Finalist, Best Science Fiction Novel, 2016 American Book FestFormer #1 Amazon Bestseller in Science Fiction”Einstein’s Secret is a beautifully written thriller, both original and riveting, and packed with great twists.”– Great Novels ReviewIt’s 1955, and Albert Einstein lies in a hospital bed, deathly ill. He suddenly stirs, asks his assistant for paper and pen, then scribbles something down. … assistant for paper and pen, then scribbles something down. Minutes later, he dies.
History tells us that Einstein jotted down equations that night. But struggling scholar Jacob Morgan believes that history is wrong. He’s convinced that Einstein wrote a deathbed confession that night–a secret that the great scientist didn’t want to take to his grave.
Jacob has spent his entire adult life obsessively hunting down that secret–with nothing to show for it but the scorn of his colleagues and the tattered remnants of a once-promising teaching career.
But now, thanks to a lucky break, Jacob has a chance to get his life back on track. His appointment as an adjunct professor at the University of Virginia is a fresh start, and he’s vowed to end his pursuit of Einstein’s secret. Until history chooses this moment to deliver him one more clue. A clue that leads him to an impossible and unbelievable discovery: Time Travel.
And so begins the last leg of Jacob’s desperate quest, one where history is not only changeable–it’s changing. All by itself. And if Jacob doesn’t rescue Einstein’s secret, everything that he’s ever known will disappear forever.
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Einstein’s Secret by Irving Belateche
This is not the first book I have read by Irving Belateche nor will it be the last. I enjoy his style of writing. His format is one that keeps you turning the page to find out what comes next.
Einstein’s Secret Is not different. I will admit I was confused at times, but the more I read, the clearer it all became. Have you ever wished you could go back in time and change something that happened or find out something that you think you should know? This is what happens to Jacob Morgan. We are told from the very beginning that as Einstein lies on his death bed he writes something on a piece of paper. Einstein dies and the paper mysteriously disappears.
Jacob believes history is wrong and sets forth to prove himself correct. He discovers more than he bargained for and finds himself on a journey through time.
If you have never read anything by Iriving Belateche Einstein’s Secret is a good one to start with.
09.09.19
Einstein’s Secret by Irving Belateche is a novel that will bring readers back to genre Science Fiction if by chance they have lost their way. “World Building” is a familiar term to describe the environment an author builds. In this case, author Belateche built at least three possible worlds existent in a world which accepts time travel. There may be more worlds; readers can decide — the author profits from the familiarity with a little understood theoretician, Einstein. Schoolboys in grade school can recite the famous formula, but what does it mean? With this novel, Einstein does not pay attention to his oft-repeated formula. Einstein does not concentrate on gravitation theory. Instead, Einstein comes up with something new. It is a secret, but Einstein is willing to share it. The problem is, Einstein is dying. He has discovered a truth that comes complete with a dire warning. Einstein wants to give the secret, in writing, to a trusted associate. Giving it to anyone else would be catastrophic.
From the above, we know there will be an evil villain. There will be a race to discover the secret and keep it close hold for the benefit of the winner if evil wins, and for the benefit of humanity, if Jacob wins. The unique feature of the story is that the story takes place in the past, present, and possible future. Traveling between temporal states presents considerable problems to all characters. There is a central theme which I am happy to offer without creating a spoiler.
The theme relates to Belateche’s perception of synchronicity. “Synchronicity (is) History changing itself and making connections where none existed before.” (pg. 122). This quote contributes a lot to the believability of Einstein’s Secret. History becomes an actor rather than an abstract construction. At various points in the story, I found it helpful to keep this quote in mind.
Belateche did well with character development. Jacob’s character is difficult to follow because of constant evolution as Jacob becomes more aware of who, or what, he is. Van Dorn is not developed; he is just evil embodied. Einstein is not developed because his persona is assumed; everyone knows the famous scientist. Laura is delightful as Jacob’s possible romantic interest. For readers not interested in romance, like me, Laura is not a distraction.
I won’t repeat the biography of Irving Belateche. The author’s background is impressive and worth noting at the Amazon author page. I am sure that his position as a professor at the University of Southern California (USC), my alma mater, has nothing to do with my assessment of the professor as an author.
This story is a 260-page novel priced at USD 4.99 on Amazon. It is available on Kindle Unlimited, and that is where I read it. I purchased the audible download accompaniment for USD 1.99 and tried something I have wanted to do for a long time. I planned to listen to the audiobook and check with the mobi file if something was unclear. For the most part, I abandoned the audiobook early; the print (mobi) book was too appealing. The audio file is 7 hours and forty-five minutes. I read the mobi file in 3 hours 30 minutes. I am not a fast reader, but these figures probably qualify the mobi file as a page-turner.
The book has 575 reviews as of this post date, 40% were five stars. Although I also rated the book five stars, I can appreciate that some readers might feel it dragged in parts where Belateche detailed the plight of Ph.Ds. overqualified to find work. That is the case of Laura, a romantic interest, and Jacob Morgan, the principal protagonist and possible hero. Both have doctorates; both have problems finding employment. The difficulty, possibly qualifying as a “White Man’s Whine,” is a severe one for those in the stratosphere of higher education but probably one that no one not in the field of higher education cares about.
Super time travel book. Great plot!
Great original concept. Not a ton of depth but a fun read.