I have not seen Torchwood! But I am a skilled guesser when it comes to media. Also, my friends list talks about it a lot. (And posts links to things. Mostly to pictures of people kissing, or maybe having anal sex right there on a stage. The Torchwood cast doesn't seem to be shy, is what I'm saying.)

Also, have you ever read any of Kage Baker's "Company" series?

I made an attempt at "The Garden of Iden" once and kind of...did not get engrossed. At all. But it sounds like something I would LOVE, and since you say it gets better (first novels happen to everyone, after all), I will definitely try it again. I wonder if it is available for the Kindle?