Dickens Meets Steampunk.Foundlings are disappearing from the workhouse where Oliver Twist once begged for a second bowl of gruel. He sets out to save them, with help from tinkerer, Nell Trent, and a slew of fantastical contraptions – including a mysterious pocket watch that allows its bearer to bend the rules of time. With Oliver’s childhood nemesis, the Artful Dodger and her lethal bag of tricks … bag of tricks dogging their steps, he discovers that there is more at stake than his own life and the missing orphans. Can he save London from the flames?
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Dickens meets Steampunk. That’s the first line in the description of A Twist in Time, the latest novel by Brent A. Harris. I mean seriously, what more do you want? Why yes, sir, I would like some more. (And by that, I mean I clicked the “Buy” button.)
Brent A. Harris is a talented writer of alternate history, science fiction, fantasy, and horror. He first grabbed my attention with A Time of Need, an AH tale where George Washington fights for the British. Harris has a unique talent for intriguing premises, so I was instantly hooked by a time-traveling adventure featuring Oliver Twist.
This story focuses on a grown-up Oliver trying to save a group of orphans who have vanished from his old workhouse. With the help of tinkerer Nell Trent, he sets out to solve the mystery by use of a pocket watch that allows him to travel through time. The pacing is very good and hooks the reader from a fiery first chapter. From there, it gallops through tense encounters and gripping action while trying to dodge the Artful Dodger (rimshot).
Harris also has a talent for dialogue. The period speak is very effective without bogging down the reader. All too often, period pieces can leave the reader scratching their head while the narrator carries on to the next section. Not so here. Harris guides the reader through each scene while allowing them to intuit meaning from the tone. It’s a difficult balance to achieve, and the author seems to strike it with ease. It’s quite apparent that a lot of care and research went into this novel. In addition, the quirks and traits of each character are clearly defined in their speech. As a result, many exchanges between Oliver/Nell and Oliver/Dodger stick out as highlights of the book.
The use of humor is subtle and sharp. Some of Oliver’s random one-liners actually made me laugh out loud. I also enjoyed the Groundhog Day approach to time travel, especially during pivotal scenes. There is a very clever twist (rimshot x2) hidden within the plot device, which I found to be an effective and rewarding reveal.
Overall, A Twist in Time is a delightful tale with a lot of heart. Harris has managed to give even more depth to these beloved Dickens characters, an impressive feat that should be cherished and celebrated. I really enjoyed this book and can recommend it to any and all readers. There is something for everyone, so sit back and strap in for a satisfying adventure.
Sometimes you read a story and you think how on Earth did no one thing of doing this before? With A Twist In Time, Brent A Harris delivers a book I can only wish I could have thought of.
You know Oliver Twist. Yes, that one. The orphan. That young chap that Dickens created, the one that said in the musical “Please, sir, can I have some more?”
Well, Brent Harris gives him more. And then some. A Twist in Time tells the story of a grown-up Oliver, the orphan made good, one who looks out for the children that tread the same path he did.
When some of those orphans start disappearing, Oliver sets out to save them, aided by Nell Trent and a host of steampunk-style gadgets. Most fascinating of all is the pocket watch he can use to turn back time, giving him a second chance when he needs it most.
Facing a gender-flipped Artful Dodger, Oliver begins to unravel the mystery of the disappearing children – uncovering a threat that is far bigger than he could have imagined.
This is rollicking fun as a book, and it really zips by. Taking the Victoriana element of steampunk and welding it onto the world of Oliver Twist is a genius move, and taking the frail scrap that was Oliver and turning him into the forged steel of his adult self hits the mark perfectly.
I really enjoyed this – and it’s set up nicely for future stories in this same world. Delightful