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Syncing Forward
ISBN moved from less recent edition here
Would you ever travel forward in time if you knew it was a one-way trip? Mr. Martin James has no such desire, but after being injected with a mysterious drug against his will, Martin hurtles through the years. This cruel twist of fate forces him to watch his children grow up and his wife grow old in a matter of days. Only an elusive group of scientists have the ability to stop his nightmarish journey; the very people who injected him in the first place. And while Martin James hopes to find a cure before everyone he loves is gone, others are uncertain if his journey can be stopped at all.
W. Lawrence weaves a future history filled with the best and worst of humanity, highlights the blessings and curses of technology, and pushes the limits of faith and hopelessness. Above all, Syncing Forward is a tale of one man's love for his family, and their devotion to saving him from being lost forever.
488 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2014
42 people are currently reading
1,355 people want to read
About the author
W. Lawrence
5Ìýbooks92ÌýfollowersW Lawrence was born in San Francisco, California, and moved two dozen times before settling in Pennsylvania with his extraordinarily patient wife, two precocious daughters, and two maniac dogs. He worked for nearly twenty years as a professional interrogator in both the U.S. military and the world of corporate security before hanging up his hat.
In 2014, his debut novel Syncing Forward became a time-traveling best seller and -with a second novel on the way- everything appeared to be heading to the top. Tragedy struck in 2017, plunging Lawrence and his family into a drama that is fit for the pages (and soon will be). Ten years later, he's taken to the keyboard again, with multiple novels completed and on the way.
In 2014, his debut novel Syncing Forward became a time-traveling best seller and -with a second novel on the way- everything appeared to be heading to the top. Tragedy struck in 2017, plunging Lawrence and his family into a drama that is fit for the pages (and soon will be). Ten years later, he's taken to the keyboard again, with multiple novels completed and on the way.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
August 26, 2015
A book that makes me cry 4 times gets 5 stars. Oh and a book about time travel and the future, that is a bonus. This was an excellent spin on the whole concept of time travel. What is time travel exactly? Well this story gives us something different. Oh, maybe I should mention that I won this in a giveaway. Not that I think that should matter, I am glad I have read this. I recommend it to anyone who likes time travel, mixed in with some future building. Yes, the future building was amazing. Scary. Realistic. This was one I could not put down.
January 30, 2019
First off, for full disclosure, I won this book from the author through a contest run through the Time Travel group here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ. The author posed the following question to the group “What will be the top headline or news story for March 1, 2035? The best answer wins. My winning response was, The end of disease and eternal youth now comes with risk—loss of free will. Who is hacking the health robots in our bloodstreams forcing people to do the will of those now controlling these formerly benign health-bots? I was very excited and grateful to have been chosen to win the autographed copy of the book and a watch! I also feel strongly that in winning any giveaway, although not required, you owe it to the author to give an honest opinion.
That background stated, I’ll move on to my thoughts (in order of strength of opinion). The book is promoted by asking the question, “Would you ever travel forward in time if you knew it would be a one-way trip?� This teaser intrigued me and I was excited to read how that might work. . Because of this I feel I cannot even shelve this as “time travel�.
Goodreaders who know me know that I’m a clear-cut ending guy. I always refer to the movie, Field of Dreams. I didn’t get that ending. Please don’t leave it to me to interpret. I don’t know if it is my introverted nature, thought process or what, but I don’t like to have my invested time (whether book or movie) left unresolved. For most people this does not seem to be an issue. So, don’t let this be a huge detractor for you.
On the positive side, I thought the writing was excellent and the future events described chilling, and more disturbingly, plausible. The likability of the story followed an inverted bell curve. It did not take long to be sucked into the story but tailed off during the middle. It didn’t seem like much was happening during that time and was too drawn out for my liking. The ending however, picked back up to earlier levels and I could not wait to find out how it would all wrap up. .
The best and most poignant part of the book was his relationship with his daughters. I have two of my own and I could truly connect with the protagonist in terms of his relationship with them. In summary, the positives and negatives cancel each other out and that is the rationale for my 3-star I “liked it� rating.
That background stated, I’ll move on to my thoughts (in order of strength of opinion). The book is promoted by asking the question, “Would you ever travel forward in time if you knew it would be a one-way trip?� This teaser intrigued me and I was excited to read how that might work. . Because of this I feel I cannot even shelve this as “time travel�.
Goodreaders who know me know that I’m a clear-cut ending guy. I always refer to the movie, Field of Dreams. I didn’t get that ending. Please don’t leave it to me to interpret. I don’t know if it is my introverted nature, thought process or what, but I don’t like to have my invested time (whether book or movie) left unresolved. For most people this does not seem to be an issue. So, don’t let this be a huge detractor for you.
On the positive side, I thought the writing was excellent and the future events described chilling, and more disturbingly, plausible. The likability of the story followed an inverted bell curve. It did not take long to be sucked into the story but tailed off during the middle. It didn’t seem like much was happening during that time and was too drawn out for my liking. The ending however, picked back up to earlier levels and I could not wait to find out how it would all wrap up. .
The best and most poignant part of the book was his relationship with his daughters. I have two of my own and I could truly connect with the protagonist in terms of his relationship with them. In summary, the positives and negatives cancel each other out and that is the rationale for my 3-star I “liked it� rating.
