Timescope

 

Cover design by Esther Harding

Available now from Amazon

Buy Timescope From Amazon

See what purchasers of the book say about it on Amazon:

 
5.0 out of 5 stars Astonishing, 17 Oct 2009
By (UK) – See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This book is extraordinary in its ability to absorb you – like the Timescope itself! The vivid recreation of Biblical scenes will stay with me for a very long time. Stories that I read at primary school were brought to life in the most powerful and frequently terrifying way. Some reviewers on here have mentioned a sequel. I’d love to see one about the Second World War!

An amazing read, highly recommended

A gripping read!, 21 Jul 2009

By (Bristol, UK) – See all my reviews

We are introduced to the Timescope, a machine which can recreate historical data from the waves absorbed by everyday objects. The Professor uses it to view ancient Biblical scenes, and together with his niece Naomi and local tearaway Jon they are soon pulled into a fantastic first hand sensory experience of history.

The Biblical scenes are amazing. The imagination behind them makes you really think hard about what it would have been like to encounter these situations in a way you don’t do while reading the few verses in the Bible. It makes you really feel that these were people living everyday lives, and brings the awe and majesty of God close to you, along with the realisation that some of these events would have been pretty scary experiences!

Outside the Biblical descriptions we have a thriller sci-fi situation, with the machinations of Terence Prentice and his cronies who want the Timescope’s power for themselves. There are some sci-fi elements to the plot, which make you consider the potential threats of today’s increasingly communication linked society. I’m not technical enough to know how realistic this is but its certainly an interesting possibility.

The sub plot between Jon and Naomi is a gentle romance, well portrayed in terms of teenage emotion, and brings aspects of today’s world into the story realistically.

In summary, a great page turner in its own right, with the added bonus of bringing the words of the Bible to life in a refreshing new light. Can’t wait for the next book!

 
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping, Fast-paced Imagination Catcher!, 15 April 2010
By  M. J. Simpson (Bay of Plenty, New Zealand) – See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Timescope (Paperback)

Jon (a gangster) and Naomi are worlds apart. They are thrown together as their world turns upside-down. Using a brilliant computer time programme Professor Avery takes them back in history. They relive real Bible events (the challenges, raw faith, and victories) with all 5 senses. Modern words describe past history – ie the gothic-like priests of Baal. In this fast paced story characters are alive and real with all the emotions of you and I. While occasionally reaching for the dictionary the story is gripping and builds up to a crescendo with an unexpected outcome… Blue-eyes is interested in the Timescope for his own sinster purposes. Will the Timescope allow his intervention? Will the past and present become merged? Can Jon & Naomi free Professor Avery from his own invention?

The real to life romance of Jon & Naomi develops with many obstacles. Can love conquer the situations they encounter?

A brilliant story of intrigue, suspense, love, hate, choices, and consequenses. Biblical history comes alive as REAL.

Thanks for an inspiring story. When is the sequal coming out… What about a story where we experience the future?

And for my personal favourite Amazon review:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome, 1 Mar 2010
A Kid’s Review
This review is from: Timescope (Paperback)

Your book is really good. I literally couldnt put it down. It was awesome. It was so good that when I got into bed and mum turned the light out, I turned it on again and finished it. How do you come up with so good ideas?
from joe (aged 11)

And so on… If you have read the book, please feel free to write a review.

Book published by Joe Harding…

Timescope is a full-length novel featuring Professor Avery and his granddaughter Naomi. He has built a machine capable of reading visual and audible information from stones taken from around the Holy Land. The machine uses awesome amounts of computing power and to carry out its functions he has negotiated the use of mainframes and internet networks around the world.

Jon Heath is the son of a prominent MP. In an effort to impress the leader of a notorious local gang he breaks into the Professor’s house and stumbles upon the Timescope secret, just as the Professor is viewing incidents in the lives of Isaac and Ishmael.

Jon is immediately fascinated by the unfolding drama, especially as Abraham and Isaac journey towards Moriah; but he wants to take advantage of his discovery. He covertly contacts Terrence Prentice, a corrupt civil servant and baits him with images of his illegal activities.

