A Gift of Time

What would you do if you had the "Gift of Time"? Relive happy moments? Fix your mistakes? This story offers a different and interesting twist on the idea of time travel. Good, light-hearted read. Perfect for a long flight or a rainy Saturday morning.

To be honest, I have no idea how I found this book. I remember being bored, waiting for another release from one of my favored authors and somehow came across this recommendation. I’m not a fan of time travel – at all – but the synopsis intrigued me enough to download a sample. The download was enjoyable enough for me to purchase the book, and I am very glad I did.I am a product of the 50’s and 60’s – that was my youth – and Mr. Merritt nailed the feeling of the period. It was well done enough that I was reminiscing of my own youth as I read this one. His scenes kept a smile on my face for most of the book describing that period. Most, because there were also dark sides back then, and the author nailed those, as well.His characters, especially the kids, were superbly created, as was their dialog. Far too often authors writing children characters lapse into adult thought patterns and speech. It could have happened here, with a logical justification in one case, but it was truly a minimal impact, except when needed. Great job there! Too much science during the adult period for me, but I skipped much of that. I’m not one who needs to know why a whistle makes noise. It makes noise & I’m good with that.I found the writing exceptional. Some very minor editing errors through the book, but nothing that impaired my reading.If I have a gripe at all, it’s the same gripe I have with any 1st person point of view. I don’t like a 1st person narrative for a host of reasons. 1) I don’t want to be the main character. 2) The main character thinks, speaks and behaves in ways I would not. 3) It doesn’t matter who the author is – I always find the 1st person MC lacks the depth of every other character. That happens in this book, as well. There were certainly times when I could not relate to, or understand the MC. Behavior or action, which should have been logical, were absent. It was enough to throw me off kilter during the reading and, for me, detracted from what is a terrific read.I concur with some other reviewers – Mr. Merritt tends to end his books rather abruptly. In the case of this book I was left confused as to what happened with 3 of the characters. I think maybe I know, but I don’t truly understand why that may have been the case. A few more sentences would have clarified things, I think.Overall, this book was a wonderful experience for me. It took me right out of my daily world and put me in a happy place. THAT is the mark of a truly wonderful story experience.

Besides being a great, well-rounded read, it presents one of the best theories of alternative time-lines I've read or seen anywhere, in fact or in fiction. As far as I am concerned, it suggests, convincingly, that Timeline (the book) got it wrong, all wrong, as did H. G. Wells' The Time Machine. A slight spoiler: The theory is that cause and effect take place and propagate at the rate of one second per second. Therefore, there can be no paradoxes. The old time-line dissipates and the new time-line takes effect at that rate. To me, it was a stroke of genius. Whether the author was inspired, or it's something from current science theory, the theory is so logical, and it removes all objections to a theory of changing the past, that it is just feels perfect. Aa far as I'm concerned, all other time-theory sci-fi stories that I have been exposed to have gotten it completely wrong. Just as the speed of light limits the maximum speed one can travel, this theory suggests a logical limit to how fast a change in the past can move forward into the future. To observers fixed in both (all) time-lines, nothing appears to change.Even though time travel and alternate time-line theory are my favorite fiction topics, the story is far more than that. The ups and downs of the main character's struggles stand on their own and make an engrossing story.Anyone who thinks it went down-hill at the end, didn't understand the brilliant ideas being presented.

I have to begin with a confession. I have a great weakness for Time Travel stories. They would be my favorite sub-genre in the wider field of sci-fi. So I am likely to give a book the benefit of the doubt if it produces no more than a satisfying lurch into other times. Jerry Merritt's book exceeds those shallow requirements. He writes well to start with. He also introduces interesting aspects of the "science" of time travel such as, for example, how a time traveler can return to an exact time and place when, in the interim, the earth itself has moved in space as well as time, spinning on its axis and hurtling around the sun. I hadn't considered that and for an "old TT hand" I was pleased to be made to think. Other have referred to the way in which this book seems to change quite suddenly in mood and purpose, from the beautifully realized reliving of a past life into the high tech, very spacey, even "The Martian" type of dry, detailed (and that is not a criticism) scientific problem solving. I agree that there is something of a jar at this point as the story becomes that of building a working time-machine and I do feel that the "first" girlfriend is given rather short-shrift, but I also agree with those who feel that Merritt brings it all back together satisfyingly. I'm not completely certain how you did it sir but I have to admit that you book is "a keeper" and will be recommended and reread.

