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Anachronist: A Time Travel Adventure (The Infinity Engines Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.4 out of 5 stars 4,226 ratings

He broke into the wrong house. Now he’s broken time itself.

Seventeen-year-old car thief Joshua Jones doesn’t believe in fate—he barely believes in next week. But when a job goes wrong and lands him in the home of a mysterious old man called the Colonel, he stumbles into the secret world of the Oblivion Order—a society of time travellers sworn to protect the past and preserve the future.

Using the timelines of ancient artefacts, the Order navigates history’s most dangerous moments. But when Josh is pulled into a mission at Hitler’s Eagle’s Lair and accidentally saves the dictator’s life, he disrupts a delicate timeline—and awakens something far worse.

Pursued by chaos demons and a dark faction of the Order, Josh learns of an ancient prophecy: one that speaks of a paradox, a threat so powerful it could unravel time itself.

The paradox is real.
And it’s him.

As he races through Victorian London, the French Revolution, and into the Jurassic era, Josh is joined by Caitlin—a brilliant, feisty librarian with secrets of her own. Together, they must navigate the fractured timeline, face the truth about Josh’s past, and confront the future he's destined to destroy.

Some things in the past are meant to stay buried.
But Josh was never good at following the rules.

Perfect for fans of Doctor Who, Stranger Things, and fast-paced time-travel adventures, Anachronist takes you into a world not bound by time and explores the consequences of changing it.

Reviews have said:

"...if you're a fan of British sci-fi (like me) then you're in for a real treat with a very slight shade of Doctor Who (without the Aliens), but with secret societies, a healthy dose of science, quantum gadgets and conspiracies that weave in real historical figures…"★★★★★

"I love that it is intertwined with real historical events …" ★★★★★

"An interesting mix of history and sci-fi that takes you on a journey into another world…" ★★★★★

"The novel moves at a fantastic pace, and the author has seamlessly blended real historical moments with his own time travel mythology, along with vibrant characters and relationships, page-turning twists and a little sprinkling of romance. " ★★★★★

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There are 7 books in this series.

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From the Publisher

Can Josh change his past without destroying his future?
Book cover and quote
Start your next time travel adventure

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The novel moves at a fantastic pace, and the author has seamlessly blended real historical moments with his own time travel mythology..." ★★★★★

"...if you're a fan of British sci-fi (like me) then you're in for a real treat with a very slight shade of Doctor Who (without the Aliens), but with secret societies, a healthy dose of science, quantum gadgets and conspiracies that weave in real historical figures..."★★★★★

"I love that it is intertwined with real historical events ..." ★★★★★

"An interesting mix of history and sci-fi that takes you on a journey into another world..." ★★★★★

"Great stuff. Move over, Mrs Rowling, you have competition. " ★★★★★

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B06XVHKDGY
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 25, 2017
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 2nd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.4 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 460 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 7 ‏ : ‎ The Infinity Engines
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 - 18 years
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 4,226 ratings

About the author

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Andrew Hastie
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Andy was born in 1967, and grew up with a love of science fiction inspired by the TV shows of the late 70s. Having always had a creative eye, he graduated with a BA Honours in Graphic Design, and has gone on to have a successful career as a Creative Director within a number of digital agencies, creating award-winning work for some of the largest global brands. During this time he nurtured his passion for writing sci-fi and secured a commission with the BBC for his first script, The Department of Unknown Origins, a Victorian X-Files set in the Natural History Museum, exec produced by Jon Plowman and considered by BBC Drama and Sky One.

The Anachronist is his first novel, one of a five-part series called 'The Infinity Engines.' You can find out more about it on his blog: www.infinityengines.com

He lives in Surrey with his wife, two teenage daughters and a troublesome puppy.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4,226 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers thoroughly enjoy the storyline of this time travel adventure, describing it as the best book of the year and one of the most exciting fun series they've read. The pacing is fast-moving, with one customer noting it's never boring, and they appreciate the well-developed characters and interesting time travel elements. However, the grammar receives mixed reviews, with several customers mentioning it's littered with grammatical errors.

