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Listening Length: 32 minutes
If the past is prologue - what if the prologue never happened? When a team of scientists attempts to rewrite history, the story of the present turns out to have an ending they didn’t see coming.
Over and over.
If the past is prologue - what if the prologue never happened? When a team of scientists attempts to rewrite history, the story of the present turns out to have an ending they didn’t see coming.
Over and over.
1 pages, Audible Audio
First published November 19, 2020
111 people are currently reading
707 people want to read
About the author
Dennis E. Taylor
25 books9,534 followersI am a retired computer programmer, an enthusiastic snowboarder, and an inveterate science fiction reader.
And, apparently, an author now. Did not see that coming.
And, apparently, an author now. Did not see that coming.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews
February 8, 2024
Story 3.5 stars**
Audio 4 stars**
Narrator Ray Porter
Audio 4 stars**
Narrator Ray Porter
December 1, 2020
Taylor writes a pretty short sharp shock of a time travel short story reminiscent of the golden age style.
Get right to the point, set up the characters, and let everything tumble with what's really important: time travel paradox shenanigans. :)
It hooked me well and delivered. But then, I'm always a sucker for this kind of thing. :)
Worth it. Was free on Audible in my region. Plus, I'm a fan of the author. :)
Get right to the point, set up the characters, and let everything tumble with what's really important: time travel paradox shenanigans. :)
It hooked me well and delivered. But then, I'm always a sucker for this kind of thing. :)
Worth it. Was free on Audible in my region. Plus, I'm a fan of the author. :)
December 4, 2020
A decent audio short story of science fiction involving a time "bomb."
Read 12.3.20. Noting date here as I don't want this to count towards my reading goal for the year.
Read 12.3.20. Noting date here as I don't want this to count towards my reading goal for the year.
May 16, 2021
Another short story by one of my go-to scifi authors.
In this, a time travel device is developed and then tested by the group of scientists who developed it. Accidents happen. Corrections are attempted. Timey-wimey stuff ensues. Possibly including the end of the universe.
Super short story which is why I shall not say any more about the plot.
Yet again, the author spiced this short story up with his signature humour that I love so much. But as stories go, it was really super short. And, sadly, as time travel stuff goes, this is not the best I’ve read (either in long or short examinations). Still, a nice way to spend about half an hour.
In this, a time travel device is developed and then tested by the group of scientists who developed it. Accidents happen. Corrections are attempted. Timey-wimey stuff ensues. Possibly including the end of the universe.
Super short story which is why I shall not say any more about the plot.
Yet again, the author spiced this short story up with his signature humour that I love so much. But as stories go, it was really super short. And, sadly, as time travel stuff goes, this is not the best I’ve read (either in long or short examinations). Still, a nice way to spend about half an hour.
April 15, 2021
This was good but it made my brain hurt!
September 10, 2021
Meh. I love Dennis Taylor and Ray Porter is a great audiobook narrator but I didn’t love this short story. First, time travel and I don’t “play well” together. I can handle (and understand) to a point, but once you get into paradoxes, etc, I have trouble following it. I can usually brush past this and still get the gist of what’s important to a story and enjoy it, but this was the main thrust of this very short story and so my enjoyment of it was somewhat limited. I understood the overall main plot and ending but the minute details confused me. I’m not sorry I spent the 30+ minutes listening to it since it was free as part of the Audible Plus catalog, but I didn’t love it the way I loved other things Dennis Taylor has written and I wouldn’t recommend purchasing it unless you’re really, really into both Taylor and the minutiae of time travel paradox.
November 22, 2020
A very entertaining and puzzling time travel story that questions the nature of time travel related paradoxes and the (intelligent?, malevolent?, benign?, indifferent?) cosmic forces at work that guard against them. This one will make your brain hurt :)
August 28, 2022
While looking for my next audiobook, I chanced upon this time travel short story by my favorite audiobook duo of author/performer, Dennis E Taylor/Ray Porter. What a treat!
