A Man Beyond Time

“Scientific entrepreneur” Norville plays with the persistently intriguing notion of time travel in this odd, strangely likable first novel. Physicist Greg Philips wants to return to his teen years to avert a tragedy, but he soon realizes how difficult it is to reshape the past, especially while being menaced by intimidating agents from the future who want to prevent diverging time lines. Hooking up with his shapely high school science teacher, Greg looks for a safe time where they can settle, but the thuggish director of the National Time and Space Agency will torture and murder anyone who helps Greg stay free. After a bizarre setup, the story turns into a rather entertaining, unpredictable thriller with a herky-jerky plot that matches Greg's erratic flight. Norville's vigor and cleverness compensate for his obvious lack of professional polish. (Oct.)