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The Infinity Engines #3
Eschaton
Time is running out.The Eschaton crises are converging.Josh may be the only one who can save them, but he's trapped in the future. The third book in the original Infinity Engines series, Eschaton continues this action-packed, dystopian time travel adventure.
The Oblivion Order is falling apart, and the timeline is beginning to unravel. Dalton's obsession with the Djinn threatens to bring down the continuum and the only way to stop him is to resolve the riddles of the Eschaton Cascade and find Josh's father.
Follow Caitlin and Josh as they discover the origins of the Order and the future that the founder was aiming to avoid.
The Oblivion Order is falling apart, and the timeline is beginning to unravel. Dalton's obsession with the Djinn threatens to bring down the continuum and the only way to stop him is to resolve the riddles of the Eschaton Cascade and find Josh's father.
Follow Caitlin and Josh as they discover the origins of the Order and the future that the founder was aiming to avoid.
446 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 27, 2018
534 people are currently reading
335 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Hastie
29 books159 followersAndy was born in 1967, and grew up with a love of science fiction inspired by the TV shows of the late 70s. Having always had a creative eye, he graduated with a BA Honours in Graphic Design, and has gone on to have a successful career as a Creative Director within a number of digital agencies, creating award-winning work for some of the largest global brands. During this time he nurtured his passion for writing sci-fi and secured a commission with the BBC for his first script, The Department of Unknown Origins, a Victorian X-Files set in the Natural History Museum, exec produced by Jon Plowman and considered by BBC Drama and Sky One.
The Anachronist is his first novel, one of a three part series called 'The Infinity Engines.' You can find out more about it on his blog: www.infinityengines.com
He lives in Surrey with his wife, two teenage daughters and a troublesome puppy.
The Anachronist is his first novel, one of a three part series called 'The Infinity Engines.' You can find out more about it on his blog: www.infinityengines.com
He lives in Surrey with his wife, two teenage daughters and a troublesome puppy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
January 1, 2020
Consistently good. A bit distracting in how it chooses to unravel the plot and present many confusing details about The Order and moving through time and space, but a very enjoyable read nonetheless and a good conclusion to the trilogy.
September 11, 2019
My Grade = 60% - D-
Published September 2018. 420 pages. 119!!! Chapters!!!!!
At the beginning of the first book in this series, Anchronist, we meet Joshua Jones, who lives in the projects in present day London. Josh is constantly in trouble for minor matters and is doing Community Service when we first meet him. He sees the local neighborhood eccentric, called "The Colonel" because he always wears a long army trenchcoat. Josh sees the Colonel leave his house with the door open, goes inside to steal something and is transported to WWII Germany, where he interrupts the German plot to kill Hitler. The Colonel helps sort things out and, along the way Josh meets library worker Caitlyn and her foster brother, Sim. Complicated adventures all through time ensue.
I mention the above because I like these characters and I am invested in them. The first book was ok enough to read the second, Maelstrom, halfway through which I ordered this, the third installment of the trilogy.
Almost from the beginning I absolutely hated it. To begin with there is a sort of Time Council with more disputing factions than in Italian politics. Next, there are way too many chapters (119), some only one page in length jumping back and forth all over the place, especially in time., as far back as 265 million years ago.. Then there are way too many characters often referred to by their names, but sometimes by only their titles, at which point I've forgotten the names.
My favorite part was when Josh and Cat, trying to escape to anywhere, find themselves on the Titanic minutes before it hits the iceberg. *** (This seemed familiar, so I went to Google and typed in "time traveler Titanic" and discovered the very interesting tidbit that in the annals of Science Fiction - so far - there are at least 207 known time travelers known to have been on the Titanic at one time or another. I wonder where they stayed or how their meals were accommodated.....)
The grammar was often laughable: "Rufus sat beside him, who wasn't a patient man..." The cliched writing even worse: "I've got a really bad feeling about this." and "What could possibly go wrong?".
As mentioned earlier, I was really invested in some of these characters, especially Josh who, by the end of the third book was still only 18, and I really wanted to see what happened to him.
And finally, after three books, there was no definitive ending.
Published September 2018. 420 pages. 119!!! Chapters!!!!!
