In 2554, the World is Coming to its End, unless an impossible mission through 600 years of time travel succeeds. Maternal instinct knows no boundaries, including the nano-neural-net intravenously installed in Dannia Weston’s mind to repress her identity, allowing her to perform a mission 300 years before her time. Transported to the year 1954, Dannia becomes a woman with a mid-twentieth century … century persona, college educated with an aptitude for mechanical invention. Due to her work during the war, she is employed by the U.S. government on a secret project. But what no one knows—including Dannia or those who sent her back to tinker with the mechanical past to reduce future pollution—is what might happen should she become emotionally involved in 1954. The 2254 science team programmed the nano-net to prevent the possibility of pregnancy, but each person reacts to strong emotional stimuli differently, and using birth control not available in 1954 is out of the question. When Dannia falls in love with Peter Hersh and becomes pregnant, her hormones erode a small section of the nano-chained network that stabilizes her new identity, triggering a mild memory rebirth…and threatening her mission and the fate of the world.
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Paradox Effect was a great science fiction book with a complex plot that made this quite difficult for me to put down. I liked that the story also made me laugh out loud on a few occasions. I found it to be very well written with great, interesting characters that were at times completely unpredictable. I was hooked really early on which doesn’t always happen when I’m reading an author I’m unfamiliar with. I am hoping that there will be another book to follow this one!. I would definitely recommend this for sci-fi fans, and anyone fancying something a bit different.
I always enjoy a good Science Fiction novel and Paradox Effect is certainly that. It follows a strong and driven protagonist, Dianna as she is tasked with going back in time to 1954 to prevent a chain of events that will result in the end of the world, 600 years in the future. A futuristic neural net has blocked off her memories to protect her new identity, but when the net fails, her new life and her mission are put in jeopardy.
Paradox Effect is a thrilling and thought-provoking read that was a real page-turner. Gabriel F.W. Koch has managed to tackle some difficult and timely themes in this novel, including the likes of DNA engineering and the effects of humanity on the planet.
Paradox Effect: Time Travel and Purified DNA Merge to Halt the Collapse of Human Existence by Gabriel F. W. Koch delves into the fantastic world of time travel, this time with a little different slant. DNA and time travel combine in this book for something truly unique. Koch is quite an accomplished author, especially in science fiction and fantasy. This is his first revelatory book that showcases his talent. the characters themselves are intricately defined, with Dannia being the most interesting. She as the main protagonist goes back in time to 1954, a different era certainly, but she has a huge task to take on, which is saving the world. Of course, nothing is ever easy, and therein lies the dilemma for Dannia. She falls in love and becomes pregnant, throwing another wrench in the plans. The crux of the story is whether or not DNA manipulated in the past could possibly shape or change the future. An interesting proposition and one that is unsettling for the reader. However, interspersed with that conundrum, there is a touch of levity that lightens things up. Overall, an interesting and thought-provoking read. Highly recommend.
Manhattan, 1954. During his brother’s funeral, Peter meets Dannia, an intelligent woman with whom he begins a romantic relationship. A short time later, Dannia begins to experience severe headaches, accompanied by auditory and visual hallucinations. Three hundred years later, General Buckwalder has sent Agent 476 into the past on a special mission. Given the possibility that 476 is recovering memories of the future, another agent, 989-9, is sent to monitor 476. Everything gets complicated when Buckwalder loses track of both agents and a very serious error made by 476 threatens the fragile stability of the future.
In the future as told in this story (year 2254) there are no metals, wood, books or cats, but technology has evolved from the resources that are still available after two exhaustive wars against an enemy of which not many details are given to us; and travel through time is already possible, within the theoretical and ethical limitations that obey the logic of the story. As it is typical of this genre’s speculative fiction, the theme revolves around the potentially catastrophic implications of mistakes made by the time travelers, not only for those directly involved but for the entire history of humankind. This novel poses the problem in a compelling way and successfully develops it to the end. The plot, full of streams of thoughts that reveal the feelings and thoughts of the characters, is warm, deep and human while containing a good dose of danger and action. The motivations of the characters are realistic and provide them with a solid background that gives them body and multidimensionality, while the dialogues and descriptions are broad and perfectly set, so the realism and the general rhythm of the novel keeps fluent.