49 customers mention "Storyline"49 positive0 negative

Customers thoroughly enjoy the storyline of the book, describing it as a fantastic series with a well-written plot that starts out well.

"...If you love sci-fi, time travel, history, or just a great read then this one is for you...." Read more

"...The main character, Josh, is likable and believable, and his time-traveling cohorts Caitlin, Sim, the Colonel, and others, are interesting..." Read more

"This was one of the best books I've read in a while...." Read more

"Great book that I had to finish at 3:30 in the morning. Can’t wait to see how this story progresses." Read more

42 customers mention "Readability"42 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and entertaining, describing it as a fun series worth getting into.

"...If you like mysteries, action, adventure, and supernatural powers wielded by both innocent and evil characters, the “Infinity Engines” series will..." Read more

"A truly innovated book, author takes us through time, like it’s a river! You are in for a treat. What a ride!!" Read more

"This story started out well. It grabbed me and held on. I kept thinking I have other things to read and I just kept reading this story...." Read more

"...are interesting characters who round out the story and add depth and interest. I didn’t realize this was young adult fiction when I chose it...." Read more

24 customers mention "Character development"24 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book, with one mentioning feeling connected to them.

"...So. I liked this story quite a lot. Good unfolding plot, interesting characters and all that. I’m going to get the second book very soon...." Read more

"...Josh is, however, a wholly sympathetic character...." Read more

"...It is the first of a looong series. The characters in the book are either likeable or despicable. At first you think there is one major story line...." Read more

"...So many thought provoking ideas and a good set of characters to enjoy them with. Looking forward to continuing the series. Never boring." Read more

20 customers mention "Pacing"17 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, particularly how time travel is handled, with one customer noting it doesn't get bogged down with explanations.

"...This book is fast moving and is NOT full of filler passages…which I hate (think Tom Clancy lol)..." Read more

"...Looking forward to continuing the series. Never boring." Read more

"...first book in the series, introduces many characters, and tries to explain a very complex (and sometimes inconsistent) universe. ...." Read more

"...This was a great blend of sci-fi and history, and I was hooked from the first page...." Read more

14 customers mention "Time travel"14 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the time travel elements in the book, with one customer comparing it to "Harry Potter."

"One of the best time travel books I have ever read. I can't wait for the next one." Read more

"A truly innovated book, author takes us through time, like it’s a river! You are in for a treat. What a ride!!" Read more

"This is an interesting book I love time travel stories and this one is different our hero Josh seems to be a man with a problem, actually more the..." Read more

"I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the time traveling universe Andrew created...." Read more

6 customers mention "Grammar"2 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's grammar, with several noting it is littered with errors, while one customer mentions there are no spelling mistakes.

"...I also know a lot of people criticized a couple of things. One, typos and errors...." Read more

"...The writing is good, characters are fine, and the story (storey?) is well put together - for the most part...." Read more

"...But I had issues with things in the book. I am always put off by typos and this book was rife with them...." Read more

"...It is written in British English and littered with grammatical errors including autocorrections gone awry...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A truly innovated book, author takes us through time, like it’s a river! You are in for a treat. What a ride!!
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I absolutely loved this book. The closer I got to the end, the more I wanted to delay it from being over.
    I’m just really glad the rest of the series seems to be available immediately, and on Kindle Unlimited.

    You really fall for the main characters, hoping for the best. And that the villainous characters get what’s due to them! Josh, his mother, the neighbor lady that looks out for him, and the “crazy” neighbor, “The Colonel,” from across the street. And of course Caitlin and his new set of friends. The antagonist from his youth, and the new one from his future, are the ones your hoping get their deserved fate.

    The only part I’m not so sure how well it works with the storyline, is what seems to be almost like a sideline. It’s rather distracting. Especially considering you’re just learning about a whole new world, the people involved, and the main theme of the book. Without adding any spoilers, I’ll just state that it has to do with a certain professor.

