of his reality and time and into another time/place by a ‘ribbon’. Here he meets a stranger with glowing coveralls.
From here, the story does get a little bogged down and slow, although if you are interested in some of the concepts of time travel and the authors ‘Ribbon’ as well as the banter between the two, it's actually quite creative. Some might find it a bit slow though. They work out that they are trapped within the ‘Ribbon’ and this is the problem that they face.
Not as good as some of the other stories in this collection, ending left you wondering a bit, and was a bit slow in parts. Quite creative though, and again, exceptional characters with good dialogue.


The Traveler – Stefan Bolz – 5/5 – I loved this story. This is the story of a young girl whose father is a blacksmith, as well as capable of doing other trades in a workshop. He has an incredible workshop at the back of their house that he does all this work in. However, the story begins with her Father having passed.
Although this should be a sad story, it becomes a somewhat clever and magical tale of a young girl, caught up in the last word her Father says to her, she starts to explore her Fathers workshop and discovers a notebook with complete plans for a time machine. The story unfolds from here, and it's a wonderful story, beautifully told, leading to a very absorbing and captivating ending. The author has a nice note at the end talking about inspiration from the original Time Machine, and he certainly has lived up to this story.
This story has wonderful characters that have been written superbly, drawing you in, so you can't put this short story down. This is a truly exceptional piece of writing and one of my favourites in this collection.

Eighty –Three – Erik Weeks – 4/5 – This was another rather fascinating time travel story, one of those stories that just takes the concept of time travel and plays with it, and in the process, gives you a captivating read along the way.
It follows Noah, who has the ability to shift through time, but something happens to him when he shifts, that he doesn’t quite understand, and without giving revealing spoilers and giving anything away, you won’t find out until the end of the story.
This is a very clever story, that looks at how his life is affected by his ability to shift through time at certain stages in his life (again, without wanting to give anything away)
Weeks does a wonderful job with his characters, his descriptions of Noah’s struggles as he tries to understand what is happening, and as he goes through life are superb, as are those of the woman in his life, Eva, and how she tries to cope with it.
This is another example of a great insight into an Authors talent, and why these short stories are so good, as you get to understand how skilful they can be.
Well worth the read – and worth looking up his other stuff as well!

Life/Time in the New World – Ann Christy – 4/5 – I was totally enthralled by this story, wondering where it was going and how it was going to end, and I have to say, I wasn’t disappointed – it had a very inventive and clever ending, and I was left very happy!
To start with you follow Darren Gordan, as he awakes 300 years in the future, having had himself sent there by a company. The company offers different packages to freeze you into the future basically, with different time periods, and Darren takes the most expensive and longest, being the super rich business man he is.
Of course the world is different – but no spoilers here.
And this is where the book gets kind of interesting. We are taken on a bit of a tale of Darren’s life after he awakens.
I am not going to say more for fear of giving anything away, because it has such a great ending.
The Characters are a lot of fun in this, Darren Gordan is just as you would expect as an elite rich business man waking 300 years in the future, and the Author does a wonderful job of writing him. The future she describes is fascinating, and she keeps the story going at just the right speed, giving you enough to keep you going, before giving you a brilliant ending when you have just had enough before it goes too far.
This is a very inventive, terrific short story, and a lot of fun. Well worth the effort!


Just Like Old Times – Robert J Sawyer – 5/5 – This story is just plain creepy in parts, but utterly entertaining and thrilling. I love dinosaur movies when the dinosaur eats people, so this was always going to be a winner, but chuck in a deranged psychopathic killer who is sentenced to death, and somehow manages to twist the system – WOW – this story is just so awesome it's hard to put into words.
When you finish this you are not sure whether to be horrified, or just amazed at the outcome. Either way, the concept for this story is beyond exceptional, and Sawyer does a masterful job of writing both his story and his characters. His main character is pure villain and he does it so well, you can really feel the evil emanate from him at times. Very clever writing. This story has multiple great twists in it, and will leave most people thinking that this is the reason Humans should never have time machines... Brilliant!

