WOULD it be possible to travel through time to save the human race if the sun threatened to swallow the Earth?

That is the type of question novelist Barry Woodham plays with as he creates science fiction works in his Old Town study.

Among the sharks' heads and piles of magazines, the retired design engineer furiously types out plot lines and letters in equal measure.

The 64-year-old has already found customers for his novels on the Amazon website, but he is searching for new audiences as he starts penning his fourth work.

Barry worked on the nuclear fusion project at Culham in Oxfordshire for 13 years and has always been fascinated by science and fiction.

He said: "The people that have read my stuff say it is the science fiction that they used to read years ago, full of new ideas and alien civilisations.

"I have read science fiction since I was a boy and the idea of contemplating worm holes and time travel has always fascinated me.

"My readers say they want more but all I want is for people to read and enjoy my output."

In December 2004, Barry's book Genesis 2 was previewed in the Advertiser.

It chronicled the events that led to a re-created humanity and an alien race called the Gnathe, who helped each other to remove the Gnathen tyrant, Link-soo-shan.

Barry said: "Since then I have had my second book, The Genesis Debt, also self-published and placed on Amazon.

"That novel explores the possibility of travelling through time to rescue all of humanity before the sun swallows the Earth.

"This gave me the idea of producing a series called The Genesis Project as when I finished one book it led me to another possibility."

Barry's third book was locally printed in Swindon, with the help of editor Charles Muller of Diadem Books.

Barry is supported by his wife Janet, 64, and three sons, Roger, 39, David, 37, and Stevan, 35, in his efforts to find a mainline publisher.

The grandfather-of-two said: " I am still attempting to interest a mainline publisher in my output and I have to admit it is hard going.

"But my editor is adamant that he will keep going until he finds someone who recognises the opportunity.

"What comes after that depends on whether I can still dream up more plotlines or even if I can still write, as you can only continue so long without encouragement."

If his writing career never takes off in the way he would like, Barry has the small consolation that he has been referred to as Swindon's Atheist for his prolific secular letters to the Adver.

He said: "I love sending in letters, and it was great to see the reference in the paper."

For more information about Barry's books, email hookfieldallen@aol.com