July 17, 2015
I think that our most realistic expectations for time travel into the future would be a type of travel that would be a one-way ticket with no turning back. The time traveler would either travel at the speed of light or would be placed into a type of suspended animation and would return from their travels or be reanimated to find that the world has become the future. In books like and , the time traveler has no friends or family to miss and, thus, they feel more psychologically able to deal with the passage of time upon their return to the future present. However, if a person finds themselves hurtled through time outside of their own choice and if they're leaving a family with young children behind, the experience is something else entirely.
This is exactly what happens to the protagonist in this book. He is deprived of all the experiences involved with being with his wife and elementary-school-aged daughters as they grow up. But, because of the nature of his state of slowed-down animation and the limited ability of drugs that can restore him to normal time, he is able to visit with them for very short periods of time throughout the years. Unfortunately, while hours pass for him, years are passing for his family. The triumphs and tragedies of a lifetime pass him by in mere days. He awakens to find everyone's life moving onward, new members of his progeny being born, and the world changing in very extreme ways.
Experiencing this with Martin makes for one of the most emotionally charged books that I've read in a long time. I certainly didn't expect my eyes to tear up on multiple occasions while reading a time travel novel. The realistically rendered details of the everyday life experiences that Martin is missing are sharp reminders of how precious our time with friends, family, and co-workers is. It's these relationships that ground us and create a framework for our life experiences. Losing the opportunities for these experiences is a source of great psychological anguish for Martin.
The future that Lawrence creates in this book is not one that I'd hope for our planet. The U.S. has fractured into 2 countries. Technological advances of the future become more miraculous but then turn for the worst. It's one thing to find yourself alone in a future where you can make a new life for yourself and try to live a new normal. But it's another thing entirely to arrive in a future where such an option is not easily possible.
I didn't find convincing the raison d'etre of the terrorist organization that wreaked havoc throughout the book. I didn't think that their founding purpose was strong enough to turn them into such extremists, willing to give their life for their cause. By the book's end, it turns out that they are justified for their beliefs. But in the past where they originated, I can't imagine finding enough people who could believe so fervently in their cause.
Otherwise, I found myself completely absorbed in this book and somewhat besotted by it. I'm intrigued by the idea that it may be turned into a movie.
This is exactly what happens to the protagonist in this book. He is deprived of all the experiences involved with being with his wife and elementary-school-aged daughters as they grow up. But, because of the nature of his state of slowed-down animation and the limited ability of drugs that can restore him to normal time, he is able to visit with them for very short periods of time throughout the years. Unfortunately, while hours pass for him, years are passing for his family. The triumphs and tragedies of a lifetime pass him by in mere days. He awakens to find everyone's life moving onward, new members of his progeny being born, and the world changing in very extreme ways.
Experiencing this with Martin makes for one of the most emotionally charged books that I've read in a long time. I certainly didn't expect my eyes to tear up on multiple occasions while reading a time travel novel. The realistically rendered details of the everyday life experiences that Martin is missing are sharp reminders of how precious our time with friends, family, and co-workers is. It's these relationships that ground us and create a framework for our life experiences. Losing the opportunities for these experiences is a source of great psychological anguish for Martin.
The future that Lawrence creates in this book is not one that I'd hope for our planet. The U.S. has fractured into 2 countries. Technological advances of the future become more miraculous but then turn for the worst. It's one thing to find yourself alone in a future where you can make a new life for yourself and try to live a new normal. But it's another thing entirely to arrive in a future where such an option is not easily possible.
I didn't find convincing the raison d'etre of the terrorist organization that wreaked havoc throughout the book. I didn't think that their founding purpose was strong enough to turn them into such extremists, willing to give their life for their cause. By the book's end, it turns out that they are justified for their beliefs. But in the past where they originated, I can't imagine finding enough people who could believe so fervently in their cause.
Otherwise, I found myself completely absorbed in this book and somewhat besotted by it. I'm intrigued by the idea that it may be turned into a movie.
November 7, 2014
There is so much I want to say on this book, but every time I begin, I find I am giving away too much information. This is an incredible story that immediately pulls you in with an adventure from start to finish. The way this guy writes is amazing and I can't wait to read more from him. Once I picked this book up, I just could not put it down.
The information on communication and body language that he offers at the beginning was very interesting and I like the way it is all explained to us, including the situation. He does it all so fluently that it just flows perfectly into one amazing story. Definitely one of my favorites this year - and one I recommend to anyone who enjoys dystopian, science fiction and time travel.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. No other consideration was offered, expected or received.
The information on communication and body language that he offers at the beginning was very interesting and I like the way it is all explained to us, including the situation. He does it all so fluently that it just flows perfectly into one amazing story. Definitely one of my favorites this year - and one I recommend to anyone who enjoys dystopian, science fiction and time travel.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. No other consideration was offered, expected or received.
July 17, 2015
Greatest Book Ever?
I am not sure how to discuss this book without giving away plot points....This is probably the saddest book I have read in years. This book rips your heart out, stomps on it....presents it back to you stitches up your chest and just as it begins to beat rips it out again.
Some books are fun, Some books are over the top, Some are mysterious, Some are boring....This book although I would categorize in the highest of sci-fi thriller...at its heart it is about an everyman dealing with family. He is put into an impossible situation where his body slows down and time continues at its normal rate for everyone else. Weeks pass in the world and its been mere minutes from his perspective. He is sped up to live a normal life in bits and pieces...only to go back to slow speed.
This book takes place in the near and far future and has quite a few geopolitical predictions that seem reasonable and down right probable. I read this book during the 4th of July...It made me love my family more, not take for granted those special moments of eating ice cream in the park watching fireworks. Hug those you love...
Despite this being a very sad book it made me think more and the writing was so completely relatable. Go pick up your copy NOW!