Shades – Lucas Bale –5/5 – Shades is an awesome story. I wasn’t quite sure where it was going to start with, but to be honest, with Lucas Bale, you never are! It seems like it is just another kid with gang/drug issues, but you know that there is something different going on. Then you learn that he main character has been leaping through time every 5yrs, and he is in trouble with this particular gang.
You also find out, that there are these things following him, sort of protecting him cloaked things that appear every now and then and remove harm for our Main character.
That's when the story gets really interesting.
This is Lucas Bale at his best – captivating story that you just can’t read fast enough, interesting characters that you just want to know more about, set in gritty, stimulating environments that only enhance the reading experience. Lucas Bale is really gifted at writing this type of story, and this particular short was up there with his best. I have a bunch of his other stuff and it's well worth a read also – do yourself a favour and make sure you read this...

The Nothing Gate – Tracey Banghart – 2/5 – This was a story that should have been a bit better I felt. It certainly could have had a better ending. It started off very well, an interesting concept with the world being in dire trouble, and worm holes being created back to the past. People would go through and try and resolve the issues from the past and thus save the future.
Of course things don't go to plan.
But the story kind of ends – with no real ending – leaving us all hanging and I was very disappointed to be honest.
The character writing was again of a very high standard, as has been the case all the way through the Chronicles.
It's just on this occasion, the story failed to deliver. I wouldn’t probably recommend this as a result.



Meddler – Ernie Luis – 4.5/5 – This is another utterly fascinating tale, following our main character ‘Miller’ who sells drugs from the future. He also sells other things from the future, such as the ability to get information about a person’s future – an ‘insight’. The Author has constructed an interesting present and future for his story, as well as some very captivating characters. He has an interesting style in that there is His main character Miller, but he has all these secondary characters, some that have a decent amount of time in the story such as Terry, and others that don’t (No Spoilers!) These secondary characters are so well done though as to add such a level of detail to the story, whether they are there for a paragraph or most of the story, giving Meddler such a wonderful depth to it. This was a pretty good story, with some exceptional writing, and a really good ending. His characters are awesome. Well worth the effort.

The Diatomic Quantum Flop – Daniel Arthur Smith – 2/5 – This one was strange. It took a bit to get into, and I have to admit that I was a bit lost for a while. I stuck with it as to be honest I was curious to see where it was going to go.
It follows a group of guys who discover a way to time travel through meditation and drug use (a particular cocktail of drugs and a machine that they have to have) and they move through time.
It looks at what happens if someone has the ability to see past, present and future, but in a very limited way.
I'm not quite sure about this story as I was a bit disappointed with some aspects of it, mainly that I wasn’t quite sure of the point, but, having said that, the writing was actually pretty good. I think the problem was the story was a little confusing (well it was to me, so maybe that's my bad!) Not something I would ever look at again or recommend to others.

Red Mustang – Michael Holden – 4/5 – This is for the romantic criminal in all of us... This tale is a little different to the others, not following the true ‘Sci-Fi’ hardline as most of the other stories, but that’s what makes it stand out, and gives it an edge, showing another angle on how things can be interpreted. I really enjoyed this story as it follows a down on his luck petty crim ‘Jimmy’ who gets caught for the last time, and takes a deal. However, the deal is kind of a life changer for him, and involves a beautiful red Mustang. This one is a little slower than a lot of the others, but I felt it was worth sticking with, the Author writes beautiful descriptions of his scenery, as well as giving us not only entertaining, but engaging descriptions of the interactions between the two main characters on their voyage in the red Mustang – which is almost a third character itself.
For those who like a bit more of a romantic feel to their reading, and like to pay attention to the specific nuances of their characters, as well as a bit of a mystery thrown in (although it wasn’t that hard to work out to be honest), this will be well suited. I really enjoyed it as I liked the elegant way it was written, as well as the engaging characters.

Hereafter – Samuel Peralta – 5/5 – I am a huge fan of Samuel’s work, which makes me a bit biased, and this is no exception. Samuel writes from the heart, pouring his soul into his work, and this beautiful piece of work is another example of Sam’s exquisite writing.
It starts with a brief and strange encounter, but one that leaves a very definite impact on both parties. The following encounter though leaves one of the parties devastated. Samuel writes so well here that it's nearly impossible to read this without getting tears in your eyes for even the toughest. Having served in the Police for 11yrs and lost people in front of me, I can understand the grief and pain McAdams felt, and Samuel manages to capture this in his writing, that terrifying realisation that there is nothing you are going to be able to do.
But something happens after – and the story continues...
His story is heart wrenching and beautiful at the same time, compelling, captivating and it is easy to see why he continues to win accolades for this story. This is a story well worth your time and effort.
The story is brilliant and his characters are exceptional.

