30TH CENTURY

In this first book of debut author Levin’s sci-fi trilogy, a time traveler from the far future starts a new life in the 21st century.

Capt. Jennifer Hero of the 30th century—who’s 44 but looks 21—is leading a mission to the 27th century, using a time machine that was invented by the late professor Zexton Ho, her former lover who was assassinated five years ago. The goal is to correct a genetic flaw in the Syndos—humans whose DNA is highly advanced but who dangerously lack empathy. However, Jennifer later abandons her team to live in 2015, determined to forget the past and her grief over Zexton’s death. In the South Pacific, she scuttles her “trans-time” submarine and eventually gets rescued by Marty Zitonick, who’s a professor of marine science at the University of Hawaii, and his crew. Jennifer feigns amnesia, and her education and experience as a spy helps her to maintain the illusion. A similar-looking girl, Jenny Heros, disappeared years ago, so Jennifer steps into her “trust-fund princess” life. At the University of Hawaii, she works on simultaneous doctorates in archaeology and physics. As she forges new relationships, she wonders whether her bisexual identity will be accepted, and later learns a surprising truth about her similarity to Jenny. The novel offers a potentially appealing mix of science, success, and multiple-partner sex (the “General Audience” of the subtitle doesn’t mean a G-rating). However, some scenes seem overly similar, as rescues serve as a primary plot device. Jennifer’s triumphs sometimes seem implausible, and there’s an overabundance of unnecessary detail, as when Jennifer and another character discuss their travel schedule: “It can take one and a half hours to drive to the hotel….So if we stop for a few photos that will add a half an hour.” The dialogue is sometimes amusing; at one point, for instance, Marty’s friend Alice calls Jennifer “Castaway Barbie.” But it can also be awkward, as when characters use stereotypical Australianisms, such as “crikey” and “fair dinkum.”

A repetitious wish-fulfillment fantasy.