I recommend this book to lovers of science fiction and time travel. I loved the combination of these two epochs: one in which plastic was the great novelty and another in which the same material is practically ubiquitous and indispensable.
This is a great science fiction and time travel book. The story line is well planned and also complex, highlighting a number of real life issues surrounding pollution, environmental impact and the delicacies of DNA manipulation but also going in to great and fascinating detail about fictional scenarios. The characters, in-particular the heroine of the book, were fantastic and had so much life to them.
This is not the first book I’ve read about time travelers, but I can honestly say that it is the very first to take it to the next step…to take DNA and change it only to be able to stand in the past so there are no consequences. But what happens with emotions and acting on them, does it change the DNA, or can it be altered?
This book is completely science fiction and time travel genre; Dannia is employed by US government for a secret job, to travel on time to the past so she can with a series of events, reduce future pollution, she’s got the qualifications for it so she’s send to the past. But now in “the past” Dannia becomes emotionally involved with Peter Hersh and gets pregnant with his baby. Will the nano technology still work? Will it trigger memories that can put at risk the mission? Can Dannia forget who she is and what is her mission?
A very interesting read telling the story of life and love as well as exploring the modern day topics of humanities impact on the planet and the controversy surrounding genetic manipulation. The complex plot and strong, unpredictable, characters makes this book a real page turner and extremely thought provoking. I’m sure all sci-fi lovers will enjoy this as much as I did.
This is a very good time-travel novel where humanity is faced with impending destruction. This story had a little of everything which kept me enthralled right from the first chapter until the end. I thought it was an exciting story with a complex, but not overly so, plot, and it was also funny at key moments too. The characters were very relatable, unpredictable at times, and very interesting especially the heroine Dannia! I would recommend this book and I do hope there will be more to come.
Paradox Effect by Gabriel F.W. Koch is a complex and intense novel that keeps the reader glued to the story. Dannia Weston works on a secret project for the government in 1954, but she is really known as 476 in the year 2554, an agent of the future to set our world on a different environmental path. Dannia begins to have severe headaches that knock her out. Then she experiences daydreams and déjà vu, which causes her to question her sanity. Both timelines are questioning her malfunction and if she can be salvaged.
Gabriel F.W. Koch keeps Paradox Effect moving quickly has the story jumps back and forth from 1954 to 2554. The reader is quickly attached to Dannia as we see her struggles and her determination. At times the reader wonders if the authorities will find a solution to fix the problem without terminating the main character. Koch’s creativity is seen as he adds twists and cliff-hangers, while maneuvering the characters into place. This novel is thrilling and fascinating, I really enjoyed it.
Gabriel FW Koch is an award-winning author with an undeniable talent for science fiction and fantasy. His debut novel, the Paradox Effect, tackles the intricacies and disturbances of time travel, and all of the psychology that comes with this. He poses questions that really make the reader think, concerning destiny, fate, and simply what is right and wrong.
The characters of the book are well rounded and engaging, with the heroine, in particular, luring the reader in. Even the secondary characters are well developed, with none of the predictability and cliche that you find in some fantasy novels. This is an excellent read, with heaps of adventure, excitement, and intrigue. The writing style is easy to follow, while also being clever and even comical at times. Fans of intelligent sci-fi will find it hard not to love this book, which leaves the reader begging that there will be further installments to follow.