[S.D. Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Time. Time is the ultimate drug. We get high on the prospects of the future. And then the past comes and sobers us back up. Such is the cycle of our addiction.”

–Ernie Luis, Meddler

At first, I was wary about writing a review for an anthology, it seemed like a huge undertaking, but then I couldn’t put the book down. And then I really wanted to do this book and the talented authors justice, which loaded the pressure on me. So, here’s my best attempt to touch on each story and each author, because this collection is unbelievable on its own, while each individual story can stand alone. Every story held my attention and fulfilled all my genre favorites within one book: from mystery to love and everything in between.

The Time Travel Chronicles consists of 14 incredibly brilliant authors whom weave stories that contain substance, leaving you wanting more by the end. I’ve included short synopses and a quote from each story to intrigue the potential reader.

Extant by Anthony Vicino: An action-packed, short-story involving a time-traveling special agent who’s faced with directing her path in the right course.

“Anyways, the memory of pain isn’t quite the same thing as pain itself. It still hurts, but time dulls the edge.”

Gambit by Rysa Walker: If you’ve kept up with my reviews of her time-travel series, Timebound, then you’ll be excited to know that in this short-story the reader is transported through time to discover how Saul Rand, the megalomaniac, begins his attempts to reign the entire world.

“. . . a quote by George Santayana. He once defined history as ‘a pack of lies about events that never happened told by people who weren’t there.'” -Rysa Walker

Beasts of the Earth by Ernie Lindsey: I’m probably not supposed to have a favorite, but this one I’ll never forget. Oncologist, Dutton Quinn, lost his young daughter to a brain tumor, which turns his marriage into a struggling one. Dutton and his wife stumble upon a time-travel device without knowing that’s what it is, until Dutton finds himself in the era of B.C. This story caught me off-guard and I loved every bit of it.

“. . . there was too much order and continuity within the universe for there not to be some sort of higher power.”

Excess Baggage by Carol Davis: Toby, 14, is touring a home his parents are interested in buying, when suddenly he finds himself somewhere else, almost instantaneously. Was he kidnapped? Was he in another time? Toby struggles to understand the man, whom he finds himself stranded with, and his ramblings of “breaking the ribbon”. All Toby wants is to go home.

“Gently, he knocked the heels of his Connies together, thinking of tornadoes, and Oz, and great adventures that turned out to be a dream . . . or maybe not.”

The Traveler by Stefan Bolz: After her father’s tragic and sudden death, a young girl discovers her father left her instructions to some sort of mechanism that hasn’t been built yet. She just wants to hug her dad one more time, to ease the pain of his passing.

“Time travel is a constant. We are always traveling through time. Right now, at this very moment, we are traveling through time. Otherwise we would be frozen in that very instant and no longer exist. We can only be here if we move through time”

Eighty-Three by Erik Wecks: The first time Noah lost control of himself was at age 13. Throughout his life he continued to have hallucinations of the future, but are they really what they seem?

“Letting go is about being vulnerable to yourself and others. Trust that most of the time it’s going to be ok, and when it’s not, trust that you are still valuable and have something worthwhile to contribute.”

Life/Time in the New World by Ann Christy: Wealthy Darren spent a small fortune to have himself placed in a pod and preserved for 300 years, as a way of cheating death. The world definitely changed in the years he was asleep, but what he finds is not what he imagined in the least. Did he make the right decision to forfeit his previous life for this future?

“The lion inside him had napped for awhile, enjoyed the food that appeared each day, but now it realized it was in a cage and was wide awake.”

Just Like Old Times by Robert J. Sawyer: Chronotransference to the past is the next best thing to the death penalty for convicted murderer Cohen. The object he chooses to be transferred into isn’t supposed to be influenced by Cohen, but he learns the simple brain he’s living in can be controlled. Is this the worst mistake of a judgment the courts have ever made?

