About the Book

Book: The Time Door Author: Shannon McDermott Genre: Adult Science Fiction Release date: October 8, 2024

A reckless last mission on Mars, a crusade for justice on Earth … Reuben Jackson is the only one who still cares about Mars. In the shambles of the Great Collapse, Earth has abandoned the Mars explorers to their fate. But Reuben will make a stand for the Mars team—even against the powerfully united politicians and scientists. In too deep, he discovers hidden conspiracies and unexpected allies. As the conflict mounts on Earth, time runs down on Mars. Left to face Mars alone, Commander Donegan Moynihan and his team have no hope of surviving after their supplies are gone. Willing to accept a quicker death than starvation, the explorers strike out on a dangerous mission. They venture deep inside the ancient volcano of Arsia Mons, into perils and secrets long buried. What they discover would move mountains on Earth—but will it be enough to save themselves?

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About the Author

Shannon McDermott is an author of science fiction and has been occupied for years with constructing scenarios of the colonization of Mars. Always a fan of the genre, she reviews Christian speculative fiction with Lorehaven. Her interests include history, classic literature, and lattes. She lives in the great Midwest, where she does her best to avoid icy weather, sweltering heat, and tornadoes, according to the season.

More from Shannon

There is a story of an abandoned space colony. Still young, still unsteady, and suddenly cut off from the mother planet—the colony will either learn fast to survive alone, or it will die altogether. The story has been told again and again, a thousand variations on the old theme. When I was getting acquainted with it, through battered paperbacks and anthologies gathered from the old “scientifiction” magazines, I noticed that the colonies were usually abandoned because of a space plague, or aliens, or interplanetary war. Exotic, exciting problems, the stuff of science fiction. But I had a thought: What if the reason for abandoning a space colony were a bit prosaic? What if there was just no more money? The national debt is very much a thing (and an ever-growing thing, at an ever-increasing rate). We would be in trouble if that debt were ever called, or even if no more could be contracted. If it suddenly became time to pay the piper, if the money running off the press was no longer good enough—America couldn’t afford to support a colony on Mars. And we would have too many problems of our own to care very much about theirs. A classic sci-fi story with a modern twist, something fantastic mixed with something prosaic. I liked it. As I set to work on the idea, I soon made another variation to the theme. The abandoned colony did not take the whole stage. I gave equal space to those who had abandoned it. Good or bad, they had their reasons; they had their story, too. And as I began to write it, I realized that both stories were about survival. The struggle over whether they survived, and how, and what they would become on the other side. These ideas grew into The Time Door—two parallel stories, separated by the distance between Mars and Earth, and yet united in the end. Whether abandoned on Mars, or caught in the collapse on Earth, they all need a way out; they all need to find a door.

Interview with the Author

Do you read books in this genre? If so, who do you like to read?

I read science fiction, though not as often as I would like. Andre Norton, Timothy Zahn, and Kathy Tyers are old favorites of mine. More recently, I highly enjoyed the Children of the Consortium series, by Cathy McCrumb. I’ve also begun to dive into the oeuvres of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne.

What helps you to write? Do you eat snacks, listen to music?

Music is the first thing. I always play something in the background while I write. I also usually start with a cup of coffee, though not for the caffeine; it puts me into a “settling down to work” mindset.

If you could travel back in time, what time period would you go to?

If I had a return ticket and could use it at any time, I would visit medieval England or America during the founding era. If I had to stay for even an indefinite period of time, probably the 1920s or 1950s. Revolutions and plagues make for good reading, but not a good travel experience.

What is your favorite hymn and why?

“Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise.” The hymn is pure praise, and it beautifully captures the greatness and glory of who God is.

Share with me a few of your favorite things.

So many that I could name, but here’s a random collection: Iced coffee. Till We Have Faces, by C.S. Lewis. The first Thor movie. Owl City’s music. A new notebook. Stylish boots. The color green. Rainy nights when I can stay in and read.