A Matter of Time


Fiction - Time Travel
650 Pages
Reviewed on 10/06/2018
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Just a regular guy wanting to tell a story, entertain people, and maybe make a couple of dreams come true along the way. Help a fella out, read my book. Guaranteed to be the best book you've read since the last one you finished.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

An exciting, delightful, exhilarating tale, A Matter of Time by Steven Craig is a gorgeous meld of time travel and science fiction, a story that follows Nathan Hawke’s adventures in time. Nathan is obsessed with the concept of time. His lifelong dream has always been to conquer time and master its secrets, a dream that has accompanied the exiled and disgraced Quantum Physicist from his youth. He had always “Dreamed of breaking it like a cowboy would a wild bronco that had bucked all who tried to ride it before him.” So when he is offered an opportunity by a mysterious man to research a time travel theory, he isn’t just happy to put aside teaching a high school physics class, but sees it as an opportunity to redeem himself and realize his life’s work.

His work successfully completed, he finds himself in a small Georgia farm in 1862. He is trapped here for three years, three years of waiting for the time splice to reopen, and three years in which he falls in love. When the time comes for him to escape the era that is plagued with war, he is thrust into yet another era. Now he is learning that he has no control of what timeline to exit into. Can it be his dream had been a trap; can he reset time and save history? And how about the woman he loves? Follow this well-imagined and well-developed character in adventures he never signed up for, bounced from one era to another through time and history.

The author did a wonderful job with the setting, taking readers through different historical moments, including the Civil War in the US, the Renaissance period in Italy, and many others. The historical underpinnings of the plot make it a compulsive read and this element of the narrative combines with the sense of adventure that permeates the story to offer readers great satisfaction. The characters are well developed and readers will love to follow Nathan, his despair as real as his moments of excitement. A Matter of Time has a complex, unpredictable plot, which keeps readers turning the pages, guessing where the next adventure will be. The tight spots, the dangers, and the uncertainty that accompany the protagonist’s adventures make this novel hard to put down. This is a stellar work in the genre, a hugely satisfying read.

K.C. Finn

A Matter of Time is a time travel story by author Steven Craig. Nathan Hawke was once a highly respected physicist, but his latest theories have seen him pushed out of the high society of scientific academia. Now wasting away in a high school science lab, Nathan is thrown a second chance when a mysterious donor offers him funding for his theoretical time travel project. Not only does the theory prove true, but Nathan finds himself trapped by his own invention in Georgia, smack bang in the middle of the American Civil War. As complications arise, Nathan learns the true meaning of living in ways he never thought possible, and he’ll have to kick his retired mind back into gear to keep all that he’s gained.

Steven Craig writes with great humor, drama and impetus as he tells the tale of Nathan and his scientific and emotional journey. I found the blast back into 1862 refreshing without being jarring, and the science fiction side of the time travel aspect is well crafted but thankfully not overly crunchy on the science side. This is much more a tale of the people and the experience of time travel than the technology itself, but the paradoxical plot and the problems it causes Nathan are a great addition to the overall story line and the decisions he has to make. Overall, A Matter of Time is a well-written romp through fabulous settings that also has a thoughtful plot and really engaging characters.

Rabia Tanveer

A Matter of Time by Steven Craig is a reboot of the novel Time Will Tale, a story that revolves around a genius named Nathan who is stuck traveling time. While I thoroughly enjoyed the first rendition of this story, I enjoyed this one even more. I found Nathan to be even more well-rounded and more believable. While he was a strong character to begin with, his progress and his struggles are better constructed so they have more impact on the reader. I enjoyed how much the author was able to add to the story to make it even better than before, something that I thought didn’t need anything to improve it.

This is the story of a man named Nathan Hawke, once among the geniuses of the world, but now he has to resort to teaching physics to high school students. However, his life changes completely when he is approached by a donor to continue his research into time travel. Bolstered by this new interest in his research, he finds himself stranded in the 1800s where he is stuck for some time until he can find the next time splice. He had no idea that he would find the love of his life in the past. But now, things are getting hazier. With each time splice, he moves farther and farther away from the woman he loves and, to make matters worse, she is in trouble. Now it is up to him to make things right for her and ensure that she can live her life to the fullest, with or without him.