Meanwhile Jon and Naomi view more Biblical episodes; Gideon, Nebuchadnezzar’s Golden image and others. Each time the simulations become more realistic and terrifying. Finally it is clear that the Timescope is requisitioning network resources to do much more than it was programmed to do. At the same time their own personalities become merged with characters they meet in the Timescope.

The action draws to a dramatic climax with the intervention of Jackman, an American assassin whose intention to use the Timescope for his own purpose becomes chillingly clear.

Timescope is a thriller, a love story, and above all an exposé of the power of Bible events

To read a short extract from this book, click here

Assignment Book Reviews “Timescope” from Youwriteon.com peer review website.

Very interesting and well written

Timescope is certainly one of the most intriguing novels that I have read. The concept is certainly an exciting one, and the author’s skill as a writer deftly draws the maximum tension and excitement from the opening hook.The narrative is highly convincing, with all characters well fleshed out and with well defined voices that encourage the reader to join them in the story. The prose is well handled and really brings the world within the story to life, whilst character conflict is used readily and skillfully, drawing the reader in further to the story.
The ‘technical’ possibility of a Timescope, whilst seemingly firmly in the wrealm of science fiction, does hold some basic factual truth in the essence of the properties of light and molecular vibration being capable of holding information, a fact that might be lost on the teenage target audience of the work but none the less will support some of the author’s ideas.

I found Timescope to be a completely original and inventive story. To begin with the synopsis was captivating enough for me to ‘want’ to read it rather than ‘having’ to read it. The plot was refreshing and modern, which for todays youth can only mean big things for Joe.
The pace of the writing was just enough for the story to flow, but maybe it went into the Timescope a bit too early. What I mean is this; Straight away we find Jon about to break into the Professors home, on entering he finds himself watching a TV and the scene of a terrible event about to happen, next thing the Professor finds him explains about the machine and so on…What could’ve been better would have been if the novel starts with a scene which would have the reader shocked and eagerly wanting to know what the hell has just happened. Whereas we have to find out near the end of the written chapters something shocking as hearing the voice of God. A little long winded maybe and more writing than what was actually needed.
I am certainly not saying what Joe has written wasn’t good enough because I honestly feel that with a little tinkering he could have a fantastic novel in the making.
Keep it up Joe and I really hope this story makes it happen for you.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the work and wanted to read more.
 
Timescope
 
This is a fascinating story, and once I got past the first page and a half, I was hooked. The concept is clever and well presented.
Timescope
 
 
 
 
 
I liked this. It was well paced and very detailed, which gave me a vivid picture of the settings and scene. The dialogue was near enough perfect-the professor sounded mad and the teenagers like teenagers. Nonetheless, the rest of the story was good, if not the sort of thing that i usually read. It did keep my interest to the end, however, and flowed well. The idea of a timescope was rather original too, and the characters seemed very real, just like their emotions. Naomi’s hate for Jon was palpable, for example, and Jon’s fear of arrest was too.
Timescope

Wow, what a fast paced read. I really enjoyed your story and concepts. To be honest I haven’t got much criticism of your writing, which in my humble opinion is excellent. I am nit picking now, I think the prof, gives his trust too easily to Jon. Maybe it would be helpful to show us that the prof sees something special in Jon. As he stands Jon is at present nothing more than a self motivated scum bag, or am I missing something. I love the God bit ,the story just soared! You have excellent description and narrative skills. Occasionally you could tighten up ie.and thus prevent exposure,( I don’t think you need this.) An excellent read I look forward to reading much more.

Timescope

I found the sample chapters for Timescope to be a real page turning experience with an excellent basic story and distinctive characters. The dialogue is engaging and the ongoing plot is exciting – I really do wish to know what happens to the main protagonists, to understand more about the potential (positive and negative) for the Timescope.The use of a well known Bible story as the mechanism for displaying the Timescope is well managed and interesting. The use of real dialogue to recount part of the Old Testament is brave but works well.
The pace of the story is fast, maybe too fast as the reader is propelled into the excitement of the piece without any real background to Jon the person and although his experiences and thoughts are well descibed I fail to feel any real connection to him as a person. There are also the strange, first few pages, the break in, the Acolytes and Jon’s need for acceptance which appear and then seem to be swept away by the Timescope plot.