Although my brain hurt from the timey wimey wibbly wobbly story, it was over far too quickly and it was brilliant.
Although my brain hurt from the timey wimey wibbly wobbly story, it was over far too quickly and it was brilliant.
January 25, 2021
Very cool time travel story.
I would love to see what the author could do on this subject with a novel or at least novella format.
I would love to see what the author could do on this subject with a novel or at least novella format.
December 5, 2025
The universe is controlled by a lazy god … that is the best conclusion to a time travel story I’ve heard yet.
November 12, 2022
What a great short time travel story. Very thought provoking. I want more!
March 18, 2023
In “Feedback” by Dennis E. Taylor, Matt works at a research facility where they have created a device capable of sending information back in time. Matt is tasked with testing the device by sending a message to his past self, but the consequences of his actions are not what he expects.
This short story is a gripping and thought-provoking exploration of the concept of time travel and its potential consequences. The scientific explanation of how the device works is clear and concise, making it accessible for readers who may not be familiar with the genre.
The protagonist, Matt, is a relatable character who makes decisions that are both understandable and selfish. The gradual shift in his character is handled skillfully by Taylor, driving the tension and conflict of the story. The supporting characters are not as well-developed as Matt, but this is a minor flaw in an otherwise excellent story.
The pacing of “Feedback” is excellent, with the tension steadily increasing as the consequences of Matt’s actions become apparent. The story builds to a dramatic and satisfying conclusion that leaves the reader with a sense of unease and uncertainty.
Overall, “Feedback” is a well-crafted and engaging science fiction short story that explores complex concepts in a way that is both accessible and thought-provoking. It is a must-read for fans of time travel fiction, and it will leave readers pondering the potential consequences of their own actions long after the final page has been turned.
This short story is a gripping and thought-provoking exploration of the concept of time travel and its potential consequences. The scientific explanation of how the device works is clear and concise, making it accessible for readers who may not be familiar with the genre.
The protagonist, Matt, is a relatable character who makes decisions that are both understandable and selfish. The gradual shift in his character is handled skillfully by Taylor, driving the tension and conflict of the story. The supporting characters are not as well-developed as Matt, but this is a minor flaw in an otherwise excellent story.
The pacing of “Feedback” is excellent, with the tension steadily increasing as the consequences of Matt’s actions become apparent. The story builds to a dramatic and satisfying conclusion that leaves the reader with a sense of unease and uncertainty.
Overall, “Feedback” is a well-crafted and engaging science fiction short story that explores complex concepts in a way that is both accessible and thought-provoking. It is a must-read for fans of time travel fiction, and it will leave readers pondering the potential consequences of their own actions long after the final page has been turned.
March 8, 2021
Brilliant. I love short stories like these...especially with Ray Porter as the narrator. I found myself gaping with my mind racing at the possibilities of the story. I almost wish it was the length of an actual book because I would've devoured it. The two mentions of Timelords was A+ in my book too.
October 24, 2023
Definitely a ‘it’s me’ scenario because this went over my head. Not entirely sure what happened except time paradoxes and marriage mishaps.
3.5 stars rounded down.
3.5 stars rounded down.
December 23, 2025
Feedback by Dennis E. Taylor is a fast-paced sci-fi thriller that leans hard into time-travel tension, ethical chaos, and the kind of “oh no… OH NO” moments that make you keep turning pages. The basic setup is deliciously simple: three scientists crack the code on time travel. The problem? The moment they pull it off, they start seeing themselves coming back—too soon, out of order, and not the way it’s “supposed” to happen. And once you’ve got multiple versions of the same people showing up, every choice becomes a landmine. Their big dilemma quickly turns from “Can we do this?” to “How do we stop this from breaking everything?”—including the terrifying idea that the only way to protect the timeline might be to remove themselves from it.
