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POINT OPTION: A Time-Travel Military Thriller
United States Air Force Major Dave Fleming has a job men would kill for. As one of three exchange fighter pilots chosen to fly with the premier US Navy attack squadron aboard America’s newest aircraft carrier, little does he know that his life is about to be changed forever!
Point Option is a time-travel thriller that unfolds over a tense, six-day period aboard the aircraft carrier Lyndon Baines Johnson on patrol with its Strike Group in the Mediterranean Sea. Suddenly, and without warning, Fleming’s hyper-dangerous world of flying off a pitching deck turns into a pilot’s worst nightmare.
Point Option is jam-packed with more twists and turns than an out-of-control fighter jet; a world where Major Fleming finds himself an unwitting passenger on a supersonic ride into the deepest unknown destination – a place where even angels fear to tread. The odds for his survival are bleak, and any hope for escape will challenge all the finely honed skills he can muster. It’s now become a matter of time; and time is his one commodity that is fast running out!
Point Option is a time-travel thriller that unfolds over a tense, six-day period aboard the aircraft carrier Lyndon Baines Johnson on patrol with its Strike Group in the Mediterranean Sea. Suddenly, and without warning, Fleming’s hyper-dangerous world of flying off a pitching deck turns into a pilot’s worst nightmare.
Point Option is jam-packed with more twists and turns than an out-of-control fighter jet; a world where Major Fleming finds himself an unwitting passenger on a supersonic ride into the deepest unknown destination – a place where even angels fear to tread. The odds for his survival are bleak, and any hope for escape will challenge all the finely honed skills he can muster. It’s now become a matter of time; and time is his one commodity that is fast running out!
- GenresScience Fiction
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 29, 2021
109 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Ian A. O'Connor
15 books6 followersMEET THE AUTHOR
Ian A. O’Connor is a retired Air Force colonel who has held several senior military leadership positions in the field of national security management. His novel, The Twilight of the Day, was a military-themed thriller which received high praise in the Military Times Newspaper for its realism, and chilling story line. The book won a coveted Bronze Medal in 2018, awarded him by the Military Writers Society of America. In 2022 Ian was the Silver Falchion Award winner in the "Best Thriller" category at the Killer Nashville Writers Conference for his latest thriller, Point Option.
He is the co-author of SCRAPPY: A Memoir of a U.S. Fighter Pilot, published by McFarland & Company in April 2008 to rave reviews by the international aviation community .
Colonel O’Connor holds an FAA commercial pilot’s certificate with single engine and multi-engine ratings.
He is a member of the Air Commando Association, an associate member of the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, and Mystery Writers of America. Ian lives on Florida’s Treasure Coast with his wife, Candice.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
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April 7, 2022MWSA Review
For those of you who enjoy a good science fiction thriller, Ian A. O'Connor's book Point Option: A Time-Travel Military Thriller may fit the bill. The story begins with our protagonist, Air Force Major David Fleming being assigned duty with the Navy on board the aircraft carrier Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ), operating in the Mediterranean Sea. What is supposed to be an opportunity of a lifetime turns into somewhat of a nightmare when an unexplained anomaly starts sending a variety of ships at sea and planes in the sky back in time.
As the story unfolds, the main characters don't understand what is happening, and they struggle to come up with an explanation to a number of seemingly inexplicable events. As you might imagine, time-travel would not be on top of the list of rational explanations. When the entire carrier is sent back in time, the answer becomes apparent; however, the solution to their predicament is not. I found this book to be a fun, easy read.
Review by Bob Doerr (April 2022)
For those of you who enjoy a good science fiction thriller, Ian A. O'Connor's book Point Option: A Time-Travel Military Thriller may fit the bill. The story begins with our protagonist, Air Force Major David Fleming being assigned duty with the Navy on board the aircraft carrier Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ), operating in the Mediterranean Sea. What is supposed to be an opportunity of a lifetime turns into somewhat of a nightmare when an unexplained anomaly starts sending a variety of ships at sea and planes in the sky back in time.
