'The Douglas Convolution' (190 pp) is DAW Book No. 359, published in October 1979. The cover art is by Don Maitz.
Edward Llewellyn (1917 - 1984) was a UK author who published a number of sf novels in the late 70s and early 80s, all by DAW Books. 'The Douglas Convolution' is the first volume in the so-called Douglas Convolution trilogy; the other volumes, which are more prequels than sequels, are 'The Bright Companion' (1980) and 'Prelude to Chaos' (1983).
The lead character is an ex-Marine and mathematician in his mid-30s named Ian Douglas. As the novel opens, Douglas is embarking on an unusual experiment informed by his lifelong interest in mathematics: he can predict the location of a wormhole that allows for one-way travel forward to the future.
To test his theory, in September 1980 Douglas travels to a remote beach on Hudson's Bay, where he has calculated the wormhole will appear. No sooner has Douglas stepped into the mist where sea meets shore, than he finds himself instantaneously transported to the year 2170.
North America in 2170 is not doing well. As the result of a past pharmacological disaster, most of the continent is thinly populated, with vast tracts of land reverting to wilderness. The population is kept tractable by the widespread use of a tranquilizer called Paxin. Technology is only moderately more advanced than that of the late 20th century, with mechanical conveyances limited to small fleets of helicopters and ground effect vehicles.
The Governors who rule the 10 Sectors of North America are inept, and too preoccupied with political intrigues, to pay necessary attention to strengthening the borders of their territories, some of which are under constant attack from bands of brutal raiders known as 'druj'.
Assuming the identity of a deceased military policeman allows Ian Douglas to live in this new society with his secret of time travel intact. Using his military and mathematical skills, Douglas soon brings order to the lawless frontier of what used to be called Virginia. This makes him an indispensable man to the oligarchs of the North American Sectors. But, as Douglas is to discover, the oligarchs are more than willing to deceive him in order to advance their own aims...........
'The Douglas Convolution' is one of those action - adventure sci-fi novels that starts off well; the author uses a clear, declarative prose style, keeps his chapters short, and the narrative moving along at a good clip. Unfortunately things slow down considerably in the middle chapters, as the plot centers on political conflicts that, despite extensive pages of stilted dialogue, come across as muddled and overly contrived.
There are also segments in these middle chapters that didn't bother me all that much, but, in this modern day and age, likely will be criticized as being exploitative and Un-Woke(n).
The unconvincing nature of its sci-fi elements and backstory led me to give 'The Douglas Convolutions' a three star rating. I can't call it a must-have example of 80s sci-fi, but if you're looking for a short, compact adventure novel, it will fit the bill.
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