The Far Time Incident

By: Neve Maslakovic

Narrated by: Mary Robinette Kowal

Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's Summary

Thanks to the time travel lab at St. Sunniva University, history is no longer a mystery. But when the beloved co-inventor of the university’s time machine is inexplicably smeared across time, academic exploration and the future of St. Sunniva is thrown into doubt.

As assistant to the dean of science, Julia Olsen is tasked with helping Campus Security Chief Nate Kirkland quietly examine this rare mishap…then, just as quietly, make it go away. But when the investigation indicates that the professor’s disappearance may have been a murder, those inspecting the incident unwittingly find themselves caught in a deadly coverup - one in which history itself is the weapon.

From the snow-blanketed walkways of St. Sunniva’s campus to the sun-bleached cobblestone of ancient Pompeii’s roads, The Far Time Incident is a lively romp through history, science, and the academic world in the wake of a crime.

©2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.; 2013 Neve Maslakovic

Tries to be all things

The problem with this book for me was that it tried to be too many things and didn't really succeed at any of them very well.
As a detective story it was far too simplistic and I knew who the villain was long before the end. As hard SF it was clear that while the author was trying to come up with some kind of scientific justification for time travel and... well let's just say that the 'baffle them with bulls***' tag applies far more than the 'dazzle them with brilliance'. Her lengthy explanations were not self consistent or convincing enough for me to suspend belief (lasers? Really??) and took up time that would have been far better spent on developing her characters more.
The reader was quite good; her reading is entertaining and evocative, although she does not differentiate her voices for different characters quite as much as some others do.

Disappointing overall and not one that makes me want to read others by the author.

Academic Mystery with a Time Travel Twist

This book is a genre-bender, albeit in a very conservative way. The basic plot is that of an academic murder mystery ("The Professor did it!" No, "The secretary did it!" No, "The Dean did it!," etc.). The twist is that the University in question operates the world's first time travel lab. Otherwise, it's set in the eigenpresent, at a fictitious Minnesota university, even if much of the action takes place about two millennia ago.

I read Maslakovic's first book, "Regarding Ducks and Universes," and enjoyed it. This book offers similarly well-mannered prose, with equally well-mannered characters. For the most part, it all works. As a career academic (20+ years on the tenure track), I am doubtless more sensitive to lapses in verisimilitude (there aren't that many) than most readers or listeners.

Ms. Kowal's narrative range is limited, and this book unfortunately does not especially suit her limitations. There are probably more female narrators who can manage male voices credibly than there are males who can manage female voices; unfortunately, based on this one sample, Ms. Kowal does not appear to be one of them.

Couldn't Finish

One narrator attempting an entirely different and occasionally bizarre voice for every single character? Bad directorial choice! Some variations in pitch and rythmn normally help listeners identify various characters, but this is WAY over the top. Returning this one.

Boring Boring BORING

I couldn't even get through the first couple hours - and the terrible narration did not help.

More Academic Time Travel Fun

If you enjoy the genre of Historians as Time Travelers, you will enjoy this listen. The story line stays on track and interesting and the historical references are detailed enough to be intriguing without being ridden to death.

First Audiobook

What made the experience of listening to The Far Time Incident the most enjoyable?

This was my first audiobook, so I wasn't sure if I would like it. I'm not sure if it was Mary Robinette Kowal's performance, the Minnesota setting of the story, or the time travel - but I really enjoyed the whole thing.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I thought the structure was very similar to other time travel stories (Connie Willis' Dooms Day Book, Pastwatch by Orson Scott Card) - but even so, a fun story.

Any additional comments?

I would recommend to anyone who enjoys time travel science fiction.

Awesomest sci fi book ever!

Awesome. really really really good totally cool a a a a a a a a a a a a AWESOM

Sometimes you get what you pay for - this was free

Poor review but I just couldn't get into this.
Right from the start I could tell and the posh lisping voice for the intern was beyond annoying.

Didnt get very far so judge it on that if anything - not the content I missed.

Not sure what the story is.

This was a free book on kindle unlimited and not sure now why i chose it! I must confess i stopped listening about half way through but the story didn't grip me and didn't seem to be going anywhere. It may have got much better but i'll leave that to others to find out, performance was good though i know a good performance can't improve a stagnant story.

it is several chapters too long

What would have made The Far Time Incident better?

Shorten it

Would you ever listen to anything by Neve Maslakovic again?

No

What aspect of Mary Robinette Kowal’s performance might you have changed?

Nothing it was the book i had issue with.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Far Time Incident?

An awful lot of the "oh where are we?" come on they are intelligent and it is obvious after several pages.