Time Was
by Nora Roberts
Time travel via a spaceship that got too close to an uncharted black hole. Our hero,
Caleb Hornblower, survives to have a romance with Liberty Stone, a woman from a couple
hundred years before he was born. The romantic element is definitely stronger than the
science, but there are some interesting discussions about past versus future technology
and different social norms. There’s also a fun ride on an aircycle! And a bit of comedy
when Liberty’s parents arrive unexpectedly. But only the one time travel event is
documented, so this remains heavier on the Romance than the Time Travel.
The story continues in a 1990 sequel, Times Change.
— Tandy Ringoringo
The cockpit lights went out, leaving only the whirl of kaleidoscopic colors from the
instrument panel. His ship went into a spiral, tumbling end over end like a stone fired
from a slingshot. Now the light was white, hot and brilliant. Instinctively he threw up
an arm to shield his eyes. The sudden crushing pressure on his chest left him helpless to
do more than gasp for breath.
Time Was by Nora Roberts (Silhouette, November
1989).