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A Ripple in Time #1
A Ripple in Time
A struggle for survival in a time long past.It started as a routine Miami to Charlotte flight for the passengers, crew, and Federal Air Marshal Stephen Mason. But a freak storm over the Atlantic propels the airliner unexplainably back in time to the early 18th century. They find themselves on the sparsely populated coast of the Carolina Colony. Charles Town is the only English settlement of any size in the area. It’s an inhospitable place of vast plantations, slavery, hostile natives, tall ships, and marauding pirates.Finding a way back, if that’s even feasible, is the least of their worries. These unintended time travelers quickly find themselves ill-equipped for hardships and dangers not faced for centuries. Perils loom at every turn in this world of loss, anguish, filth, and sweat.Foreigners in their own land, can they survive and adapt? Is it even possible for these modern transplants to carve an existence from this foul and odorous place in time?Stephen Mason will find a way or die trying.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2019
787 people are currently reading
797 people want to read
About the author
Victor Zugg
12 books66 followersVictor Zugg is a former US Air Force officer and OSI special agent who served and lived all over the world. Writing has always been a big part of his life, no matter what the job. While serving in the military most of his writing was job related. But he also found time to publish a number of nonfiction magazine articles, all historical in nature. He traveled great distances to research the material first hand. More recently he’s turned his writing skills to fiction, to the type he enjoys reading—largely dystopian and survival adventures. Given his extensive travels and opportunities to settle anywhere, it is ironic that he now resides in Florida, only a few miles from his hometown of Orlando. He credits the warm temperatures for that decision.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 332 reviews
September 12, 2025
A FLIGHT FROM MIAMI TO CHARLOTTE TURNS INTO AN ADVENTURE NO ONE COULD HAVE SEEN COMING
☆☆☆☆☆
Imagine, boarding a plane for a short two hour flight from Miami to Charlotte, and though it was scheduled for clear skies, running into a massive storm that takes out the planes instruments with no navigation, GPS, or radio contact, and a strange blue light is in the midst of dark sky and ending up in the year 1720 with little to no means of survival. You can't go walking into the nearest town asking for help, you'd be branded a witch due to your clothing and your speech. Diseases we no longer even think about in 2019 will kill you just as fast as being burned at the stake for being a witch. The dangers with the locals from everything from Indians, marauders, pirates, and bandits seem to be behind every tree, in every dark alley, and bearing down on you at sea.
A Ripple In Time: A Historical Novel Of Survival by Victor Zugg has brought a tale of adventure that will make you stop and think what you would do if your world were turned upside down in the blink of an eye. The characters are ones that are easy to follow and relate to. You'll experience their fears and struggles as they face the challenges that are forced upon them the minute their plane goes down off the coast near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Mason, Karen, Manny, Dorothy, Lisa, and the rest of the survivors band together in this story to survive in the 1720's with the help of a local Indian tribe and try to make a life for themselves in Charles Town. Mason places himself as their protector and holds himself as if it is his duty to make sure they all survive they're unbelievable ordeal they find themselves in.
This is a great time travel novel that is full of action, teamwork, and challenges around every corner for the survivors of their flight. It will hold your interest from the first page to the last and once you hit the last couple of chapters it will cause you to think what's really going on and how can it end this way. You just will not see it coming. Don't give up though. The second book in this series picks up and offers hope for Mason, Karen, Lisa, and Jeremy will make it in 1720.
I really enjoyed this book and easily recommend it to you and feel you to will enjoy it as much as I did. With time travel, Indians, pirates, and all the challenges for a group of people from 2019 in 1720, you can't go wrong with all the possibilities just waiting on the next page to be discovered.
☆☆☆☆☆
Imagine, boarding a plane for a short two hour flight from Miami to Charlotte, and though it was scheduled for clear skies, running into a massive storm that takes out the planes instruments with no navigation, GPS, or radio contact, and a strange blue light is in the midst of dark sky and ending up in the year 1720 with little to no means of survival. You can't go walking into the nearest town asking for help, you'd be branded a witch due to your clothing and your speech. Diseases we no longer even think about in 2019 will kill you just as fast as being burned at the stake for being a witch. The dangers with the locals from everything from Indians, marauders, pirates, and bandits seem to be behind every tree, in every dark alley, and bearing down on you at sea.
