The first novel in Wesley Chu's excellent, entertaining Time Salvager series.
James Griffin-Mars is a "chronman", a time traveller who hops back in time to acquire resources from the pre-ravaged/devastated Earth. After meeting Elise Kim, a scientist who is fated to die, James breaks all rules and brings her back to his own time.
In some ways, this is a classic time-travel sci-fi thriller. Chu's writing is excellent, and pulls the reader on through the story. Well-paced, well-written, with great and engaging characters. Recommended for all fans of science fiction and timey-wimey stories.

Enjoyed this very much. Great characters, who were well developed and the leads were full of chemistry. A very exciting premise, full throttle action and some very clever concepts and plot twists.

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

In a future when Earth is a toxic, abandoned world and humanity has spread into the outer solar system to survive, the tightly controlled use of time travel holds the key to maintaining a fragile existence among the other planets and their moons. James Griffin-Mars is a chronman–a convicted criminal recruited for his unique psychological makeup to undertake the most dangerous job there is: missions into Earth’s past to recover resources and treasure without altering the timeline. Most chronmen never reach old age, and James is reaching his breaking point.
On his final mission, James meets scientist Elise Kim, who is fated to die during the destruction of an oceanic rig. Against his training and common sense, James brings her back to the future with him, saving her life, but turning them both into fugitives. Remaining free means losing themselves in the wild and poisonous wastes of Earth, and discovering what hope may yet remain for humanity’s home world.

Well, I really wanted to like this book. I have been on a bit of a time-travel kick of late...and the premise of this book really grabbed my attention.

But it just didn't get anywhere near my expectations. I have seen it got a lot of love from others and I can understand that. I can see why it is popular. For me, it was just cliché after cliché, mixed with horrid dialogue and linear plot that doesn't deliver anything in the way of sub-plot to keep the eye distracted from the main story...

The clichés are pretty big too - evil corporation destroys the Earth, sole hero likes a drink but sees the error of his ways with the introduction of a pretty girl, former employee of corporation lifts the lid on what happened, hero is taken care of by ancient tribe that has been treated poorly by corporation...dare I keep going?

I just didn't enjoy reading this...I can't think of anything else to add...


Paul
ARH