    I also know a lot of people criticized a couple of things. One, typos and errors. In the copy I just finished, there didn’t seem to be any, so this must have been taken care of.
    The other was some of the history being off, or referred to in the wrong way. I personally am not reading this from a historical standpoint. My interest lies more toward the time traveling. I get that some feel the research should’ve been dead-on, but if that’s the most you have to complain about-oh well-get over it. The author does have literary license when it comes to creativity, and this is fiction after all.

    Absolutely looking forward to the next in the series.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This story started out well. It grabbed me and held on. I kept thinking I have other things to read and I just kept reading this story. There is a lot here that saves this story from being just another one of type.

    I kept reading and I never got tired of it, even when it went into the oh yeah this is just our everyday lives you’ll get used to it. And carried on with the growing complexity of this new world. Honestly some books lose me in this phase, where an interesting culture gets so complex I just give up. This story didn’t get that complex or at least kept me interested.

    So. I liked this story quite a lot. Good unfolding plot, interesting characters and all that. I’m going to get the second book very soon.

    Very much recommended
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    It isn’t common in fantasy or science fiction to find a protagonist who is a small time thug and car thief. In Anachronist, Hastie pulls it off.

    Josh is, however, a wholly sympathetic character. He’s grown up in some of the worst council estates in south London (think bad urban housing projects in US terms), neighborhoods where joining a gang is less a matter of choice than of survival. His single mum has MS, and he’s her sole caregiver. Dyslexic, his one escape is speed— he steals fast cars and pushes them to their limits before turning them over to chop shoos or abandoning them. The few pounds he gets from cars and petty theft are all he and his mother have to live on.

    One afternoon he has a surprise opportunity— he sees an eccentric neighbor leaving his front door open and so sneaks inside, hoping to find something he can steal. He grabs a gold medal from the Second World War and makes a run for it, only to find himself suddenly first getting strange sensations from it and then falling.

    Instead of the grass he’d been running on, he was on cold white tile. Instead of the hoodie and pants he’d been wearing, he was naked. And in front of him in the old fashioned bathroom was a German in a Nazi uniform, pointing a gun at him…

    Recommended.
    7 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I have long been a fan of time travel stories, and this one does not disappoint. The main character, Josh, is likable and believable, and his time-traveling cohorts Caitlin, Sim, the Colonel, and others, are interesting characters who round out the story and add depth and interest. I didn’t realize this was young adult fiction when I chose it. I am not averse to reading YA fiction, but I was expecting a more sophisticated approach to the subject.

    I did find a few lapses in the narrative that were annoying. In several places the scene changes abruptly without any explanation or transition, or even an extra space between paragraphs signaling the passage of time, leaving the reader confused and frustrated. A more eagle-eyed editor would have corrected these flaws, as well as the errors in syntax or grammar that cropped up occasionally.

    Still, I enjoyed the story and Mr. Hastie’s writing style. I am anxious to read the next book in the series.
    10 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I found this book to be unoriginal. Secret society, factions fighting for dominance, prophecy fulfilled... It could be any of a dozen stories. If you enjoy that sort of story, jump in.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Daleaus
    5.0 out of 5 stars enjoyable
    Reviewed in Australia on January 12, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    It took me. While to get into this but once I did I enjoyed the story. Lots of things happening but in the end a fun read.
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a refreshing take on time travel
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 17, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Thoroughly enjoyed this book! I'm new to Andrew Hastie's writings, but really loved the way he entertwined both characters and timelines in a way that I've not come across before. An unusual but great choice of male protagonist and the rest of the gang are fab too. Looking forward to book 2.
  • Atl Canuck
    4.0 out of 5 stars different.......
    Reviewed in Canada on May 26, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    an amusing read...different ....engaging
  • Vielleserin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Unexpected and wonderful
    Reviewed in Germany on July 5, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    It took me some time to start the book, but once I did, I was hooked and binge-read this one and the next within a couple of days. Josh is a somewhat morally grey hero, but that makes it all the more interesting. Great find!
  • Tim Armstrong
    4.0 out of 5 stars Cracking read
    Reviewed in Australia on August 23, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    What an engaging book. I enjoyed the steampunkesque nature of the Order. The characters are both likable and dislikeable. Book two here we come.

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