WOW! What an amazing idea, I love it. Quite a huge task you have taken on, to describe God but you have handled it really well. I was hooked just from your explanation of what your story is about and then once I started to read it I just wanted the entire book to read – gripping stuff.

I am impressed with the work; with a little more inclusion of descriptive text to balance the dialogue and raw plot, and a slightly longer introduction before the action kicks off I think it could raise the stakes from good to exceptional.
 
 
 
Timescope
 
 
What a startling, clear and exciting piece of work. There was no need for me to read the previous chapters. The story took me, I was totally caught up in it and was sorry when the extract finished.
I think it has wide appeal. It will be appreciated not just by teenagers. I would buy it, for starters.
Lots of great bits, like the vivid descriptions of the dust wall, the earthquake and the fire. I especially liked Jon’s epiphany – his realisation, acknowledgement and acceptance of his sins. I thought this a really fine piece of writing.
This work will go far.
 
 
 
Timescope chap 12
I haven’t read your other chapters, but didn’t really need to. The idea is fabulous and your execution of it very good. There seem to be 3 different worlds you are trying to interweave – todays world, the word of the Timescope (high tech) and the Bible. The first two are very similar to Back to the future film, but using headsets instead of a timetravelling car. The Bible introduces the bit that makes it unique. and this is the bit I have most trouble with, especially if you are aiming at teenage boys..with an attention span of a…..apart from brilliant descriptions of dust storms, earthquakes – one after the other was a bit samey, I am not sure how this moves the book along. What is the journey of the protagonist, is this scene a conflict point? and how much Bible can a teenage boy take? I don’t know the answer to any of these questions but I am assuming you have handed it to one of your target to read..
Great stuff!

I hadn’t read the initial chapters, but just this one drew me in. The dialogue is great and moves the story forward well and the drama is excellent.
The characters are believable and the use of language leaves you clear as to what is going on. You feel as if you are there!
I thought the subject was great. It was a refreshing turn on the use of virtual reality and I particularly liked the way it used stories from the Bible, something we are all familiar with. The narrative really brought the story of Elijah on the mountain to life and I am not a believer in God.
Great stuff, keep it up! I really have nothing bad to say.

Timescope Chapter 12

I found this gripping although I don’t generally read sc-ifi. It is an ingenious idea and very graphic. I can see it made into a film. Because I have only read this chapter I can’t anticipate where this story is headed but I can detect a struggle between good and evil. I like the statuesque figure of Elijah contrasted with the human characters and the still small voice of God is also an effective element. I would like to read more of this because I’m interested in learning more about the premise and the relationships between the characters. There is a breathtaking quality in the amount of action and perhaps more contrast in pace would be welcome after this

A fascinating idea…

I was very interested in this concept of picking up images and sounds from materials – it’s a theory which people sometimes use to explain supernatural phenomena such as ghosts and it’s a good idea to use it as the basis of a story.I was reminded of the Nigel Kneale TV play ‘The Stone Tape’, which dealt with similar themes but more in the context of a ghost story.
So, plenty of scope (no pun intended!) for development there…
I did find this piece very gripping – for a while I was called away from the screen and I was keen to get back and see what happened – so that must be a good sign!
An interesting point was the religious aspect of the story -
It gave me the feeling that you are a Christian and are hoping to push aspects of your belief in this story. The fact that the reality of God and biblical stories seems to be accepted. I think most people would regard the story of Abraham and Isaac as a myth or fable rather than historical fact.
Now maybe I’m being suckered in by a clever twist in the story, I don’t know…
I am not a religious person so those aspects made me feel slightly uneasy… however – I will say, if there is a religious aspect to the story I don’t think there’s necessarily anything wrong with that. At least you have something to say and a point of view.
I would also say that I found the scene of Abraham and Isaac absolutely electrifying.
On the whole, this piece was easy to read and exciting – which is, I would imagine, the main criteria for success in the teenage market.How I would feel ultimately would depend on how the story progressed – but isn’t that always the case…!
Please note: reviewers names have been removed and technical suggestions have been edited from these reviews for brevity.
 

 

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