Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

I've published two time traveling Epic Fables in the last two years, both concerning the elusive Elastic Limit, a term used in the books but also a metaphor for the reader's imagination.

Both have recieved good reviews & I hope you agree.

Various free samples, to check out my style, may be found at my publisher's website:

press.com

Many Thanks,

Howard Loring

Hi Howard, thanks for introducing your books to the group.

Your link needs fixing by deleting the space btw :)

Just thought I'll add the Goodread link to your books too:

Beyond the Elastic Limit

Piercing the Elastic Limit

Tej, I saw the gaff after I'd sent the notice but knew this group was savvy enough to travel there dispite my shortcomings & you proved me right in less than an hour.

Not too shabby, I must say.

Also much thanks for adding the links as I'm not currently up on the technology of this timeframe.

But who knows what the future holds?

So far, I'm pleased that I've joined the group.

The correct website is:

Thanks again, Tej.

My second Epic Fable 'Piercing the Elastic Limit' is now a free download through the Kindle Prime program.

Hope you have a Kindle.

PIERCING the ELASTIC LIMIT, my newest Epic Fable is FREE on Kindle until Wed October 3rd & if you don’t have one, it’s been picked as the October free giveaway by the Time Travel Group, so enter the contest & if you win I’ll send you a copy that has been signed by me in this, my current Time Frame.

If you have a Kindle & win, I’ll still send you one if you wish, no problem there.

My Epic Fables are page-turners, simply told tales that encompass larger, universal human concerns & the term Elastic Limit has several connotations, one being your own imagination.

This book has gotten great feedback & for other than the normal SiFi reasons, given that real people are involved in such an adventurous historical mystery & all with an added, deeper meaning.

It’s also free for members of Kindle Library until late October & I’ll reup if the response dictates, but for 5 days it’s a totally free download for Kindle users.

It’d be a great weekend read for free.

Transfering a post made on a new thread that belongs here.

By Howard:

"New corrected eBook editions of the Time Traveling Elastic Limit Epic Fables are now on Smashwords.

The 1st, ‘Beyond the Elastic Limit� is a FREE download & the 2nd, ‘Piercing the Elastic Limit� is now $2.99.

The phrase ‘Elastic Limit� is jargon, terminology dealing with Time Travel as described in the books, but it’s also a metaphor for the human imagination & as such, its limits are boundless, defined only by the readers� personal parameters.

Both books are Epic Fables, simply told stories that deal with universal, unchanging human concepts & how these play out when good people, through no fault of their own, find themselves in situations beyond their control.

Each Epic Fable is a redemptive tale, dealing with basic philosophical concepts such as truth and justice, good and evil and “might makes right vs. right makes might.�

As in any Epic, flawed characters evolve as a result of their quests, gleaning insight into these universal human ideals. All must grapple with difficult personal choices. Hard decisions, forced by dire circumstances yield unforeseen consequences, challenges that must be met and overcome.

As in any Fable, the narrative style is simplistic, yet the action is layered with fast-paced sequences often presented through flashbacks and proceeding from different points of view. In the end, each major character develops a personal morality.

In Beyond the Elastic Limit: An Epic Fable, a time-viewing machine used by an advanced civilization malfunctions and time explodes, creating havoc. Actions employed to rectify the situation force characters to explore larger issues. This novel probes human values, multiple gods, social development and civil ethos.

Piercing the Elastic Limit: An Epic Fable, takes a mysterious “Old Man� through time using the machine. He meets such historic figures as Julius Caesar, Christopher Marlow, Robert Schumann and others, in order to defeat foes that are deliberately distorting the flow of time. This novel incorporates the theme of business and technology run amok, and how each can be misused for devious ends.

'Beyond the Elastic Limit: An Epic Fable' is technically a myth, a story dealing with ancient gods who hold dominion over human activities.

'Piercing the Elastic Limit: An Epic Fable' is properly folklore, fiction based on real characters as opposed to legend, traditionally considered stylized portrayals of actual historic events.

Here’s the Smashwords link:

...