Author/photographer Gabriel FW Koch opened his award winning literary career in 2015 with this debut novel PARADOX EFFECT and has subsequently published BEHOLDEN, EMMA AND THE DRAGON TOOTH SWORD, and his most recent AND COME DAY’S END. His creative abilities are well displayed in this fascinating science fiction time travel story. As he has stated, ‘Imagine returning to that one moment you think about at 3 a.m. and changing the outcome (of time travel)? If you succeeded, every event directly related to the original outcome would be erased.’ And with that intriguing concept he opens a story that, while ‘sci-fi in genre, offers insights about how we think and the choices and decisions we face – a fine story, and a fine dose of philosophy.
Appreciating the need to capture the reader’s attention with a grounding in reality, Gabriel opens his story not in space arenas but in New York in1954: “Peter Hersh knelt in the front pew a the priest said, “Let us pray.” His mind resisted the man’s words and returned to three days earlier, when he entered the morgue to identify his last remaining family member’s body. The accident made it nearly impossible for him to recognize his brother. The fall from scaffolding had ruined his facial features, shattering his skull when he hit the pavement. As the priest continued with the service, Peter recalled thinking, ‘I don’t know if it’s him,’ while hoping there was an error. Some overlooked detail that caused the medical examiner to claim the dead man was Jimmy…’ A mystery laced with pain is set and a speck of light is cast about the coming story.
Gabriel has distilled the multifaceted time travel adventure well: ‘In 2554, the World is Coming to its End, unless an impossible mission through 600 years of time travel succeeds. Maternal instinct knows no boundaries, including the nano-neural-net intravenously installed in Dannia Weston’s mind to repress her identity, allowing her to perform a mission 300 years before her time. Transported to the year 1954, Dannia becomes a woman with a mid-twentieth century persona, college educated with an aptitude for mechanical invention. Due to her work during the war, she is employed by the U.S. government on a secret project. But what no one knows—including Dannia or those who sent her back to tinker with the mechanical past to reduce future pollution—is what might happen should she become emotionally involved in 1954. The 2254 science team programmed the nano-net to prevent the possibility of pregnancy, but each person reacts to strong emotional stimuli differently, and using birth control not available in 1954 is out of the question. When Dannia falls in love with Peter Hersh and becomes pregnant, her hormones erode a small section of the nano-chained network that stabilizes her new identity, triggering a mild memory rebirth…and threatening her mission and the fate of the world.’
Keen knowledge of medical concepts as well as a very polished appreciation of future possibilities add to Gabriel’s sensitive and immersing drama. This is a fine debut novel and served as a launching pad for his subsequent literary contributions. Recommended.
World ending sci-fi dramas have started to feel closer to home than ever in the past couple of years, but thankfully there is lots of other sci-fi goodness in Paradox Effect, especially time travel.
The plot of Paradox Effect is quite complex, but at least it doesn’t bog you down with lots of tech-heavy terms that make progression much slower and harder to follow. Dannia is a very likeable and identifiable protagonist, and her story, as much as being very exciting and entertaining, is also positive and even inspirational, rather than taking us to depths of dystopia which seems rather the trend these days.
All in all I really enjoyed this, and would also recommend to other sci-fi fans.
I haven’t read many time travel books but I really liked the concept of this one. I think the author did a great job in connecting the future with the past.
The book itself starts off with Dannia and Peter meeting. They fall in love. Dannia doesn’t know she comes from the future, and she certainly isn’t supposed to get pregnant. The people from the year 2254 need to find out if she will become a liability, and possibly restrain her to bring her back.
This book keeps you on the edge of your seat. It was a bit confusing at first, but you adjust to the writing style as you read.
This is a multifaceted time travel adventure that is written with so much passion and intrigue. Gabriel FW Koch is an award-winning author with a real talent. This is very well-written science fiction and I’m glad I took a chance on it.
Paradox Effect absolutely lived up to my hopes of what it could be after I read the synopsis. The characters are all fully developed with their own backgrounds and grow more complex and layered at the story progresses. There is a lot of detail in the book, and the research alone must have been a huge effort. Sometimes with epic sci-fi such as this the ending can tail off and leave you less than satisfied, but that is not the case here. It’s all very edge-of-your-seat stuff, right down to the final page.
