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A Time and a Place
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Barnabus’s nephew is behaving oddly. Calling upon Doctor Humphrey for assistance has not been particularly helpful, because the good doctor’s diagnosis of demonic possession is clearly preposterous. Even the demon currently ensconced on the front room couch agrees it’s preposterous. But then, how else to explain the portal to another world through which his nephew and Hump
...more
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ebook, First Edition
Published
October 1st 2017
by Five Rivers Publishing
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May 14, 2018
Joe Mahoney
rated it
it was amazing
· (Review from the author)
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
by-me,
five-rivers
Apparently, according to Goodreads, it's okay to review your own book. So here goes... a completely impartial, unbiased book review for my science fiction/fantasy time travel adventure A Time and a Place.
Let's start with what this book is about. And I'd say it's about two or three pounds. This is a book with some serious heft. You put this book on something it's not going anywhere. There are a lot of pages, four hundred and three of them. If you like your book with pages, you're gonna like this ...more
Let's start with what this book is about. And I'd say it's about two or three pounds. This is a book with some serious heft. You put this book on something it's not going anywhere. There are a lot of pages, four hundred and three of them. If you like your book with pages, you're gonna like this ...more

This was an interesting read and it's the first for me to read time paradox and time travel since I mostly read YA. I would have given it a higher rating if it wasn't for the characters.
The plot was interesting and I enjoyed reading how Wildebear's actions with trying to fix everything just created a paradox instead. His powers to control the gate and taking him to other places and other living thing's consciousness was enjoyable too. The whole deal with the T'Klee and the Necronians is what set ...more
The plot was interesting and I enjoyed reading how Wildebear's actions with trying to fix everything just created a paradox instead. His powers to control the gate and taking him to other places and other living thing's consciousness was enjoyable too. The whole deal with the T'Klee and the Necronians is what set ...more

So. I must confess that I am fairly conflicted about Joe Mahoney's 'A Time and a Place'. On the one hand Mahoney relates a pretty rollicking Fantasy-Science Fiction adventure story with a lively, imaginative degree of world building while on the other he saddles that world with one of the least likeable protagonists I've read around in some time. Barnabus J. Wildebear is a strange character, at times willfully ignorant of the world around him, ill suited to the task at hand, yet still trying to
...more

QUANTUM MIND TRIPPER
I’m not even going to try and say it better than the writer because that would be impossible. So, to quote author Joe Mahoney from the novel A TIME AND A PLACE:
“Two planets, two civilizations. Profoundly different in appearance and temperament. One clean and fastidious, the other filthy and squalid. One rash and impetuous, the other thoughtful and contemplative. Both intrigued to learn of the other’s existence.”
A Sci-Fi Fantasy with Literary notes, there is so much to love a ...more
I’m not even going to try and say it better than the writer because that would be impossible. So, to quote author Joe Mahoney from the novel A TIME AND A PLACE:
“Two planets, two civilizations. Profoundly different in appearance and temperament. One clean and fastidious, the other filthy and squalid. One rash and impetuous, the other thoughtful and contemplative. Both intrigued to learn of the other’s existence.”
A Sci-Fi Fantasy with Literary notes, there is so much to love a ...more

Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review
What's got races of sentient cats and psychic blobs, space ships, portals to other worlds, wearable AI, and demons? Joe Mahoney's A Time and a Place. We first meet Barnabus J Wildebear picking up his longtime friend Dr Humphrey at the airport. Wildebear has asked the good doctor to pay him a visit because he's worried about the state of mind of his nephew, whom he has been looking after since the death of his sister orp ...more
What's got races of sentient cats and psychic blobs, space ships, portals to other worlds, wearable AI, and demons? Joe Mahoney's A Time and a Place. We first meet Barnabus J Wildebear picking up his longtime friend Dr Humphrey at the airport. Wildebear has asked the good doctor to pay him a visit because he's worried about the state of mind of his nephew, whom he has been looking after since the death of his sister orp ...more

"The question is not whether the book is written. The question is who is writing the book.”
That sums up much of the time travel / paradox aspects of this story quite neatly. "Time travel" as a tag is appropriate for this novel but (without giving away anything) it should be more appropriately "Spacetime travel" and that's... well, that's in the title. The narrative doesn't focus strictly on the typical SciFi time travel / paradox as the central theme, though that's certainly prevalent, and that' ...more
That sums up much of the time travel / paradox aspects of this story quite neatly. "Time travel" as a tag is appropriate for this novel but (without giving away anything) it should be more appropriately "Spacetime travel" and that's... well, that's in the title. The narrative doesn't focus strictly on the typical SciFi time travel / paradox as the central theme, though that's certainly prevalent, and that' ...more

Picked this book up at the launch party last month in Toronto. Great and fun adventure. The sci-fi lingo not too intrusive or overpowering. The protagonist is an endearing sad sack — I greatly enjoyed the chapters in which our time- and dimension-travelling hero finds himself in the body of an alien, purple-furred cat with opposable thumbs and then a seagull. I like how he learns that time marches inevitably on, and we must learn to live with our failures and forgive ourselves and those around u
...more

A brilliant, often hilarious, thoughtful and amazing read. Loved it. Surprised me in a few places that made me put the book down for a bit to savour it as I was getting close to the end. I really enjoyed this novel, and recommend it for those who like their science fiction stories to be quirky, human and compelling. A genuinely imaginative storyline. Five stars.