‘Piercing� has gotten some good reviews by members of the group, but ‘Beyond� is yet to be reviewed, as those listed were for the original 2010 edition & I’ve rewritten it to take into account honest concerns listed at that time.

Both books are stand-alone Time Travel stories but they are connected & this connection will be explored in further Elastic Limit Epic Fables.

Hope everyone in the group will download.

Thanks

Thanks Tej.

I'm about 2/3 Beyond that Elastic Limit and the many pieces of the puzzle are coming together very nicely -- though I suspect more surprises may await. Skillful writing, Howard. You have quite an imagination. Or are you just writing what you know? Well done.

Paul

Paul, E.B. gave it 5 stars, the first review on the new eBook edition.

But I've since seen typos.

Such is life, Grasshopper.

Indeed it is. I've yet to see ANY eBook without typos. You have nothing to worry about.

I've only just passed the first brief vignette in the book. So far, so good. I'm marveling so far at Howard's ability to create a sense of foreboding suspense from just a guy's simple walk from point A to point B.

Thanks Amy, the 1st chapter was the hardest for me as there's little dialogue, my strongest suite.

The book also starts slowly & this was a choice as well, in order to build momentum.

Both of these aspects change, however, so buckle your seatbelt.

And dialogue is one of the reasons I can never get my book idea off the ground. I'm horrible at dialogue. I always feel like my characters are talking like asocial 13-year-olds. Maybe that's why so many people decide to go for the YA genre. ;)

I'll have to buckle my seat belt and give it another go when I'm out my movie-veg mood.

Amy, nothing wrong with YA, and catching readers at an early age is no doubt a very good thing, more power to these efforts.

In the same vein, nothing wrong with a serious stance on the genre, either.

So far, from what I've read since joining the Group, the two Paul’s best meet this standard.

I hope others, given Time, will agree & also add my books to this list.

Who knows what the future will hold?

Howard, I think I now understand what an Epic Fable is. It was quite satisfying how "simple" tales came together in Time for the grand story. Some "Aaah-Hah!" moments without loose ends. Very well done.

Paul wrote: "Howard, I think I now understand what an Epic Fable is. It was quite satisfying how "simple" tales came together in Time for the grand story. Some "Aaah-Hah!" moments without loose ends. Very well..."

Yes, very well-told. I finished it last night. And I liked that the characteristics of the characters were memorable enough that the "ah-ha" moments of realizing who was who wasn't too difficult despite their name changes. Reward your readers with ah-ha moments and you hook them quite well. I had a feeling that the "epic" ending of Beyond the Elastic Limit would be an (view spoiler)[Adam & Eve (hide spoiler)] scenario. It was set up too well for it to not end that way. I did like the twist of learning that Primus was (view spoiler)[a computer (hide spoiler)]. That I didn't see coming. But I have to wonder why Primus felt the need to (view spoiler)[seed the universe with "grunts" unless it was the only logical way to keep an evolving population from eventually annihilating itself completely. (hide spoiler)] I also am wondering what the purpose of the time machine in the story actually was. Yes, the people assigned to the station were supposed to (view spoiler)[view history and step in if needed, but what type of events would require such interference? Also, was the idea to bury the station and have new station masters come around thousands of years after the initial seeding to make the changes? Would equipment last for thousands of years without simply breaking down from time? Maybe I didn't understand the purpose of the station. (hide spoiler)]

Amy wrote: "But I have to wonder why Primus felt the need to..."

Makes us wonder indeed. Are we who we think we are, or just the (view spoiler)[latest crop of seeded Grunts? (hide spoiler)] Hmmmmm.

Paul, Fables are simple stories, usually with a moral or moral lesson.

In an Epic, however, the story itself is secondary & the changes that the characters undergo is the important thing.

It's not what they do, but who they become by what they do.

That's simple enough, yes?

Amy, good questions & you should have them & I’m pleased that you do.

At this juncture, all I can say is that the scene is now set, the Elastic Limit framework in place.

So naturally, from this point on, all bets are off.

Now, in other words, the fun really starts

For anyone interested, my review is here. Perhaps the author will forgive my candidness.

