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Out of Time (The Humorous Time Travel Diaries of James Urquhart and Elizabeth Bicester) Kindle Edition

4.3 out of 5 stars 28 ratings

Trying to socially engineer the world’s population is not easy, especially when you discover that a pair of reluctant time travellers keep on getting in the way of your plan.

The problems all started when James Urquhart, science lecturer, living in 2015, was enjoying a walk in the countryside and met Elizabeth Bicester, a Victorian Cambridge graduate, at a cricket match at Hamgreen in 1873.

Of course, he didn’t know it was 1873. All he knew was that he’d found a rather attractive woman who looked like she’d fallen straight out of a Tissot painting.

Perhaps if he hadn’t left his phone and she hadn’t picked it up, the story might have ended there. But it didn’t.

If only Time had stayed where it was, it would have been a lot easier for everyone.

From the humorous and sometimes romantic adventures of James Urquhart and Elizabeth Bicester.
Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download

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There are 5 books in this series.
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From the Publisher

Extracts and illustrations from Out of Time

A Game of Cricket

A Game of Cricket

As I got closer it became obvious that some kind of local charity match was on as the women had donned period fancy dress and the men were wearing those schoolboy coloured caps and striped blazers which you see in those society mags of the Henley Regatta.

As I approached, two of the women sitting by a table shading themselves with parasols noticed me and started pointing and, rather disconcertingly, seemed to be quietly giggling. They obviously thought I was part of the party and had forgotten to bring my costume. I decided to ask them for directions and see where it led me.

They were both dressed in what looked like fine, white, heavily embroidered, linen dresses which flowed in overlapping waves down to their ankles. Their hair was piled high in complicated ringlets on which perched small brimmed hats with what looked like fresh wild flowers in the hat bands. They had obviously gone to some effort for they reminded me of one of Tissot’s paintings of idyllic young ladies.

The journey to Helmsley

From Plane to Steam Train

I never thought when I first met James on that cricket field at Hamgreen that it would result in finding myself in a coal yard at the back of a train station in a state of considerable undress with him trying to change into our Victorian clothes.

I can only tell you that the thought of being caught by the local constabulary wearing a modern skirt which reached only to my knees spurred me on. Thank God for the fog!

This time travel might sound like a wondrous adventure, but one needs to be prepared to abandon all modesty when the need arises.

Up Sutton Bank to Helmsley

Up Sutton Bank to Helmsley

Elizabeth arranged what's called a Hansom Cab to take us to Helmsley though when it turned up I couldn't see anything handsome about it.

It looked like it had been retrieved from a swamp and the nags would welcome being shot. Even Elizabeth felt that it wasn't quite what she expected and likened it to a dog cart.

I don't know whether you have been up Sutton Bank in a dog cart but I think even dogs would refuse the journey. It was not helped by Elizabeth enjoying the view and pointing out the steep cliffs and lake below. I found myself holding her quite tight which she took to advantage and said,

"James, this is very cosy is it not? And you hold me so nicely considering the distraction of the precipices and the ruts in this steep road, not to mention the age of the driver and that squeaking wheel on your side. But even with the White Horse above to aid a romantic frolic, I feel this is too a public place to encourage your amorous advances."

I love her.

the Martians at Hemsley

The Castle Keep

Sometimes James impresses me with this heroic deeds and other times he does not quite meet my expectations. That is the way of men I believe, and I have no quarrel with it. However there are also times when he performs inexplicable feats devoid of all sensible reason. His application of the strobe light in the castle keep was one of these.

At first I thought I was looking into some charnel house or a vision from Dante or Bosch. There were hundreds of them pressed together in sleep or death, none bigger than two or three feet. Imperceptibly at first they began to rise out of the pit. They floated upwards towards us, turning and tumbling over and over. And then.... they awoke.

Product description

About the Author

Bruce lives with his wife on the south coast of England, just a few minutes’ walk from the sea. When he’s not digging up stuff on King Arthur, he’s out with his wife and his friends walking on the South Downs trying to remember all the names of flowers and mushrooms his wife has identified. When it’s raining, he can be found sometimes in his “attic” as his wife calls it, trying to master new jazz chords. A life of writing scientific reports and reading early science fiction, especially the genre of time travel such as the works of Anderson, Simak and Wells eventually led him to start writing his own novels about the adventures of a modern man and Victorian lady whom he met at a cricket match in 1873. His daughter describes his stories as “Tom Holt meets P.G. Wodehouse meets Philip K. Dick meets Fortean Times.” You can get more information on this and his other books and hobbies at: his blog at: https://beajaye.wordpress.com Or you can visit his website at: http://www.arthurianliterature.co.uk/

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B016ASWJKY
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 6 Oct. 2015
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 2nd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 10.4 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 270 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Part of series ‏ : ‎ The Humorous Time Travel Diaries of James Urquhart and Elizabeth Bicester
  • Best Sellers Rank: 1,076,395 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 28 ratings

About the author

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Bruce Macfarlane
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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Bruce Macfarlane is the author of the humorous and sometimes romantic Time Travel Diaries of James Urquhart, a scientist, living in the 21st century and Elizabeth Bicester, a Victorian Cambridge graduate whom he accidently met at a cricket match in 1873.

He spent most of his working life in radiation protection and emergency planing with the nuclear industry, and is now enjoying retirement with his wife, Julia, and their cockapoo, Lulu, on the south coast of West Sussex, just a few minutes’ walk from the sea.

A life of writing scientific reports and reading early science fiction, especially the genre of time travel such as the works of Anderson, Simak and H. G. Wells encouraged him to start writing his own time travel adventures.

When he’s not writing he’s out walking on the South Downs trying to remember all the names of the flowers and mushrooms, Julia, has identified.

When it’s raining, he can be found sometimes in his “shed” as Julia calls it, trying to master new jazz chords instead of doing the ironing.

His stories have been described as “Tom Holt meets P.G. Wodehouse meets Philip K. Dick meets Fortean Times.”

You can read more about how he created the stories, the characters and places used at his website http://timetraveldiaries.co.uk/

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
28 global ratings

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 February 2023
    This looked like it would be interesring and it was, quite enjoyable, I have been a fan of HG Wells and this intertwines a new narrative with his books
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 March 2020
    This book is really something different - warm, humourous, and still exciting!
    Great imagination to come up with this!
    I'll be getting No. 2 in the series at the weekend.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • lazarus67
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love of time travel.
    Reviewed in the United States on 10 November 2016
    Bruce's book on this romantic time travel adventure was not dissapointing. I can almost see either a television series, or a film materializing in my mind.
    Off to read book two.
    Thank you Mr. Macfarlane.
  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Unique is the only title of which I can think.
    Reviewed in the United States on 9 July 2022
    Reading this ebook I felt much like I had fallen down the rabbit hole with Alice and every turn was surprising to the point of shock.

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