A Ripple In Time: A Historical Novel Of Survival by Victor Zugg has brought a tale of adventure that will make you stop and think what you would do if your world were turned upside down in the blink of an eye. The characters are ones that are easy to follow and relate to. You'll experience their fears and struggles as they face the challenges that are forced upon them the minute their plane goes down off the coast near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Mason, Karen, Manny, Dorothy, Lisa, and the rest of the survivors band together in this story to survive in the 1720's with the help of a local Indian tribe and try to make a life for themselves in Charles Town. Mason places himself as their protector and holds himself as if it is his duty to make sure they all survive they're unbelievable ordeal they find themselves in.
This is a great time travel novel that is full of action, teamwork, and challenges around every corner for the survivors of their flight. It will hold your interest from the first page to the last and once you hit the last couple of chapters it will cause you to think what's really going on and how can it end this way. You just will not see it coming. Don't give up though. The second book in this series picks up and offers hope for Mason, Karen, Lisa, and Jeremy will make it in 1720.
I really enjoyed this book and easily recommend it to you and feel you to will enjoy it as much as I did. With time travel, Indians, pirates, and all the challenges for a group of people from 2019 in 1720, you can't go wrong with all the possibilities just waiting on the next page to be discovered.
January 21, 2020
It is hard to come up with original ideas anymore. This is a sort of poor man's Diana Gabaldon but written without her skill and research. Characters are insufficiently developed and there are serious logical issues - for instance a small group of survivors spend weeks under the guidance of a leader who doesn't know the names of some of them after all that time.
Sorry to be a wet blanket. There are untold stories about time travel but this is not one of them. I think, on reflection, that my 3 star rating is too generous.
Sorry to be a wet blanket. There are untold stories about time travel but this is not one of them. I think, on reflection, that my 3 star rating is too generous.
November 1, 2024
This novel has a few things going for it and a few things going against it. I agree with many other reviews that the characters aren’t well developed. True enough. Nevertheless, the plot is sound enough, no more no less. Don’t look for originality, don’t look for eloquent writing. But then these days one can hardly fault anybody for lack thereof; especially not for the former.
Without spoiling anything, this is a time travel story and the passengers of an airplane that are put in a situation that pits them not only against nature but also against other fellow men. Admittedly, the main character is a bit one-dimensional and so are the minor characters. However, this is made up to some extent by historical background information which is reasonably well-researched. I feel the author has made the right conclusion concerning the conflicts and confrontations post millennium citizens would have to face in the colonial south in the first quarter of the 18th century. There is even a small twist that is quite welcome in an otherwise fairly predictable story. Seriously, I see this as a fairly solid read. Recommend
Without spoiling anything, this is a time travel story and the passengers of an airplane that are put in a situation that pits them not only against nature but also against other fellow men. Admittedly, the main character is a bit one-dimensional and so are the minor characters. However, this is made up to some extent by historical background information which is reasonably well-researched. I feel the author has made the right conclusion concerning the conflicts and confrontations post millennium citizens would have to face in the colonial south in the first quarter of the 18th century. There is even a small twist that is quite welcome in an otherwise fairly predictable story. Seriously, I see this as a fairly solid read. Recommend
February 26, 2020
The grumpus23 (23-word commentary) A pleasant time-travel surprise. Commercial flight with air marshal transported to colonial America. How will they survive? More importantly, how do they return?
August 30, 2019
3 stars. Not terrible, but the story was dry and I didn't care about the MC or any of the other characters. It wasn't quite as bad as reading a history book about colonial Charleston, SC; but it wasn't far from it.
February 12, 2020
This is not a bad book. It is a solidly decent historical man-out-of-time story.
However, it suffers from three main problems.
First, it is an unoriginal time travel tale. "Plane full of people transported back in time" is not something novel or unique, but the author does nothing to set itself apart from other media of the same genre. It feels almost like the author was going for a feel similar to Crichton's Timeline "but this time in 18th century America". The only problem is, it wasn't as good.