I am not sure how to discuss this book without giving away plot points....This is probably the saddest book I have read in years. This book rips your heart out, stomps on it....presents it back to you stitches up your chest and just as it begins to beat rips it out again.
Some books are fun, Some books are over the top, Some are mysterious, Some are boring....This book although I would categorize in the highest of sci-fi thriller...at its heart it is about an everyman dealing with family. He is put into an impossible situation where his body slows down and time continues at its normal rate for everyone else. Weeks pass in the world and its been mere minutes from his perspective. He is sped up to live a normal life in bits and pieces...only to go back to slow speed.
This book takes place in the near and far future and has quite a few geopolitical predictions that seem reasonable and down right probable. I read this book during the 4th of July...It made me love my family more, not take for granted those special moments of eating ice cream in the park watching fireworks. Hug those you love...
Despite this being a very sad book it made me think more and the writing was so completely relatable. Go pick up your copy NOW!
October 2, 2017
I cannot say enough about , I was captivated by the novel the entire read. has done a magnificent job with a difficult subject. As a first novel, it is so much better than one usually expects. Multilayered, is both heart breaking as the reaction of a typical family to a devastating event as well as thoughts on mankind going into the dark future. has done a masterful job of taking the large complex view of the future and keeping it from getting away by looking through the eyes of Martin James, his protagonist. We see the changes through his eyes and he asks the question we ask. It is a masterful stroke.
There is a caveat, this is a smart intelligent book. There is action, bad guys, terrorism, and corporate greed. However, this is not a monster, zombie, ray gun book. The action is part of the story and it works well, but it is not the story and is almost incidental to the larger picture and societal study. If you are looking for ray, guns, invasions and action, action, action, this is not for you. If you are looking for incredible writing, thought provoking fiction, this is certainly worth a look.
is one of the best first novels I have ever read. I cannot find plot holes or undeveloped characters. This is tightly written. has a masterpiece on his hands. I can only hope that it hits a much larger audience. What is so amazing is how the characters are so ordinary you almost forget they are works of fiction. These are real people in real situations, not cardboard cutouts of people.
I cannot wait for his next book.
There is a caveat, this is a smart intelligent book. There is action, bad guys, terrorism, and corporate greed. However, this is not a monster, zombie, ray gun book. The action is part of the story and it works well, but it is not the story and is almost incidental to the larger picture and societal study. If you are looking for ray, guns, invasions and action, action, action, this is not for you. If you are looking for incredible writing, thought provoking fiction, this is certainly worth a look.
is one of the best first novels I have ever read. I cannot find plot holes or undeveloped characters. This is tightly written. has a masterpiece on his hands. I can only hope that it hits a much larger audience. What is so amazing is how the characters are so ordinary you almost forget they are works of fiction. These are real people in real situations, not cardboard cutouts of people.
I cannot wait for his next book.
July 11, 2015
"Would you ever travel forward in time if you knew it would be a one way trip?" Martin James didn't want to but he had no choice.
The year is 2021, while investigating something for his company Martin James is injected with drugs that slows his body down so much that his seconds are months to us and every time he goes back under it is years before he awakens again. The people who did this to him have the cure but they can't be found.
This is not your time machine time travel. Imagine waking up to what you think is seconds for you but find that your children have grown, people you love have died, the world changing while you sleep and all the while never knowing if the nightmare will ever end.
This book had me hooked from the first page to the last. The characters are so well written, you can feel the pain they are going through. The love Martin has for his family is what keeps him going. Getting a glimpse into the future....scary because it all seems possible.
I am a fast reader and I made myself slow down so that I would not miss anything. Even if you are not a fan of science fiction (I'm not)you really should read this book. It is entertaining, engaging, and thought provoking. What more can you ask for in a book. I will definitely be reading this more than once.
I received this from the author for an honest review.
The year is 2021, while investigating something for his company Martin James is injected with drugs that slows his body down so much that his seconds are months to us and every time he goes back under it is years before he awakens again. The people who did this to him have the cure but they can't be found.
This is not your time machine time travel. Imagine waking up to what you think is seconds for you but find that your children have grown, people you love have died, the world changing while you sleep and all the while never knowing if the nightmare will ever end.
This book had me hooked from the first page to the last. The characters are so well written, you can feel the pain they are going through. The love Martin has for his family is what keeps him going. Getting a glimpse into the future....scary because it all seems possible.
I am a fast reader and I made myself slow down so that I would not miss anything. Even if you are not a fan of science fiction (I'm not)you really should read this book. It is entertaining, engaging, and thought provoking. What more can you ask for in a book. I will definitely be reading this more than once.
I received this from the author for an honest review.
July 13, 2014
Really liked this book, especially as a Summer Read. From the very beginning I was engaged with the story - good character development with personalities that I started to root for (or despise!). I loved the premise of someone almost living forever in an on-again off-again suspended state, and how time for one person does not equal the same for another person. Loved getting a glimpse into what the W.Lawrence thinks the future will hold for us (scary!!)... and perhaps the scariest part of the book was the footnotes bit where the author provides references for the technology and you realize that all of this is quite possible, if not already "almost here". Reading this felt reminiscent of HG Wells, George Orwell and Margaret Atwood but with a modern twist, so I really liked the book. If you like those established authors, I highly recommend giving Syncing Forward a try!
