So You Had to Build a Time Machine

Jason Offutt’s “So You Had To Build A Time Machine” made me laugh numerous times throughout. The book does not take itself too seriously; instead, it has fun with its own fantastical storyline and quirky characters. I really enjoyed how the book paints pictures by referencing books, movies, and TV shows. Instead of taking the time to say: a brown doughnut with pink frosting and multicolored sprinkles, the description is a “Homer Simpson doughnut.” There are countless descriptions like this that add creativity and vivid imagery.
No time is wasted getting into a catastrophic dilemma for the whole universe with only the unlikeliest of characters to save the day. In the midst of rampant hopping between alternate realities, the book shows a respect for science, referencing several scientific principles, theories, and institutions.
“Time Machine” takes you on a fun and unique adventure that I would recommend to anyone.

Sorry couldn’t resist the title. Jason Offutt blends horror, fantasy, sci-fi and comedy with a ton of references and Kansas City easter eggs. This book could make a great film. Sort of reminded me of stranger things, zombieland, and john dies at the end. Much needed entertaining and immersive reading that took me out of this reality… maybe 2020 got hit with a miller wave and we need to wait for it to cycle back to our dimension…

When it comes to quantum science-garble adventuring I don’t care too much about the plot as such, or its sciencey plausibility. I think the sweet spot involves a few characters you get a kick out of, lots of snappy banter, assured writing, geek culture shoutouts, and fast paced weirdness, with just the right touch of bizarro. That’s this book in spades.

Some books go in way too hard on explaining, (“sci-splaining”), what’s going on. Give me a Schrodinger reference, (preferably a funny one), a nod to Higgs, and some pop-up universes, and maybe a roiling purple cloud of cosmic confusion, and I’m good. That’s what you get here.

You also get four interesting and distinct protagonists, so you can root for the solid practical guy, the tough chick, the science guy, or the con man. They’re all good, and I think it was wise to make Skid, the tough jaded female, the center of the action. She has the style and substance to hold your attention and to make everything else work. She’s also the center of the slow burn start to the book that teases you along until the serious action starts.

On top of all that you get clever tough guy patter, deadpan throwaway lines, and lots of sly jokes and bits slipped in around the edges. Some people go for the antic and freewheeling time travel and dislocation. I appreciate that, and there’s plenty of good stuff along those lines here. Mostly, though, I like that because it allows for, heck it almost requires, lots of deadpan comedy and tough guy one-liners. And you get that here too.

So, this is smart, entertaining, fast paced, and well written. It’s confusing, of course, but in a good way, not a throw the book against the wall way. I had a good time.

(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

So You Had to Build a Time Machine is an humorous sci-fi adventure book by author Jason Offutt.

A girl is at a nightclub bar. A guy sits besides her, orders a Bud Light, and starts hitting on her. Girl punches guy. Guy disappears into thin air. Poof.

Turns out Bud Light Dave is a scientist working on quantum shenanigans in a secret government facility. His boss launched the experiment by himself, in spite of Dave having warned him about an error in his calculations. This results in small changes in the world as the waves from the collider washes upon it. Then, the changes become more and more threatening. Its up to Bud Light Dave, the girl (a circus brat named Skid), a former bricklayer owning a muffin shop, and a conman owning an haunted house to save the multiverse in a time and dimension hopping epic adventure. Sometimes together, sometimes separated. Why them ? Because the aforementioned quantum shenanigans decided it.

This book is a gem. A perfect blend of sci-fi and light humor. This review will be short, as it would be hard to write a longer one without getting spoilery.

The writing flows painlessly, making this novel difficult to put down. The story starts at a slow pace, then accelerates in rhythm with the colliders waves. The characters are fun and well defined. We follow their different point of views as required, depending on the events unfolding. In spite of the intricacies of time and dimension travelling and mashing up (at one point, three different versions of characters are in the same place and time, and dont get me started on key items…), the author expertly makes it so the reader can follow the events at all times, without having to flip back pages. Jason Offutt doesnt get lost either as, by the end of the book, everything that happened during the story makes sense. Some of them resolving at the very end.

The author is a fellow nerd, and cultural nods abound. However, they are always relevant, and he took great care in picking timeless works, ensuring his book would be as well.

The book is close ended and doesnt seem to be part of a series, but I sure would like to see more of the characters. I will seek out Jason Offutts other works and, if that isnt praise, I dont know what is.

Thanks to Netgalley and CamCat Publishing for the ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.

Galaxyaudiobook Member Benefit

- Able to comment

- List watched audiobooks

- List favorite audiobooks

- Bookmark will only available for Galaxyaudiobook member