There are too many plot contrivances. Of course they find friendly Indians who help them survive early 18th century South Carolina. Of course there is an anthropologist on the plane whose specialty is early 18th century South Carolina. Of course there is a chest of treasure that mysteriously washes up on shore. And, of course the author gives us a "was it all a dream" moment followed by a "NOPE!!!!!!"
Finally, the characters are notoriously flat. Even Mason, the main character, isn't all that well-developed. The story literally starts with him getting on the plane, abd there is no back-fill to the character, ever. The romances feel wooden and rushed. Most of the book felt like the author cared less about plot and more about showing off his knowledge of 1720s Charles Town.
However, it suffers from three main problems.
First, it is an unoriginal time travel tale. "Plane full of people transported back in time" is not something novel or unique, but the author does nothing to set itself apart from other media of the same genre. It feels almost like the author was going for a feel similar to Crichton's Timeline "but this time in 18th century America". The only problem is, it wasn't as good.
There are too many plot contrivances. Of course they find friendly Indians who help them survive early 18th century South Carolina. Of course there is an anthropologist on the plane whose specialty is early 18th century South Carolina. Of course there is a chest of treasure that mysteriously washes up on shore. And, of course the author gives us a "was it all a dream" moment followed by a "NOPE!!!!!!"
Finally, the characters are notoriously flat. Even Mason, the main character, isn't all that well-developed. The story literally starts with him getting on the plane, abd there is no back-fill to the character, ever. The romances feel wooden and rushed. Most of the book felt like the author cared less about plot and more about showing off his knowledge of 1720s Charles Town.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2021
I absolutely loved this book. I'm a sucker for time travel stories but, unfortunately, not many people do it well. Well, Mr. Zugg certainly does it well. I read it in two days (would have been one but I just had to get some sleep! ;-) It was engrossing from the start. I love history and found all that information fascinating. The characters (a lot!) were so well drawn and believable. The ending was great (though fairly predictable, of course). I took a look at other things he's written -- dystopian/EMP stories -- but they don't really appeal to me. If you like time travel coupled with history, this is the book for you! Hope he writes another time travel book!
November 26, 2019
If you've every daydreamed about what it would be like if you could step back in time and live, for awhile at least. in colonial times you will love this story An airliner enters a dark blue cloud and loses most of their instruments. Their communications are unable to contact anyone and when they look down there are no cities or towns visible where they should be, only forests and open land. With no airports to land at they are forced to attempt to ditch in the ocean off what they determine is Myrtle Beach from its outline from above. The plane lands hard, the tail section breaks of, and the forward section immediately starts sinking. Quickly deploying the escape slide and an inflatable raft a number of passengers and the cabin crew along with Air Marshall Steve Mason are loaded on and after much effort make it to shore. Their struggle to survive in this time period of about seventeen hundred is a fabulous tale that you just have to read for yourself.
March 17, 2020
What would modern humans do if they were suddenly transported back to Revolutionary America? What can they do? Can they keep on living or will they fail. Federal Air Marshall Stephen Mason flying on a routine flight between Miami and Charlotte gets transported back to the early 18th century with a plane full of people. Before the revolution, before the colonies were well established.
They are helped by Indians and their individual knowledge works for the castaways. They fish, hunt and try to survive. But this is the 18th century and modern medicine is far away in the future. Commodities like bathrooms are also way in the future.
Great story and it plays around with the Bermuda Triangle which has always fascinated me.
They are helped by Indians and their individual knowledge works for the castaways. They fish, hunt and try to survive. But this is the 18th century and modern medicine is far away in the future. Commodities like bathrooms are also way in the future.
Great story and it plays around with the Bermuda Triangle which has always fascinated me.
July 2, 2021
I really love novels about time travel and I don’t come across them very often. Im glad this one was suggested when I did a search for that genre.
A RIPPLE IN TIME by by Victor Zugg and read by Sean William Doyle, A Historical Novel of Survival.
A routine flight encounters an unexpected and unusual storm and the entire plane and its occupants are thrust 300 years into the past. After ditching the plane in the ocean, they try to survive on what will one day become Myrtle Beach. The people are very relatable and the environment is so well described I swear I can smell the filth they encounter when the visit a larger settlement. But, did it really happen or is this just one mans delusion from a head injury?
Either way, it’s another I highly recommend. 5 stars on Goodreads!
