A Reflection and Your Time Travel Highlights of 2013

[Tej]

Before the year is over, I'd like to reflect on the year passing and in effect submit a year review report in spirit to John.

Time travel-wise, It was overall an enjoyable one for the group with membership rising above 1000 members amd several new activities brought to the group by our innovative group leader, Amy including a super time travel writing project called The Neverending Story. Man that was fun and crazy. Also, Amy's monthly newsletters I'm sure you will all agree are pretty awesome and informative time travel journalism.

We have had two time travel movies release in cinemas. About Time and Free Birds . About Time turned out to be a very enjoyable romcomdrama but I havent seen Free Birds which came out on your Thanksgiving Day, have you seen it?

I personally have watched 20 time travel movies this year, many of them revisits of old favourites but there were a flurry of new one I hadnt seen before, my favourite being a Koren comedy called Project Makeover which you can see for free on Hulu as well as a plethora of other time travel movies which you can watch for free from this new thread in the Movie section. I will maintain links to all time travel movies which are instantly watchable on Hulu and Netflix.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The superb Fringe TV series finally ended its memorable run with dignitiy after five seasons. Continuum and Erica appear to be going strong too but I have a lot of catching up to do on those series.

Book-wise I have unfortunately been slacking in the second half of the year. But I managed a few novels including the eighth Timeriders: The Mayan Prophecy book by Alex Scarrow and some of our Book Club group reads. The standout for me was Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. It has editting flow problems but its sure as hell a powerful read.

By now you must have a several megabytes of free time travel books on your Kindle, thanks to the relentlessness of Randy posting almost daily updates of new free time travel books. I think its safe to say it would be nigh on impossible to read them all in your lifetime. But at least there is wide choice readily on your Kindle to choose from.

We also have had a few more members who have written their own time travel novels. I have not read as many this year as in the past unfortunately but many of you, I see have done and it looks like another year of quality fiction from our group member authors.
Two of my favourites are Rysa Walker's Timebound (a superbly enjoyable YA fiction novel) and shockingly E.Bs The Legend of the Bloodstone (I say shockingly because I was wary of lovey dovey romance books!) but it was a good one. Whats more, both if these talented ladies' books have gone on to be quite successfull in the Amazon charts, both winning awards of some sort.

There have has also been a few new Short time travel movies this year, my favourite being "Flying Man" which is not even actually time travel but I included it in the list for a reason. Also, there was a newly edited version of The Chronological Protection Case based on the short story by our group member Paul Levinson but I had a a little debate with him as I preferred the original. However, its all about artistic preference so you judge for yourselves as either way, its an excellent story. You can view all time travel short movies from one page on the Short movies thread right here:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...



But of course this is our most poignant and saddest year for the group due to the loss of our stoic group leader, John Lindenberg. He established a vibe that made the group one of the most welcoming and friendliest group on the internet. He was a man that gave positive encouragement and praise to members and authors. He was kind but at the same time ensured fairness was always at play. His posts were always thoughtful and at times wryly humerous and showed a flair for creativity in our Neverending Story project...indeed he had a first novel lined up on his todo list about a western legend named Cody. Everyone here held John with the utmost and deserved respect. But in his final months, John's true greatness was revealed in his battle against Leukemia. He turned out to be a great warrior and even when the battle was lost, he held his head high with utmost dignity. He updated us and while he admitted his circumstances sucked, he exhibited no bitternes, instead he was grateful for having the opportunity to say goodbyes to all he knew and wrap up whatever personal business he had. He gave us the opportunity to say goodbye to him too. It is heartbreakingly sad that he is gone but he has inspired me to no end, even to the point of not fearing death anymore.

He told us this was the greatest group. And for John, we'll try continue making this one of the greatest group on the internet, its harder without his assured presence but we'll try.

And thankfully, in an almost circle of life thang, we have a new co host of the group this year, Lincoln with his contagious enthusiasm, I hope you all agree, he has been a superb host with the group reads and the monthly book giveaway contests.

What were your time travel highlights this year? Favourite novel, short story, film, video game, or a particular group discussion thread?

Oh and Have a Happy New Year everyone, hope it will be a most productive and successful one for you.

[Howard]

A new year upon us, who'd of thunk?

Here's a poem about Time, perchance apropos given John's passing; the lyrics to a favorite song of mine:

There is a time for love and laughter
The days will pass like a summer storm
The winter winds will follow after
But there is love and love is warm

There is a time for us to wander
When time is young and so are we
The woods are greener over yonder
The path is new, the world is free

There is a time when leaves are falling
The woods are grey, the paths are old
The snow will come when geese are calling
You’ll need a fire against the cold

So do your roaming in the springtime
And find your love in summer’s sun
The frost will come and bring the harvest
And you can sleep when day is done

Time is like a river flowing
With no regrets as it moves on
Around each bend the shining morning
And all our friends we thought were gone

[Robert]

As a relatively new member, I want to commend the active role all the moderators take. It makes for an enjoyable experience. (I belong to other groups that aren't as fortunate.) Can't agree more about your assessment of moderator Lincoln and his enthusiasm (though, being a recipient of that enthusiasm, I am biased, but that experience was my group highlight). And Amy's newsletter is a great summary/notice of all things Time Travel. As for John, didn't really get the chance to interact, which I regret, since his battle hit so close to home. And Tej, where do you find the time for all of your postings/recommendations/reviews? Wonderful resources, which I will use this year. Maybe I'll actually do some reading -- and (warning!) more posting.

