Review: The Time Capsule by Alice Towey

 

This is what Copilot thinks "The Time Capsule" is about:

“The Time Capsule” by Alice Towey is a captivating sci-fi romance that explores the intriguing concept of time dilation and its impact on human relationships. The story follows a politician who, after suffering an electoral loss, retreats to his family’s summer lake house. His solitude is disrupted by the unexpected return of his first love, who has just completed a 20-year space voyage and hasn’t aged a day.

Towey’s storytelling is both intimate and thought-provoking, delving into the emotional complexities of rekindling a past romance under extraordinary circumstances. The narrative is rich with scientific elements, making it an engaging read for fans of both romance and science fiction.

One of the strengths of “The Time Capsule” is its ability to balance the fantastical elements of time travel with the very real emotions of its characters. Towey skillfully navigates the protagonist’s internal struggle as he grapples with the implications of his first love’s return and the passage of time.

However, the story does have its shortcomings. Some readers may find the pacing a bit slow, particularly in the middle sections. Additionally, the focus on the politician’s character may leave some wanting more exploration of the first love’s experiences during her time in space.

Overall, “The Time Capsule” is a compelling read that offers a fresh take on the time travel trope. Towey’s nuanced writing and the unique premise make it a worthwhile addition to the genre.

 

And it's cool that there is a movie out there of the same title with the same story premise. Might have to go watch it some day. 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbMjr0FA4Z0

 But this is not at all what Alice Towey's story is about. Her story is more of a post-apocalyptic flavor than a romance story. Guess copilot has a lot to learn about references.  

The Island of Misfit Toys by Fiona Moore

 I finally squeezed in the time to read some short stories from my subscription of Clarkesworld Magazine. In Issue 171, December 2020, this was the first story I read. It was good. I really liked how the homeless man ended up doing something with himself despite the hardships he was going through. And I loved how he was able to fix up the discarded AI from the city to build a happy little community for himself. There are many times I wish I could have lived alone on an island, and I love reading stories, even today, about people that make it happen. Does it seems plausible that nobody would find out though? Living on a small stretch of land in a lake (or river, I can't remember what it was anymore) in the middle of a big city seems hard to believe. It's hard to stay anonymous out there. I remember reading about a real homeless man in London that was living in an underground home in a park for years, but he eventually got caught. Your best bet is to live in an apartment if you want to be left mostly alone in the big city I think.

Neptune's Treasure by Richard A. Lovett

 I have always wanted to blog about all the stuff I read, especially my science fiction. Never had the time. I still don't, but I'm going to make time for at least one book, my all time favorite science fiction story. That's the book in the title by the way. I first read the story all out of order, in an online copy of Analog Science Fiction magazine. I read "Music to Me" and did not even realize that it was part 4 of a 5 part series until Richard came out with "Defender of Worms" a few months afterwards. Neptune's Treasure is something I had wanted him to do for many years now, a collection of all five stories in one place for me to finally read the entire series in the proper order. Originally when I had contacted the author he said I could find the stories at the local library. I told him the Analog would not sell me specific backissues to me, even digitally. They apparently don't keep copies of all the stuff they publish. Boggles the mind, but maybe they just can't handle custom orders like that.

Windy Night in Phoenix

My musical Patreon Page.

My Patreon page for people who want to download my music as well as tabs and sheet music.

https://www.patreon.com/sweetjehosavan

I'm making music people!

If you like classical guitar music then check this out, my debut single:

https://sweetjehosavan.bandzoogle.com/

More to come about music and science fiction in the future I think. Need to think about this one...

The Painter of Trees by Suzanne Palmer

What a tragic story! Man it made me sad to listen to the story of the extinction of another sentient species due to human colonization. I love the stories Suzanne Palmer makes. And I loved her first novel, Finder as well.