A very interesting premise re-explored as an advanced holographic time and space traveller (best way to describe her without too many spoilers), crashes at the bottom of an eighty year old's 'garden' (obviously not the small UK versions, it is American after all) and after some explanations and information by the traveller, he gets the chance by way of a compensation 'protocol', to go back within his timeline and put some events which were personally traumatic, to rights. No spoilers here because it IS a time travel novel when all said and done. It's the journey that matters here and the steps and surprises thrown up along the way (and there are a goodly number), makes it a decent read. The author creates scenarios and answers them without being too technical or longwinded, which also allows for a decent pace and gets you to care what happens to the main character and in some ways the featured characters, with a little humour, a deal of pathos tinged with regrets and a depiction of one of the old chestnuts of the time travel genre, "what would I do if I could go back in time with all of my memories and experiences intact". As I've said before when reviewing books of any genre, if the characters are interesting, the scenarios that arise will be too and add a touch of sci-fi to the mix and it's what I call a 'good yarn'. I've only given it 4 stars because the time travel aspect/holographic tech focus and the advanced civilisation inhabitants' grasp of humanitarianism, is a tiny bit not quite there. (I'm only going to say 'Titanium Rod'!). All in all though, worth your money and time (!) and I recommend it as a solid bedtime/holiday read.

Most sagas carry a crushing weight of repetitiveness and clichés. This book is refreshingly different. Amazingly so! Expertly written and proof-read a gazillion times I found only four typos in the whole novel! Typos have a habit of pulling me out of a story as does an author's personal and unsubtle views on matters unrelated to the plot. As this novel begins there is not the slightest hint of what is to come, therefore the reader should allow the story to develop in order for the scene to be set. Further into the book when it seems that our main character is giving up the chance to experience that which no human ever has before the real story is still just beginning! It is from that point onwards that it is difficult to put the book down. Jerry Merritt scores admirably here putting his contemporaries (including those on my side of the Atlantic) firmly in their subordinate places. I am going to read this author's other works before I compare him with Isaac Asimov but I can tell you I am really tempted!!!

Some very interesting ideas in this book as our "hero", Cager, relives his life to sort out a wrong j=in his childhood that haunted him till his eighties.When a time time traveling creature in the guise as a totally naked sex kitten, turns up at Cagers remote home in a crashed time and space craft, his life changes forever - including returning for another crack at it.There is an interesting (to a sixties born Brit, at least) look at rural 1950s America from the viewpoint of two school aged 'dorks' that involves creepy swamp dwelling distant relatives, sinister neighbours and school bullies.The second time round teenaged Cager, with 80 years of memories, sets about changing the lives of those around him according to his roughly conceived plan. And this is probably the biggest problem with the storyline - is the god like knowledge that Cager has about the future raising any moral dilemmas? No not really. Cager believes he is acting as a force for good, even though people are hurt as a result. Worse still, as relationships that were to happen now don't, people are not conceived and born. But this is OK to Cager as he doesn't intend to go back to his time per se.There are some really dull parts of the book where the reader is subjected to what appears to be advanced maths and time travel theory. As usual time paradoxes are considered and a convenient (and new to me) theory about changing events historically is cooked up to make the story work and it is OK really.But ultimately the final chapter is about making Cager feel cosy and seems to be written for a smug TV series.I was glad when it finished and although I quite enjoyed it, I wouldn't read a sequel.Don't get me going about the dinosaur section or the thermocouples and the camp fire.

Man aged 80 has a space ship from the future crash in his garden he helps the alien fix it and she offers him any thing he wants, he chooses to go back to his 10 year old self to save his brothers life , so his consciousness transfers back to the young boy he was in the early 50s but with the intellect and wisdom of an 80 year old, he has the ability to achieve remarkable things become a great scientist amass wealth but changing the past proves difficult . I loved the part of the story of him growing up but there were a few unpleasant bits I thought could have been left out. He spends his life trying to put things right for everyone. I won't say anymore because it will spoil it. I gave 5 stars because it was so well written and kept my interest to the end. I've read a few time travel book and they often involve walking through portals or just waking up in another time but this book explained how a time machine is made and I felt a little too much detail for my taste but it was an important part of the story so may not have worked so well without details. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes time travel or sci fi escapism

I love time travel stories and this is one of the best ive read, so much so that i couldnt put it down, leading to some very late nights! There are one or two reviews saying that its like two books in one and thats true. But thats what i loved about this story. The story line where cager tries to right a tragedy from his past is gripping and kept me reading until the early hours more than once. I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who wishes they could go back and right a wrong.