At the beginning of the first book in this series, Anchronist, we meet Joshua Jones, who lives in the projects in present day London. Josh is constantly in trouble for minor matters and is doing Community Service when we first meet him. He sees the local neighborhood eccentric, called "The Colonel" because he always wears a long army trenchcoat. Josh sees the Colonel leave his house with the door open, goes inside to steal something and is transported to WWII Germany, where he interrupts the German plot to kill Hitler. The Colonel helps sort things out and, along the way Josh meets library worker Caitlyn and her foster brother, Sim. Complicated adventures all through time ensue.
I mention the above because I like these characters and I am invested in them. The first book was ok enough to read the second, Maelstrom, halfway through which I ordered this, the third installment of the trilogy.
Almost from the beginning I absolutely hated it. To begin with there is a sort of Time Council with more disputing factions than in Italian politics. Next, there are way too many chapters (119), some only one page in length jumping back and forth all over the place, especially in time., as far back as 265 million years ago.. Then there are way too many characters often referred to by their names, but sometimes by only their titles, at which point I've forgotten the names.
My favorite part was when Josh and Cat, trying to escape to anywhere, find themselves on the Titanic minutes before it hits the iceberg. *** (This seemed familiar, so I went to Google and typed in "time traveler Titanic" and discovered the very interesting tidbit that in the annals of Science Fiction - so far - there are at least 207 known time travelers known to have been on the Titanic at one time or another. I wonder where they stayed or how their meals were accommodated.....)
The grammar was often laughable: "Rufus sat beside him, who wasn't a patient man..." The cliched writing even worse: "I've got a really bad feeling about this." and "What could possibly go wrong?".
As mentioned earlier, I was really invested in some of these characters, especially Josh who, by the end of the third book was still only 18, and I really wanted to see what happened to him.
And finally, after three books, there was no definitive ending.
September 15, 2018
Great finale
After reading the first two parts of this trilogy, I couldn't wait to read the final instalment and I wasn't disappointed.
I love the historical references and the great characters that have been created here and it really didn't take long to lose myself in the story.
Even though it's the end of the trilogy, I feel there are many more stories to tell here and look forward to reading them in the future.
After reading the first two parts of this trilogy, I couldn't wait to read the final instalment and I wasn't disappointed.
I love the historical references and the great characters that have been created here and it really didn't take long to lose myself in the story.
Even though it's the end of the trilogy, I feel there are many more stories to tell here and look forward to reading them in the future.
November 7, 2018
Great story
I have always been fascinated with the idea of time travel and this series has catalyzed that wonder. Just as I had imagined traveling through time would be Haste has painted a picture of slightly out of sync non stop action and wonder. I just wish this story would never end. A fantastic read!
I have always been fascinated with the idea of time travel and this series has catalyzed that wonder. Just as I had imagined traveling through time would be Haste has painted a picture of slightly out of sync non stop action and wonder. I just wish this story would never end. A fantastic read!
September 13, 2018
Just brilliant!
Fantastic conclusion to a brilliant trilogy. The second half made it clear the surface has barely been scratched on the stories to be told from this world. Looking forward to many more books from Andrew Hastie!
Fantastic conclusion to a brilliant trilogy. The second half made it clear the surface has barely been scratched on the stories to be told from this world. Looking forward to many more books from Andrew Hastie!
September 22, 2018
Just as good as the first book!
If your a fan of dr who an sci-fi this is for you think time travel with history thrown in cracking read an all three were a good read as some series go on to long or with the odd bad book in the run. This is not the case
If your a fan of dr who an sci-fi this is for you think time travel with history thrown in cracking read an all three were a good read as some series go on to long or with the odd bad book in the run. This is not the case
September 10, 2018
Great book. Great writing.
As with all his other books this is so well put together and intriguing.
Really hoping for more stories from the main series.
As with all his other books this is so well put together and intriguing.
Really hoping for more stories from the main series.
September 4, 2018
Great stuff
Couldn’t wait for this to come out. Really enjoyed it and just hope there is more of it to come.
Couldn’t wait for this to come out. Really enjoyed it and just hope there is more of it to come.
March 17, 2023
Plot weaving here and there but still great
November 22, 2022
This was a wild ride. Back and forth through time. Historic places and events weave in and out of the story. There were answers; there were more questions. My only regret is having to wait until Friday to get the next book.
October 3, 2020
I wanted an easy read that wasn't too taxing. And I'm not a time travelling sort generally. But goodness me I could not put this series down. I was very quickly drawn into the characters and the story. I was so completely submerged in the book that I wasn't even halfway through the first book before I had bought the complete series which I read back to back with barely a break to make coffee! I will be reading the other books by Andrew Hastie before very long - they are already downloaded!