I loved the new details added to the story and how they merged so well with the original novel and brought something exceptional. The doppelganger that Nathan sees around him adds to the complexity of the story and makes it even more interesting. I enjoyed how the author approached time, made it seem larger than life, and opened new facets of the characters. This is such an interesting and enjoyable novel!

Jamie Michele

A Matter of Time by Steven Craig is a science fiction time travel novel about Nathan Hawke, a down-on-his-luck Quantum Physicist who is approached in his classroom by a Mr. Preston York, who has an offer for him. Nathan takes up the opportunity to rehabilitate his professional image with the (supposed) goal of his benefactor in mind, a decision spurred on by his getting fired from teaching high school science. His time machine works, setting off a series of adventures and mishaps that span centuries, and forcing a now married Nathan – a man who had nothing to lose in the present day – to make an excruciating choice that may cost him everything.

Steven Craig has crafted an exceptional novel that does such a great job of blending historical fiction through multiple eras into a time travel, earth-saving romance. I loved the detail and Nathan is an incredibly comfortable character to have leading the charge. Sure, he's a genius. But Craig has also made him authentic and funny [ie: “Are you like holding in a fart or something? I mean, you are like so stiff right now. You look like you had a bowl of Viagra for breakfast, or something.” Nathan stiffened up himself in a humorous, mocking way...]. A Matter of Time is an ambitious book that covers a lot of territory and features many, many characters. Thankfully, Craig is able to propel readers through with non-stop action, incredible humor, and a thoroughly entertaining story. I'd highly recommend this book to all who enjoy skillfully voiced science fiction.

Asher Syed

Steven Craig brings time travel and science fiction aficionados a new thrill with the release of his novel, A Matter of Time. The book begins with the introduction of Nathan Ezekiel Hawke, a Quantum Physicist who has unintentionally altered the historical timeline and must go back to correct mistakes he's made as best he can. Meanwhile, he is doing time as a high school science teacher – a good one, actually, even if his boss hates him and his professionalism could use some polish. An offer of ten million dollars by an agent with dubious motives and an unknown employer is pitched to Nathan. “Trust me when I say that, while we have every faith you will succeed in your endeavors, we equally have no desire to see your work end up in the wrong hands. If you like, we can provide you with whatever means of security you need. Alarms, safes, guards.” Nathan knows better than anyone that you cannot trust a shady figure who tells you to trust him. Soon after, he is hurtled from the present year of 2035 back through history to 1862 and becomes trapped with a splice every three years. He settles in and settles down until once again his future-past returns to haunt him with horrific implications.

Nathan has become my new literary hero. He's the guy who makes a lot of messes and has sullied his standing in the Quantum Physics community because of his ideas, his mouth, and the undeniable fact that he has a tendency toward laziness at highly inopportune moments. Nathan is an average Joe with a sharp mind and in my own head I imagine him to be the spitting image of Steven Hyde (from That 70's Show) and Albert Einstein's offspring, should such a magical combination take place. One can dream, right? A Matter of Time ticks all of the boxes as a five-star read: the characters are natural, the suspension of belief required for a time travel story is easy, the plot is convincing, and the story is imaginative and entertaining. I can't wait to see where Steven Craig takes us next.

Sefina Hawke

A Matter of Time by Steven Craig is a science fiction tale that would appeal most to a mixed audience of young adults and adults who enjoy the idea of time travel. Dr. Nathan Hawke was a world-renowned quantum physicist who found himself stuck teaching high school after he was disgraced in the eyes of the scientific community, but his exile from higher academia did not stop him from following his time travel ghost theory. When a donor approaches Nathan with funding, he accepts and soon finds himself successful, but stuck in the year 1862 on a farm. Nathan decides to wait for the next time splice to reopen and to avoid changing history, but love has a way of throwing the best-laid plans into chaos. Will Nathan be able to use the time splices to travel throughout time to return to 1862 in order to save the love of his life, or will he find himself lost in time forever?

The cover of A Matter of Time by Steven Craig is what first drew my interest as the cover had images of a dinosaur, war, and different time periods that left me excited to see how these time periods fitted together; the phrase on the cover only furthered my interest in the book. Once I started reading, I quickly found myself mesmerized by the story that took me across time all with the hope of Nathan being able to save his love and fix his mistakes. I really enjoyed the way that the author described the different time periods and kept them accurate while still making the story interesting and unpredictable. Overall, I greatly enjoyed reading this book and I hope the author decides to write more time travel fiction in the future!