Nov 22, 2018
Cheryl Whitty
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
audio-edition,
adventure,
best,
emotional,
fantasy,
interesting,
mystical,
murder,
sci-fi,
thought-provoking
Reviewed on http://bookaddict.live,
After being immersed in this audiobook and the plethora of worlds and adventures that Barnabas J. Wildebeast a school teacher on his summer break gets embroiled in an adventure so fantastic it can’t help but carry you along for the ride. What a ride this audio was when Barnabas comes home to find out that nephew who he has looked after for the last couple of years due to his sister’s death. Ridley has been recruited by a jinn to fight in a war on another world ...more
After being immersed in this audiobook and the plethora of worlds and adventures that Barnabas J. Wildebeast a school teacher on his summer break gets embroiled in an adventure so fantastic it can’t help but carry you along for the ride. What a ride this audio was when Barnabas comes home to find out that nephew who he has looked after for the last couple of years due to his sister’s death. Ridley has been recruited by a jinn to fight in a war on another world ...more

It was the demon Ugertha that drew me in. S/he is a complex character with murky motives. Barnabus must save his nephew, Ridley. He has no idea how he will do it nor what it will cost him. For the first half of the book, my attention was firmly held. There’s these sentient cat-like aliens, the T’Klee, and the evil & dangerous Necronians, who have many tentacles. Barnabus will find allies and enemies around every corner.
The second half of the book got a bit muddled for me. I felt I needed a diagr ...more
The second half of the book got a bit muddled for me. I felt I needed a diagr ...more

I was the editor on this one. Back cover blurb (which I wrote):
Calling upon Doctor Humphrey for assistance has not been particularly helpful, because the good doctor’s diagnosis of demonic possession is clearly preposterous. Even the demon currently ensconced on the front room couch agrees it’s preposterous. But then, how else to explain the portal to another world through which his nephew and Humphrey have just now disappeared? Barnabus knows their only chance of rescue is for Barnabus J. Wilde ...more
Calling upon Doctor Humphrey for assistance has not been particularly helpful, because the good doctor’s diagnosis of demonic possession is clearly preposterous. Even the demon currently ensconced on the front room couch agrees it’s preposterous. But then, how else to explain the portal to another world through which his nephew and Humphrey have just now disappeared? Barnabus knows their only chance of rescue is for Barnabus J. Wilde ...more

My stepson is totally enamoured of Terry Pratchett. He thinks the Discworld books are the funniest things since Monty Python. At least he and I agree on Monty Python. Which gives you a warning up front – here’s a review of a humorous book by a guy who never understood why so many people love the work of Terry Pratchett. I don't even watch sitcoms.
A Time and a Place strikes me as quintessentially Canadian – oddly polite and mannered and stubbornly domestic, even while an absurd parade of characte ...more
A Time and a Place strikes me as quintessentially Canadian – oddly polite and mannered and stubbornly domestic, even while an absurd parade of characte ...more

“A Time and a Place” sucked me in from the moment Barnabus Wildebear finds a certain book in his nephew Ridley's bedroom, and I stayed glued to it until late into the night. A fast-paced sci-fi novel, it follows Wildebear through a series of strange and deadly episodes, all in an effort to save his nephew Ridley. Faced with new worlds and menacing enemies, and confronted by the worst moments from their pasts, they are both forced to adapt and change—but not necessarily for the best. Through its
...more

I chose to listen the audio version of this book. It is recorded by the author himself, which I felt was a terrific way to enjoy his personal perspective of this creative and entertaining story. Science fiction is not my usual choice of story, however the vivid descriptions and wit kept me hooked from beginning to end. I enjoyed this book very much

How great to read a book set in Prince Edward Island, that doesn't involve precocious redheads! In A Time and a Place, the humour sneaks up on you and results in under-your-breath chuckles. I don't usually gravitate to this genre - but I've very glad I did. It was fun, not heavy, not gory - a whimsical Canada-grown read.
...more

Audible:What a story! A mans nephew/ward has sudden changes in his behaviour.Upon investigation,we find a books influence might be to blame.This was so well written and intriguing,I did not want to put it down! Joe Mahoney was also a fine narrator.Looking forward to more from him. I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.