September 19, 2018
Good read
Like the other 2 books in this series, the plot moves at a good pace and keeps you interested and entertained. Great premise, and written in an enjoyable and inclusive manner
Like the other 2 books in this series, the plot moves at a good pace and keeps you interested and entertained. Great premise, and written in an enjoyable and inclusive manner
April 18, 2020
So much going on!
Great characters, even the evil ones. Read these 3 books together. I read other books between 1 & 2 and struggled a bit to remember what happened. The start of book 3 seamed to be all over the place but, I guess that's what times travel will do 😁. Enjoy the ride.
Great characters, even the evil ones. Read these 3 books together. I read other books between 1 & 2 and struggled a bit to remember what happened. The start of book 3 seamed to be all over the place but, I guess that's what times travel will do 😁. Enjoy the ride.
September 14, 2018
Great end
It was a good ending to the series but i felt it was to much all over the place in the middle. But it was still great!!
It was a good ending to the series but i felt it was to much all over the place in the middle. But it was still great!!
July 30, 2025
2.5 out 5
I really wanted to love Eschaton. After the first two books in the Infinity Engines series, I was invested in the world, the secret orders, the wild time-travel mechanics, the deep mythological underpinnings. There’s no shortage of imagination here. Some scenes, like the Great Fire of London or the unraveling of the Continuum, were genuinely gripping.
But somewhere along the way, it all started to feel... too much. The story jumps so rapidly, sometimes every page, between timelines and characters that I struggled to keep track of what was actually happening. The sheer number of factions, flashbacks, cryptic dialogue, and new worldbuilding ideas made it exhausting. I don’t mind complex stories, but this one often felt like it needed a pause button and a map.
Worse, some of the writing felt rushed, awkward pacing pulled me out of the moment. I think there's a brilliant story buried in here, but it needed tighter editing and a clearer emotional arc.
I sort of felt this way for the 2nd book but was hoping the author would have refined the writing. Not sure if I want to take the time to read the rest of the series
In the end, Eschaton had moments that reminded me why I started the series, but too often, I felt like I was just trying to finish it, not enjoy it. If you're a committed fan, it might still be worth the ride. But personally, I came away more drained than satisfied.
I really wanted to love Eschaton. After the first two books in the Infinity Engines series, I was invested in the world, the secret orders, the wild time-travel mechanics, the deep mythological underpinnings. There’s no shortage of imagination here. Some scenes, like the Great Fire of London or the unraveling of the Continuum, were genuinely gripping.
But somewhere along the way, it all started to feel... too much. The story jumps so rapidly, sometimes every page, between timelines and characters that I struggled to keep track of what was actually happening. The sheer number of factions, flashbacks, cryptic dialogue, and new worldbuilding ideas made it exhausting. I don’t mind complex stories, but this one often felt like it needed a pause button and a map.
Worse, some of the writing felt rushed, awkward pacing pulled me out of the moment. I think there's a brilliant story buried in here, but it needed tighter editing and a clearer emotional arc.
I sort of felt this way for the 2nd book but was hoping the author would have refined the writing. Not sure if I want to take the time to read the rest of the series
In the end, Eschaton had moments that reminded me why I started the series, but too often, I felt like I was just trying to finish it, not enjoy it. If you're a committed fan, it might still be worth the ride. But personally, I came away more drained than satisfied.
June 26, 2023
Well written, but…
I realize that this book is a} fiction, b} a fantasy, and c} purporting to take place in a completely different time line fro ours, but I still couldn’t get past the author’s making King Solomon an Egyptian ruler.
Solomon, son of David (of David and Goliath fame), was an Israelite. His father had been a shepherd, raised up to be king by God. He wasn’t part of a ruling family, and certainly wasn’t buried in an Egyptian sarcophagus, let alone one made of silver.
There is a medieval tradition that says Solomon received from St. Michael Archangel a ring with the power to control the djinn, and forced the djinn to build the first Temple in Jerusalem in 957 BCE. [It was destroyed by the Babylonians some 370 years later.] The ring bearing Solomon’s Seal appears in this story— there’s nothing in Scripture or the Koran that makes any of this Egyptian.
That said, if you can get past the weirdness of putting Solomon into the Egyptian royal line and having hieroglyphics in Jerusalem, there’s good stuff here. I liked the first two books better (obviously), but will certainly check out book four in the series.
