Lesley L. Smith's A Discovery of Time and Space presents a thought-provoking premise wrapped in a science fiction tale that blends time travel, self-discovery, and friendship. The story centers on Tiffani Taylor, a college student at the University of Colorado, who finds herself in a bewildering situation when she wakes up in a crosswalk, aided by an older woman who looks eerily like her. From that moment, Tiffani's world begins to unravel, revealing that she may not just be an ordinary student with ADHD—she might possess the rare ability to travel throughout time and space.
BookHookup Review: A Discovery of Time and Space
⭐⭐⭐☆☆
The plot is engaging and certainly kept me turning the pages. Tiffani’s journey, alongside her three best friends, Rory, Lin, and Ethan, is intriguing as they try to uncover the mysteries surrounding her powers. The twists, the puzzles surrounding her identity, and the potential multiverse she’s navigating all contribute to a storyline that has the potential to be exciting for fans of time travel and science fiction.
However, the novel does have its flaws. Tiffani and her friends, while endearing in their loyalty and wit, often feel like they are behaving more like junior high students than twenty-somethings. This disjointed age portrayal was a bit jarring, as their dialogue and actions often came across as immature for their age. Another issue for me was redundancy. In particular, Tiffani's internal thoughts, followed immediately by her saying the same thing aloud, felt repetitive and detracted from the narrative. Additionally, certain details—like dorm rules and Tiffani’s condition—were repeated multiple times, which slowed the pacing. A little tighter editing could have helped eliminate these redundancies and sharpened the pacing.
Despite these critiques, the author's execution of the time travel and multiverse elements is impressive. Smith’s ability to weave complex ideas without bogging the reader down in scientific jargon is a major strength. The plot is carefully constructed, and the time travel logic is well-thought-out. I was especially intrigued by the concept of "future selves" meeting their present counterparts—a neat idea that adds depth to the world-building.
While A Discovery of Time and Space does an excellent job with its core concept and the time travel elements, the disjointed age portrayal of the characters and the occasional repetitiveness detract from the overall experience. I would rate it 3 out of 5 stars. It's worth the read, and I’d pick up the next book in the series to check it out. Fans of time travel stories and college settings will likely find it a fun read, but those looking for deeper character development may find it lacking.