Fast-Time at Aldmont High

This hard sci-fi novel is the first book of the Time-Flow Stories, a series of tales about Witt Ryllin, a young man who abruptly gains the ability to psychically control the flow of time.

In it, he navigates the plights of his senior year in high school. At the same time, his mom and family are struggling with issues arising from his parents’ recent divorce and the financial problems caused by his father’s drinking and subsequent loss of employment.

Witt first realizes he has a talent for controlling the flow of time when one of the football players throws a punch at him—for the sin of talking to the big guy’s girlfriend. Time slows around Witt, and he suddenly finds himself easily able to dodge the blow.

Witt’s aptitude for science and math stands him in good stead as he tries to understand why colors change and light dims when his personal time-flow speeds up. It also helps him understand some of the things his new ability might enable him to do.

He sets to work, figuring out how to use his new gift to help his family and perhaps even improve his college prospects. This is far from as easy as he’d first hoped.

Through all this he must deal with his sarcastic friend Jesse. A friend who’s sometimes helpful, but at least as often a big part of the problem.

Oh, and Witt’s got girl trouble!