Gabriel F.W. Koch’s Paradox Effect is an interesting time travel adventure. The book focuses on Dannia and a time-traveling mission meant to save the world. Dannia is living in 1954 on a mission from 2554 but when she begins getting headaches and spells of unconsciousness, her position is called into question. While I thought that the book began with some great intrigue and tension, I struggled to connect with the characters at the beginning but after a few chapters I was able to immerse myself into the story and from then on, the quick pacing, complex plot, and fun characters kept me invested. Dannie is a really well-developed character who was a great mix of badass heroine and real feeling person. She has been placed in a complicated position and reacts to it in a way that is both believable and engaging to read. I really enjoyed watching the inner workings of her mind as she begins to question reality and her own sanity as she experiences strange bouts of déjà vu and daydreams. If you love a good time travel adventure, then you should certainly check this book out.
In 2554, the World is Coming to its End, the only hope of survival is time travel. But nothing is ever that simple, right?
This is one of those engrossing Sci-Fi books where you sink into the pages and lose hours of an afternoon or evening. If it hadn’t been for the phone ringing and interrupting me I would have probably got through it in one sitting. Very detailed characters with their own individual depths, and of course their foibles as well. The story was well planned and quite complex but easy to follow. I really enjoyed it and want to read more from author Koch.
A fantastic debut novel by Koch, one that sets the stage for any ensuing novel. Can DNA be manipulated in the past to change the future? Well the main character Diana is about to travel back in time to 1954 on a mission to find out, can she save the world? If you like sci-fi and time travel books then i totally recommend this book.
It was a very interesting and thought provoking read. highly recommended.
I’m not even sure where to start with this review. There’s so much I want to say, but I also don’t want to give too much away. I wouldn’t say this book grabbed me from the start, but it did intrigue me. I’m not sure when I got completely wrapped up in the story, but the next thing I knew I was halfway through the book and hours had passed. Although this is science-fiction, it felt like it almost bordered on reality. It feels so plausible, and the characters are richly developed, and I could swear they’re real people. Not what I typically think of as sci-fi, but WOW what a great story!
Gabriel Koch is a writer I first discovered last year (with book “And Come Day’s End). This book is much older but I can see in the few years between books that much of my praise for Koch’s other book I’ve read applies from the start. What I found most impressive is how Koch manages to write so well across multiple genres.
I love a good mystery, but Paradox Effect suited my 2021 palette quite well as a time-traveling sci-fi piece. This book does feel like there’s more passion behind the writing than the others I’ve read, but that could also be because of the theme/genre shift. It’s definitely a good thing. The characters here are developed with care, and even though they are in remarkable positions we can only imagine they still seem grounded and relatable.
The concept of coming back in time to the infantile stages of tech development as we know it today is a novel idea. It’s eerie to think that the catalyst that would save us all or put us in the path of destruction over 6 centuries ahead has already passed. That being said, the focus on Dannia and her story here really is a hopeful and positive one, with the stakes as high as humanity’s continued existence. This book is just fantastic, there’s so much to get out of it. This is a great author who has already written some good books. Koch is someone to keep an eye on!
476 or Danielle is living in the 1940s right after World War II and is working for the Navy. She is a highly educated woman and she falls in love with Peter. Unfortunately she keeps having these attacks were lights go off in her head she hears people talking but can’t understand what they’re saying and she keeps slipping into unconsciousness. Peter doesn’t want to leave her side. Little do both of them no, but Danielle is one of humanity’s last chances. Danielle was sent back on a mission to change one thing to help out the environment that eventually will kill us all. Back in 2550 for the general of the project thanks he made after all these years for the first time doing extinction instead of over capture. This book is so good. I don’t have the scientific explanations that I wish I did to explain the whole thing in my review. I just know if you love science fiction, time travel romance or any version of these three genres you’ll love this book. I absolutely loved it and thought it was fast paced and easy to read. I highly recommend this book is so good!