June 22, 2015
A very good book with an unique science fiction theme. Science and technology are nicely mixed into an interesting tale about a fellow moving forward in time 4000 times faster than normal. My biggest complaint is the main character is fairly flat due to the limited development in the story. The use of flashbacks would helped alleviate this problem IMO. Plus the reason to reach the end "almost" peters out. A good recommendation to those a bit tired of all the dystopias popular nowadays.
July 12, 2015
A new take on Rip Van Winkle that kept me reading till the end despite some obvious conflicts in philosophy between the author and me.
If you think traditional family values can save the world even unto the far future, this book is for you. (Lord knows they've been doing a bang up job so far.) But even if you are a cynic, the originality of the storyline will keep you immersed, despite the occasional liberal fist shake to the gods.
My biggest problem with the work is that the nature of the hero's predicament was often forgotten for a traditional description of the passage of time, as if the author had some trouble really placing himself in the hero's shoes and seeing the world out of his first person eyes. It was a challenge I wouldn't envy any author.
What kept me reading to the end though, were the snapshots of the world as it progressed into the future. Besides the sexbots and lycra, (which seemed so out of place that I wonder if those cliches weren't an elbow-nudging homage to old school sci-fi,) Lawrence's view of the future seems highly original and frighteningly believable.
If you think traditional family values can save the world even unto the far future, this book is for you. (Lord knows they've been doing a bang up job so far.) But even if you are a cynic, the originality of the storyline will keep you immersed, despite the occasional liberal fist shake to the gods.
My biggest problem with the work is that the nature of the hero's predicament was often forgotten for a traditional description of the passage of time, as if the author had some trouble really placing himself in the hero's shoes and seeing the world out of his first person eyes. It was a challenge I wouldn't envy any author.
What kept me reading to the end though, were the snapshots of the world as it progressed into the future. Besides the sexbots and lycra, (which seemed so out of place that I wonder if those cliches weren't an elbow-nudging homage to old school sci-fi,) Lawrence's view of the future seems highly original and frighteningly believable.
June 29, 2015
What an amazing book! I found the start a bit slow, but once you get past the interviews, the hits just keep coming. Definitely worth 5 stars!
June 19, 2015
I won this book in a contest on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ. My review is in no way swayed by that.
When I started this book I didn’t know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised.
Martin James is a very intelligent and intuitive man trying to figure out who is stealing supplies from his company. During his interviews of the suspects things go terribly awry. One of the suspects takes pity on him and begins to inject him with a drug but is thwarted in his efforts to complete the dosage. This begins Martin on a journey where time slips by at an alarming rate.
We watch as Martins children, Amara and Bella, grow and change. We feel his wife struggling to understand. Lawrence did a wonderful job allowing the reader to figure out and process everything along with Martin. You feel his heartbreak and hope for a cure. You watch in glimpses as life flies by him, awakening to new grandchildren in a world where time has healed others wounds and his are still fresh. None of this is told to you, you are on the journey with him. All the losses that span decades feeling like they happened in a week or less to him. The world is falling apart and technology rages on without him.
This book had a lot more heart than I expected. It makes you want to hug your family and not rush thru your day. It makes you want to sit back and enjoy the time you have with the people you love before it's taken away.
Somewhere around 80% I started to wonder where the book would wind up. Time was passing and I couldn’t figure out what was going to happen. The ending was very satisfying and perfect. A wonderful and thought provoking read.
As a side note, some may argue that this wasn't a "time travel" book. That is addressed in the book and doesn't take anything away from the momentum of it. And for those who still argue it, it's okay Martin James agrees with you. ; )
When I started this book I didn’t know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised.
Martin James is a very intelligent and intuitive man trying to figure out who is stealing supplies from his company. During his interviews of the suspects things go terribly awry. One of the suspects takes pity on him and begins to inject him with a drug but is thwarted in his efforts to complete the dosage. This begins Martin on a journey where time slips by at an alarming rate.
We watch as Martins children, Amara and Bella, grow and change. We feel his wife struggling to understand. Lawrence did a wonderful job allowing the reader to figure out and process everything along with Martin. You feel his heartbreak and hope for a cure. You watch in glimpses as life flies by him, awakening to new grandchildren in a world where time has healed others wounds and his are still fresh. None of this is told to you, you are on the journey with him. All the losses that span decades feeling like they happened in a week or less to him. The world is falling apart and technology rages on without him.
This book had a lot more heart than I expected. It makes you want to hug your family and not rush thru your day. It makes you want to sit back and enjoy the time you have with the people you love before it's taken away.
Somewhere around 80% I started to wonder where the book would wind up. Time was passing and I couldn’t figure out what was going to happen. The ending was very satisfying and perfect. A wonderful and thought provoking read.
As a side note, some may argue that this wasn't a "time travel" book. That is addressed in the book and doesn't take anything away from the momentum of it. And for those who still argue it, it's okay Martin James agrees with you. ; )
June 16, 2015
“Taras, you are offering me the possibility of a new life while simultaneously demanding I give up everything I’ve been fighting to keep. Without my family, the cure means nothing. It may seem pathetic to you, but even when I am synchronized, I am out of sync: out of sync with the world, with the people in it.�
Excerpt From: Lawrence, W. “Syncing Forward.� Hewlett-Packard Company. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.
Check out this book on the iBooks Store:
This quote stuck out to me. Mr. Martin has lived more than 100 years and yet only a few weeks in his lifetime. This man lost everything and yet kept moving forward in the hopes to find a cure. Every time I thought I had the story figured out the author threw a curve ball. You really feel for this guy because he loses so much. Many of the chapters I found depressing as he keeps waking up and finding out a family member died or he's missed the birth of a grandchild. It was trippy knowing that weeks would pass just for him to type a message to one of his kids but only a few seconds for him. It's also very scary the parallels to this book with our own world. What would humanity do if the very technology we invent surpassed us by becoming self ware and not see the need for real humans anymore? I would recommend this book for anyone to make their own judgements.