A RIPPLE IN TIME by by Victor Zugg and read by Sean William Doyle, A Historical Novel of Survival.
A routine flight encounters an unexpected and unusual storm and the entire plane and its occupants are thrust 300 years into the past. After ditching the plane in the ocean, they try to survive on what will one day become Myrtle Beach. The people are very relatable and the environment is so well described I swear I can smell the filth they encounter when the visit a larger settlement. But, did it really happen or is this just one mans delusion from a head injury?
Either way, it’s another I highly recommend. 5 stars on Goodreads!
September 5, 2021
Not your usual time travel story
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. Strong all the way through with an ending that dosnt disappoint. Well deserved 5 stars
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. Strong all the way through with an ending that dosnt disappoint. Well deserved 5 stars
January 2, 2021
Ok, depending on who you are
This was an ok read if you are a middle class white guy as it reads like a book that was written for middle class white guys by a middle class white guy. I enjoyed the story set up. The author was clearly drawing on his professional experiences and it read well. I thought the tension built well and it was clearly described. I could see the action in my head like a movie. But as I kept reading, it felt like any aspects of diversity were there simply to serve the story. The macho guy needed a woman or two protect while they prepared food, There was a Latino guy to help out, a black man and woman who didn't really do much aside from having to stay out of the way in case someone thought they were runaway slaves or if they had to, play the role of slaves in order to stay safe...at least the black guy was an attorney....
After help from some Native Americans, who we are told it would be ok to call Indians, the macho time travellers along with their handy food preparing, history buff women, come across a pile of money and get themselves set up by buying a sloop followed soon after by a plantation. They decide to free the 50 slaves that came along with it because it is morally wrong to own people, but decided to keep them by giving them a better way of life still working for the plantation. Yes, I know a lot of freed slaves did stay on after being granted freedom but because they didn't really have a choice not necessarily because they wanted to. Same as these 50, the decision was made for them by someone else. That's not freedom. Although I suppose it could be argued the 21st century Americans were ’just going along with the times’. It didn't seem too objectionable to them though.
I almost stopped reading when I thought the author was going to pull the 'it's all been a dream' trick, but then it redeemed itself somewhat by the end. We are given a relatively neat but fast wrap up.
I'm pretty sure this book just has to be taken at face value as a series of exciting events with no great emotional investment, like watching a James Bond or Mission Impossible movie. It's a ride, but depending on who you are, not necessarily a comfortable one.
This was an ok read if you are a middle class white guy as it reads like a book that was written for middle class white guys by a middle class white guy. I enjoyed the story set up. The author was clearly drawing on his professional experiences and it read well. I thought the tension built well and it was clearly described. I could see the action in my head like a movie. But as I kept reading, it felt like any aspects of diversity were there simply to serve the story. The macho guy needed a woman or two protect while they prepared food, There was a Latino guy to help out, a black man and woman who didn't really do much aside from having to stay out of the way in case someone thought they were runaway slaves or if they had to, play the role of slaves in order to stay safe...at least the black guy was an attorney....
After help from some Native Americans, who we are told it would be ok to call Indians, the macho time travellers along with their handy food preparing, history buff women, come across a pile of money and get themselves set up by buying a sloop followed soon after by a plantation. They decide to free the 50 slaves that came along with it because it is morally wrong to own people, but decided to keep them by giving them a better way of life still working for the plantation. Yes, I know a lot of freed slaves did stay on after being granted freedom but because they didn't really have a choice not necessarily because they wanted to. Same as these 50, the decision was made for them by someone else. That's not freedom. Although I suppose it could be argued the 21st century Americans were ’just going along with the times’. It didn't seem too objectionable to them though.
I almost stopped reading when I thought the author was going to pull the 'it's all been a dream' trick, but then it redeemed itself somewhat by the end. We are given a relatively neat but fast wrap up.
I'm pretty sure this book just has to be taken at face value as a series of exciting events with no great emotional investment, like watching a James Bond or Mission Impossible movie. It's a ride, but depending on who you are, not necessarily a comfortable one.
