Award-Winning Science Fiction with Fresh, Original Voices
| Welcome to the official site of award-winning science fiction author Steve Bellinger, known for imaginative storytelling, compelling characters, and high-concept ideas grounded in real human experience. Steve’s novels feature African American characters and cultural perspectives, but they resonate with all fans of great science fiction—time travel enthusiasts, speculative fiction lovers, and readers who appreciate stories with heart, intelligence, and impact.
Whether you’re a dedicated sci-fi reader or searching for new voices in African American science fiction, you’ll find stories here that explore bold ideas, deep emotions, and thrilling adventures. |
Reviews of The Chronocar-An Urban Adventure in Time
EXCELLENTVerified Sci-fi with a blend of darker historical times I am not usually one for sci fi and historical period stories HOWEVER this is an exception and I can absolutely see why this book has won so many awards thus far.While this is a short read it is an incredibly impactful one. The story weaves more than just a sci fi tale of futuristic time travel but intertwines period history specifically of 1919 Chicago and the time of the first Race riot.Simmie Johnson was the son of a slave with the mind of genius far beyond his time who managed miraculously to end up getting a phD from Tuskegee. There he designs his Chronocar but the available tech of the time that was needed to construct the vehicle did not exist yet. Fast forward over 100 years later his plans are found and the machine is built. He of course travels back in time to meet the creator but chose the wrong time period to visit.The cohesive writing, head turning plot twists, action and tension will have you flipping these pages. Overall I would give this book 5⭐️ and I recommend anyone looking for a sci-fi book woven with troubled historic times to give it a read.Posted onVerified Be careful what you wish for On the surface, The Chronocar: An Urban Adventure in Time, is a science fiction story about time travel. But underling that, it is a horror story about race relations. Most of the troubles portrayed here stem from that. But it is also a story of a young man, who is a technical wizard, yet is tragically naïve about real life. What he chooses to pay attention to and what to ignore becomes a great teacher. And ultimately he has to learn the hard way that his actions have consequences.Posted onVerified The Time Machine Meets Back to the Future A brilliant take on the time travel genre that stands with classics like The Time Machine and Back to the Future. What I think sets this story apart is its exploration of an overlooked historical perspective - the existence of brilliant minds among enslaved people and their descendants. The author masterfully weaves together parallel narratives, one in the present and many in the past, building tension until they spectacularly converge. The plot twists are genuinely surprising and satisfying - saying more would spoil the experience. This is a thought-provoking adventure that tackles both the philosophical implications of time travel and untold stories from history. A thoroughly entertaining read that deserves a place on any science fiction fan's bookshelf.Posted onVerified An Excellent Journey in Tme I have always been a fan of Sci-Fi and particularly Time Travel. I have even written a book on the subject myself. This story contains twists and turns that catch you off guard. The theories and thoughts about time paradoxes and the things a time traveler can do to impact history are all explored and handled very well. I greatly enjoyed this book and recommend it if Time Travel is something, you enjoy.Posted onVerified "The Chronocar" Goes Far to Delight Readers of All Ages. I'll keep this review short and sweet - I really liked this book!The writing was superb for a young adult book (though I'm clearly enjoying it as a regular adult).The story places the characters in the not-to-distant past which makes for an amazing backdrop for the story being told. The Summer of 1919 in Chicago is portrayed in a heartbreaking way, but it serves the narrative well. Don't for a second think that you'll know what happens next!On top of it all, sci-fi fans will rejoice in the exploration of time travel and the supposed rules of the Chronocar. The author takes great lengths to make sure everything is cohesive and I am extremely appreciative of that.I would have liked to see more passages dedicated to historical events around the time, but that might have detracted from the story (which is what's being told here - I can read about Chicago in the early 20th century in many other books).It's a quick, great read that I would recommend to anyone looking to pick up something new and fresh.Posted onVerified Ticks and Tocks - and Paradox. The Chronocar poses a series of interesting questions, but does so in such a light and subtle way that you may not realize that there is more going on than you thought. Many of us have difficulty enough keeping things straight when time runs at a constant rate and direction. Imagine the mess we'd make if we had to deal with multiple dimensions of both time and space, and where even the most subtle change might make the world a completely different place. At the center of it all is Dr. Simmie Johnson, a physicist before his time. Like Leonardo DaVinci, Dr. Johnson imagines machines that the technology of his day cannot yet produce - in his case, a way to travel through time. Besides being one of the most compelling ideas in science fiction, a Chronocar is an excellent device for contrasting our era with those terrible days of 1919, when Chicago had its first race riot. If all this sounds too cerebral, be assured that the story is, in turns, intellectual, funny and touching while playing with paradoxes of time travel. The Chronocar is one wild ride.Posted onVerified Astoundingly engaging! Time travel is is such an integral part of science fiction that the genre would suffer tremendously without it. Steve Bellinger delivers his own unique brand of temporal exploration in the most innovative take on time travel that I have ever read.The Chronocar begins in the present day where a college student, Tony Carpenter, constructs a time machine based on an article he discovers that was written by a black scientist almost a century earlier. After building the machine, Tony uses it to travel to the past, specifically 1919, a volatile year in American race relations. His goal is to encounter the scientist who conceptualized the very machine Tony created to traverse time.But meeting his science idol will not be a simple affair for Tony. Time is tricky and cannot be manipulated without consequences as Tony will discover much to his dismay. The author's approach to time travel is very thoughtful. Just as much thought is given to the story's backgroud. The author renders a highly plausible early 20th century world, where everything from the broad sweep of Chicago down to soda preparation are described with enlightening detail. While Tony is the centerpiece of this tale, he shares relevant space with the man whose interest in time travel sets this temporal ball in motion: Dr. Simmie Johnson. The characters in The Chronocar are solid. The plot is brain twisting and at times fun, at times deeply sobering. Be prepared for some interesting twists.Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