Excerpt From: Lawrence, W. “Syncing Forward.� Hewlett-Packard Company. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.
Check out this book on the iBooks Store:
This quote stuck out to me. Mr. Martin has lived more than 100 years and yet only a few weeks in his lifetime. This man lost everything and yet kept moving forward in the hopes to find a cure. Every time I thought I had the story figured out the author threw a curve ball. You really feel for this guy because he loses so much. Many of the chapters I found depressing as he keeps waking up and finding out a family member died or he's missed the birth of a grandchild. It was trippy knowing that weeks would pass just for him to type a message to one of his kids but only a few seconds for him. It's also very scary the parallels to this book with our own world. What would humanity do if the very technology we invent surpassed us by becoming self ware and not see the need for real humans anymore? I would recommend this book for anyone to make their own judgements.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2014
Wow, what a great book. This is the first book that I can highly recommend. From the first chapter it had me enthralled, considering the current state of affairs in the world,in particular Western countries and the threat of Isis. The book is a fictional view into the world.
There were a few times in the book where I felt the proofread had gone a little astray but that's only a small moot point though.
Great novel, well done.
There were a few times in the book where I felt the proofread had gone a little astray but that's only a small moot point though.
Great novel, well done.
November 21, 2014
I got this book because it was on Amazon's free SciFi top 100 list.
I didn't expect much.
I was pleasantly surprised. I tore through this book in less than 24 hours and am so sad its over!
Follow Martin a special investigator for a big pharma company as he gets injected with a mystery drug which causes time to slow down exponentially for just him.
Great story, great characters. I highly recommend this book!
I didn't expect much.
I was pleasantly surprised. I tore through this book in less than 24 hours and am so sad its over!
Follow Martin a special investigator for a big pharma company as he gets injected with a mystery drug which causes time to slow down exponentially for just him.
Great story, great characters. I highly recommend this book!
May 27, 2015
This book was fast-paced and very exciting to read. It was hard to put down and kept me captivated until the very end. It made me think about where our quickly growing technology may be taking humanity. The story is fiction and presents a fascinating future; but I believe the real future holds possibilities that none of us can even imagine. I enjoyed this book very much and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys science fiction/fantasy/adventure.
June 8, 2015
All in all this was a great book. At times it did feel rushed and it felt like details were left out. It left me wanting to know more about certain events. The author did successfully make you feel the way the main character probably felt though, as in you felt like you were missing out on things, on parts of the story. I did enjoy it though!
July 30, 2014
wow are u sure this is ur first book it was very good
i enjoyed it
it had twist turns and i was glued tomy seat reading this
it was great 5 stars plus i couldnt pronouce of if the names but i still liked it
looking to read more from u
thank u for giving me the chance to read this
i enjoyed it
it had twist turns and i was glued tomy seat reading this
it was great 5 stars plus i couldnt pronouce of if the names but i still liked it
looking to read more from u
thank u for giving me the chance to read this
January 25, 2015
How It Made Me Feel:
I'll start this review off by saying that I received this paperback book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. I couldn't be happier. The book sucked me in and had me traveling right along with the character. The book starts out with our main character, Martin, undergoing an investigation at the pharmaceutical company he works for, and he is conducting interviews of possible suspects in the investigation. Truthfully, this intro stumped me and I wasn't sure where the story was going to go or how it would connect to the summary that drew me in in the first place. I did, however, enjoy the author's writing style and how do you really know how a book is going to end up only a few pages in? I continued reading and I am so glad that I did! The pace of the book kept up and I couldn't help but continue reading. Martin is a character that is continually adding to the story and to his own development and while I haven't ever shared the same experiences as he does in the book, I still felt it easy to relate to some of the emotions he had through out the story. He was a very believable character that was easy to like. This story had me guessing with the best of them and I LOVED the depth of explanation when it came to some of the pharmaceutical terms and locales.
I can honestly say that this isn't your usual cookie cutter time travel book, but, if I can say so, it's much better. Syncing Forward has fresh ideas and a very different outlook on what the future might hold for us. It was a bit frightening at points to imagine that this was a true possibility for our future. Having the ability to slow down our bodies so that years seem like minutes, hours, and days? No thank you! Haha. That's kind of scary! Especially when it's administered against your will! That, in addition with the fabulous character development and wide range of personalities made for a great novel that I will gladly read again.
What I Thought Worked:
I loved William Lawrence's take on how the passage of time is different for different people. His descriptive writing style made it easy to understand, read, and enjoy and I felt as if I was the one experiencing the slowing of time. That would be a very hard thing to have to live with and I feel the author did a great job writing it.
What I Thought Didn't Work:
The only thing that stuck with me that I didn't fully enjoy was the summary of the book on the back cover. Maybe it's because I haven't read too many books in the similar genre? But I didn't feel like it appropriately described the book I read. There were parts I agreed with, but I did feel like it was lacking some keys points. But that's it!
Rating
5/5
Why It Got That Rating:
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and it was a surprise that I wasn't ready for. The writing was very well done and I greatly appreciated the wide range of character personalities.
Who Would I Recommend To:
I would recommend to people who enjoy books about time travel, maybe books that are a little different than the norm, and to people who enjoy great character development!
I'll start this review off by saying that I received this paperback book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. I couldn't be happier. The book sucked me in and had me traveling right along with the character. The book starts out with our main character, Martin, undergoing an investigation at the pharmaceutical company he works for, and he is conducting interviews of possible suspects in the investigation. Truthfully, this intro stumped me and I wasn't sure where the story was going to go or how it would connect to the summary that drew me in in the first place. I did, however, enjoy the author's writing style and how do you really know how a book is going to end up only a few pages in? I continued reading and I am so glad that I did! The pace of the book kept up and I couldn't help but continue reading. Martin is a character that is continually adding to the story and to his own development and while I haven't ever shared the same experiences as he does in the book, I still felt it easy to relate to some of the emotions he had through out the story. He was a very believable character that was easy to like. This story had me guessing with the best of them and I LOVED the depth of explanation when it came to some of the pharmaceutical terms and locales.
I can honestly say that this isn't your usual cookie cutter time travel book, but, if I can say so, it's much better. Syncing Forward has fresh ideas and a very different outlook on what the future might hold for us. It was a bit frightening at points to imagine that this was a true possibility for our future. Having the ability to slow down our bodies so that years seem like minutes, hours, and days? No thank you! Haha. That's kind of scary! Especially when it's administered against your will! That, in addition with the fabulous character development and wide range of personalities made for a great novel that I will gladly read again.
What I Thought Worked:
I loved William Lawrence's take on how the passage of time is different for different people. His descriptive writing style made it easy to understand, read, and enjoy and I felt as if I was the one experiencing the slowing of time. That would be a very hard thing to have to live with and I feel the author did a great job writing it.
What I Thought Didn't Work:
The only thing that stuck with me that I didn't fully enjoy was the summary of the book on the back cover. Maybe it's because I haven't read too many books in the similar genre? But I didn't feel like it appropriately described the book I read. There were parts I agreed with, but I did feel like it was lacking some keys points. But that's it!
Rating
5/5
Why It Got That Rating:
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and it was a surprise that I wasn't ready for. The writing was very well done and I greatly appreciated the wide range of character personalities.
Who Would I Recommend To:
I would recommend to people who enjoy books about time travel, maybe books that are a little different than the norm, and to people who enjoy great character development!
March 2, 2016
Disclaimer: Review originally posted at
Martin James works in Security for a very big pharmaceutical company. He has a natural talent for the job and usually has everything under control, but everything falls apart when he interviews several employees who seem to be working on something illegal. The wrong question at the wrong time causes Martin to be kidnapped by this band and injected an unknown substance, which Martin will soon discover, makes him slow down until the point that he will not be able to interact with anybody. Martin is alone, nobody knows what is happening to him, and worst of all, how to cure him.
This is a very original idea and it was very well executed. It could have been boring, and despite it is a quite long book, one is always wanting for more. The story spans around 100 years but for Martin it just feels like a few days. The difference in speeds seems daunting but well resolved by the experts and his family. This first part reminded me a lot of Dragon’s Egg by Robert L. Forward, and both books showed very clever solutions to this problem.
Martin is just the victim of a much bigger game, just collateral damage, and even though this book is about morals and the conflict between which genetic enhancements are right or wrong, this book is, above all, about family. Martin is a good professional, even though he screwed it up here, and will carry the guilt forever with him; but Martin is above all, a family man, and this is exactly what he will lose. The drug he was injected will disconnect him from everything and everybody he loves, and W. Lawrence does a wonderful job in describing the sense of loss, regret but also love.
I like how the characters were depicted. Some people may think Martin was not fully developed but we have to remember that we see him in just a couple of weeks in his life, while for the rest of the world more than 100 years have passed.
Will Damron really becomes Martin when reading this story, and his voice has the power of transmitting his emotions, his regrets and his despair. He was the perfect narrator for this beautiful and sad story. The audio production was good and seamless, allowing you to focus on the story.
I have minor complaints, like the Spanish in the book was not all 100% correct (like it happens in many books), and the Spanish speaking characters sounded more like Hindi. All in all, I recognize these are minor issues that would have been missed by many.
This was a wonderful listen that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys science fiction and an out of the normal powerful story.
Martin James works in Security for a very big pharmaceutical company. He has a natural talent for the job and usually has everything under control, but everything falls apart when he interviews several employees who seem to be working on something illegal. The wrong question at the wrong time causes Martin to be kidnapped by this band and injected an unknown substance, which Martin will soon discover, makes him slow down until the point that he will not be able to interact with anybody. Martin is alone, nobody knows what is happening to him, and worst of all, how to cure him.
This is a very original idea and it was very well executed. It could have been boring, and despite it is a quite long book, one is always wanting for more. The story spans around 100 years but for Martin it just feels like a few days. The difference in speeds seems daunting but well resolved by the experts and his family. This first part reminded me a lot of Dragon’s Egg by Robert L. Forward, and both books showed very clever solutions to this problem.
Martin is just the victim of a much bigger game, just collateral damage, and even though this book is about morals and the conflict between which genetic enhancements are right or wrong, this book is, above all, about family. Martin is a good professional, even though he screwed it up here, and will carry the guilt forever with him; but Martin is above all, a family man, and this is exactly what he will lose. The drug he was injected will disconnect him from everything and everybody he loves, and W. Lawrence does a wonderful job in describing the sense of loss, regret but also love.
I like how the characters were depicted. Some people may think Martin was not fully developed but we have to remember that we see him in just a couple of weeks in his life, while for the rest of the world more than 100 years have passed.
Will Damron really becomes Martin when reading this story, and his voice has the power of transmitting his emotions, his regrets and his despair. He was the perfect narrator for this beautiful and sad story. The audio production was good and seamless, allowing you to focus on the story.
I have minor complaints, like the Spanish in the book was not all 100% correct (like it happens in many books), and the Spanish speaking characters sounded more like Hindi. All in all, I recognize these are minor issues that would have been missed by many.
This was a wonderful listen that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys science fiction and an out of the normal powerful story.
February 3, 2017
I'm calling this scifi-timetravel in my shelves, but honestly this was not a true time travel novel. It was more of a stagnating-through-time novel, with very little science to qualify it as actual science fiction. I was so excited to read Syncing Forward, seeing all the 4 and 5 star reviews, even some commenting on the great grammar, which is always highly important to me. However, I stumbled upon so much iffy writing, I'm guessing a proof-reader was never used, which is unfortunate, because an author cannot be expected to catch everything, no matter how meticulous he or she tries to be. I'm left here wondering: where did all those kiss-assy reviews come from? *sigh*
I didn't bother to make note of all the nails-on-a-chalkboard issues, but there are two I can immediately recall:
The plural is symposia, not symposiums, as was repeated over and over.
The proper phrase is "had shown", not "had showed".
As for the story, it was slow and fairly uneventful. The gratuitous and frequent God references were distracting, adding nothing to the story or the development of the main character. All in all I found him rather whiny, uncharacteristically passive, and unnecessarily clueless.
His wife was too much a charicature of a typical Hispanic wife, and much more dependent and obedient than a modern American woman would normally be, but perhaps she is supposed to represent a more traditional and old school religious wife? I honestly don't know, but especially as someone who grew up in an Hispanic household, it was hard to appreciate seeing such a huge step backward in an otherwise forward-looking story. Sadly she was never developed enough for us to want to care about her.
I wish I'd borrowed this book from the library. I hate knowing I can get back neither the money nor the hours I invested in it. Oh well, onto the next novel, this time by an author I know, because I need a sure reading win to elevate my mood.
I didn't bother to make note of all the nails-on-a-chalkboard issues, but there are two I can immediately recall:
The plural is symposia, not symposiums, as was repeated over and over.
The proper phrase is "had shown", not "had showed".
As for the story, it was slow and fairly uneventful. The gratuitous and frequent God references were distracting, adding nothing to the story or the development of the main character. All in all I found him rather whiny, uncharacteristically passive, and unnecessarily clueless.
His wife was too much a charicature of a typical Hispanic wife, and much more dependent and obedient than a modern American woman would normally be, but perhaps she is supposed to represent a more traditional and old school religious wife? I honestly don't know, but especially as someone who grew up in an Hispanic household, it was hard to appreciate seeing such a huge step backward in an otherwise forward-looking story. Sadly she was never developed enough for us to want to care about her.
I wish I'd borrowed this book from the library. I hate knowing I can get back neither the money nor the hours I invested in it. Oh well, onto the next novel, this time by an author I know, because I need a sure reading win to elevate my mood.
July 21, 2015
This was quite an emotional rollercoaster journey through the eyes of a reluctant time travelling father, thanks to a highly engaging narrative and a tremendous insight into the issues that our current civilisation faces, the fragility of society, religions and governments, and projected repercussions of the choices society and individuals make in technological advances.
It has been done before for sure. But it's all about delivery and perspectives. And what we have here is a unique and epic journey (at least from my reading experience) into the future through the limiting perspective from a father. In all honesty, much of what happens in the grand scale of things is in the background. Focus is on family attachments. Nevertheless, those background events affects that human foreground narrative. Its very clever writing and the author never ever loses the main focus with a prose that is beautifully streamlined, devoid of unnecessary superfluous environmental details. This makes the book an even easier page turner.
The depiction of the future is plausible, fascinating as well as frightening and thrilling as the future unravels through the father's eyes.
I am not one to delve into story...otherwise what is the point of reading it, huh?
All I will say is that its riveting stuff, heart rendering, soulful and very thought provoking that can easily divide readers opinions of the characters and motives depicted but in a good way.
And it's absolutely unputdownable from page 1.
A exhilarating read from start to finish.
It has been done before for sure. But it's all about delivery and perspectives. And what we have here is a unique and epic journey (at least from my reading experience) into the future through the limiting perspective from a father. In all honesty, much of what happens in the grand scale of things is in the background. Focus is on family attachments. Nevertheless, those background events affects that human foreground narrative. Its very clever writing and the author never ever loses the main focus with a prose that is beautifully streamlined, devoid of unnecessary superfluous environmental details. This makes the book an even easier page turner.
The depiction of the future is plausible, fascinating as well as frightening and thrilling as the future unravels through the father's eyes.
I am not one to delve into story...otherwise what is the point of reading it, huh?
All I will say is that its riveting stuff, heart rendering, soulful and very thought provoking that can easily divide readers opinions of the characters and motives depicted but in a good way.
And it's absolutely unputdownable from page 1.
A exhilarating read from start to finish.
January 29, 2015
Syncing Forward: There's a word(s) for phenomenal books like these- supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
I'm sorry if I made you Google that word, I myself stumbled across it no more than a couple of minutes ago. ;)
I received this book as a 'Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ - First Reads' and this was the first time I won a giveaway (I was darn excited).
My first impression of this book was that it's going to be just like other mainstream books in the market but I was wrong. This book is phenomenal. Once you start reading this book, there's no stopping.