February 5, 2021
Great premise and wonderful male adventure story
I love these stories where contemporary people find themselves in other times and places and have to adapt. I was super excited about this one. Strike one came early on when the party leader decided the men would run around hunting and using weapons while the girls, as he frequently refers to the women, are delegated to food and camp duty. Strike two came when when none of the women had a problem with that. Strike three was when a female character is assaulted in an attempted rape, the perpetrator gets knocked out by another woman, and the party leader thinks nothing else needs to happen because getting bonked on the head is bad enough for our rapist. This may work for setting up future fictional conflict but I find myself wanting to use expletives to describe how I think it works as believable punishment in a real survival situation. Predator's prey. Period. No group of modern women is going to be populated solely by women who are content to cook food and play camp mama. It's just offensive, Mr. Zugg. This might be a great story. It's not written for both men and women to enjoy.
I love these stories where contemporary people find themselves in other times and places and have to adapt. I was super excited about this one. Strike one came early on when the party leader decided the men would run around hunting and using weapons while the girls, as he frequently refers to the women, are delegated to food and camp duty. Strike two came when when none of the women had a problem with that. Strike three was when a female character is assaulted in an attempted rape, the perpetrator gets knocked out by another woman, and the party leader thinks nothing else needs to happen because getting bonked on the head is bad enough for our rapist. This may work for setting up future fictional conflict but I find myself wanting to use expletives to describe how I think it works as believable punishment in a real survival situation. Predator's prey. Period. No group of modern women is going to be populated solely by women who are content to cook food and play camp mama. It's just offensive, Mr. Zugg. This might be a great story. It's not written for both men and women to enjoy.
February 27, 2020
Hands Down My Most Favorite Book
I have been a bookworm for many years. I can be quite picky on what I read because I want it to be interesting and captivating. This book was everything. The historical accuracy, the emotion, the suspense, the wonder, and so much more had me in complete awe the entire book. There wasn't one boring part which is rare for me. Nothing was left unexplained so I was never lost or left hanging. The ending was perfect to tie everything in together. I finished this book in a matter of maybe five hours total. I seriously could not put it down. I can't rave about this book enough. The author is truly one of a kind with this book. I'm eager to read more of his work. I highly recommend this book to any lover of the unknown, suspense, and history like myself. You will love it and never forget this story.
I have been a bookworm for many years. I can be quite picky on what I read because I want it to be interesting and captivating. This book was everything. The historical accuracy, the emotion, the suspense, the wonder, and so much more had me in complete awe the entire book. There wasn't one boring part which is rare for me. Nothing was left unexplained so I was never lost or left hanging. The ending was perfect to tie everything in together. I finished this book in a matter of maybe five hours total. I seriously could not put it down. I can't rave about this book enough. The author is truly one of a kind with this book. I'm eager to read more of his work. I highly recommend this book to any lover of the unknown, suspense, and history like myself. You will love it and never forget this story.
August 2, 2021
I love time travel stories, and this one was a blast to listen to. It may be just another iteration of the classic formula used as recently as the John Carter movie; but the trip to 1720 Charleston was an interesting choice. Frankly, I just wish the book were longer with more from their time in the past.
Battles with pirates (Lowe), a raiding native tribe, the threat of diseases, and constant worry of being found with unexplainable items from the future in a time when such a thing might mean being burnt or hung. It's a quick enough read and I wish it weren't. Worth the time to check this one out.
Battles with pirates (Lowe), a raiding native tribe, the threat of diseases, and constant worry of being found with unexplainable items from the future in a time when such a thing might mean being burnt or hung. It's a quick enough read and I wish it weren't. Worth the time to check this one out.
February 26, 2023
Great book
If you like science fiction, history, and time travel, you’ll love this book! History, time travel, survival stories, and great characters.
If you like science fiction, history, and time travel, you’ll love this book! History, time travel, survival stories, and great characters.
February 17, 2021
A time travel story a bit different from others even though the beginning is a sort of a forge of "The Langoliers" by Stephen King. I recommend this book only if you are looking for an easy reading with not so much thinking. The plot can be easily predicted and there are no special characters.
March 3, 2020
This is great reading material if you want something very light until you fall asleep. Not bad, but not something I’d recommend.
The writing is sufficient to get the story across but is a bit bland and feels like it is lacking zest. I would have preferred a grittier or stronger prose and maybe the MC having a wider range of experiences that he could leverage to learn something meaningful.