“My object all sublime

I shall achieve in time—

To let the punishment fit the crime—

The punishment fit the crime.”

Shades by Lucas Bale: Every 10 years, William McIntyre’s life is interrupted and he’s transported to another time. His confusion leads him down a spiraling path of self-destruction of thievery and drug-dealing. When his questions are answered he’s baffled and angry.

“None of us belong. We’re shades, ghosts that shimmer on the fringes of reality.”

The Nothing Gate by Tracy Banghart: Far into the future the reader finds the Earth is dying and the culprit killing it, is humans. Scientists have created a wormhole to go back in time and warn humanity.

“What if this was one of those times, rife in human history, where a well-meaning genius created something he didn’t fully understand, only to expose the world to an even greater danger?”

Meddler by Ernie Luis: Buried in his father’s debt, Miller, is drug dealing to pay off the enormous debt. He’s becoming addicted to the Drops so he can relive the precious moments with his father, but his access to the future makes him want to right wrongs of which he’s forbidden to do.

“It’s funny, because we have almost complete control over this. There is nothing more moldable than the future.” -Ernie Luis

The Diatomic Quantum Flop by Daniel Arthur Smith: Four college stoners are riddled by their friend Marty, who claims he’s found a way to time-travel. Doubtful, the friends decide to partake in his concoction of chemicals and take the ultimate trip of their lives.

“It’s Tibetan, you’re in the present, but there can’t be a present without a past and a future. So you’re there too. Time is like a wheel.”

Red Mustang by Michael Holden: This story is one of second-chances, in life, given and taken by people. Jimmy is afforded just that second-chance that will forever change his life and intertwines the lives of others with his own.

“This bounty all grew from a decision I was allowed to remake on a stormy night fifty years ago . . . “

Hereafter by Samuel Peralta: Caitlyn and Sean meet by fate and she soon discovers he’s more than she imagined. Only seeing him throughout her life, she ages and he doesn’t, and yet they manage to fall in love. A story of love and heart ache, Peralta beautifully created a time-travel story with a feel-good plot and characters you can truly empathize.

“Hereafter, only love remains.”

Thank you authors for sharing your stories with us, I thoroughly enjoyed them and can only give my highest recommendation . . . 5 stars. I’ve only given two other reviews 5 stars, I don’t hand them out halfheartedly, and it’s my honest review that this collection was wholly a well put together anthology.

***** 5 Stars

The Time Travel Chronicles

by Samuel Peralta and various authors

405 Pages

Set to publish November 6, 2015

Genre: Anthologies/Short Stories, Sci-fi/Fantasy

ASIN: B016XIY2EC

*Disclaimer: This eARC was received from the authors and Windrift Books for an honest review.

Gilt & Buckram . . . the framework that holds adventure.

[PJ Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time travel, we all think of a machine that takes us backwards or forward, but this anthology shows us that there are innumerable ways to do so. This has opened my eyes to the possibilities and ramifications of time travel!
I don't have a favourite as they are all so different, I enjoyed them all. Each one has strong characters and a story that pulls you in. Some are sad, some made me fearful and others bought a smile to my face. I've become a fan of the Future Chronicles and this edition is a great addition to the collection, reading anthologies like this also introduces me to new authors that I may not have found otherwise.
*This was an ARC, my views are my own.*

[Chip · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent variety of time traveling stories. My favorite was Shades by Lucas Bale. The tales vary from people who have the ability to rewind time, a young girl who wants to see her dead father again, a wormhole that leads to an incredible place, multiple universe time traveling, cryogenically freezing one self, death penalty by transferring your consciousness in a beast from the past, future humans must warn the past before they kill the Earth, etc. Almost all are great reads.

[R.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can honestly say that I loved every story in this anthology. Which is unusual, because there's usually one or two (at least) that don't quite float my boat. Maybe it was the subject matter (time travel - what's not to like?). But the stories were excellent; some thought-provoking, others exciting, and a couple even poetic. Outstanding.
One of the best books I've read this year!

[Straykatstrut · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for this opportunity.

"... it take thirty-two seconds for reality to solidify. So once it's set, you can't go back any further."

