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The '86 Fix cover art

The '86 Fix

By: Keith A. Pearson
Narrated by: Andy Cresswell
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Summary

On the way home from school in 1986, Craig Pelling decided to buy a can of Coke. He wasn’t to know a seemingly innocuous visit to the local newsagent would dramatically change the course of his life.

Fast forward to his 40s, Craig finds himself trapped in a loveless marriage, earning a living in a dead-end job as the manager of an electrical store. He could have been so much more, achieved so much more.

However, fate hasn’t finished with Craig Pelling yet.

A school reunion proves to be the catalyst for chaos and decades on from his visit to that newsagent, Craig’s mundane life is turned upside down as his past comes back to haunt him.

As he plummets towards rock-bottom, all seems lost for Craig until he’s thrown a lifeline — the miraculous lifeline of a brief trip back in time to 1986. Will he be able to fix his life? Is it as simple as just reverting one decision he made over 30 years ago?

Craig is about to find out.

©2016 Keith A Pearson (P)2017 W.F. Howes Ltd

What listeners say about The '86 Fix

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Don't do it

Just pretty much awful in every way. It's almost like it was written as a pseudo autobiography of a bitter incel. The ending made me question how I want to spend my life, in silence, or listening to time wasting nonsense like this

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13 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Superb time travel story

If you enjoy your time travel stories, then I think this will become one of your favourites. It reminds me a little of Back to the Future. A person manages to go back in time and adjust the past and future for himself and family. Its not at all goofy, or silly, its a really captivating read that deserves to do well on Audible. The characters are all richly realised and their is real weight to the characters problems, and his efforts to correct what once went wrong. The 86 fix is a two partner, so I'm looking forward to reading the concluding book as soon as it is released, which I believe is within the next week or two.

I definitely recommend this book to both sci fi and fiction fans alike

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9 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed my 80's years again

Very good story with some very good references to the 80's (that I remember so makes it even better). The build up took a while but it then becomes clear why and was needed that way. The end is a bit quick but a great twist to the story - an outcome I never even thought of during the story.

I gave performance 3 becuase, although the narration was fine, the sound kept increasing and decreasing which was annoying, as if he was sitting further away or moving his head from the mic at times. Otherwise fine.

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Funny and engaging. However the ending sucks!

I enjoyed the step back in time with exquisite attention to detail but the end was rushed and confusing and a real anti climax.

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Nostalgia-fuelled, rough gem

Pros: As guy, a few years older than the protagonist, I gobbled up the very relatable nostalgic references, often with a huge grin as I listened. If you are male and went to school in the 80’s you’re the perfect target audience. The “what if” story/concept is great and kept me hooked.

Cons: The tedious level of detail tat pops up quite regularly is something of a blessing and a curse - it serves as part of the flavour of the book - the humdrum life of the main character - is kind of echoed by the writing, so I went with it, but it tested my patience at times. The Dialogue: this is easily the books biggest weakness. Some of the conversations are laugh-out-loud ridiculous. Everyone speaks in perfectly constructed polite English like everyone is a librarian, or a well-spoken robot. The conversations between some of the kids sound totally unrealistic, seriously no one talks like that in real life. The author mercifully throws in the odd swear word in from time to time, which helps, but it’s not enough to save many cringe-inducing lines that had me laughing at times, they sounded so awkward.

Narration: Andy Cresswell does a good job, but the main character is himself somewhat detached and for the most part pretty miserable and that infects the reading of the book with a rather flat monotone vibe. So when we hit an emotional moment (mostly sad ones) the narration never really shifts all that much and overall it comes across a little cold and emotionless across the board. Maybe that was the intention, but it got a little draining at times. Some of the “character” voices are a bit awkward too, a grown man imitating a 14 year old girl is a big ask I realise that, but certain overblown Yorkshire accents had me rolling my eyes..

Summary: Despite this criticism, I tore through the book because it was so relatable. The idea of a life “do-over” is a tantalising hook, something I'm sure we've all thought about, and I loved all the 80 nerdy teenage nostalgia. So for me it was enjoyable despite the dry writing style at times. I’ll probably get the sequel.

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent time travel tale

I love a bit of 80s nostalgia so was eager to listen to this time travel tale after enjoying Tuned Out by the same author. We meet Craig Pelling as a middle aged man in the present day, and also in 1986 as a 16 year old. It is a lovely, funny, sometime heartbreaking listen with a bit of a shocking ending, which I finished in one day. It made me think about my life and what I might change of I could go back to my teenage years! I'm now going to start listening to the sequel.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Great time travel story

I'm a huge fan of time travel and love books that put a twist in the tale. Worryingly, I'm pretty sure the author has been watching me, because the main character, Craig, could very easily have been me. That's probably why I identify with the story so much. The only difference is I was an Atari kid. Oh, and I couldn't travel through time.
Brilliantly written. Funny, poignant, sad, heart warming. The story flows nicely.
One thing. I thought the narrator spoke too slowly. Changed the narration speed to 1.15x in the Audible app. Sorted.

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story with a twist

Takes a little while to get going but you won’t be disappointed. I particularly liked the nostalgic references to 1986!
As time travel novels go I think this is amongst the best and I’ve read many. Must admit I didn’t see the twist at the end coming and am now looking forward to the conclusion in book 2, I hope it’s as good as the first.

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3 people found this helpful

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Loved this book

I absolutely loved this book, it made me laugh and cry. I really related to the character and am always partial to a time travel book but this brought back memories of my own childhood and grief I have dealt with in my life. On to the sequel!!

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2 people found this helpful

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  • 13-02-22

Excellent!

The author definitely captured the the 80's. Thoroughly enjoyed it, would recommend. Love time travel books, makes you think how you would change your life, if you had the chance.

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