The plot is very easy to follow: A modern-day Air Marshal’s flight gets lost in the Bermuda triangle and ends up 300 years in the past. Once the passengers figure out where (and when) they landed, the plot proceeds from one lucky (read “predictable”) coincidence to the next. The Air Marshal has a gun, and therefore he, the manly man, is the leader. And even though he doesn’t know much American history, luckily he has a fellow passenger who, much like Google, is a knowledge clearinghouse and knows everything about ... drum roll ... colonial America! Eyes rolling. Of course this historian is a woman who becomes his love interest. Etc.
Happily, the ending left me wanting to know more about what happens next, but the author wisely ended at the right moment and the right way. Lots of “show,” often via the eyes of the MC’s friend, who is trying to assemble evidence and put everything together and not much “tell” via excessive description, explanations, internal dialogues and so forth.
I have this idea in the back of my mind that the author could push a little harder and cross over to pulp romance and make a killing in that market.
The writing is sufficient to get the story across but is a bit bland and feels like it is lacking zest. I would have preferred a grittier or stronger prose and maybe the MC having a wider range of experiences that he could leverage to learn something meaningful.
The plot is very easy to follow: A modern-day Air Marshal’s flight gets lost in the Bermuda triangle and ends up 300 years in the past. Once the passengers figure out where (and when) they landed, the plot proceeds from one lucky (read “predictable”) coincidence to the next. The Air Marshal has a gun, and therefore he, the manly man, is the leader. And even though he doesn’t know much American history, luckily he has a fellow passenger who, much like Google, is a knowledge clearinghouse and knows everything about ... drum roll ... colonial America! Eyes rolling. Of course this historian is a woman who becomes his love interest. Etc.
Happily, the ending left me wanting to know more about what happens next, but the author wisely ended at the right moment and the right way. Lots of “show,” often via the eyes of the MC’s friend, who is trying to assemble evidence and put everything together and not much “tell” via excessive description, explanations, internal dialogues and so forth.
I have this idea in the back of my mind that the author could push a little harder and cross over to pulp romance and make a killing in that market.
January 26, 2021
Audible Audiobook.
Plot. A Ripple in Time starts with a fairly routine passenger plane flight from Miami to Charlotte. Soon, the airplane enters a dark, lightning-filled storm. Upon entering smooth air again, the landscape has completely changed. No cities, no airports, a dead radio. The plane crash-lands in the Atlantic off the coast of Myrtle Beach and only about 30 passengers survive.
The main protagonist is Federal Air Marshal Stephen Mason. He and the survivors are in the early 1700s. Selfish and opportunistic passengers, friendly natives, evil pirates, and decent people aware of the future traverse the pages and carry the reader through the trials and desperate efforts to adapt to this new life ... or get home.
Written by Victor Zugg, nicely narrated by Sean Doyle, all voices male and female are well done, no problem discerning who's talking to who. Bumped the speed up to 1.3, but no real issues with production.
A Ripple in Time series consists of three novels, each in the area of 7 hours of listening. First novel was released in December 2019, The Planters, book 2 in May 2020, and finally The Punishers, book 3 in December 2020 - all by Tantor Audio which, I believe, is owned by Recorded Books.
Early American history and SciFi buffs should enjoy. Recommended.
Plot. A Ripple in Time starts with a fairly routine passenger plane flight from Miami to Charlotte. Soon, the airplane enters a dark, lightning-filled storm. Upon entering smooth air again, the landscape has completely changed. No cities, no airports, a dead radio. The plane crash-lands in the Atlantic off the coast of Myrtle Beach and only about 30 passengers survive.
The main protagonist is Federal Air Marshal Stephen Mason. He and the survivors are in the early 1700s. Selfish and opportunistic passengers, friendly natives, evil pirates, and decent people aware of the future traverse the pages and carry the reader through the trials and desperate efforts to adapt to this new life ... or get home.
Written by Victor Zugg, nicely narrated by Sean Doyle, all voices male and female are well done, no problem discerning who's talking to who. Bumped the speed up to 1.3, but no real issues with production.
