Timelapse

Farrelly (Terms of Surrender) creates a clichéd and predictable story of freedom fighters versus a murderous police state, with no new wrinkles beyond technological stagnation. Alex Morgan finds himself shifted from our world into an alternate reality where the assassination of Theodore Roosevelt led to an isolationist dictatorship. His former coworker may hold the key to fixing reality, but first Alex must survive in a brutal, backwards world. One resistance fighter, Jessie, is rescued early on and immediately falls in mutual love with Alex, a romantic plot line that feels forced rather than organic. Soon they’re improbably infiltrating state buildings, impersonating officers, and escaping capture. Nothing is hard for this couple (even when Alex is shot, it’s never life-threatening), destroying the reader’s belief that anything bad can happen. The writing can’t overcome the oversimplified plot, with point of view shifts mid-paragraph and clichéd dialogue and descriptions—especially in the love scenes. This dull thematic rehash is best avoided. [em](BookLife) [/em]