This book is well written and fun to read, despite the fact that the main character is more of an anti-hero. Wildebear is well visualized by the author, making him incredibly frustrating to watch bumbling through his bizarre experiences in a misguided attempt to save his nephew. The story itself is imaginative and not wholly predictable. This is a great first novel and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

I think this is an impressive debut. The style of writing is funny, the themes are ambitious, and the plot has surprising twists.
To list some points of criticism, which are meant to be constructive, I think that the author was a bit too ambitious. Normally, this would take 3 books or more to cover. Compressing it into 1 book meant that it comes across rushed, and there is not enough time for sufficient character development, or exploration of the themes. Which is a pity, because there are quite ...more
To list some points of criticism, which are meant to be constructive, I think that the author was a bit too ambitious. Normally, this would take 3 books or more to cover. Compressing it into 1 book meant that it comes across rushed, and there is not enough time for sufficient character development, or exploration of the themes. Which is a pity, because there are quite ...more

"Son of comfort" (the meaning of Barnabas) is a great character. This story has lots of action and plenty of weird directions it takes, considering the time-traveling encountered. This is a very good book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. ...more
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. ...more

A Time and a Place is the debut novel of Joe Mahoney, a local Ontario author. I first met Joe some time ago at a local book fest in Whitby, and his book has been on the back burner ever since. Finally he’s come out with the audiobook – he’s done all the voice acting and editing himself – so I got myself a copy. It’s a science fiction, quasi-fantasy story.
A time and a place follows our hero and narrator Barnabus Wildebear – which is an awesome name. He’s essentially a John Everyman type character ...more
A time and a place follows our hero and narrator Barnabus Wildebear – which is an awesome name. He’s essentially a John Everyman type character ...more

What a great book - couldn't put it down! I found Wildebeer to be a fascinating character study; In some ways a typical man of his generation so easy for us to identify with him, but unlike most of us he finds great strength from within and many will admire that. Joe Mahoney places this quirky character into a strange and fascinating set of fantasy worlds creating a wild, wild ride! An intricate plot laced with Mahoney humour and excellent writing makes this a must read for all lovers of good bo
...more

Barnabus J. Wildebear isn’t having a good day. Or is that a week? Perhaps year . . . or decade or two? It’s hard to tell when you’re jumping backward and forward through time and the cosmos in an effort to save your nephew – and the human race, I might add – from a fate worse than mass extinction.
The thing is, that fate might be set in stone. As Barnabus learns to his cost, you can’t change the past. As for the future? Well, that’s just the present waiting to happen . . . for the umpteenth time ...more
The thing is, that fate might be set in stone. As Barnabus learns to his cost, you can’t change the past. As for the future? Well, that’s just the present waiting to happen . . . for the umpteenth time ...more

How often does one get to read a book involving time travel and aliens, set in Prince Edward Island? While trying to find out why his nephew is acting oddly, Barnabus Jehosophys Wildebear discovers he is able to create gates to other dimensions and times, gates that his nephew Ridley and friend Dr. Humphrey have both gone through. Wildebear travels through time, to other planets and into the minds of other people and animals both alien and domestic, and discovers his nephew has joined a war agai
...more

Out of the gates, Mahoney's A Time and a Place feels like Lovecraft if Lovecraft had a sense of humor. The plot takes you along quite a journey, complete with time travel and other alien worlds. If Mahoney had maintained the dry humor of Wildebear throughout the whole story he likely could have pulled off a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy vibe. But the humor gets lost at times and the protagonist's point of view comes across more naive than anything else through the middle chunk of the book.
Nev ...more
Nev ...more

Not kindle unlimited, pretty sure got it as one of my here's a free book, no strings, but really hope you find the time to read and review it things.
No idea of the genre, very odd space opera, maybe; .Doctor Who on acid? {Thus begins an existential romp across space and time, trampling on Barnabus' assumptions.}
Too much going on in the book to pick any one thing or event, and don't like risking spoilers anyway. Liked it but didn't luv it, BUT NOT saying it was bad, just not totally my type or ma ...more
No idea of the genre, very odd space opera, maybe; .Doctor Who on acid? {Thus begins an existential romp across space and time, trampling on Barnabus' assumptions.}
Too much going on in the book to pick any one thing or event, and don't like risking spoilers anyway. Liked it but didn't luv it, BUT NOT saying it was bad, just not totally my type or ma ...more

I liked A Time and a Place and there’s a lot to like in Mahoney’s novel. I loved the T’Klee, the race of alien cats (distantly related to felis catus) with opposable thumbs. At one point in his journey, Barnabus inhabits other animals (including a T’Klee) as part of his education and it reminded me of Merlin teaching Wart about the responsibilities of power in T.H. White’s The Sword in the Stone.
At another point, Barbabus uses his new ability to time travel in an attempt to save his wife before ...more
At another point, Barbabus uses his new ability to time travel in an attempt to save his wife before ...more
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Joe Mahoney is a writer and a broadcaster.
As a broadcaster, he has produced multiple radio documentaries on science fiction. He produced Six Impossible Things, an audio compilation of short fantastical fiction, curated by Nalo Hopkinson, and wrote and produced the science fiction radio show Faster Than Light, hosted by Robert J. Sawyer.
He engineered and story-edited Steve the First, a post-apoca ...more
As a broadcaster, he has produced multiple radio documentaries on science fiction. He produced Six Impossible Things, an audio compilation of short fantastical fiction, curated by Nalo Hopkinson, and wrote and produced the science fiction radio show Faster Than Light, hosted by Robert J. Sawyer.
He engineered and story-edited Steve the First, a post-apoca ...more
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