A Ripple in Time series consists of three novels, each in the area of 7 hours of listening. First novel was released in December 2019, The Planters, book 2 in May 2020, and finally The Punishers, book 3 in December 2020 - all by Tantor Audio which, I believe, is owned by Recorded Books.
Early American history and SciFi buffs should enjoy. Recommended.
November 28, 2019
I’m a fan of time-travel SF and IMO this is a good example of it. Though I have no connection with Charleston, I enjoyed descriptions of the place and the life people lived there.
My main interest in this genre, however, is the interactions between people from different time periods, as well as the language changes/difficulties — the more thoroughly researched the better.
I would have liked to have had a year or two at the farm before Stephen returned to the present time, to see how the group interacted with the slaves. But I loved the way the story ended.
I was a bit distracted by some incorrect and inconsistent punctuation. There was even a completely incorrect word that got through the editing process here and there. Nevertheless, I went right ahead and downloaded another novel from this author as soon as I’d finished A Ripple in Time.
Well done! I’d recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys time-travel SF.
My main interest in this genre, however, is the interactions between people from different time periods, as well as the language changes/difficulties — the more thoroughly researched the better.
I would have liked to have had a year or two at the farm before Stephen returned to the present time, to see how the group interacted with the slaves. But I loved the way the story ended.
I was a bit distracted by some incorrect and inconsistent punctuation. There was even a completely incorrect word that got through the editing process here and there. Nevertheless, I went right ahead and downloaded another novel from this author as soon as I’d finished A Ripple in Time.
Well done! I’d recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys time-travel SF.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2020
This book is entertaining as a mostly plausible tale of a group of airplane travelers who somehow get sent back to early colonial America and their struggles to survive as new age pilgrims in the New World. It's like Lost, but to a different era instead of a different place with challenges as they interact with Native Americans and earlier arrivals in the foundering Charles Town North Carolina coastal colony before the Revolutionary War. I enjoyed how the time travel element itself remained a mystery and didn't become a tool that charters could manipulate at will. The book is also quite unlike Mark Twain's "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" in the sense that the travelers didn't have the time or resources to bring modern technology in any substantial way that could gain them invincible power to deal with the conditions they faced.
October 31, 2020
The characters have no personalities and only brief whiffs of backstory. They're basically stick figures. Apparently, Zugg never watched Lost. In a story of survival, character should be paramount. Also, survival is pretty easy for these folks, apart from the occasional violent encounter. They just happen to meet an 18th-century Squanto right off the bat, they just happen to find the perfect sloop and plantation for sale right when they need these things, etc.
I did find the twist at the end intriguing, however, so I think I'll listen to at least some of the sequel (speeding up the audiobook to get through it faster).
SPOILER: When Mason returns to 2019, he'd be wearing 18th century clothing, thus indicating he's telling the truth about travelling through time. PLOT HOLE!
I did find the twist at the end intriguing, however, so I think I'll listen to at least some of the sequel (speeding up the audiobook to get through it faster).
SPOILER: When Mason returns to 2019, he'd be wearing 18th century clothing, thus indicating he's telling the truth about travelling through time. PLOT HOLE!
September 27, 2022
C'mon GoodReads people...4 stars must be a cosmic joke?
This book is:
2% realistic followed by
50% dues ex machina followed by
3% totally and completely realistic interlude - the only part that's actually plausible, then ruined by
85% dues ex machina to finish off.
If you are about to argue that the math doesn't make sense, neither does the book...unless you're happy with so much dues ex machina that there's no room for developing any other ideas or character development or, when there actually is something to talk about, i.e. the incident at the fishing spot, it's simply glossed over.
This book is:
2% realistic followed by
50% dues ex machina followed by
3% totally and completely realistic interlude - the only part that's actually plausible, then ruined by
85% dues ex machina to finish off.
If you are about to argue that the math doesn't make sense, neither does the book...unless you're happy with so much dues ex machina that there's no room for developing any other ideas or character development or, when there actually is something to talk about, i.e. the incident at the fishing spot, it's simply glossed over.
