Readers of On Time, Jarvis’s first novel will already be familiar with the characters – the children have grown older and the AI entity, NAMIS, has grown alongside them. However, On Time for Eco is both a stand-alone read and a sequel.
On Time for Eco
The premise is similar to the previous book. A group of scientists have discovered how to time-travel, using their AI creation. In addition to the basic sci-fi trope, the group have discovered a form of reincarnation – though they would wince at the word. Making physical contact with one’s ‘epigenetic twin’ causes a paradoxical situation, in which both people disappear from existence.
Fortunately, since the discovery of this occurrence, NAMIS has developed to the extent that it can protect the time-travelling humans. In the case of Dylan, a young eco-warrior who is offered the opportunity to travel back to the pre-industrial world of sixth-century Wales, the entity is named Consiliairio. Consiliairio, we discover, is the magician to the court of King Uther of Dyfed, father of King Arthur.
This is more than sci-fi, though. Ethical and psychological questions are explored through the characters – specifically through Dylan – as we see, through his eyes, a different type of human society, whilst realising that the ‘essence’ of our humanity hasn’t changed over the centuries. Dylan’s voyage of self-discovery in the past leads him towards a goal of creating a green revolution that will ultimately save the world.
Time-travelling storytelling
As with the first book, the time-travellers face not only hazards but also ethical dilemmas. With their contemporary knowledge and understanding, they face situations that they could correct or improve, but have to restrain themselves. Just as Dylan’s grandmother, Fran, had to stand back in On Time while a Victorian ancestor died of a treatable illness, Dylan too finds himself with difficult choices to make.
Jarvis’s adept weaving of history, psychology, science and environmental concerns makes for a fascinating and engrossing read. The characters are warm and relatable, and the somewhat bizarre situations they find themselves in are explained with clarity and substance.
Given that modern publishing tends to categorise books in set genres, it’s unusual – and refreshing – to read a book that can straddle more than two. On Time for Eco is one of the rare exceptions.