I realize that this book is a} fiction, b} a fantasy, and c} purporting to take place in a completely different time line fro ours, but I still couldn’t get past the author’s making King Solomon an Egyptian ruler.
Solomon, son of David (of David and Goliath fame), was an Israelite. His father had been a shepherd, raised up to be king by God. He wasn’t part of a ruling family, and certainly wasn’t buried in an Egyptian sarcophagus, let alone one made of silver.
There is a medieval tradition that says Solomon received from St. Michael Archangel a ring with the power to control the djinn, and forced the djinn to build the first Temple in Jerusalem in 957 BCE. [It was destroyed by the Babylonians some 370 years later.] The ring bearing Solomon’s Seal appears in this story— there’s nothing in Scripture or the Koran that makes any of this Egyptian.
That said, if you can get past the weirdness of putting Solomon into the Egyptian royal line and having hieroglyphics in Jerusalem, there’s good stuff here. I liked the first two books better (obviously), but will certainly check out book four in the series.
April 12, 2024
I had to force myself to finish this one. Least interesting book. Too much politics, too much fake history; that too across multiple timelines, too many scenes with normal to extreme minor characters, and too much of fake science. This last one is a common complaint in the reviews. I think, it would have been fine if most of that science was real, or based on real. That's the premise a good science fiction: a story based on fake science that is based on or skirts around the real science. That way, the reader knows the universe and only little of new theory is to be learned. But here everything is too much.
People call this series a cross between Harry Potter, Doctor Who and Time Police. It's not. They haven't read the Bartimaeus Sequence. This series is time travel met Bartimaeus. This is more fantasy than Sci-fi. So much of Djinn, and different fantastic creatures.
If I will ever pick this series again, I'll stop it before last three chapters of first book. That's where the good part end with sufficient resolution.
People call this series a cross between Harry Potter, Doctor Who and Time Police. It's not. They haven't read the Bartimaeus Sequence. This series is time travel met Bartimaeus. This is more fantasy than Sci-fi. So much of Djinn, and different fantastic creatures.
If I will ever pick this series again, I'll stop it before last three chapters of first book. That's where the good part end with sufficient resolution.
January 6, 2025
An entertaining and easy to read book. This series increasingly sits at the boundary of Dr.Who, science fiction, fantasy, alternate realities, and invented history. There are new elements in this book compared to the previous entries in the series accompanied by a vast array of factions of the equivalent of time police. The action does jump all over the place though. As a polite criticism, a bit more focus is desirable here to cut down the number of characters, but given the nature of the material it is probably inevitable. Very much liked Josh and Cat, as well as the Colonel, but needed more of their chapters because I'm biased.
December 8, 2018
Getting harder to follow
One of the downsides of reading about time travel is that if you don't have a good grasp of Earth history, you are constantly being blindsided by things that you do not know or recognize.
The action scenes are quite satisfying but it seems like we are in a house of mirrors with characters coming and going and it started rewriting itself as we move through it. I think the story would have been improved if it has been simplified. I'm glad that I read it but I do not feel that I wish to continue further.
One of the downsides of reading about time travel is that if you don't have a good grasp of Earth history, you are constantly being blindsided by things that you do not know or recognize.
The action scenes are quite satisfying but it seems like we are in a house of mirrors with characters coming and going and it started rewriting itself as we move through it. I think the story would have been improved if it has been simplified. I'm glad that I read it but I do not feel that I wish to continue further.
July 7, 2020
I’d actually go 3 ½ stars - much more attention paid to grammar and spelling - the things which dragged me out of the story in the previous two books.
This volume got to be as confusing as some of the latter Doctor Who episodes and I wished I had my own map of the continuum. Still, it was a good tying up of all the threads, baddies got their comeuppance, good triumphed over evil, the hero got the girl. If the first book were re-edited to improve all the irritations, then I’d say it was a good series over all.
This volume got to be as confusing as some of the latter Doctor Who episodes and I wished I had my own map of the continuum. Still, it was a good tying up of all the threads, baddies got their comeuppance, good triumphed over evil, the hero got the girl. If the first book were re-edited to improve all the irritations, then I’d say it was a good series over all.
May 29, 2023
Just becoming a hot mess.
I should have listened to my own intuition halfway through book two when the wheels began to come off, but I (mistakenly) thought this was a trilogy and forged ahead. YUUUGE mistake. This book was a mess from the get go. Brief introductions to characters that seem to answer questions that nobody was asking, bizarre concepts thrown out as canon that we are all supposed to just understand, and no semblance of plot any more. I’m done with this series, and with this author. Be better.
