In Lieu
Have you ever wondered how HG Wells came up with his concept for futuristic fiction? Did you ever think he may have been told about time travel by someone practicing it?
In 2253, Eloise Manuka will harness dark matter to prove that HG Wells’ time machine works.
Throughout history, apparitions have appeared all over the world. Some are given religious connotations, others are justified as aliens. Fact is, they are mainly caused by people on time travel holidays accidentally turning off their delay timers.
Fortunately, in your midst is a time travel way-station manned by time-cops and miscreants whose main purpose is to stop time travellers interfering with history.
This story is a lighthearted romp about two of them.
Sketch of Barty Spleen and Thaddeus Toerag from the chapter “Hammersmith”. Sketch by the book cover artist Jade Zivanovic from Steam Power Studios.
The Ballad of Barty Spleen was written for the book launch in 2019. It relates to the Hammersmith chapter.
Review extracts
Inneke Jansma, reading at the Launceston launch of In LIEU.
From Goodreads:
Are you prepared to have your mind twisted like a pretzel with time paradoxes, events happening out of order, effects preceding causes? If so, then set yourself right down and read In L.I.E.U. and have your fears unconfirmed. This is a fun ride that ends with enough plot hints that another adventure for some of the characters may issue out of the Time-Continuum in our future. I for one will be on the lookout for such an occurrence.
From Goodreads:
I rather enjoyed this mind bending time travel book. As someone who reads a LOT of time travel, that's saying something. This book takes you on a wild ride. From the start you are sent on a journey and are never sure when or where our MCs are. It's hard to say too much about the book without giving too much away. It's just something that should be read without any preconceived notions going in. If you are a fan of of time travel, I do recommend this book. Go read it -you won't regret it!
From Netgalley:
Holly is recruited to be a librarian of some special books, but I won’t say what they are, because that is part of the plot. They are very special books, very unique ones, none Holly has heard of before, yet is very important to her life. Holly and her assistants travel through time to get or do what is needed. Normally, I'm not a big fan of time travel books and entailing ripple effects but this book did it in such a fun and unique way.
AUTHOR Q&A
Where did you get the idea for IN LIEU?
The idea germinated while I was watching The Time Machine. I started thinking about how H.G. Wells’ machine travelled through time but not space and compared it with contemporary time travel stories where machines travel through both time and space. I liked the idea of time travel with the difficulty of having to travel through country or around the world by other means.
What is your favourite scenes from the story?
My favourite scene is Hammersmith-1973. It gave me the opportunity to describe a rock and roll band in action with words instead of pictures. As an old musician, it also allowed me to explore what it would be like for a musician to see him or herself play live, as if the musician was within the live audience.
Why do you write?
Writing is a means of mental stimulation. I find it akin to playing music in that, when you get it right, it generates genuine pleasure.
What do you write about?
Things that take my fancy. The process begins with a single idea. Sometimes it is visual stimulation, or it may be something I come across in the media or someone I meet. Once the idea takes hold, I follow it until it is exhausted. Sometimes short stories result, occasionally novels, mostly very little.
How did you arrive at the fantasy/science fiction genre?
All fiction writing is creative. Fantasy and science fiction allow a writer to create and explore other worlds or variations on the real world. Whilst consistency is a requirement, there are no set rules. You can let the imagination soar.
What do you like most about your characters? How do you relate to them?
Characters are like the invisible friends from your childhood. Once created, they develop depth and a back story. If developed correctly they are capable of being lifelike and write the story for you. The really good ones become nurtured and precious. I have been known to talk to main characters as if they actually exist.
When you’re not writing, what can we find you doing?
My wife, Theresa, and I live in Bathurst. I’m an avid traveller and amateur photographer.