As the story unfolds, the main characters don't understand what is happening, and they struggle to come up with an explanation to a number of seemingly inexplicable events. As you might imagine, time-travel would not be on top of the list of rational explanations. When the entire carrier is sent back in time, the answer becomes apparent; however, the solution to their predicament is not. I found this book to be a fun, easy read.
Review by Bob Doerr (April 2022)
January 16, 2022
Entertaining book. I do enjoy time travel stories, and this is a decent one, a little bit of suspense and a few twists.
I would have liked to see it a bit longer and maybe spent more time (and with more peril) in the past.
I wouldn’t say it’s really a “military action” story, I mean it does center around an aircraft carrier, but (not much of a spoiler I don’t think) it doesn’t result in the carrier taking on the Japanese fleet in WW2 or anything like that.
I do appreciate that the author didn’t spend much time trying to explain how the time travel “works”. Many similar stories put a lot of effort into making up fake science and explaining it. But I’ve found that the best ones usually don’t (Back the the Future, as an example, does not attempt to explain the physics at all). There was a little bit of mumbo-jumbo that could have been removed, but wasn’t too much and didn’t bog the story down.
I would have liked to see it a bit longer and maybe spent more time (and with more peril) in the past.
I wouldn’t say it’s really a “military action” story, I mean it does center around an aircraft carrier, but (not much of a spoiler I don’t think) it doesn’t result in the carrier taking on the Japanese fleet in WW2 or anything like that.
I do appreciate that the author didn’t spend much time trying to explain how the time travel “works”. Many similar stories put a lot of effort into making up fake science and explaining it. But I’ve found that the best ones usually don’t (Back the the Future, as an example, does not attempt to explain the physics at all). There was a little bit of mumbo-jumbo that could have been removed, but wasn’t too much and didn’t bog the story down.
October 30, 2024
This is an excellent read. Dave Fleming is an Air Force pilot assigned to go to Navy Aircraft Carrier LBJ for cross-training. The LBJ is the most technologically advanced ship in the Navy. His wife has bad dreams that he will not return from this mission. He leaves with this on his mind. While onboard strange things happen with the instruments. During one occurrence Navy pilots are on a mission and are "lost" by the instruments. When they return, they are old men. While they are investigating the reasons for this, the military exercises continue. Dave Fleming, along with his copilot go on a mission and they get "lost". The LBJ is unable to locate the two pilots. When flying, Dave and the copilot see that the coastline of Italy does not look the same. They realize that they must have gone back in time. The search for the pilots begins by the LBJ which soon finds themselves going back in time too. They must find a way back to the 21st century or die in the past.
October 30, 2024
This is an excellent read. Dave Fleming is an Air Force pilot assigned to go to Navy Aircraft Carrier LBJ for cross-training. The LBJ is the most technologically advanced ship in the Navy. His wife has bad dreams that he will not return from this mission. He leaves with this on his mind. While onboard strange things happen with the instruments. During one occurrence Navy pilots are on a mission and are "lost" by the instruments. When they return, they are old men. While they are investigating the reasons for this, the military exercises continue. Dave Fleming, along with his copilot go on a mission and they get "lost". The LBJ is unable to locate the two pilots. When flying, Dave and the copilot see that the coastline of Italy does not look the same. They realize that they must have gone back in time. The search for the pilots begins by the LBJ which soon finds themselves going back in time too. They must find a way back to the 21st century or die in the past.
October 29, 2021
Point Option is A Time-Travel Military Thriller by Ian A O’Connor. The Prologue begins with a Russian submarine seeing something on radar, but, no mass. When the mass hits the sub, the impact is violent. Within 24 hours, everyone on board is slowly dying. This exciting beginning starts a fast paced exciting thriller. Air Force Major David Fleming is going to fly a Navy plane in the Mediterranean. Unusual weather rolled in where the LBJ Navy Carrier is stationed. Ian O’Connor writes a good thriller and he builds the story in such a way that I had to keep reading just a little bit more. He did not reveal what happened and why the Russians were dead until late in the book. The ending was surprising. Point Option is an outstanding thriller. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
May 22, 2022
.