This collection begins with Extant by Anthony Vicino, an action-packed tale set in a war-torn world of regular "time-locked" humans and the chrono-gifted: the Blitzers, Blinkers, and Pausers. With the help of fellow Chronos--Maddox, a Blitzer and Zoe, a Pauser--Special Agent Kaelyn Kwon is determined to rescue another Blinker named Abigail from the clutches of bad-guy Crask.

In Eighty-Three by Erik Wecks, we follow along with main character Noah Wilson as he begins experiencing what he calls "hallucinations" at the ages of 13 and 17. A third episode in college convinces him to seek professional counseling from Eva. It is with her helpful insights and solid support that Noah is able to keep going, but how will it all end?

From Tracy Banghart comes The Nothing Gate, a disturbing little tale set in the not-too-distant future. Earth's environment is collapsing at an alarming rate and a few scientists have come up with a solution: time travel to the past. Juniper Young discovers one of the portals in her own backyard and is presented with a difficult choice.

Ernie Luis' Meddler introduces the reader to a world where "time is the ultimate drug." Main character Miller is a user of Drops as well as a dealer, and he is slowly becoming addicted. After yet another distasteful encounter with a client, Miller comes face-to-face with his own shocking future.

The final tale is Hereafter, a poignant romance by Samuel Peralta. For Cpl. Caitlyn McAdams, her chance meeting with mysterious Sean Forrest results in a lifetime of stolen moments.

All in all, I found The Time Travel Chronicles interesting and thought-provoking, as well as humorous and sometimes-uneasy. I definitely count this collection as a good read. Well done!

[Joe Frazier · Rating 4 out of 5]

[NOTE - Current review for Gambit & Hereafter - more to come]

In diving into The Time Travel Chronicles, I dive into a long tradition of Science Fiction / Alternate History stories on time travel. I’ve only started into the book with Gambit and Hereafter. This is a great anthology of a different perspectives, temperaments, and storylines all examining time travel. The first I read (second in the book) is from the perspective of a historian (how cool would it be to do first-hand research; not just original sources depicting the even, but the even itself.) and the other is from a scientist. Both have the descriptive detail and moving narrative arc of a storyteller.

While I’ve yet to read the rest of the anthology, and I will be updating this post as I do, these two stories are indicative of how differently a theme can be handled. Different isn’t bad. I love the diverse, but good perspectives both elicit. I anticipate the remaining stories to be equally diverse and well done.

Kudos to Crystal Watanabe for editing such a great anthology and all the authors for bringing their inner worlds to life for us on such a fun and provocative topic.

For full review: http://wp.me/p2XCwQ-1ho

[Jill Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love time travel books - generally speaking though, I am not a fan of short stories (as those of you who've read my reviews before know)... Still, I have a very hard time resisting new time travel in any form, particularly when the book in question includes an author I love (Robert J. Sawyer). I was familiar with a few of the other authors too, so thought I'd give it a try. I'm glad I did, although I'm still not in love with the short story as a vehicle for storytelling... And ironically, the Sawyer story was one of my least favorites - it was darker than I like, in the tone of his latest longer works, as opposed to the more strictly sci-fi flavor of his earlier stories. Beyond his story, which was truly original and offered a spin I haven't seen before on the "use" for time travel (and that's saying something, I read nearly everything I can find on the topic!), there were some other novel takes on the time travel trope in this collection that I really enjoyed - particularly the opening story (Extant), Beasts of the Earth, Eighty-Three, and Red Mustang. Overall it's a strong collection and introduced me to a few new authors I'm going to be checking out in their longer forms...

[D.R. Sylvester · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some really solid tales in this anthology, including a good mix of slower, more personal tales, with a few space-time stomping adventures. Particular talents to look out for:

Ernie Luis, just for the depth of emotion and dread he conjures up in his tale, Meddler. You can vividly relive the best moments of your past with just a few eye-drops... but at what cost?

Extant by Anthony Vicino, for a vividly imagined world where time travel is a super power, or a super curse...

The Traveler, by Stefan Bolz, is more introspective tale about a girl dealing with the loss of her father, who was also her mentor for all things engineering. She finds some unbelievable plans hidden in his workshop after he's gone... could this be a way to see him one last time?