I should have listened to my own intuition halfway through book two when the wheels began to come off, but I (mistakenly) thought this was a trilogy and forged ahead. YUUUGE mistake. This book was a mess from the get go. Brief introductions to characters that seem to answer questions that nobody was asking, bizarre concepts thrown out as canon that we are all supposed to just understand, and no semblance of plot any more. I’m done with this series, and with this author. Be better.
December 20, 2025
This book is just part 2 of book 2, the story doesn't miss a beat as you switch books which I appreciated reading them back to back like I did - I probably wouldn't have liked that as much if I'd had a significant break between reading the two books. I was surprised to see that the series continues past this book as this one ended without any cliffhangers or foreshadowing. This is not a book I'd recommend if you can't look past plot holes or inconsistent rules surrounding powers, but if that doesn't bother you, this is a fun series.
December 21, 2023
Better than the previous in the series but maybe that was because I was in skip reading mode in order to filter out the meaningless word salad that exisits to extend the story into three volumes. The story finishes and i am pleased about that as the first book was good and I wanted to know what happened I am not going to bother with the next as I believe from reviews it is another story not a continuation.
January 27, 2024
Positives:
The story is fast paced, easy to read quickly and mildly entertaining
Negatives:
1. A lot of the concepts are not very well explained
2. Some of the chapters add no value to the overall story
3. I didn't care about the majority of the characters
4. The ending was horrible.
Overall I was disappointed with the story and I was hoping for more with this 3rd book in the series.
I think I will give the rest of the books a miss.
The story is fast paced, easy to read quickly and mildly entertaining
Negatives:
1. A lot of the concepts are not very well explained
2. Some of the chapters add no value to the overall story
3. I didn't care about the majority of the characters
4. The ending was horrible.
Overall I was disappointed with the story and I was hoping for more with this 3rd book in the series.
I think I will give the rest of the books a miss.
March 17, 2024
Final in the Infinity Engines series and the Eschaton crises are converging. Josh is trapped in the future so can he save everyone? A time travel adventure where Josh with Caitlin must seek the origins of the Order to save the future.
Enjoyed this well written and well narrated audiobook ( I listened to the audiobook). Good strong characters and twisting plotline as we move forwards and back in time. Adventure, time travel, danger and monsters. Enjoy.
Enjoyed this well written and well narrated audiobook ( I listened to the audiobook). Good strong characters and twisting plotline as we move forwards and back in time. Adventure, time travel, danger and monsters. Enjoy.
March 1, 2019
Well this was beyond confusing! In the end I gave up trying to make sense of what was happening and just went with the excitement. Things appear to have been resolved but I’m glad it’s the end of the series. Incidentally it was riddled with spelling and grammar errors which distracted me from the story.
December 26, 2019
When the Main Characters can Travel Through Time...
It makes for some amazing sequels. This book is answers so many questions that lingered from the earlier ones. I find time travel a bit confusing, as do many of the characters in this series. As one story line comes to a close, thousands of possibilities open.
It makes for some amazing sequels. This book is answers so many questions that lingered from the earlier ones. I find time travel a bit confusing, as do many of the characters in this series. As one story line comes to a close, thousands of possibilities open.
July 27, 2021
What an Amazing imagination Andew Hastie has!,I have Thoughrally enjoyed reading this series of books, and although at first i found it hard at first to get into this book with its vast charachters and timelines ...with the short chapter techique Andrew used here, it all became clear and i soon got into this amazing adventure series.I cant wait to get my mitts on #4 of the series!.
June 23, 2024
Book 1 totally left me hanging so I HAD to read book 2 in the series. Time travelling with alternative realities and creatures who destroy realities reminded me of Dr Who. Enjoyed this read, although had to concentrate to understand some of the more unusual concepts. Enjoyed the jumps to other eras.
June 29, 2024
Lots to follow
As with most modern sequels, the number of characters and multitudes of intertwined story lines make this one hard to follow. The writing is very well done and it’s very entertaining to read, even if some of it is just ignored due to the vast volume and complexity.
As with most modern sequels, the number of characters and multitudes of intertwined story lines make this one hard to follow. The writing is very well done and it’s very entertaining to read, even if some of it is just ignored due to the vast volume and complexity.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews