Winner (Science Fiction)
Title: The Stranger and the Time Machine, Volume 1
Author: Phil Scrima
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 1490984232
Pages: 190, Paperback/Kindle
Genre: Science Fiction
Reviewed by: Krista Schnee, Pacific Book Review
Book Review
Little did the Stranger know what adventures awaited him. Sitting across the desk from the lawyer, he learns the conditions placed on his inheritance from his wealthy uncle. Would his uncle require that he gain a college degree or form a family? No, it would be something far more spectacular. The Stranger, already an accomplished soldier, faces an even bigger challenge than worldly combat. Indeed, his mysterious uncle had planned for the Stranger to complete a series of missions—each of which would be far more dangerous than the previous ones—in order to earn his uncle’s millions. Although the money is tempting, the Stranger agrees to the conditions, mainly out of curiosity and an eagerness for further adventures.Completing these missions would require an openness to the unknown and the unusual as the Stranger discovers the true scope of his uncle’s work, which had culminated in the creation of a time machine. The Stranger uses this time machine to travel not only back and forth through time, but also into other galaxies. Whether it is the Wild West or an alien civilization, the Stranger utilizes all of his skills learned through his years in the military in successfully accomplishing the tasks before him. The advanced, benevolent aliens that he encounters require his strength, and in exchange, he is ascended, thus attaining a stature more like a god than the purely earthly soldier that he once was.
In “The Stranger and the Time Machine, Volume 1”, Phil Scrima provides readers with plenty of action and adventure within various settings. Through the technique of smaller stories within a larger, science fiction framework, Scrima gives a wide range of readers a book that is accessible and exciting. The Stranger, as a former soldier, allows the stories to move toward a more military-style narrative rather than traditional science fiction. For those who are new to the genre, this will certainly make this book more reachable as it avoids many of the more cerebral elements of science fiction. Too, with a more masculine main character, the book would be more appealing to a wider range of readers.
Although there is a lot of action in this book, there is a greater purpose as well. Scrima has a definite vision of the future and the potential of humanity. Like much of science fiction, this book uses a fictional construct to explore greater societal issues and present the general view of the author. In this case, the author seeks to unite humankind outside of religious and national constraints, moving instead toward universal love and a concern for all life. With its criticism of religion and certain New Age elements, this book may not appeal to deeply religious readers. However, the book is earnest in its approach, providing the reader with thought-provoking material. This philosophical view will most likely be developed further in later volumes.
Whether the reader is seeking action-filled adventures or an alternative and hopeful philosophical view, the reader will surely find it in “The Stranger and the Time Machine, Volume 1”. Phil Scrima’s book is interesting in its combination of a science fiction framework and military-style missions. Indeed, this blend will appeal to a wide array of readers for this reason. The Stranger and his strong moral basis as well as masculine character will surely find fans among readers of all kinds.
