Good Friday, the Start of the Easter Weekend... Another Look at the Science Fiction Novel

Well it's the start of the Easter weekend. I went out this morning to get a few groceries our neighbour as we'd rather she avoided going out if she doesn't need to. While I was out I thought I'd pick up a bag of Cadbury mini-eggs for Jo.. *sigh* No such luck. Not even small bags. Mind you I didn't go to too many places as it seemed like a bad idea during the 'pandemic'. Anyway, while I like shopping with very customers in the store, I have to say that it seemed at times like I was in a slap stick movie. I'm following the one way arrows on the floor, then realize I've passed one of the shelves I need to get to. Can't turn around because I'd be going the wrong way. Find an aisle I can go down. Good! There's one. Now go back to the beginning.. Omigod! They've blocked off access to the fruit and vegetables from this aisle. Oh no! Now I'm trapped and someone is coming towards me!!! Take a breath man, just take a breath. That is what makes up for excitement these days. lolol...

So I did the shopping and then a bit more yard work. All in all a reasonably productive day. Nice having the patio doors open and being able to wander around in shorts.

I haven't finished any books today so I'll just move right on to my ongoing look at the Sci-Fi novel. Today is a time travelling series.

The Science Fiction Novel - Jodi Taylor

Jodi Taylor

Jodi Taylor was born in Bristol, England. She is author of fantasy style historical fiction and also romance novels. I discovered the first book in her Chronicles of St Mary's in 2018 and decided to give it a try. It follows the staff of St Mary's Institute of Historical Research. They travel through time to investigate historical events. I have to say I loved it right from the get-go. Excellent story. I have the next two books in the series lined up and ready to go.

1. Just One Damned Thing After Another (2013). 

"Just One Damned Thing After Another is the first book in the Chronicles of St Mary's by Jodi Taylor. In some ways it reminds me of Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series, with the exception that instead of traveling in books, St Mary's historians travels back in time. It was an interesting, enjoyable concept and an excellent adventure story.

Madeline (Max) Maxwell is a young lady who is recruited to use her history credentials for a secretive organization, a part of Thirsk University. The organization is St Mary's and it offers a unique method of exploring history; that is time travel. Max becomes one of a group of trainee historians who must prove themselves capable of exploring incidents from the past; it takes lots of training. The exploration can be dangerous, even to the point of loss of life and the historians must ensure they leave no aspect of themselves in the  past and bring nothing back.

It's not a totally unique premise but the story does offer nice twists and turns. Who are the others who seem to be exploring as well? Where do they come from? Are they a threat? Are there spies within St. Mary's?

The story moves along very nicely. We go into England's past, even explore the Cretaceous period. St. Mary's earns its money by providing info on the times explored to Thirsk for their use and credit. It's dangerous work. There is adventure, subterfuge, romance, violence, even a bit of sex. All in all, it's a well-crafted, well-written, entertaining story. The characters, especially the 3 historians, are all nicely presented and enjoyable to follow.

Taylor leaves you just enough of a teaser to make you want to continue with the series. I know I do.. Excellent first book.  (4.5 stars)"

2. A Symphony of Echoes (2013).











"Book Two in the madcap time-travel series based at the St Mary's Institute of Historical Research that seems to be everyone's cup of tea. In the second book in the Chronicles of St Mary's series, Max and the team visit Victorian London in search of Jack the Ripper, witness the murder of Archbishop Thomas A Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, and discover that dodos make a grockling noise when eating cucumber sandwiches. But they must also confront an enemy intent on destroying St Mary's - an enemy willing, if necessary, to destroy History itself to do it."

3. A Second Chance (2014).











"Behind the seemingly innocuous façade of St. Mary’s Institute of Historical Research, a different kind of academic work is taking place. Just don’t call it “time travel”—these historians “investigate major historical events in contemporary time.” And they aren’t your harmless eccentrics either; a more accurate description, as they ricochet around history, might be unintentional disaster-magnets.

The Chronicles of St. Mary’s tells the chaotic adventures of Madeleine Maxwell and her compatriots—Director Bairstow, Leon “Chief” Farrell, Mr. Markham, and many more—as they travel through time, saving St. Mary’s (too often by the very seat of their pants) and thwarting time-travelling terrorists, all the while leaving plenty of time for tea.

In A Second Chance, it seems nothing can go right for Max and her fellow historians. The team confronts a mirror-stealing Isaac Newton and later witnesses how the ancient and bizarre cheese-rolling ceremony in Gloucester can result in CBC: Concussion By Cheese.

Finally, Max makes her long-awaited jump to Bronze Age Troy, only for it to end in personal catastrophe. And just when it seems things couldn’t get any worse, it’s back to the Cretaceous Period to confront an old enemy who has nothing to lose."

The complete listing of Jodi Taylor's works can be found at this link.

Have a peaceful, safe weekend. Happy Easter.