The Second Internet Café, Part 1: The Dimension Researcher
by Chris James
Genre: Science Fiction
95,000 words
“If you don’t have an imagination, stop reading now. But if you can sense the alternative realities you create every time you act, or omit to act, then I offer you a challenge: pit your imagination against my reality. Follow me to worlds you might have dreamed of, but never knew existed. Until now.”
Lucas Hunter has the best job in the universe: exploring and investigating alternative realities. But from the first trip he realises something is wrong. A strange American is chasing Lucas across the continuum; from Soviet Warsaw in 1944, to Muslim-dominated Europe in 1911, and on to Nazi-controlled England in 1967. Lucas soon understands that his superiors have betrayed him, and the world is on the brink of the first trans-dimensional war.
This title is available from Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.
Chris, how did you come up with the title for your book? Does it have any special meaning?
I wanted the title to be intriguing without being too overtly sci-fi. You don’t need to like sci-fi to read this story, since it could as easily be described as historical fiction, only with a few twists. It’s the first of three stories set in the Café, so the subtitle relates to the character whose story it is.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Darach Akins, who is Lucas’s “Factory Floor Manager” and is responsible for making sure that Lucas’s trips to alternate realities go smoothly. Obviously they do not, and through the story Darach’s character grows in a way which surprised even me!
Does your book have any underlying theme, message, or moral?
I’ve always been a little obsessed with time; its passing, its dominance and its role in the Earth’s and human existence. For me, time is the only god. I wanted to write a time travel story which avoids the creation of paradoxes and so could actually come about.
What would/could a reader or reviewer say about your writing that shows they “get” you as an author?
My primary objective as a storyteller is to entertain, so I’m most satisfied if a reader felt the story had been worth reading. Beyond that, this story especially deals with the consequences of our choices and how everything could have been so different: I think we all have those moments where our lives changed irrevocably, and those are what I aim to play on.
Give us an excerpted quote from your favorite review of this book:
This book opens the reader’s mind to, quite literally, an infinite amount of possibilities and story lines. You will soak up the characters, bathe in the action and savor the plot twists.
Where can people learn more about your writing?
This book really did open my heart to Science Fiction and I think that comes not only from a great concept and storyline but also the concentration on characters and, as Chris mentions above, the consequences of their choices. Really worth a read.
Jo, thank you so much for your kind words: they mean a lot as I continue writing this story.
🙂
I am so looking forward to the next book – really enjoyed the journeys of the main character and the notion of moving around in alternate realities. Can't wait!
I read this book ages ago. In fact it was the first one I ever downloaded on kindle for iPhone. I loved it as I am an avid science fiction fan but also a lover of history. I can't recommend this book highly enough. I'll most probably read it again when I have got through some of my other books. 🙂
Audrey, that's so nice of you to say that, thanks ever so much (between you and me, I did structure it so it could be read more than once but, you know, I'm happy enough if people read it just the once :))
It is a good book. I read it last December and can still remember 'Lucas' as if he were a friend that I haven't talked to in a while.
Thank you, KD. Lucas is still going strong. He's in an absolutely huge pile of doggy-do, but hanging on for now
🙂
Chris, It's a great feeling to know that other people have read and like your very good book. I admire you for your rich imagination which hasn't been damaged by constant limitations of our "Continuum" and hope will never be. Thank you for a chance to give you some little help.
Ok… That's enough. Get back to Part 2! Now! 😉
Thank you, Paulina – your research is something I rely on quite a bit!
Aye aye, madam! *Scurries back to WIP*
🙂