Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Review: The Future Memory Man (Episode 5 of The Chronicles of the Harekaiian) by Shanna Lauffey

The Future Memory Man by Shanna Lauffey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Description:
A cosmically displaced teenager with the genetic ability to time travel might be the key to understanding current questions and theories about the universe and what prevents time travelers from rewriting history.Kallie visits her friend Harlan Edmundson, a practicing Physicist and covert researcher for a revised guide to Time Travel Physics, who has spent his life searching for an elusive explanation for the Time Shifters' abilities. Kallie hopes to try to make sense of an impossible time loop and to learn why travel to the future has always been discouraged among the Harekaiian, even more than potentially paradoxical visits to the past. For decades, Doctor Edmundson has jotted down equations and kept a notebook filled with spectacular claims and outrageous plans to try to find the answers to many of History's unanswered questions, as well as solutions to unsolved riddles and to investigate his controversial theory of time loops, but now they find an even greater mystery.Kallie and Marcus' dreams of leading a quiet and peaceful life become shattered when Kallie realizes that only she can close the loop, but the price of what she must do could be higher than she can bear. A cosmically displaced teenager with the genetic ability to time travel might be the key to understanding current questions and theories about the universe and what prevents time travelers from rewriting history.
Kallie visits her friend Harlan Edmundson, a practicing Physicist and covert researcher for a revised guide to Time Travel Physics, who has spent his life searching for an elusive explanation for the Time Shifters' abilities. Kallie hopes to try to make sense of an impossible time loop and to learn why travel to the future has always been discouraged among the Harekaiian, even more than potentially paradoxical visits to the past.
For decades, Doctor Edmundson has jotted down equations and kept a notebook filled with spectacular claims and outrageous plans to try to find the answers to many of History's unanswered questions, as well as solutions to unsolved riddles and to investigate his controversial theory of time loops, but now they find an even greater mystery.
Kallie and Marcus' dreams of leading a quiet and peaceful life become shattered when Kallie realizes that only she can close the loop, but the price of what she must do could be higher than she can bear.

My Review:
Another fine addition to this series. Kallie and Marcus are getting cozy in their new life together, but Connor continues to pop up and throw in complications. The main focus of this story seems to be the lingering ambiguity of Connor’s past and future selves as well as a question of just how much of an influence his father had on his character. Kallie in particular has trouble fully trusting him, but cannot resist helping him when he asks.

As always, I enjoyed the sense of nostalgia that fills these stories. The photos (even one of Kallie and Marcus’ cat) are all pretty nice surprises whenever they pop up. They’re a nice touch and something that make this series unique. They show up well, even on my cheap, black and white Kindle.

Another thing I enjoy, though a lot of it in this book was over my head, is the theoretical exploration of time and distance travel. It’s fascinating, and I love how the science gets mixed in with the story. I think the only stuff that was really over my head, however, was what Harlan was explaining to Connor, and I pictured Kallie’s eyes glazing over as the two discussed it.

Another cool thing the book explores is the idea of the paradox and the time loop. I think it just touched on it, mostly setting up for the next book if my guess is right.

The one thing this instalment lacks is a clear and present danger. An imminent threat. The villains are mostly absent and everything seems to have shifted to information gathering mode. There’s still some action, it’s just not as much the center of the story this time around.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I recommend it to folks who like a well-thought out time travel story that fits plausibly into the real world.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.


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