January 21, 2020
A nice clean fluff story with time travel thrown in
A nice clean fluff story with time travel thrown in. As with many time travel stories this one leaves out how the time travel mechanism work, however that does not take away from the charm of this simple yarn. Included in this historical drama are romance, pirates, Native Americans, plane wrecks, slavery and the hardship of surviving in Colonial America before the United States was formed.
This would make an easy TV movie. Clean without the need for unnecessary bedroom scenes.
A nice clean fluff story with time travel thrown in. As with many time travel stories this one leaves out how the time travel mechanism work, however that does not take away from the charm of this simple yarn. Included in this historical drama are romance, pirates, Native Americans, plane wrecks, slavery and the hardship of surviving in Colonial America before the United States was formed.
This would make an easy TV movie. Clean without the need for unnecessary bedroom scenes.
March 28, 2021
I am so glad that I picked up this book again!!! I almost gave up during the initial "survival" period on the island as I dislike that sort of thing is boring to me. However I went back to it (was listening to an audiobook version) and thought I'd listen to it to help with some insomnia. Well I was surprised!!! What a story!!! Yes the author gets a bit cheesy and does overuse certain phrases as other reviews have noted. But if you look beyond that it's quite a tale. Once about 1/3 of the way in it's hard to stop with this book. Loved it and am so happy I picked it back up!
February 18, 2025
Accidental time-travellers end up marooned on the east coast of America, stuck 300 years in the past.
Surviving their first few days is challenging, as they have to adjust to their predicament. Modern skills and technology won't be of much use of them, instead they must learn how adapt to their new lives.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The premise was interesting, well-paced with good chapter spacing and breaks. I liked many of the characters, and how they were used to develop the story.
Immediately ordered book 2.
Surviving their first few days is challenging, as they have to adjust to their predicament. Modern skills and technology won't be of much use of them, instead they must learn how adapt to their new lives.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The premise was interesting, well-paced with good chapter spacing and breaks. I liked many of the characters, and how they were used to develop the story.
Immediately ordered book 2.
September 12, 2019
This is a relatively well-researched, historical-time-travel novel, which primarily takes place in the South Carolina of the early 18th century.
I liked the details about life in colonial southern America, but thought the first half had a bit too many of these, which made that part of the book drag. Things picked up when the group started to check out Charles Town and the surrounding areas.
The surprise ending worked pretty well.
Overall, I liked the book.
I liked the details about life in colonial southern America, but thought the first half had a bit too many of these, which made that part of the book drag. Things picked up when the group started to check out Charles Town and the surrounding areas.
The surprise ending worked pretty well.
Overall, I liked the book.
December 28, 2019
Enjoyable story with a twist
A very enjoyable read with a engaging time travel story that includes interesting characters against an improbable backdrop that becomes believable because of the characters and their reaction and actions when they find themselves in an impossible situation.
I look forward to reading other books by Mr. Zugg. I can only hope they are as engaging and as much fun!
A very enjoyable read with a engaging time travel story that includes interesting characters against an improbable backdrop that becomes believable because of the characters and their reaction and actions when they find themselves in an impossible situation.
I look forward to reading other books by Mr. Zugg. I can only hope they are as engaging and as much fun!
April 10, 2020
Excellent
What a great story! This is a great historical time travel that you don't always been with this genre. To go back in time is a theory, a thought that can't happen but with this book you can believe its possible. You actually feel like your there and you are part of the story and that is always how you want to feel in a book. Intends with a twist but it's a great one and I am glad that the writer did it. You have to read this book. It will make you believe.
What a great story! This is a great historical time travel that you don't always been with this genre. To go back in time is a theory, a thought that can't happen but with this book you can believe its possible. You actually feel like your there and you are part of the story and that is always how you want to feel in a book. Intends with a twist but it's a great one and I am glad that the writer did it. You have to read this book. It will make you believe.
December 21, 2019
Unexpectedly good
Wow, I enjoyed this well written story. An air marshal is a flight when a blue ripple of time takes him and some of the passengers to 1720. There with the help of the Cawtawba tribe they survive. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I would recommend this story to anyone that likes time travel and colonial history.
Wow, I enjoyed this well written story. An air marshal is a flight when a blue ripple of time takes him and some of the passengers to 1720. There with the help of the Cawtawba tribe they survive. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I would recommend this story to anyone that likes time travel and colonial history.
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