Divine Zape

A Matter of Time by Steven Craig is a great story that beautifully melds themes of sci-fi and time travel in a tale of “time.” A reputable quantum physicist, Nathan Hawke suddenly loses the favor of the scientific community and finds himself teaching physics in high school. At the time he believes he has lost everything, but a mysterious benefactor offers to fund his research into time travel. Nathan sees this as the only chance to prove his theory on time travel. Little does he know that the success of this research will set him off on an adventure that puts him in a constant conflict with time, thrust from one era to another. Can he determine when and where to exit the time splice?

Steven Craig creates an enigmatic character in Nathan Hawke and thrusts him in situations that are exciting. Finding himself in a small farm in Georgia during the Civil War in 1862 and falling in love is exhilarating. What is most interesting is how the author builds the historical elements of the setting. He allows readers to revisit history while following a compelling character through a narrative that is filled with excitement and suspense. At every moment the reader wants to know what happens next and they care enough for the protagonist to want to see him returned to the present. The themes of science, love, and adventure are ingeniously explored, but it is the way the author handles the concept of time that permeates the entire narrative. Time seems to be a character in this engrossing narrative. A Matter of Time is beautifully written, featuring prose that is elegant and has strong plot points. Steven Craig has a gift for plot and character.

Lesley Jones

As a child he was hailed as the next Albert Einstein, but now Dr Nathan Hawke has found himself teaching physics at a high school under the critical eye of Principal 'Dickhead'. Nathan's fascination and ambition to discover if time travel exists have become nothing more than a pipe dream, as he sits home every night listening to soft rock music with his beloved cat Chubbs. One day, he receives an expected offer from a wealthy benefactor, who admires his work, to fund his research and develop his time travel machine. Although he has misgivings, the chance is too good to refuse. His goal achieved, Nathan's first mission for the donor is to travel back to 1862 Georgia to find a lady known as the Weeping Woman. The mission takes a disastrous course and Nathan is stuck in Georgia for the next three years as he waits for the time splice to reopen ... in which time he finds love and the chance of a family. He accidentally allows news of current events to be known, causing the whole of history to be altered. As Nathan tries and fails to remedy history, he manages to escape, but only just. Now Nathan must undo the chaos he has caused, but with no say where and when the time machine will take him, he is left travelling through time, facing fresh problems and dilemmas. In A Matter of Time by Steven Craig, Nathan now has a new goal; to return to Georgia and face the impossible choice between his true love or the history of the US.

A Matter of Time by Steven Craig starts off with an explosive scene as Nathan races toward Georgia on horseback. The action and thrills never end in this amazing and unique story line. The character relationships are divine, especially between Nathan and Kat and his quirky 'advisor' Zeke. The dialogue is so unique to each character you can visually build a picture of the person in your mind. Nathan's witty one-liners are hysterical. I loved his personality and he is the coolest professor I have ever encountered. The calculating personality of Kern was spot-on for an antagonist. The twists in the plot, coupled with the well-placed conflicts, made this an exhilarating read. I really was sad to come to the end of this book and I wish the exploits of Nathan could have continued. I eagerly await the follow-on novel.

Romuald Dzemo

A quantum physicist, a man fascinated by the concept of time, is disgraced and dumped by the scientific community and he finds himself teaching a high school physics class and experiencing boredom. There is no way of completing his life’s work. That is until a mysterious benefactor decides to sponsor his work. Now, Nathan Hawke is on a mission to prove his unique time travel theory. It is 2033 and his experiments thrust him back in time, exiting him in 1862 on a small farm in Georgia. He is trapped here for three years while the Civil War is being fought. Falling in love isn’t the only complication he faces. He has to determine whether to exit this era or embrace the happiness of loving someone who was once a ghost. But the adventure is just beginning and Nathan finds himself messing up with history, tossed from one era to another. Can he really beat time?

A Matter of Time by Steven Craig is a mesmerizing story with a huge potential to entice fans of time travel and science fiction. The author weaves wonderful historical details into the writing. The author transports readers into different eras, and leaves readers in no doubt that the work is well researched. Steven Craig develops conflict at multiple levels, but it is the internal conflict that arrested my attention the most. This conflict develops around the manner in which the protagonist relates to and treats time. The author uses dilemmas to put the key characters into very tight spots, enriching the sense of suspense while sustaining the attention of readers. A Matter of Time is balanced, intricately plotted, and bold. I enjoyed both the sophisticated characters, the intrigue, and the masterly handling of scientific themes. It reads like metaphysics, yet it is so accessible.

