History of Jur

The Jur novels came about during slow night shifts in France. Around 1965 I was a squad leader for a bunch of Army MPs in Southern France. At night, while working the desk and my patrols were keeping law and order, to pass the time I created plots and characters attempting to write fiction. Nothing became of my interest in writing until 1970, after a tour in the jungle of Vietnam, and those plots came back to me. I wrote the first two novels during that year, and sent the first to publishers. Basically, my main characters were an Army Green Beret and a French archaeologist, who accidentally fall through a time tunnel to the Jurassic Period. When the first novel didn’t go anywhere I set the manuscripts aside. James Reasoner suggested I change the Green Beret and set the beginning after the Stock Market Crash of ’29. The rest is history. The sequence of the novels are: “Jur: A Story of Pre Dawn Earth”, “Savage Land of Jur”, “Lost Land of Jur”, “Queen of Jur”, “Treasure of Jur”, and “Drums of Jur”. "Pangaea: Eden's Planet" actually takes place in the Permian Period, prior to the Jurassic, but it is the story that truly begins the JUR series.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Pangaea: Eden's Planet Reviews

Pangaea: Eden’s Planet Reviews

Marsha Lyons, Co-Author of MURDER: TAKE ONE
5-Stars

If you like your action Jurassic-style, you’ll really enjoy Tom Johnson’s Pangaea. Though technically there are no big dinos (it takes place way before them) there are plenty of lizardy creatures to threaten the hardy group of waylaid astronauts struggling to survive in a lush, but savage environment.
The adventure begins when the team of seven scientists is sent by NASA on a mission to try to colonize Mars after the Earth is devastated by a nuclear war. The ship runs into trouble shortly after lift-off propelling it into an ancient Earth inhabited by prehistoric creatures.
Beyond the “eat or be eaten” thrills, there is also a surprising element- a message of true hope and redemption that lifts the novel from the normal plane of syfy time/space stories.
I would recommend it for adult fans of science fiction and teens over about the age of sixteen, or anyone else (like me) whose usual read is not syfy.

April Kelly, Co-Author of MURDER: TAKE ONE
5-Stars

After half the Earth is destroyed by nuclear war, the surviving scientists at NASA send seven astronauts on a desperate mission to pre-colonize Mars in Tom Johnson's thought-provoking novel.
A time/space incident propels the ship far from its destination, landing the pioneers in a savage environment, which begins claiming lives almost immediately.
As they struggle to survive in a seemingly random hell-scape, the remaining astronauts start to see a larger picture forming...a magnificent potential future requiring effort, ingenuity and personal sacrifice to attain.

The intensity of some scenes of natural violence may at first put off a few readers, but the journey leads to a surprising, uplifting destination and is well worth the trip.

Saturday, May 16, 2015

JUR NOVELS FROM NBI



JUR NOVELS

“Jur: A Story of Pre-Dawn Earth by Tom Johnson & James Reasoner and “Savage Land of Jur” by Tom Johnson. The original publications of the first two Jur novels from NBI, long out of print, available from Tom at $14.00 each post paid (US). The cover artist is Linnea Sinclaire. I will also swap for other author’s books, if interested.


“Lost Land of Jur” & “Queen of Jur” by Tom Johnson. The original publications of these two novels. “Savage Land of Jur” was originally published by NBI with cover art by Linnea Sinclaire.


“Queen of Jur” was published by Tom with a cover by our own Kevin Duncan. These paperback editions are long out of print, but available from Tom for $14.00 each, post paid (US). I will also swap for other author’s books, if interested. Hey, I need to add to my bookshelf, and have more reading in my retirement.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Tom & Ginger


Tom & Ginger at the local library. Tom is discussing his latest book release, “Pangaea: Eden’s Planet” while Ginger looks own wondering what he’s talking about (lol).

Monday, March 9, 2015

Highlighted Author This Week

Tom Johnson & Pangaea: Eden’s Planet are featured on HIGHLIGHTED AUTHOR this week. Hosted by Charlene A. Wilson & Jo Grafford. Please drop by and leave a comment. http://highlightedauthor.com/2015/03/welcome-tom-johnson/

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Tom's Interview

My Interview at Art Sippo’s Reviews is now up. We talk about two of my books, PANGAEA; EDEN’S PLANET (First Realm Publishing) and COLD WAR HEROES (NTD). Art is a good speaker, and familiar with books. He’s a retired Army Lt. Colonel, and medical doctor, and his interviews are always interesting. Ginger and I are not good speakers, so be warned (g). Plus, my southern accent will drive you to drink; and I’m getting very forgetful in my old age. Thankfully, Ginger helps me out when I falter (g). For those who wish to tune in go here http://artsreviews.libsyn.com/webpage

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Pangaea: Eden's Planet Review

Title:  Pangaea: Eden’s Planet
Author:  Tom Johnson
Publisher:  First Realm Publishing
ISBN:  10-1497340748
           13 978-1497340749
Genre:  Science Fiction
4-Star Rating

A team of scientists led by Colonel Evelyn Peterson is headed for Mars to scout sites for future settlements. Earth has been devastated by a nuclear war and much of it is now a wasteland. The future of humanity can only be assured by setting up a new home on Mars.

Trouble arises shortly after the flight has lifted off, trouble in the form of a strange storm. This was something they were totally unprepared for and had little hope of survival.  However, they did and when they come out of It, they find their destination is no longer Mars. In fact they are stranded back in time.

How they handle their new problems is guaranteed to keep you reading. This reader found the combination of time travel, space flight, a visit to Earth’s past, and living conditions irresistible. It kept me wondering how things would work out and will there be future tales about this place and people as they settle in. I loved the descriptions of the animal life and plants growing in various areas of the place their ship landed.

This is a story any sci-fi fan will truly enjoy. The talented author, Tom Johnson, has crafted a believable world; new terrors for characters dropped into it, and pulls the reader into the story so we become one of the members of this crew.

I am very pleased to recommend Pangaea: Eden’s Planet as a fun read you won’t want to put down. Not only will it teach us about our prehistoric periods, but have us looking for other books by this imaginative author and wanting to know what will happen next on Pangaea.  Will we get to see it decimated by meteor storms or will volcanoes split the large continent into smaller ones that we would come to recognize as our homes of today?

Enjoy. I sure did.


Anne K. Edwards