Time Hopper

De: Os Ibrahim

Narrado por: Martin Woolford

In the technologically advanced city of New Olympia, Dan Walton is a brilliant scientist who has achieved great success in his professional life, but still feels unfulfilled and lonely. Seeking adventure and purpose, he sets out on a journey that will take him to the far reaches of time and space.

With the help of his mentor, Rogers Leenman, and the enigmatic former-CIA agent, Erica McCarter, Dan embarks on a series of thrilling exploits that will challenge his intellect, his courage, and his heart. From managing mergers as a new CEO to exploring the treacherous depths of lava chambers, and even riding on flying carpets, Dan discovers new worlds and experiences that he never thought possible.

As he delves deeper into the mysteries of time and alternate universes, Dan finds himself drawn into a web of intrigue and betrayal. With danger lurking at every turn, he must use all his scientific knowledge and cunning to navigate the complex political landscape and outsmart his enemies.

Will he be able to overcome the obstacles in his path and find the fulfillment he's been seeking? Find out in Time Hopper - a thrilling tale of science, exploration, and self-discovery that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

©2023 Os Ibrahim (P)2023 Os Ibrahim

Advemtures of a time-travelling MacGyver

The book is a light and entertaining read that reminded me of a time-traveling MacGyver.

Dan, the protagonist, is a brilliant engineer with multiple degrees and an almost superhero ability to solve any technical problem and invent groundbreaking tech in a matter of days. However, Dan is also a reclusive nerd, socially awkward to the point of absurdity. Isolated and distrustful, he can be cruel to those around him due to his insecurities.
Dan's good-on-paper life, with his millions of dollars, and a dream job, feels hollow because of his inability to connect with others.

I see Dan as a manifestation and perhaps a critique of the modern-day tech and IT guys, who immerse themselves in their engineering work because of the misunderstanding and rejection they face from their communities. This leads them into a vicious circle of increasing reclusiveness, making it harder for them to integrate into society and form meaningful relationships.

Without giving away much of the plot, I want to say that I loved the idea that Dan would rather go on an adventure to escape his issues than commit to therapy. It takes an elaborate devious scheme and a CIA agent to convince him otherwise.

I appreciated that Dan found inspiration in Nikola Tesla rather than Thomas Edison. Since Edison was a businessman first and an engineer later, it makes perfect sense for the socially awkward Dan to be drawn to the reclusive genius of Nikola Tesla, who famously never married, was very distant in his relationships, and dedicated his whole life to his work.

In "Time Hopper," we meet many characters and briefly explore numerous stories and timelines that feel underserved. I would have loved to delve deeper into all the characters and worlds included.
Dan's travels across the multiverse in his quest to get back home reminded me of "The Neverending Story" and had a dash of "The Wizard of Oz."

However, what I did not particularly enjoy were the very grim themes of sexual assault, suicide, bullying, mental health problems, and child abuse that were superficially introduced into the characters' backgrounds. I would have appreciated a more in-depth exploration of these serious issues.
Throughout his adventures, Dan meets many characters who mostly share the characteristics of being tortured souls. Dan, a bit naive in his view that he had it worse than anyone else (don't we all, deep inside, believe that our problems and childhood traumas are the worst?), encounters side characters with troubled pasts who recognize the hardships he carries within him.
Their stories inspire Dan by highlighting that suffering is universal and that, unfortunately, he is not unique in having a hard time with his parents.

Nevertheless, we see the world through Dan's lens, and his inability to connect with others and lack of emotional depth prevent him from fully understanding people. The other characters are just that—characters in his story—as his closedness stops him from seeing others as complex beings beyond the surface level.
This perspective makes Dan's journey both frustrating and intriguing as he navigates through different timelines and ultimately, toward self-awareness.