Book was going along just fine until chapter where Dave gets back to the carrier, and Dave started missing Sue.
Then I skipped the entire chapter, up to Page 107. It did not seem to matter.
Oh. And can you guess the real name of the stowaway? CAN YOU???
PREDICTABLE!!!!!!
I skipped every single sequence where I saw “Sue,” which amounted to entire chapters. She had NO PLACE in this book and just should have been left out. Ergo, I am forthwith lowering my stars rating to just one-star.
I wish I could give this P O S a minus -10,000 star rating.
I thought this book stunk (stank? Stinked?)
.
.
Book was going along just fine until chapter where Dave gets back to the carrier, and Dave started missing Sue.
Then I skipped the entire chapter, up to Page 107. It did not seem to matter.
Oh. And can you guess the real name of the stowaway? CAN YOU???
PREDICTABLE!!!!!!
I skipped every single sequence where I saw “Sue,” which amounted to entire chapters. She had NO PLACE in this book and just should have been left out. Ergo, I am forthwith lowering my stars rating to just one-star.
I wish I could give this P O S a minus -10,000 star rating.
I thought this book stunk (stank? Stinked?)
.
.
November 1, 2022
Excellent Book! Great Story! Mostly Well-Written!
Hurray! Both a good Author AND a good story!
As advertised, this is a Time-Travel Military Thriller … it does cross boundaries into other areas — VERY briefly — but it’s heavy on Naval flying and throws in SciFi.
NOT EVERYTHING WRITTEN is quite believable, and because this tale is about Time-Travel — a lot of it is just, simply confusing. But, that’s OK. The Author doesn’t need to have everything make sense — he/she just needs to write a good book — and this Author hit a home-run.
Hurray! Both a good Author AND a good story!
As advertised, this is a Time-Travel Military Thriller … it does cross boundaries into other areas — VERY briefly — but it’s heavy on Naval flying and throws in SciFi.
NOT EVERYTHING WRITTEN is quite believable, and because this tale is about Time-Travel — a lot of it is just, simply confusing. But, that’s OK. The Author doesn’t need to have everything make sense — he/she just needs to write a good book — and this Author hit a home-run.
October 28, 2021
This is the first book I've read by Ian O'Connor. Thoroughly enjoyed it and now plan to search out his other books. I love stories that include technical authenticity combined with fictional story lines. Point Option takes the reader on a 6 day Naval operation. Batten down the hatches and tighten that harness flyboy! You're headed for a trip for the history books, or maybe not. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 16, 2021
Mind boggling!
I gave it 5 stars due to the fact it was a riveting story. The author made one wonder: Is there a correlation between time travel and UFOs? Especially, after their encounter with Leonardo de Vinci? I enjoyed it so much, I'm hoping the author will write more stories in similar fashion.
I gave it 5 stars due to the fact it was a riveting story. The author made one wonder: Is there a correlation between time travel and UFOs? Especially, after their encounter with Leonardo de Vinci? I enjoyed it so much, I'm hoping the author will write more stories in similar fashion.
November 29, 2021
Military Time Travel
I certainly loved this time travel book. Well written. No foul language or vulgar sex talk. It was a different plot and will the reader wonder LDV and all his inventions. I know, I have pondered over the idea and him being a traveler.
I certainly loved this time travel book. Well written. No foul language or vulgar sex talk. It was a different plot and will the reader wonder LDV and all his inventions. I know, I have pondered over the idea and him being a traveler.