Loads more. All fun and fancy reads, well worth a look!

[Kristin Dutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate doing this. My first 4 star in the The Chronicles.......I've truly loved each one. It pangs me to give this 4 stars when some fabulous authors are in this anthology of quite interesting stories. Some stories I felt they were just slapped together while others were just incredible. The formatting seemed off on me. Some sections had parts where it would start mid-page with header. Which is unlike Samuel. Usually every one of his Chronicles is perfect formatting was. But it nagged at me. Maybe my copy is bad? Who knows. I'm torn on this book. It's fantastic but it's not at times.

None the less I still recommend reading this especially if you love time-travel stories. Some of them are just fantastic theories. In the meanwhile I'll be going back to finishing The Z Chronicles :)

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed reading other Future Chronicles anthologies,and this newest edition is just as amazing. It's always a treat to read new stories by authors i already love ,and yet also be able to discover new authors work to savor.My favorites are Shades by Lucas Bale and Extant by Anthony Vicinto, both of which left me hoping the authors will continue their stories in the future.The forward by Samuel Peralto was beautifully touching.The addition of authors notes after each story was insightful and really added to my enjoyment of the book.I received a copy of this book from the authors in exchange for an honest review.

[Cmoore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love to get my hands on time travel stories... Finding a Collection of 'em in one book, Oh My! Paradoxes always intrigue me... And this book is fantastic... The first story has you jumping into the book with both feet... Literally, you jump right into a war-zone... The stories and the travelers are as different as each author envisions their world... And, it even includes an homage to H.G. Wells... I didn't know how much I needed these stories until I read them... So grab the book and enjoy...

[Stephanie Embry · Rating 5 out of 5]

More detailed review to come, but for now: This anthology was the highlight of anthologies for me this year. Every story was well-crafted and exciting. Lately short stories have been intriguing me more and more; I'm trying to learn to appreciate them as they are instead of thinking of them as entryways and wishing for longer spin-offs. The authors in this anthology all nail the art of a short story, giving satisfying takes on a great theme.

[Christian Orton · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best collections I've ever read

Up and down these are solid stories.

"Extant", "Gambit", "The Traveler", "Red Mustang" and "Hereafter" are definite five-star works. They are among the best short stories I've ever read. The rest of the stories are also very enjoyable. "Life/Time in the New World" was probably the only dud.

[Frank Becker · Rating 3 out of 5]

An anthology of time travel stories.
Disclaimer: Don't take my opinion too seriously here; I read the individual stories in highly different states of mind, so I might be a bit unjust to some stories (both positively and negatively).

The best of this anthology is that the ideas in the stories are very different - if anything grab the book for that: it's a well of ideas. There is passive and active time traveling; and even some "multiverse-timetravel". The writing is generally good; the stories ok. None of the stories really stands out.

In detail:
* Extant - *** Unique concept, ok story. Good, but not great.
* Gambit - ** Did not get into the story; the concept did not fully make sense to me.
* Beasts of the Earth - ** Reads ok, but the story is too constructed for my taste.
* Excess Baggage - ** Meh. No real meat to bite my teeth into; nothing really happens.
* The Traveler - *** Emotional story, but too much workshop and too little time travel
* Eighty-Three - **** At first I hated the story; but it grew on me and turned out more interesting that expected. I'd even say it is logically consistent - which is rare in time travel stories.
* Life/Time in the New World - *** Well written, interesting concept; I liked the element of suspense - but I did not like the end
* Just Like Old Times - *** Neat idea - with a hint of horror. Not exactly my taste
* Shades - *** ok, but I did not like the main character; The twist is nice, but I do not really believe it (the guy is too "cool" for that). I'd have liked more explanation as to the why and how.
* The Nothing Gate - ** Weird, YA, could not really grasp the characters; but a fitting open end
* Meddler - *** Inspirational story. Emotional, dark, a little haunting but with an optimistic twist. But finally a bit too simple.
* The Diatomic Quantum Flop - *** strange name, strange story. Actually a bit depressing...
* Red Mustang - **** Starts out odd, but turns into a beautiful story of second chances.
* Hereafter - ***** Nice how he gets golden ratios and fibonacchi numbers into an emotional (love) story

[Sean Bai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many uninteresting stories...

