Genres are classifications for describing the scope of a story but not every story or every book fits so easily into such a literary box. In Bill Ectric’s collection of short stories Time Adjusters we are taken for a multi-genre ride through a series of unique tales that defy classification and opt instead to challenge the limits of the reader’s imagination.
Sometimes it takes a haunted house, a dreadful room and a little robot to capture our attention with the promise of mystery but it’s our child-like curiosity that begs us walk into those rooms unhindered by expectations. In the title track "Time Adjusters" and the story "House and the Baboon" we find ourselves bending the rules of relativity to witness events along the chronological spectrum. This visual bounce allows the reader to witness sequences out of order. It’s fun to be a part of even when it’s a little confusing to follow. These parts of the book as well as the science fiction-tinged stories "The Little Robot" and "Fear Flight" should appeal to lovers of pure storytelling.
My own interest was piqued with the author’s Beat Generation style of writing that conducted the speed of the action, and the ease with which you could get carried away by it. These facets appeared strongest in the tales of "Miss Glenly’s Dreadful Room" and "Bucket Head." Each was told from an adolescent perspective that was eager to be in the center of the action without caring how serious or unfortunate the outcome. The result was that I found myself close to tears in one and cringing with disbelief over the other.
The author told me ahead of time that people have had trouble writing reviews of this book and I can see why. The assortment of emotions and situations makes you want to focus on the one or two stories that touched you the deepest, but those one or two are probably different for every reader. One thing remains certain — there is something in Time Adjusters for everyone who loves to read, no matter the genre.
Time Adjusters and Other Stories, Author: Bill Ectric, Publisher: iUniverse (2005), ISBN-10: 0595358071,105pgs, $10.95
Article comments
1 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Nice, cohesive write-up--thanks.
2 - Jordan M. Bobe, author
Thanks for the wonderful review, Alex! This book sounds like a good read. I will have to check it out. Best of luck to Bill, keep writing!
3 - Fawn Brashear
Wonderful review just your thoughts alone make me interested in this book...
4 - Nicole Jenkins
This actually sounds like a really good read. Most of the books out just bore me, but this one sounds promising.
5 - Mikael Covey
Great review, Alex. The only thing I'd add is - do read Ectric's books. If you get them for yourself, or as a gift for someone else - you can't go wrong with these two. Readers might also find Hutchinson's writing quite interesting.
PS - Ectric's 'The Little Robot' is my favorite short story. (And I read a lot.)
6 - Alison
Ectric is a great author and this book is bound to be a classic in the making.
7 - Raziel Talos
Sounds interesting. Ive run out of interesting stuff to read until Dan brown's new book comes out, but it's got Alex's stamp of approval, and it surely seems like something that I can really sink my fangs into, so Im definately gonna try and pickup a copy and see how it is.
8 - Sean
Sounds good! I'll have to put this on my "To Read" list!
9 - serenity
sounds great... i need to read more then i do...
10 - Efunlola Ogunseye
Great review Alex! This book seems to be very interesting!
11 - Gina
Sounds very interesting. I've been looking for something good to read!
12 - g
maybe i'll read this one over the holidays
13 - Fiona
Wow! It is about time our imaginations are stimulated. This sounds like a brilliant refreshing read.
14 - Leelou
Sounds great! I've been looking for a new book to read.
15 - Nichole Robins
I am looking forward to testing my imaginative limits with this new read.
16 - A. F. Stewart
Sounds interesting, and definitely worth checking out!
17 - Bill Ectric
I am so glad Alex picked up on the adolescent perspective of "Bucket Head" and "Miss Glenly’s Dreadful Room."
In Bucket Head especially, here are three teenagers whose parents are out of town. The kids are left to their own wacky problem-solving skills, plotting to kill a guy who has changed into a horrible monster, which was the fault of one of them to begin with. Not everyone gets that this is satire on how modern kids are left on their own.
18 - WIREMAN
immensely entertaining reads....the collaboration and cut-up spirit abounds as does the BEAT....these are books I now treasure.....
19 - christinat files
This book sound amazing, I will have to pick it up!!!!! I love out of the box writers, and this seems like one of them.
20 - Heather
Sounds like an interesting and thought provoking read
21 - Pat Russell
I'm definitely going to order this for the library! Thanks for the luscious write-up, Alex.
22 - Shay
I'd like to check this out, It sounds really interesting!
23 - Mr. Mystery
Sound pretty interesting, I'd love to see this book on my shelf.