Brief

In 1795, a convict ship leaves England for New South Wales in Australia. Nearing its destination, it
encounters a savage storm but, miraculously, stays afloat and limps into Sydney Harbour. However, it
soon becomes apparent that both convicts and crew have a bigger problem in their hands: they have
arrived in Sydney... in 2017.

What We Liked

TimeStorm is a thrilling, epic story of revenge, survival, and honour set in a strange new world of
unfamiliar technology and equally unfathomable social norms. There's a lot of adventure to be had on
the seas, and being transported to a different time really cranks up the action - and the “fish out of
water” factor makes for interesting humor. With honorable navy men and dishonorable criminals in
constant battle - against the backdrop of a completely foreign city, hundreds of years in the future -
there is no shortage of elements to function both as a feature film or a TV series. The rich visuals of
old seafaring vessels, the ocean, and the charismatic characters inside - who are all at very critical
points in their lives - is an excellent draw. Time travel, of course, is also a great hook - there is a strong
"need to know" element about how everyone involved will ever make it back to their own time.
Key points: Action; Murder; Crime and punishment; Time travel; Once in a lifetime adventure.

Synopsis

British Lieutenant Christopher Blaney has a boat full of sailors and convicts he is transporting to the
new colony in Australia. They barely survived one storm, and are swept up in an even worse one. The
ship is caught in a whirlpool but somehow survives. They’re now close to shore. There are lights of a
colony visible, even though their readings say they are a thousand miles from New South Wales. As
they sail into the harbour, they are dazzled, confused, and frightened by the amount of lights and tall
buildings. Something is clearly wrong - instead of a new dirt-poor colony, it's a gleaming city. The
convicts escape and revolt, and their ship explodes in the conflict, leaving every man for himself as
they try to make it to shore alive.
When they get to shore, the convicts go on a crime spree to survive, while trying to evade the navy
men from the ship who want them back into custody. Led by a big brute named Redmond, the
convicts, naturally, have no intention of being recaptured. They pillage and murder their way through
Sydney and are wanted by the cops immediately. With the help of a journalist named Karen, Blaney
wants his men to find their sister ship, the Fortune, which may have travelled with them - and
hopefully can take them back to the time where they belong. A romantic relationship between the two
ensues. Karen calls her boss, media mogul Decker, to borrow his boat and take the crew back into the
harbour. Redmond sneaks aboard and hides. They notice that a big navy ship is now pursuing them,
alerted by Decker. They also - finally - see the Fortune ahead. Karen and Blaney say their goodbyes -
both declining each other’s offer to come along. Redmond is able to grab Blaney, and they swing from
the rope - until Blaney is able to knock Redmond into a railing and jump into the sea. The navy boat
fires on the yacht and blows it apart, Redmond included. Karen holds on to an unconscious Blaney in
the water until a small boat from the Fortune hauls him aboard. Karen changes her mind and gets on
the Fortune with Blaney. It disappears throughout the fog.
In the present, a gravestone says “Karen Blaney, born December 22, 1822”, next to the grave of
Christopher Blaney. Both died in the late 1800s, together.

About The Author

Steve Harrison was born in England and moved to Sydney with his wife and daughter. In the Fellowship for Australian Writers National Literary Rewards, TimeStorm was Highly Commended in the inaugural science fiction/fantasy category for an unpublished novel.