What I liked most is how Taylor takes a concept that can get really complicated (and honestly, really annoying in some books) and turns it into something that reads like a thriller. He doesn’t waste time. The pacing is tight, the stakes jump fast, and the story keeps escalating in a way that feels inevitable. It’s one of those time-travel plots where you can practically feel the walls closing in as cause and effect start tripping over each other.
The three scientists are the engine of the story. They’re smart, capable, and—most importantly—human enough to react in believable ways when the universe starts doing backflips around them. You get that mix of personalities you’d expect in a high-stress research team: the one who’s thinking two steps ahead, the one trying to keep the experiment grounded in reality, and the one who gets forced into the role of “Okay, but what do we do right now?” Their interactions are where a lot of the tension comes from, because time travel isn’t just a physics problem here—it becomes a moral problem. Every decision has weight, and you can see how quickly certainty turns into panic.
What I liked most is how Taylor takes a concept that can get really complicated (and honestly, really annoying in some books) and turns it into something that reads like a thriller. He doesn’t waste time. The pacing is tight, the stakes jump fast, and the story keeps escalating in a way that feels inevitable. It’s one of those time-travel plots where you can practically feel the walls closing in as cause and effect start tripping over each other.
The three scientists are the engine of the story. They’re smart, capable, and—most importantly—human enough to react in believable ways when the universe starts doing backflips around them. You get that mix of personalities you’d expect in a high-stress research team: the one who’s thinking two steps ahead, the one trying to keep the experiment grounded in reality, and the one who gets forced into the role of “Okay, but what do we do right now?” Their interactions are where a lot of the tension comes from, because time travel isn’t just a physics problem here—it becomes a moral problem. Every decision has weight, and you can see how quickly certainty turns into panic.
February 25, 2024
I read this one day last week — forgot exactly which day. I debated whether to include it because it’s so short but it made me think even after I’d finished it, and it’s unique to my usual type of reads so I’ll log it.
Basically, some professors create a time traveling machine, but then when they start to test it, something goes very wrong and they have to figure out how to fix it.
Definitely worth the 30 minutes it took to listen to!
Basically, some professors create a time traveling machine, but then when they start to test it, something goes very wrong and they have to figure out how to fix it.
Definitely worth the 30 minutes it took to listen to!
December 28, 2020
This was a nice, short audiobook. I love time-travel stories and I liked how this one seems low budget. What would happen if a few regular college professors make a time-bomb?
I've never read a Dennis E. Taylor book before and this was a good introduction. Going to check out his other books!
I've never read a Dennis E. Taylor book before and this was a good introduction. Going to check out his other books!
December 31, 2021
Quick little audio story by the author of The Bobiverse, which I thoroughly enjoy. If you’re into time paradoxes (and I am,) you will at least like this one. Ray Porter is the narrator, and he continues to be one of my favorites.
January 5, 2021
Interesting little story, even if repetitive. Liked the last few minutes best.
November 22, 2020
Notes:
Fun, short that's complete within itself but leaves me wanting more.
4 Stars for Audio & Short combined
Fun, short that's complete within itself but leaves me wanting more.
4 Stars for Audio & Short combined
January 9, 2022
Huh, two timey-wimeys in a row. Very short listen, but was still really good?
December 22, 2025
This short story explores what happens when you invent a time machine and purposefully try to create a paradox with it. As one would expect from Taylor, it is well thought out and entertaining, even as I kept wondering why it was so important for one of the characters that they create that paradox.
November 29, 2020
This was a decent short story about time travel and variables that could be caused by traveling in time.
November 29, 2021
Ah more please
December 30, 2021
Even such a short story, Taylor manages to put in a shock twist moment. Brilliant.
October 5, 2023
3.5 stars
December 30, 2024
Very short and interesting story, feels like a teaser for future bobiverse stories
June 30, 2025
Nice short listen. Ray porter is why I listened. Good concept but a little confusing in the beginning but was really entertaining for a short 30 min listen
Read
January 9, 2025Fun lil time travel story, but I’m not going to pretend I understood half of it
November 29, 2020
Jack and Diane? Really?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews