When Matt Howard’s grandfather told him he must alter history to protect his newborn son, Matt thought the old man was crazy??Then he realised it was true.Overstrike spans 4 generations of a family haunted by the prospect of an approaching alternate reality where their child has been erased from history. Touching on themes of retro-causality, ethics and free will, and exploring ideas of cause, … cause, effect and retribution, it follows the path of Matt Howard, whose child, Ethan, is at risk, as he, his father and grandfather attempt to use their own abilities to manipulate reality in order to discover and prevent whoever is threatening Ethan.Overstrike is volume I of Fixpoint, a trilogy about a family who discover their inherited ability to manipulate reality. It enables them to effect changes in order to safeguard themselves and all that they hold dear. But even seemingly small changes in a timeline can have unforeseen and far-reaching consequences.
more
This one offered a novel take on the multiverse and almost-time-travel. I liked it, but frankly a few times I got a little lost in all the characters and perspectives and timelines and had to backtrack to make sure I was staying in the story. The underpinning idea is very intriguing though, and seeing how it would play out is what kept me reading even when I occasionally got frustrated trying to keep it all right in my mind (an ironic statement if you know the book and the characters’ struggles to do the same!). While I found it a little tough to follow sometimes, that feeling did contribute to the overall sense of the story – a weird gestalt that I both liked and didn’t. There’s a fantastic construct for the end/next book though, and I’m curious about how that will work itself out but do hope things tighten up a bit (either in the book or in my mind) to help me stay in the action instead of occasionally losing the feel for it as I try to keep up…
Thanks to the good folks at Elsewhen Press for my obligation-free review copy.
Thank you Rachel’s Random Resources and the author for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Overstrike: Volume 1 Of The Fixpoint Trilogy
By: C. M. Angus
*REVIEW*
Overstrike is a unique story about many things, including: time travel, time manipulation, alternate reality, family bonds, fate, etc. In this story there are people called Fixers. These individuals are born with a strange ability to impose one reality upon another. With this power, the fate of anyone can be changed. The question in my mind is does a Fixer have the right to do this? To alter reality from one outcome to another? Someone will always suffer from the change, so who decides what is right? It’s morally and ethically disturbing. The Howard family are at the center of the story. Without spoiling the plot-Matt is told by an older family member that his son is in great danger unless reality is manipulated. Can Matt alter the outcome for his son, and if he does, who else will suffer in turn? This story is quite interesting and mysterious with a great twist that I didn’t anticipate. It is an enjoyable attention grabbing read overall, and I anxiously await the next installment.
What a great mind bending science fiction story about the Howard family and their abilities to manipulate realities. Their family is at risk and the threat is that Matt’s son Ethan will be erased from history.
I love a great story that brings upfront ethical and moral dilemmas. I enjoyed the fast paced read of this book that had my attention from the very beginning. I thought that Angus wrote a storyline that was creative with a shocking and surprising ending! The short chapters moved the story quickly while the alternating story line kept my interest focused on what is to happen next.
I am excited to read the next installation of the Howard family saga.