Howard, I just tried your Smashwords link above and got an error message. I'll insert one that did work here:

If you have a better one, let me know and I'll delete this one so I don't confuse things. I was looking to add PEL to my library, Ancient One.

PAUL

Works for me Paul, thanks.

It's that simple.

Currently no one in the group has read both Epic Fables (which would give a broader connotation) yet reviews for each are starting to arrive so here's some quotes, all pulled from the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Website:

BEYOND the ELASTIC LIMIT --

Amy Bell --- The book is extremely well-told � it's definitely an interesting book � the book definitely is epic in proportion �

Bill White --- For the inquiring mind � well worth exploring � an enigma �

Tara Van Beurden --- Impressive � I was engrossed � unlike anything I'd come across before �

PIERCING the ELASTIC LIMIT --

Tej Dyal --- This is quite an ambitious novel � very engaging, imaginative, well written and enjoyable � you may need to wear your seatbelt �

Lance Greenfield Mitchell --- Inventive and creative � the ending is delightful � highly recommended �

Carlos Arias --- Phenomenal book � the suspense didn't allow me to put the book down � one of the most creative books I've read �

I'm probably going to read the other book after I finish E.B.'s book. At least that's the current plan. I'm very curious to see how your Epic Fables fit together.

Well, here's the thing Amy:

Tej liked the 2nd but thought it not 'fleshed out' enough, in terms of the Travelers.

Yet, if you’d read the 1st then this would not be a problem given that the base is established, as it were but it’s still engaging, etc., so the interesting thing for me is will reading them in order really matter, or no?

I tried not to make it so but perhaps you'll think as Tej did, even given the foundation, who knows?

Not me, my machine is currently in default, but while the 2nd is not a continuation, in a broader sense, together both are going somewhere else entirely.

The 1st one means something, you see & that meaning changes in the 2nd one, but you don't as a reader need to know that when you begin reading either one, that was my point.

Time is fluid; only our perception is fixed, not the other way around.

So, of course, as things now stand no one has gotten this, for without reading both no one has made the bigger connection, but who knows what the Future will hold?

Heh, Heh.

I guess we'll see!

Amy, I figured it out. Howard isnt real! He is one of the Traveler characters in the book, hence all he crazy riddles! He escaped from fiction into the real world and...and in this world he then wrote the fiction that he came from...

No, that doesnt make sense does it? Alright Howard, you win. I'll move your other Book higher up on my to read list now.

By the way I really admire the way you responded to critics of your first draft version of Beyond the Elastic Limit, you held absolutely no grudge against some scathing reviewers, quite the opposite, you thanked them sincerely for their reviews and it seems you took some of their criticisms as constructive feedback and its noticeable that revision is getting really positive reviews as a result. Well done, sir, I really admire that.

Thanks Tej & you're closer than you think & you make perfect sense.

As to early reviewers, hey I wanted honest feedback & I got some.

Nothing wrong with that.

Epic Fable Fans, a true Time Distortion:

All of Part One of the newest book, the first 3 Chapters, plus the Intro are now up on YouTube & soon will be tweaked with more images, etc.

I beg your indulgence, for who knows when that Future shall occur?

Here's the link:

Howard,

Just to clarify, "Piercing the Elastic Limit" is what you're referring to when you mention the newest book, right? Just want to be sure I'm not falling too far behind. :-) Purchased it on Smashwords a few days ago.

"Beyond the Elastic Limit" was great, by the way.

Paul S.

Yes Paul, here's the link, but only if you'd rather hear me as opposed to reading me:

I got a sample of it on amazon.com for kindle.... Ill see if ill read the while book...

Actually I should read the first book:)

Kevin wrote: 'Actually I should read the first book'

Kevin, the 1st book is a FREE download on Smashwords but you don't need to read it first for the 2nd one is a stand alone.

I will when I get to a computer.. I'm traveling right now

Kevin wrote: 'I'm traveling right now'

Kevin, I wonder:

Time Traveling or something more conventional?

Don't answer if you're driving.