A Happy & Healthy New Year to all.

[Robert]

Howard wrote: "A new year upon us, who'd of thunk?

Here's a poem about Time, perchance apropos given John's passing; the lyrics to a favorite song of mine:

There is a time for love and laughter
The days ..."

Classic, indeed. Your favorite rendition is . . . ?

[Howard]

Robert, it's the one I that I sometimes hear in the shower.

Happy New Timeframe everyone.

[Robert]

Howard wrote: "Robert, it's the one I that I sometimes hear in the shower.

Happy New Timeframe everyone."

DO record it sometime . . . for the group. Have a good one, Howard.

[Tej]

Its a lovely poem but I was hoping to hear more exciting time travel highlights of the year and less of images of Howard singing in a shower...aaarghhh!


I forgot to mention some video gaming highlights

such as Bioshock Infinite and Assassins Creed games. And has any of you played the superb Back to the Future adventure game as yet???

[Debbie]

One of my highlights was receiving my signed copy of Midnight's Parkin the mail!

I also learned a lot this year from this group about independent publishing and how much good stuff (and crap) is out there that doesn't get the press that well known authors get.

Timeboundand The Legend of the Bloodstone are also two stand out books for me. I like a little lovey dovey with my TT!

[Jacqueline]

My timetravel highlights include having gotten better at self publishing so I don't have so many do-overs/rewinds, lol!

Also, finding a nice home with this group and getting a great premise (with an awesome wormhole/time travel story line) for my third book to finish off my Brajj trilogy.

Here's to a great 2014!

[Paul]

Howard wrote: "Happy New Timeframe everyone."

Thanks, Howard. Happy 2014 to all. Also, thanks for posting those Time Traveling lyrics. I think I have an ancient recording of that song somewhere.

"Time is like a river flowing
With no regrets as it moves on
Around each bend the shining morning
And all our friends we thought were gone"

May it be so. Beautiful thought for this New Year.

[Howard]

Paul has 'an ancient recording'

Paul, I'm afraid Tej has once again jumped to the wrong conclusion for I don't sing this song in the shower, just listen to it sometimes while existing in that Timeframe.

My favorite rendition is ancient though, yet there have been many as your Time Fistula may show.

And thanks for the comments, your very best this year.

Heh heh heh

[E.B.]

I'm the late bird.
Lovely post, Tej. What a year, full of good and not so good. Many happy returns to all. :)

[Nathan, First Tiger]

My time travel highlight was definitely joining this group in 2013. Such a great way to share love of time travel with excellent people. It has broadened my horizons and introduced me to some wonderful new books and authors. The monthly reads have been great, and getting to interact with authors personally takes the reading experience to another level. I have especially enjoyed wathcing Rysa's continuing success with Timebound
I was happy to join the 'members with their own time travel books' club, publishing In Times Like These in September. The support and reviews from readers has been incredibly encouraging and kept me inspired to keep writing the next one.
Most of all I have loved the interactions here and getting to be a part of such a welcoming and fun group. It has made GoodReads browsing a favorite part of my day.
Also Tej, I put 'About Time' as my movie highlight this year. Really great message there. The kind you want to keep remembering.

[Anna]

E.B. wrote: "I'm the late bird.
Lovely post, Tej. What a year, full of good and not so good. Many happy returns to all. :)"

I'm even later - just seen this thread. Great poem/lyrics Howard, thanks.

Highlights re time travel - learning from a TV programme that it is almost possible to travel out into space on a 10 year journey and return to Earth something like 20 years in the future. One day it will happen.

[Lincoln, Temporal Jester]

Thanks to all of you that make this group so great!! E.B., Howard, Tej, Amy, Howard, Anna, Paul, Jacqueline, Debbie, Robert and so many others!!

Thank you everyone for making this such a great group to have such wonderful discussions and read great books together.

[Howard]

Wow, I just noticed the last post mentioned me twice, how nice.

Thanks Lincoln.

And thanks Lincoln.

[Nathan, First Tiger]

Hahaha I noticed that too. Perfect response. :)

[Lincoln, Temporal Jester]

Some might call it Deja Vu others might call it a corruption of the time flow. Or a simply a typo? Despite my error I still mean what I said. Thanks to all of you that make this a great group.

[Tej]

Thank you too Lincoln, as I mentioned in my first post, you have brought an infectious amount of enthusiasm to the threads as member and co mod.

I am, in the mean time, trying to fix the very disturbing deja vu occurrences that threatens our fragile space-time continuum by locating the timestream rip, might need your help there Lincoln...