Book Information
-
This podiobook is complete
Share and Enjoy!
Borrowed Time by Keith Hughes
Science Fiction
Click the arrow below to listen to the first episode of this free audio book:
Ness Relevant is living on borrowed time. Molecular implosion, cellular degeneration, and dangerous men are but a few of the perils faced by the friendly and unassuming forensic photographer.
His quiet bachelorhood is interrupted when he receives an innocent looking device in the mail from a friend and former college professor. Ness unexpectedly finds himself embroiled in events driven by his friend's success.
This device is the focal point of a struggle that could overturn the whole world should Ness or his friend’s invention fall prey to greedy men. Before his time runs out Ness must travel back to an uncomfortable past to prevent an unthinkable future.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives 3.0 United States License.
Smashwords is a publishing platform, online bookstore and ebook distributor for independent ebook authors, publishers and readers. They offer multi-format, DRM-free ebooks, ready for immediate sampling and purchase, and readable on any e-reading device.
Audio Quality: 
Out of 9 ratings
Narration Quality: 
Out of 9 ratings
Writing Quality:
Out of 9 ratings
Overall Rating:
Out of 9 ratings
By: Graham Pollard
I had downloaded all episodes and then listened to all over a couple of days. I liked the plot and would listen to another story from this author. I am not sure about the reading. The voice was deliberate but not very exciting. I believe the most successful podcast novels will be that have a great story (well edited) and a great audio voice. A plea for each episode of podcast novels to have a character index as I sometimes lose track of who is who.By: Paul J. Joseph
Kieth, I listened to Burrowed time and was quite impressed. Normally I don't get into the cloke and daggar kind of writing, but in this case it was more than acceptable. I was particularly impressed with the consistency of the science. Time travel stories make you think. This one was quite enjoyable. About the only issues I saw was the whole idea of "touching" the time machine being dangerous. If it was deadly to touch, putting it in an envelope probably wouldn't be much in terms of insolation. Remember that the unit itself is part plastic. Also, and more importantly, the memory chip that was left back in the 1980s. Wouldnt that have turned to mush after a few hours, too? Just a thought. In any case, I encourage you to write more!By: Jim
Keith Hughes has done a pretty good job here. I liked this story, and as normal when gripped firmly within the grasp of a good tale, listened to it from start to finish in just a couple of days. It's a reasonably straightforward plot of time travel involving goodies baddies (who carry .50 Desert Eagles no less) a hero and a range of unsavoury villains who are out to take over the world... sort of. I would describe this as was a good 'meat and potatoes' short story. The author has done a good job of balancing character and storyline developments, setting, timeline and structure to produce a nice robust tale in which works very effectively. Time travel stories in general give me a headache, and I've come across a few over the years that have left me with a sour taste in my mouth. The plot of this tale from the time travel perspective was sufficiently well planned that I was left pensive, but not confused or bewildered by temporal situations, though it did inevitably cause me to raise my eyebrows on occasion. Sci-fi yes I suppose. After all it does have time travel, a professor, laboratories and molecular implosions, but it actually felt more like an adventure thriller. There is no real science to speak of and beyond the basic functions of the device and a 'whatever you do don't touch the red button' type warning, there isn't much else, but this is fine as again it works well with the story. The story was possibly a little short on drama and could have benefited from a few more characters to mix things up a little as it deviated only briefly from the handful of characters who are featured. This may not be a fair criticism given the length of the story, but it did end up feeling a little flat and constricted because if this. The recording quality is good, I had no trouble with the files and the narration is? interesting. Unfair, the narration is also good and Mr Hughes has done a fair job with the different characters. Have a listen to this one, I think you'll like it, gets the thumbs up from me anyway.
Chapters
Title Description Date Created Borrowed Time - Episode 01
(14.59 MB)Prologue and Chapter 1 – Dr. Francis Bertrand is working on modifications to a PDA when his future self visits him from three hours ahead. Then a week later Paul Robbins and John Felch, executives at Intellisys Research, deal with the disappearance of Bertrand and his device. Jul 15, 2009 Borrowed Time - Episode 02
(25.28 MB)Chapters 2, 3, and 4 – Dr. Bertrand returns and suffers an unusual end. Dr. Bertrand’s secretary calls 9-1-1 to report the scientist’s death. Glenn intercepts the responding officers and convinces them it was a hoax. Ness Relevant is working a murder scene at a local water park, and a little of his past is revealed. Jul 15, 2009 Borrowed Time - Episode 03
(29.52 MB)Chapters 5, 6, and 7 – Glenn uses his skill at disguise to appear as a police officer while interviewing Dr. Bertrand’s secretary. The interview over, she leaves, taking a package Dr. Bertrand gave her just before he died. Glenn follows, determined to switch boxes with her, but is unsuccessful and the box is mailed to Ness. Late that night he searches Bertrand’s lab and house, finding the second prototype device and Ness’ picture. Jul 15, 2009 Borrowed Time - Episode 04
(26.6 MB)Chapters 8 and 9 – Ness arrives home to find a box from Dr. Bertrand in his mail. It contains a PDA which is a time machine, and he uses it to travel three hours in the future. His apartment has been ransacked, and Ness has a brief conversation with his future self who warns him against trying to save his apartment. Jul 15, 2009 Borrowed Time - Episode 05
(25.97 MB)Chapters 10 and 11 – Back from the future, Ness hides in an apartment across the hall. He watches as Glenn arrives, breaks in, and searches Ness’ apartment for the device. Two policemen arrive in response to Ness’ 9-1-1 call, but Glenn kills them when his impersonation of Ness fails. Desperate to get away, Ness drops from balcony to balcony to avoid Glenn, only to be cornered by one of his thugs at the bottom. Ness manages get away in a taxi, with Glenn in hot pursuit. Jul 15, 2009 Borrowed Time Episode 06
(24.73 MB)Chapters 12, 13, and 14 – Ness has a run-in with one of Glenn’s thugs at the mall and attempts to escape through a clever use of the PDA. Jul 23, 2009 Borrowed Time Episode 07
(23.35 MB)Chapters 15, 16, and 17 – Ness returns to 1987 and his old college campus to meet with a younger Dr. Bertrand. Jul 30, 2009 Borrowed Time Episode 08
(19.03 MB)Chapters 18 and 19 –Ness travels further back in time to meet with the older Dr. Bertrand and learns more about the men who are chasing them. Aug 5, 2009 Borrowed Time Episode 09
(24.14 MB)Chapters 20, 21, and 22 – Ness learns what this adventure is costing his friend, and returns to 2008 to search the doctor’s house. Aug 12, 2009 Borrowed Time Episode 10
(21.04 MB)Chapters 23, 24, and 25 – Ness is on the run again with Glenn hot on his heels, but manages to gain a little time and distance in an unusual manner. Aug 20, 2009 Borrowed Time Episode 11
(20.76 MB)Chapters 26, 27, and 28 – Ness returns to Dr. Bertrand’s house, and witnesses the event that embroiled him in his friend’s affairs. Aug 26, 2009 Borrowed Time Episode 12
(19.72 MB)Chapters 29 – While Ness is searching Dr. Bertrand’s lab, Glenn and Paul catch up with him at last. Sep 4, 2009 Borrowed Time Episode 13
(21.25 MB)Chapters 30 – Ness uses the device one more time for some basic housecleaning, and discovers an unexpected consequence to his travels. Sep 9, 2009