Anne-Marie Reynolds

A Matter of Time by Steven Craig is an adventurous time travel tale. Nathan Hawke used to be one of the world’s best Quantum Physicists but is now banished from the community. Teaching at a high school during the day and spending the nights watching old TV shows with his cat, Nathan is unprepared for a visit from an anonymous donor who wants to invest in research about a unique time travel theory that involves ghosts. Although he is suspicious, Nathan has no choice but to accept; this may be his one and only chance to prove his theory. Success sees Nathan trapped in 1862, on a small farm in Georgia, right in the middle of the Civil War. It will be three years before the time splice opens again but Nathan never expected to find love in the past. An inadvertent change to the timeline brings disaster and Nathan has to make a choice – save history or save his new life. Unable to control where the time splice sends him, Nathan goes on a journey from one time to another in a desperate bid to get back to where he started in 1862 and save the woman he loves. Nathan is about to discover that time travel is not what he expected!

A Matter of Time by Steven Craig is an interesting read. The detail is second to none and clearly the historical settings have been well researched. This is not your average fanciful time travel tale. It is historical; it is a real adventure story with plenty of action. There are twists and turns, a plot that is unpredictable, characters that are incredibly well developed and readers will feel a whole range of emotions. The plot is smooth and well paced, easy to follow and very easy to lose yourself in. This is one of the best time travel stories I have ever had the pleasure to read. I guarantee any reader will find themselves rooting for Nathan, groaning when things go wrong and cheering when they go his way. Take a deep breath; you won't be coming up for air until this story is done.

Christian Sia

A time travel science fiction story that handles the theme of time travel from a fresh and surprisingly new perspective, A Matter of Time by Steven Craig is satisfying and filled with suspense. The protagonist is a reputable scientist who has fallen from grace within the society of his peers and is now a simple high school Physics teacher. But then he gets the opportunity to revive his dream, and perhaps prove his theory on time. Sponsored by a mysterious benefactor, quantum physicist Nathan Hawke sets out on a time travel adventure to prove his theory involving ghosts. But mastering time isn’t as easy as it seems for he quickly finds himself trapped on a small farm in Georgia in 1862 while the Civil War rages. He finds love, but can he stay forever in this period? Follow his adventure as he jumps from one period to the next, unsure if he can make it back to the present. But can history ever remain the same after the intrusion by a character from the future?

A Matter of Time is a novel that reflects the work of genius, filled with originality and the kind of adventure that is pulsating. The author explores the question: Can man ever conquer time? While time can appear as a vague, purely conceptual idea in the minds of readers, it becomes a character in Steven Craig’s narrative and an ineluctable element that drives the conflict, nourishes the plot elements, and determines the different roles that the characters play. The writing is gorgeous, filled with historical hints and vivid descriptions. The elements of adventure and suspense are among those that give this novel a unique quality and make it a must-read.

Amanda Rofe

A Matter of Time by Steven Craig is a time travel novel describing the adventures of Nathan Hawke, a charismatic and world-renowned quantum physicist who is obsessed with the mysteries of time. After insulting a colleague, he falls from grace and his work within the scientific community abruptly comes to an end. Blacklisted from working as a scientist, he takes a position as a high school physics teacher, which leaves him plenty of time to watch his favorite 80s TV shows. Unsurprisingly, his rather rebellious nature clashes with the teaching institution. His life takes a turn for the better when an anonymous donor offers to fund his work, no questions asked. Nathan begins researching time travel in earnest, designs a time manipulation device, and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. His first journey takes him back in time to 1862 where something strange happens to him. He falls in love.

Steven Craig writes a thoroughly entertaining novel on the subject of time travel. The narrative is really well thought through and includes amusing anecdotes relating to music and film. The main protagonist, Nathan Hawke, is super smart, can take care of himself in a fight, and has a great sense of humor. I loved the subplots where our intrepid hero is taken through a series of radically different time periods and becomes embroiled in myriad really challenging situations. A Matter of Time is a wonderful story evoking a real sense of history combined with the thrill of future science. I very much look forward to hearing more about Nathan Hawke and reading the next book in the series.