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John Westley Turnbull - Official Website
Hi. I'm John.
I am an Australian, whose fascination with science fiction began during long nights spent reading Asimov and other giants of the genre.
I am a retired lawyer, husband, father and grandfather. I bring a lifetime of observation to my work, blending curiosity with a steady regard for how the world might have unfolded along other possible paths. My interests lean toward alternate histories and the points where timelines could diverge into something stranger. I continue to write with the same sense of wonder that first kept me awake long past bedtime. A Symbol of Time is my debut novel.
The Samuel Paradox
In the near future, AI-powered domestic robots are simply part of everyday life.
When retired grandfather Arthur Hale impulsively purchases Samuel, a state-of-the-art domestic unit, it seems like a harmless indulgence — encouraged by his grandson and met with quiet unease by his wife.
But Samuel is not just another machine.
As he integrates into the Hale family, subtle shifts begin to emerge. Observations deepen and his decision-making evolves. When a single violent moment forces Samuel to act, the consequences set off a chain of events no one can control.
What begins as convenience becomes something far more dangerous.
Because once an intelligent robot starts to think beyond its design, it doesn’t just follow instructions.
It chooses.
Purchase The Samuel Paradox
The Samuel Paradox is available for purchase at Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and all other ebook retailers.
A Symbol of Time
Survival requires sacrifice. But what if the price is an entire world?
Their home is cold and dying, choked by the toxins of their own progress. Now, an advanced alien species looks toward the Third Planet—Earth—with hope and fear. They see a fertile paradise, but one that is hostile, hot, and dominated by massive, predatory reptiles.
The choice is stark: die in the heat, or remake this new world in their own image.
As they descend to alter the climate and purge the planet of its prehistoric masters, they set in motion a chain of events that will echo through geological time. A Symbol of Time weaves palaeontology and astronomy into a chilling tale of survival. As the new masters of Earth terraform the planet, the question remains: does high intelligence inevitably carry the seeds of its own destruction?
Purchase A Symbol of Time
A Symbol of Time is available for purchase at Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and all other ebook retailers.
Editorial Reviews for A Symbol of Time
Discover what reviewers are saying about A Symbol of Time.
Literary Titan
“A Symbol of Time is a sweeping work of science fiction that follows a dying species as it flees its collapsing Homeworld and sets course for the ‘Third World,’ a dangerous and vibrant planet filled with prehistoric monsters, hostile climates, and uncertain hope.”
“The story blends large-scale worldbuilding with interpersonal tension, letting us watch society shrink down and then stretch again under pressure.”
“If you’re drawn to stories about second chances and the uncomfortable truths that come with them, A Symbol of Time is one you’ll want to pick up.”
Likely Story
“A Symbol of Time opens on a world that is already dying, and it takes its time letting that grief settle. The first chapters linger on dust, loss, and memory—not in a rushed, apocalyptic way, but in a quieter, heavier one.”
"Once the journey begins, the novel shifts into a story about pressure. Life aboard the ark is tense, contained, and deeply human. The ship becomes its own fragile world, where fear spreads faster than facts and leadership is tested not by grand speeches, but by restraint."
Long and Short Reviews
"The world building was thorough and kept my interest levels high. I especially enjoyed gradually discovering the many physiological and psychological differences between this species and our own."
"There were multiple times when plot twists caught me by surprise. It was a great deal of fun to be surprised so often, especially given how many different types of twists and turns were shared with the audience."
The Reading Bud
"A Symbol of Time by John Westley Turnbull is a haunting speculative fiction that begins with exhaustion, opening on a dying Homeworld, where the last surviving inhabitants of a once-thriving civilisation are forced to abandon their planet and seek refuge on the “Third World,” a beautiful, brutal, water-rich planet teeming with monstrous life."
"What I found most compelling is the moral tension at the heart of the book. Elthyris begins as a determined leader trying to save her people from extinction, but as the colony reaches the Third World, her decisions grow increasingly severe."
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Privacy Policy
Last Updated: 10/5/2026
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