But that is the nature of buying a compilation of short stories. You never know which ones will be good or bad.

Though I did buy this at a cheap price, it was a time when I didn't know ebooks were generally cheap, so I thought I was getting a deal.

I looked at the table of contents. I didn't read most of these short stories that had boring descriptions or didn't tell me enough. I need a "book trailer" to catch my attention in order for me to use my time to read something.

Some of these were so-so, and I've read enough science fiction. The last one I read was about the serial killer who had to go back to the last for punishment. It felt a little short even for a short story and now I'm thinking short stories aren't worth reading, since I can't get attached to the characters before it is over. I've read some good short stories but I would rather buy them separately.

[Christine Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m fascinated by time travel; not sure if I’d like to actually travel, but if I did, I would love to be an observer as opposed to changing anything. If course, if you’re there to watch a past event just your very presence is a change...

I haven’t read short stories in a long time but I’ve been interested in reading more sci-fi and finding authors and I figured this was the best way to go about it. Short stories are a great way to sample many authors and I’ve looked up a couple already.

There were a lot of very interesting ideas here, each author with their own take on time travel as well as their various methods. It’s really made me think a lot about it what I would do or where I’d go if I could travel.

[Jim Kratzok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fine collection of short stories

It's interesting to see how different authors view the concept of time travel. For some, it's a physical transition and for others it's an internalized vision or almost a hallucination. Regardless, this is a good sample of time related stories. It's worth taking the time to read.

[katherine e blondon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant.

Time travel.is my favorite subject. I allows the author to juxtapose any situation. There are a couple of stories in this book which brought me to my knees. I am sure they will do for you too. It is no wonder these anthologies are so well regarded.

[Ernie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Anthology.

[Luci · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun mix of time travel stories.

[Abu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Loved all stories. Most very subtle and nuanced. I like my time travel to be more extreme but this book was an exception

[KillDeer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theres a couple stories in here that I absolutely loved.

[Nicole C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read

I love these short stories. Some are better than others but overall, I liked the book quite a bit. A few were quite creative.

[Tomislav · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over the past few years, Sam Peralta, Crystal Watanabe, and Windrift Books have launched a series of themed anthologies, known as the Future Chronicles. Each features new stories by new writers that have been collected into a stable of perhaps 150. One exception in this volume is a reprint of Robert J. Sawyer's 1993 story"Just Like Old Times". This was my first experience reading one of the series, and for the most part, the writers were unfamiliar to me. I was given a free kindle download through netgalley.com, even though this book was actually published last year.

While my reading usually tends towards more established writers, Future Chronicles is an incubator of new science fiction talent. The style of writing caused me to think that many of the writers must be relatively young; there are frequently lead characters who are teens or young adults in search of self-understanding. This became more apparent in the afterwards contributed by each writer; when they cite influential authors, I sense that I have may have actually read more sf than some of them. None the less, you do not need to have read every single time travel story ever written, in order to create a new one. Time travel is a science fantasy concept that can be easily grasped, and it comes down to story-crafting and characters. While an incubator, the writing definitely shows evidence of editorial polish and control - I would peg most of it in the range of semi-pro.

By reading the afterwards, and by following the links to author pages, I actually learned quite a bit about the writing and publication environment that Amazon is creating in its kindle universe. Now that the monthly science fiction digests are largely gone, and most sf is read in electronic form, the low unit cost of electronic publishing has enabled a low bar for new writers. I sense this in the huge number of self-published works now available to the reader. Some guidance is needed to steer towards the better work, and to improve those who have potential; perhaps anthologies such as Future Chronicles can play that role.

The contents of this anthology are:
Extant, Anthony Vicino
Gambit, Rysa Walker
Beasts of the Earth, Ernie Lindsey
Excess Baggage, Carol Davis
The Traveler, Stefan Bolz
Eighty-Three, Erik Wecks
Life/Time in the New World, Ann Christy
Shades, Lucas Bale
The Nothing Gate, Tracy Banghart
Meddler, Ernie Luis
The Diatomic Quantum Flop, Daniel Arthur Smith
Red Mustang, Michael Holden
Hereafter, Samuel Peralta