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Jigsaw: Sonora follows a group of ideological extremists who travel back in time to WWI to alter history, and a group of temporal guardians must stop them before their plan unfolds. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Excellent question. Most of the attention given to World War I seems to center on what happened on the Western and Eastern Fronts in Europe. Outside of the Zimmerman Telegram, little attention is given to the efforts to keep the United States out of the war or keep many of their military assets occupied on the Southern Border. This book touches on that as well as the origins of the Influenza virus in that period and the attack on Wall Street, where a real one did take place in 1920.
What intrigues you about this time period enough to write such a thrilling novel in this era?
This time period influenced global history and politics for the next century, from World War II to the Cold War, to the growth of the United States’ influence, to the advance of the modern welfare state and labor movement, to the creation of modern nations and nationalist movements that are still with us today.
What was your favorite scene in this story?
The climax on the Zepplein Sonora. I do not want to spoil the climax for readers, so I will leave it there.
Can you tell us where the book goes and where we’ll see the characters in the next book?
Yes. The next book, Jigsaw: Shadow Ball is already out where our Time Traveling heroes have to save the creation of the Negro Leagues in the 1920’s and the integration of Major League Baseball in the 1940’s with Larry Doby and the Cleveland Indians. That adventure will be followed in 2026 with Jigsaw: Temporal Apocalypse, where our heroes have to stop the ultimate attempt to change reality in the post-World War I Era by disrupting events in Italy/Yugoslavia over Fiume and the Russian/Polish War.
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Renegade Novus Ordo operatives have formed Global Harmony and have launched Project Sonora, a plan to draw the United States out of World War One, start a continental war in the Americas, and unleash a genetically coded pathogen that would cause population segments to fall to the Influenza Virus.
The Temporal Guardians, led by Francesca and Noah must stop Global Harmony before the Forces of Evil can change history and destroy reality.
Jigsaw: Sonora
Jigsaw: Sonora is a time-hopping, genre-blending adventure that weaves historical fiction with science fiction, political thriller, and a touch of emotional family drama. The story centers around a network of time-traveling guardians from the Falcone Foundation who are thrust into a global conspiracy orchestrated by a rogue splinter group called Global Harmony. Set against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution, World War I, and a future ravaged by ideological extremism, the novel features multiple timelines and perspectives, villistas spying near the U.S.-Mexico border, modern-day scientists, grieving families, and zealots seeking to rewrite history. The central object tying these narratives together is a mysterious zeppelin named Sonora, a vessel of both literal and symbolic weight.
This story was thrilling, jarring, and slightly disorienting at times. David Alyn Gordon’s writing is fearless. He throws you headfirst into rapid scene changes and complicated timelines without much handholding. The dialogue snaps and pops with sarcasm and humor, even when characters are in mortal danger. Some chapters feel cinematic and full of suspense, while others read like exposition dumps wrapped in tech-speak and geopolitical history.
That said, the emotional moments work beautifully. Scenes like Noah’s funeral, Francesca’s fierce interventions, and Tori and Cheryl’s strained romance really resonated with me. They ground the story in human stakes, which is needed when the plot starts spinning into viral warfare and shadowy authoritarian takeovers. I found myself rooting for the characters, even when I wasn’t always sure where (or when) they were. And the villains are chilling in their calm, calculated evil. I especially liked how the historical injustices, like the Bisbee Deportation or school segregation, were blended into the sci-fi narrative. It made the stakes feel real.
Jigsaw: Sonora is an inventive, passionate, and unorthodox book. It’s not always easy to follow, but it’s never boring. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy time travel with a conscience, ensemble casts, and layered conspiracies. If you like shows like 12 Monkeys or Fringe, or books like Cloud Atlas, you’ll probably find something to love here.
Pages: 162 | ASIN : B0CZTWP2N5
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