~ About the Book ~
One night amid the tremors of death in the intensive care unit, Nurse Peggy Chandlar witnesses an incredible phenomenon that compels her to find out what really happened to Dr. Francis Anderson.
Ian Moore is pursued by those who would exploit his gift for their own selfish and destructive means. Hunted and threatened, he is forced to risk his life as time rapidly slips away. When the use of his powers gives Dr. Anderson new life, his years of hiding may have come to an end.
Haunted by the fear he will die before he can find someone worthy enough to possess the power of the gift, Ian sees only one solution. In a last, desperate attempt, he must risk a plan that will either bless or curse mankind forever.
Genre: Speculative Fiction
Release date: 24 April 2018
Pages: 234
Publisher: By The Vine Press
Amazon US // Amazon AU // iBooks // Goodreads
~ Excerpt ~
The minister walked forward and put his hands on the boy’s cheeks. The face felt cool to his touch. “Can you hear me, son?” he asked.
The boy’s eyelids batted twice, then rested.
“My name is Reverend Davis. You’re hurt very badly, I’m afraid. I’d like to pray for you. Can you understand me?”
Slowly the boy raised a hand until he located the minister’s arm. He pulled at it weakly. The minister bent near the boy’s face.
“. . . dying . . .?” came the hoarse whisper.
The minister paused a moment, then answered evenly, “Yes.”
“. . . one good thing . . . before I die . . . okay . . . ?”
Peggy came closer. “Dr. Mortensen’s on duty tonight. Shall I go wake him? He’s down the hall in the physicians’ lounge.”
“Yes, I think so,” answered the minister. He bent close to the young man again and sat on the bed at his side. To him he said, “I’m listening.”
“I want to be an organ donor,” the boy said, wincing through clenched teeth but managing to keep his eyes open now. He grasped the minister’s arm and squeezed it. “Let me . . . something good . . . before I die. Please. My eyes . . . heart . . . something. Take it. Please.”
“I’m a minister, not a doctor,” Davis tried to explain. The boy’s partial dementia continued. Again he squeezed the minister’s arm and said, “Something good . . . for once. Help me.”
Davis looked at Dr. Anderson, who was still lying unconscious in the opposite bed. He next glanced at the door. It was closed and no one was stirring outside.
He looked back to the dying boy.
“I can help you,” he said, “if that’s what you truly want. Is it?”
The boy’s eyes bulged. “My life has been useless . . . make . . . death worth something.”
Reverend Davis eased off the side of the bed and stood solidly on the floor between the two dying men. He grasped his right hand firmly around one arm of the dying boy and his left hand around one of Francis Anderson’s arms. He closed his eyes, concentrated intently, and squeezed both men’s arms as tightly as he could.
~ Review ~
If you’re looking for a gentle entry into the speculative genre, this novel would be an excellent choice. Originally printed in the 1980s under the title ‘The Gift’, the novel has retained its 1980s setting (I might have giggled when the rejuvenated Dr. Anderson was given some ‘new’ gadgets—a VCR and a Walkman!) and even the time-transfusing Ian Moore is your everyday man-down-the-street. Despite the fantastical-looking cover (which I love, by the way), there’s nothing sci-fi or out-of-this-world about this story.
Dr. Anderson is in his eighties and in the ICU when he’s given back nearly fifty years of his life. In one way, he’s been given the ability to do more with his life, yet in another, he’s been put in a prison—because how do you begin to answer everyone’s questions? Thus he hides away in his apartment and, with the help of nurse Peggy Chandler, sets out to find the mysterious reverend who did this so he can ask some questions of his own.
Reporter Ted Zimmerman’s boss, B. J. Talbott, has very little time left; his heart is failing and his lungs are weak from emphysema. But he’s still got a nose for a story, and there are mysterious reports popping up that suggest someone may have discovered the secret to regaining youth. He wants that secret, and while Ted is sceptical, he’s got little choice but to follow the wild-goose chase his boss sends him on. But pretty soon he’s sniffing the same scent as his boss, and all trails seem to lead to Dr. Francis Anderson, a man who’s looking suspiciously spry for his age!
It’s a light, easy read that moves at a good pace, although I felt the story got a little rushed in the second half. There was some head-hopping, too, which I always find distracting. The other detractor for me was the ending. Despite the speculative nature of the situation, for some reason it just pushed the bounds of credibility a little for me—or maybe it was just that it felt rushed or a bit too convenient. I’m not sure.
In any case, it’s an engaging read for those looking for something light with a little twist.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
~ Giveaway ~
The publisher is offering a fabulous giveaway until the end of this month: an autographed paperback of The Man Who Could Transfuse Time, a $25 Amazon gift card, a $10 Starbucks gift card, and The Man Who Could Transfuse Time coffee mug. Click here to enter: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/59942bf25/
~ About the Author ~
Dennis E. Hensley is the author of more than 60 books. He holds a Ph.D. in English and is a professor of professional writing at Taylor University. Dr. Hensley served in the United States Army and was awarded six medals for service in Viet Nam. He has been a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Oxford University and at York St. John University in England and at Indiana University and Regent University and other colleges in America. He and his wife Rose have two grown married children and four grandchildren.
Connect with Doc at: www.dochensley.com
What an unusual story! I would like to see how this one ends.