Time Trials

Marty Cohen was a gifted linguist and student of ancient military strategy who stepped away from academic Egyptology and opened a woodworking shop. Away from the bitter politics and petty rivalries, he’s happy to take care of his people, play the occasional war game, and try to make a good life.  He discovers mysterious visions rob him of sleep, and then he gets summoned back to Egypt: an off-the-grid dig funded by an eccentric financier has discovered texts that may be the earliest Egypt has produced, and they’ll pay Marty silly amounts of cash just to fly out and take one little look.  Marty turned his back on the academia game, but he’s a small business owner who has to make payroll during a recession, and he can’t say no to the money.  But the texts open doors to more visions and to an astonishing journey: the ragtag team of archaeologists finds itself in protohistoric North Africa, a drying land dominated by monsters, where humanity is badly in need of champions.  And behind the war against the monster overlords lies a greater struggle: Marty and his team have been chosen to be champions of all Earth and to run a gauntlet on humanity’s behalf.  Failure will mean extinction. Praise for Time Trials: “This highly enjoyable novel by Rothman and Butler is full of nonstop action, bits of science, mystery, humor, and enough Ancient Egypt trivia to satisfy any history enthusiast. The quest narrative and the Dungeons & Dragons-style team structure recall familiar fantasy tropes, but the authors manage to develop the characters well, giving each of them their own distinct arcs and it results in a tale that’s well worth reading. The overarching mystery keeps the pages turning in an adventure tale that refreshingly shows respect for ancient civilizations and their accomplishments. An entertaining first entry in what promises to be a fantastic time-travel series.”—Kirkus Praise for D.J. Butler: "I have come to appreciate the work of D. J. Butler;  He is a recent writer in a tradition of science fiction and fantasy I associate with Harry Turtledove, S. M. Stirling, Eric Flint, and Jerry Pournelle, with a sort of grittiness and focus on societal dynamics that I very much enjoy."—Warped Factor