This is a book I was given as an Early Reviewer. It begins in 2084, in a world of advanced communications but one in which there has been a reversion to an overtly strict morality--formal dress, no obvious sexuality, criminalization of homosexuality. K.N. "Cannon" Ball is a former football player, now an auditor, who has just reported a massive criminal operation based in Germany; it has world-wide financial repercussions. After there is an attempt to kill Cannon by crashing a jet into his private retreat. he escapes to the only place he can think he might be safe, Eocene Station, a scientific enclave reached by time travel tens of thousands of years into the past. Somewhat surprisingly, his young, famous, beautiful actress wife, Tempest Fugit (Cannon is her fourth husband), goes with him after she has had a traumatic experience. The little world of Eocene Station is a community carved out of a steaming jungle. It's surrounded by an electrified fence that, it soon becomes clear, is inadequate to keep out huge predators. Cannon is busy trying to perform the audit he was hired to do at the station, but between the chaotic dangers from outside the fence and the tumultuous relationship his has with his wife, Cannon has his hands full.

I have to admit that I was not entirely charmed by the future world--Cannon's and Tempest's current time--Duncan presents, as hypocrisy seems rampant and human rights have taken some steps backwards. However, Eocene Station is a fascinating world and the danger and issues there are presented seamlessly and believably. Cannon is an imperfect hero; neither he nor Tempest are flawless in the least, but they do have strengths that make them interesting and sometimes admirable. The book ends with some open questions, but it's a satisfying conclusion and the reader can easily assume a happy and interesting future for the two main characters.

I really liked the time-travel premise in this novel but disliked most of the characters, especially Tempest. Most were unpleasant with few redeeming qualities, and interactions between them felt unnatural. This surprised me, as I thought that Dave Duncan had done a good job with character development in other books of his that I'd read. I do like Duncan's writing, so I'd love to see another Eocene Station novel, but with a different cast of characters. ( )

This is a sci-fi/fantasy set in the near future. "Cannon" Ball is a corporate auditor who needs to lay low for a while after he upsets the entire European economy with one of his reports. His escape route isn't exactly what he'd expected.

The plot was really quite boring until the trip back in time. I knew it had to happen, but I had to wait too long for it. Unfortunately, I didn't like any of the characters enough to hang with them in the meantime. The women, especially, are either bimbos or completely obsessed with themselves . . . or both. Cannon himself couldn't make up his mind about his own wife; should he dump her or jump her?

The writing is great overall, and the environment is a huge part of the story. Descriptions are very good. The atmosphere is heavy and the monsters intense. I am glad the author didn't go into too many details about how time travel was possible.

Quite a bit of violence and suspense at the end of the book; adult situations include a rape and lots of talk about sexual appetites.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read it. ( )

It was a fun, light read for the first half of the book. Just a romp through old adventure style soft science fiction, all the tropes included with a sly wink at the reader here and there. The premise is fleshed out with details that make the entire proposition ridiculous, and that's part of the entertainment. Unfortunately, the book did have a content warning for a (unnecessary) rape scene midway through. I muddled through that incredibly problematic scene, but couldn't regain the interest I had enjoyed prior to that sequence of the novel. ( )

Eocene Station by Dave Duncan has a very interesting premise. The protagonist is capable and amusing. The heroine on the other hand is poorly written. The supposed "love" they feel for each other doesn't make a whole lot of sense, I wonder if the author really knows what love is. Overall, I liked the story of exploring the past, but Tempest was totally unbelievable as a character. It totally ruined what could have been a good book. ( )