January 29, 2023
awesome
This was an interesting read. It really was a complex story but so well written with such wonderful characters that you just lose yourself and by the end you really could believe that it could be true! Loved it
This was an interesting read. It really was a complex story but so well written with such wonderful characters that you just lose yourself and by the end you really could believe that it could be true! Loved it
February 11, 2023
Point Option is an excellent sci-fi book that is absolutely spellbinding!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Point Option and recommend it to anyone looking for an action packed adventure guaranteed to keep you anxiously turning pages
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Point Option and recommend it to anyone looking for an action packed adventure guaranteed to keep you anxiously turning pages
July 14, 2023
Pros: Good storyline. Excellent character development. Creative. Fast-paced. Unpredictable.
Cons: A lot of unnecessary military jargon. 80% of the story takes place in the present. Very little time travel.
Not a bad book. It was okay. Certainly not great.
Cons: A lot of unnecessary military jargon. 80% of the story takes place in the present. Very little time travel.
Not a bad book. It was okay. Certainly not great.
July 20, 2023
3 stars. Mildly interesting. But it read like the author wanted to share his knowledge of Navy carrier operations and searched for the most unusual plot to accomplish that task. Otherwise, the characters and story-line were mainly just paper cutouts.
October 28, 2024
I wasn't sure what to expect with a military thriller time travel book and it was different than I expected. It was not a military going back in time to make changes which was a relief since I have read a few of those already. It was a quick read and hard to put down. This would make a good movie.
January 23, 2026
land air and time
It was Ok has a short story but has a novel it just dragged on, lay the author uses military lingo to smutter the reader. It just became a story with no deep of anything to latch onto.
It was Ok has a short story but has a novel it just dragged on, lay the author uses military lingo to smutter the reader. It just became a story with no deep of anything to latch onto.
March 12, 2022
I Hope for a sequel
As a fan of time travel novels I found this to be one of the best. I hope the author continues the story with sequels.
As a fan of time travel novels I found this to be one of the best. I hope the author continues the story with sequels.
April 7, 2022
Great story! Thank you. I loved the little visitor! This would be a great beginning for a series, please.
October 31, 2022
Couldn't put it down
Well written and almost believable. Tension and characters very interesting. Very readable and worth your time. Will be looking at author's other books.
Well written and almost believable. Tension and characters very interesting. Very readable and worth your time. Will be looking at author's other books.
November 25, 2022
Very goo
I really enjoyed the storyline and the character build. This was a easy to follow story and a delightful concept.
I really enjoyed the storyline and the character build. This was a easy to follow story and a delightful concept.
May 31, 2023
3.7 stars
September 21, 2024
Not bad
This is a decent Time travel military thriller. Well Worth the read and very entertaining.
It's a quick read as and does not lag
This is a decent Time travel military thriller. Well Worth the read and very entertaining.
It's a quick read as and does not lag
October 29, 2024
Well written, page turner. Can't wait to read more of his great writing.
November 2, 2024
The Final Countdown - print version
Time travel. When it goes wrong, when it goes right. Plenty to consider other than the paradox. A fun read
Time travel. When it goes wrong, when it goes right. Plenty to consider other than the paradox. A fun read
November 22, 2024
Interesting idea told in a unique way. Needs closer editing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2025
Great
Gripping story. A real page turner. Maybe you can get to believe that the possibility exists. There certainly are things that are hard to explain.
Gripping story. A real page turner. Maybe you can get to believe that the possibility exists. There certainly are things that are hard to explain.
October 21, 2025
Truly interesting & suspenseful read. Would make a good movie.
November 11, 2025
Fascinating
From start to finish a page turner. Please sir give us more!! It just keeps you thinking of what next.
From start to finish a page turner. Please sir give us more!! It just keeps you thinking of what next.
February 13, 2026
This is a decent story but the author left loose ends. The story itself was very run of the mill and I never really got engrossed where it became a page turner. It was rather ho hum reading
June 30, 2023
A fascinating time travel journey taken during a patrol in the Mediterranean by the newest aircraft carrier in the US fleet. Lots of twists and and unexpected occurrences make this a thrilling read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews