Jessup's Door

A Time Travel Story

By: Michael Bunker

Narrated by: Alex Silver

Stacked in the back of Dora's Explorables Antique Shop is an old wooden door with a secret. What would you do if you could go back in time? Would you try to fix the past? Or grab yourself a new future? Jessup's Door is a 12,000-word short story about time and love.

©2016 Michael Bunker (P)2016 Todd Barselow / Auspicious Apparatus Press

Time travel with a great twist

What did you love best about Jessup's Door?

The story started and ended unexpectedly. Time travel with a difference.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Jessup's Door?

Strangely, the ending had me. Not sure if I would have had the strength to do what he did but I admire him for it.

Have you listened to any of Alex Silver’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't heard this reader before and although it wasn't exactly to my taste it was ok,.

Any additional comments?

Got this as a free copy from the author but will definitely be looking out for any other books by him. This was such a wonderful change from the usual time travel stories. Very short but that didn't detract from it.

interesting story that took me back with it

I really enjoyed this short story. The author always does a great job of placing the reader/listener right there with the characters in his stories, and this one was no exception. The story really makes you stop and think the WHAT IF'S of being able to go back in time. What would you change? What would you lose if you did? The narration was very well done as well.

A Time Travelling Love Story

Any additional comments?

Part time-travel story, part love story. A lonely widower is presented with the opportunity to visit the past, prompting significant internal struggles on what to do with this power. A great short read, and the narration was spot on.

Would you change your life if you could?

I am voluntarily submitting my honest review after receiving an ARC copy of the audiobook generously provided by the author.

In this short story, just when a young widower seems to be considering moving on with a new romantic interest, he acquires a magical door that allows them to time travel into the past. At first, stunned by the mere thought of time travel, the couple are fascinated simply by observing life in the past. But then our hero realizes that he now holds the power to manipulate time in such a way as to speak with his wife once again, and to potentially warn her of the cancer that ultimately takes her young life. But even though he can change the course of his life, should he? In this thought-provoking, insightful and inspiring work, Bunker challenges both his hero and the reader to examine life and the nature of regret, loss, guilt, acceptance and ultimately, moving on. The audiobook narration of this short tale is well-done, with the narrator's drawl adding local flavor to the story (the door is a portal to Jessup, TX). I listened to this story in one sitting, and it stimulated my thinking for the rest of the day.

Unconventional Door Through Time

What made the experience of listening to Jessup's Door the most enjoyable?

I liked Bunker's new take on traveling through time. It was a nice blend of time travel sci-fi and a historical fiction.

What did you like best about this story?

I like that Bunker was able to take a story that started out sounding like a late in life budding romance story and turn it completely around into the beginnings of a sci-fi 'time jumpers' series.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Another Awesome Short by Mr Bunker and Mr Silver

When Edwin steps into his favorite antique shop he didn't expect to find the perfect closet door and he really didn't expect to have the stores owner, Dora, at his house when he installs it, and he certainly didn't expect what happens next.

Author Michael Bunker and narrator Alex Silver bring this short story to life and take us, the reader/listener on a time travel journey that might trap or transform our two friends in ways they might just not ever recover from, and we might not either.

I want a door like this one.

Would you try another book from Michael Bunker and/or Alex Silver?

Yes, I have one I'm listening to now.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The quirky store owner. I liked her determination.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes, but it needs to be longer.

Any additional comments?

Wish the story was longer.

Nothing like time travel and a love story.

Bunker never dissapoints me with his story telling. A great listen for a great short story that is timeless .

Outstanding!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I absolutely would recommend this audiobook with no reservations! It was a wonderful story, and the narrator's mild accent fit in perfectly to make it even more real for the listener.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Jessup's Door?

For me, it wasn't a memorable moment that meant the most. I loved the developing relationship and the difficult questions that had to be asked once time travel became a possibility for them.

What does Alex Silver bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

As mentioned, the slight accent fit right in with the Old West. He was pleasant to listen to and did an excellent job with each character.

Any additional comments?

I did a review on Amazon and Goodreads which I posted below. I hope this helps listeners to make the wise choice to read this story. It was so worth listening to!

In browsing through Dora’s Explorables, a lonely widower found the perfect door for his bedroom closet. Solid wood, and the perfect size! He’s fixing up the house with little home improvement projects. It’s a way of dealing with the grief of losing his wife, Sarah, who died of cancer at age 27. The door was over 100 years old. The store owner, Dora, insisted she wanted to help him install it or she would not sell it to him. She showed up at his house and looked around. She liked what he was doing to the house. She loved antiques, and thought of them in terms of their existence in time, when the objects lived a life before now. She thought that the widower could see them that way as well.

When finished, Dora encouraged him to walk through the newly installed door. As he reached for the light, he found himself in a small train station in the old West! He quickly exited back to his bedroom! Startled, Dora asked what he had seen. So they talked about it. First step was to get coins from 1870 and some old clothing from that period. Then they made a plan, and both stepped through the door to Jessup, Texas.

This book is wonderful! The characters are likeable and well presented. The description is perfect, painting a vivid picture of what is going on in the story. The reader of the audiobook version that I listened to did a wonderful job and the whole thing was totally engaging. I am definitely a fan of this author! Well done!

Strongly Recommended!

Who doesn’t love time travel stories? Sometimes the consequences are unavoidable (think 12 Monkeys, the movie), sometimes scary (The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis), and sometimes just plain fun (Replay by Ken Grimwood). Some creators use sophisticated devices for their time travelers (whether a TARDIS or a Time Machine a la H.G. Wells), while others don’t fuss over the science or magic behind it, instead choosing to focus on what the time travel means to the characters via plot. But no spoilers here, because Jessup’s Door is a great story, and that’s what you really need to know.

I listened to the Audible version of this story, and very much enjoyed the narrator’s (Alex Silver) style. Michael Bunker never disappoints, and I strongly recommend giving this a read or a listen.