Time traveling... You know in the 1800s there is no Internet so its kinda hard.:)

Alright. I think I'm the first person to have read and reviewed both books in this series. As Howard has mentioned, I don't think that it's necessary to read them in order. However, I think that it may be more satisfactory for a reader to read them in order. My main reason for saying this is that there are quite a few unexplained mysteries in the second book and a reader might feel a bit more satisfied if they at least know the origins of the time viewing machine (which is explained ... somewhat ... in the first book).

If you're interested, my review of book #2, Piercing the Elastic Limit, is available at /review/show....

Amy, just read your splendid review, many thanks.

Only a few days, I see, once you got going, I’ll take that & hope it was a good investment from your point of view.

Seems that you & young Tej are on much the same page, but unlike him you now possess all the proper questions, you go girl.

Here's the deal:

The first one's all about explaining Time as a concept, the machine as a tool & how it works & why you need to use it to Time Travel.

Well, some other stuff too.

The second one, however, lays out quite another avenue of Time Travel & how it can be used & ditto here on other stuff.

But to answer your main question, my Time Fistula clearly shows more tales of the Elastic Limit in your soon to be Timeframe & they are not far off.

Gotta fix my machine though, Tempus fugit & all that.

Who knows, after all, what the Future will hold?

Oh, wait...well, you know what I mean.

Thanks again

Howard wrote: "Only a few days, I see, once you got going, I’ll take that & hope it was a good investment form your point of view."

I think I read it in about 4 sittings. Had I not been interrupted by a bit of reading ennui, I think I would have read it much more quickly.

Amy, yes well, ennui spelled backwards is...

Oh, wait again...well, you get my drift.

Thanks again.

So, I like Amy's review, but I like even more this update I found that she gave as she was reading:

'This is when having a Kindle with word search pays off. Why, yes, the library and time fistula were on the 7th floor in the other book. I'm loving how the 2 books dovetail. I'm already needing a 3rd book to completely explain the origins of the original Primus.'

This is exactly what I was after; you can read this book as a stand alone, as Tej did & never know the difference, but it really is connected & that is the real difference.

This may be harder to do with the books that come, keeping them stand alones while also connecting, but that's my hope.

I want people to pick up any Elastic Limit tale & be pleased no matter what other, if any, of my Epic Fables they read, or in what order.

Time is fluid, after all.

Who knows what the Future will bring?

Thanks again Amy, I really enjoyed your updates re: when the connections dawned.

There's more than you mention, by the by, but you wouldn't know that.

Not yet.

Heh heh heh

Howard wrote: "So, I like Amy's review, but I like even more this update I found that she gave as she was reading:

'This is when having a Kindle with word search pays off. Why, yes, the library and time fistula ..."

I'm definitely looking forward to a future installment. It would be difficult to keep them as stand-alones, but I think it could be done ... and get the reader curious enough to delve into any previous books.

Howard is writing to Amy:

Thanks Amy & don't forget:

Heh heh heh spelled backwards is...

OK, I'm done now.

Well, today I made my 2nd appearance to talk books at Clemson University’s Livelong Learning Center & while there I met an elderly lady author with impeccably quaffed, obviously dyed red hair.

She writes about women in the 3rd world.

She was thrilled to learn that all of the heroes in my Epic Fables are redheaded women.

Write what you know.

Picture on my Facepage.

Many thanks to those members who very kindly voted for my first Epic Fable in this month’s contest, alas to no avail & so my record in these endeavors remain both unrivaled & unchallenged.

Yet again a frequent contributor to this group, whose books have gotten excellent reviews by several moderators, among others & have been given away for nothing is beaten fair & square by a volume that’s never been mentioned before, costs real money & isn’t even spelled correctly.

Well, I guess I’m really done now, for unlike the plotlines in my books, this is a Paradox that can easily be altered.

So thanks once more & enjoy the dinos.

Aw, Howard, but it was a close race. I think yours probably wins for being most often nominated. And those who did vote for it are probably likely to read it. It's firmly in my top 10 .... possibly top 5 favorite time travel novels of all time.

Very kind Amy & I'm sure the winner is a good book & I'll look forward to reading the discussion.

Howard: Did you start this meme?

;)

Heh heh heh

Is that Red Nalro?