W. Lawrence is an amazing author. The story is insanely intriguing, beautifully written and eloquently presented. The way he succeeds in conveying every teeny bit of detail through minimal use of language so vividly is impressive, and exceptional.
This story will surprise you, make you smile, make you scratch your head, toss some witty rib-ticklers (Mr. James knows how to use sarcasm) and nevertheless, compel you to shed a couple tears. You can't help but get caught up, and swept away. So compelling, so moving, so unpredictable, so beautiful. To be honest, I was not expecting much from this book but it turns out to be one of the BEST books I've read lately. Its a page turner at every single stage. I am so glad I won this book. I believe this is going to be my favorite 2015 book.
Thank you, Mr. Lawrence! Looking forward to a sequel!
I'm sorry if I made you Google that word, I myself stumbled across it no more than a couple of minutes ago. ;)
I received this book as a 'Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ - First Reads' and this was the first time I won a giveaway (I was darn excited).
My first impression of this book was that it's going to be just like other mainstream books in the market but I was wrong. This book is phenomenal. Once you start reading this book, there's no stopping.
W. Lawrence is an amazing author. The story is insanely intriguing, beautifully written and eloquently presented. The way he succeeds in conveying every teeny bit of detail through minimal use of language so vividly is impressive, and exceptional.
This story will surprise you, make you smile, make you scratch your head, toss some witty rib-ticklers (Mr. James knows how to use sarcasm) and nevertheless, compel you to shed a couple tears. You can't help but get caught up, and swept away. So compelling, so moving, so unpredictable, so beautiful. To be honest, I was not expecting much from this book but it turns out to be one of the BEST books I've read lately. Its a page turner at every single stage. I am so glad I won this book. I believe this is going to be my favorite 2015 book.
Thank you, Mr. Lawrence! Looking forward to a sequel!
Read
October 27, 2014In W. Laurence’s new novel Syncing Forward, the protagonist Martin James is investigating possible theft and espionage when he’s injected with a drug that slows his body down so much he finds himself unstuck in time. He’s able to realign with everyone else for short bursts of time. What seems like a day for James is months for everyone else, which naturally strains his personal and family relationships, as well as his search for a cure. I enjoy well written timetravel, when it’s more about how human relationships are affected than technobabbling about how the time machine works. In this case, time travel was more of a mechanic to tell a story, or really two stories, one about what happens to James� family as a result of this, and another about James� search for the antidote and the various organizations involved in keeping it away from him.
August 12, 2015
There are so many 4 and 5 star reviews for this book, but for me, it didn't totally live up to the hype. The premise is pretty amazing, no doubt. What if time was involuntarily slowed down for you? What if the equivalent of a month for you was a lifetime for everyone you loved and you could only sit helplessly by as life rushed on--witnessing your children growing old and having children of their own, the world becoming an entirely different place in a space of time that, for you, was only a matter of weeks? Sounds like the makings of an awesome book, right? I finished reading and my reaction was, "Well, that was okay..." It was well written and for the most part I enjoyed it, but at times I found my mind wandering; then the end of the book barreled on like a runaway train toward a rapid conclusion. Interesting read with some amusing dystopian speculation, but fell short of my expectations.
January 11, 2015
I should begin by saying that I am not a big science fiction fan. However, I found this book to be a very thought provoking (and disturbing) vision of the future. The story line is original and interesting. It is very well written and grabs your attention right from the beginning. W. Lawrence does a good job with making the reader feel Martin's (the main character) pain throughout the novel.
My only criticism is that it seemed to drag a bit through the middle...possibly because it covered such a long period of time. (It could also be attributed to my own preference for mystery/suspense novels.) Also, I had trouble following some of the terminology.
Overall, it was a very good book and I would definitely recommend it.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
My only criticism is that it seemed to drag a bit through the middle...possibly because it covered such a long period of time. (It could also be attributed to my own preference for mystery/suspense novels.) Also, I had trouble following some of the terminology.
Overall, it was a very good book and I would definitely recommend it.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 15, 2015
This book is excellent and thought provoking on several levels. As science fiction, the future posed by the author is scary but plausible. As an examination of family love, it succeeds in emphasizing the need to find what's important through the device of the short time windows the main character is facing. As descriptive writing, it brings the reader into the closed spaces and emerging world with frightening reality.
June 9, 2015
Unique, imaginative, and plausible take on a dystopian future.
Early man walked away
As modern man took control
Their minds weren't all the same
To conquer was his big goal
So he built his great empire
And he slaughtered his own kind
He died a confused man
Killed himself with his own mind
- "We're only gonna die" - Bad Religion
Early man walked away
As modern man took control
Their minds weren't all the same
To conquer was his big goal
So he built his great empire
And he slaughtered his own kind
He died a confused man
Killed himself with his own mind
- "We're only gonna die" - Bad Religion
June 28, 2015
Excellent unique speculative fiction
Lawrence has written a book that truly deserves the sometimes-overused term, "thought provoking". Believable human characterization wrapping a view of the near-future.
As a bonus to those of us who miss the days when books were actually proofread, Syncing Forward is published with excellent grammar and spelling. Highly recommended!
Lawrence has written a book that truly deserves the sometimes-overused term, "thought provoking". Believable human characterization wrapping a view of the near-future.
As a bonus to those of us who miss the days when books were actually proofread, Syncing Forward is published with excellent grammar and spelling. Highly recommended!
July 8, 2014
Unique twist on adventure/action/sci-fi story that makes you wonder about how our future will look. Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down! I know I would never want to take Martin's place, but the book is thought provoking! Excellent first novel from W Lawrence!
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