or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
More Buying Choices
27 used & new from £0.24
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
No Present Like Time (Gollancz S.F.)
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

No Present Like Time (Gollancz S.F.) (Paperback)

by Steph Swainston (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
RRP: £6.99
Price: £5.49 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £1.50 (21%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Only 1 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

9 new from £0.99 18 used from £0.24
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover (First Edition, First Impression) £9.99 £8.99 27 used & new from £0.01
Paperback £8.47 £8.51 20 used & new from £1.51

Frequently Bought Together

No Present Like Time (Gollancz S.F.) + The Modern World (Gollancz S.F.) + The Year of Our War (Gollancz S.F.)
Price For All Three: £17.46

Show availability and shipping details

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Modern World (Gollancz S.F.)

The Modern World (Gollancz S.F.)

by Steph Swainston
4.6 out of 5 stars (7)  £5.98
The Year of Our War (Gollancz S.F.)

The Year of Our War (Gollancz S.F.)

by Steph Swainston
3.8 out of 5 stars (19)  £5.99
The Scar

The Scar

by China Mieville
4.5 out of 5 stars (26)  £5.97
Un Lun Dun

Un Lun Dun

by China Mieville
3.7 out of 5 stars (17)  £5.44
Perdido Street Station

Perdido Street Station

by China Mieville
4.1 out of 5 stars (99)  £4.85
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Gollancz; New Ed edition (13 Jul 2006)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0575077980
  • ISBN-13: 978-0575077980
  • Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 11.2 x 3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 109,989 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Product Description

THE GUARDIAN

"An uncompromisingly classy act." --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.


Review

"A more original sort of fantasy. " (Roz Kaveney TIME OUT )

For my money Swainston is one of the best British authors writing in any genre. She has a facility with language and a genius for plot and character which Booker prize winners could, and should, be envious of. The Hobbs, Brookses and Feists of this world may well outsell it, but this will be the outstanding fantasy book of the year by a country mile (Publishing News )

"An uncompromisingly classy act." (THE GUARDIAN )

'NO PRESENT LIKE TIME is a welcome return to the world Swainston put on paper so delectably first time round. Whereas THE YEAR OF OUR WAR centred on - you guessed it - a war, NO PRESENT LIKE TIME has more of a political edge, embossed with flawless, deep characterization. (This is) an extremely unusual, familiar yet at the same time extraordinarily original novel. There's joy to discover on every page, even if that page does involve some poor fool getting his read ripped off' (Jayne Dearsley SFX )

"Once again, Steph Swainston has created a remarkable work of fantasy, both refreshing and enjoyable. It is great to see such a revitalisation of the genre with brilliant new authors like her leading the way." (OUTLAND ) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
See all Product Description

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(1)
See all 2 tags...

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

No Present Like Time (Gollancz S.F.)
80% buy the item featured on this page:
No Present Like Time (Gollancz S.F.) 4.8 out of 5 stars (8)
£5.49
The Year of Our War (Gollancz S.F.)
12% buy
The Year of Our War (Gollancz S.F.) 3.8 out of 5 stars (19)
£5.99
The Modern World (Gollancz S.F.)
6% buy
The Modern World (Gollancz S.F.) 4.6 out of 5 stars (7)
£5.98
Matter
2% buy
Matter 3.4 out of 5 stars (117)
£4.97
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
5 star:
 (6)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Charming and slightly weird, 8 Jul 2005
By salenku (england) - See all my reviews
This review is from: No Present Like Time (Gollancz S.F.) (Hardcover)
I bought this book fairly soon after publication because I really liked its prequel, Year Of Our War, but felt that it ended a bit suddenly. But No Present Like Time takes the brave stance of deepening rather than answering the questions of Year of Our War. Of course, this also makes it perfectly easy to read if you've not read the prequel.

It picks up 5 years after the close of Year Of Our War, and the central plot focuses upon an expedition to a newly discovered island off the western coast. The ambiguous quality of the Emperor San and his immortal Circle - yes, some people do get to become immortal, but the remaining mortals are ruled fairly brutally - is developed here through a somewhat obvious contrast with the democratically-inclined and peaceful islanders. Having said that, I love the main character, Comet Jant Shira, an immortal with the ability to fly who remains throughout this book an endearing loser struggling to cope with an errant wife and a serious addiction problem. There's also a sweet plot involving the challenge of a mortal to replace the Immortal swordsman in the Circle.

What I liked about this book was the shifting, uncertain backdrop and the deeply realistic characterisation. Swainston has created a world in which not only the physical realities but also the spiritual assumptions made by the characters are fluid and indeterminate. It's strangely not-like other fantasy I've read. I'd highly recommend it if you prefer to focus on character over plot, and if you're not likely to be put off by some deeply dreamlike sequences (cars made out of flesh, anyone?). Like its prequel, this is a strange and complex book, and, like its prequel, I thought it was lovely.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars I'm glad there was a second book!, , 12 Nov 2006
This review is from: No Present Like Time (Paperback)
I read "The Year of Our War", the first book in this series, and I was fascinated by the imagination of Ms. Swainston. Creating a world with immortals, insects and such a vast history, with parallel but connected universe(s) as well.

I was unaware that there would be a second book. I am glad I found it. I understand book 3 is in the works and look forward to it.

The second book follows the immortals, specifically Jant Comet the Messenger, to new worlds and old parallel ones. The character development, especially of Jant and Lightning, continue to develop in this installment, as Jant battles doubts about himself and his addiction, doubts about the immortals, and physical enemies both human and non. More of Jant and Lightnings pasts are revealed, as are some of the Emperors past. New areas of the physical world are discovered, and new parts of the parallel worlds with new allies and foes are presented as well.

The conclusion leaves open many angles for the third book, including the return of God who created the immortals, more invasions by the insects and other possible parallel world bleed overs.

This is not your average fantasy. It reads well and quickly, opens the readers imagination, and challenges them to keep up with the leaps. I eagerly await more.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars More of the same, 27 Oct 2007
By Mr. S. Crook "porkycat" (North of the M25) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
As The Year Of Our War. More wandering narrative from the 'hero' Jant, more plot threads, more excellent writing in what looks like becoming something of a ground breaking fantasy series.

This is at least as good as the first book if not better. Swainston takes no prisoners, she gives nothing away, and you have to read and pay attention to everything, because sooner or later what was apparently pointless background makes sense of the present narrative. For me at least the book manages a near perfect balance between action, characterisation and description. There's always something interesting going on, and the blend between things we're familiar with from our world and the outright fantasy elements is handled with ease.

Read The Year Of Our War first, if you don't, you'll miss out on the motivation of a lot of the leading characters. Unlike many authors Swainston doesn't organise events to help out new readers by having characters regurgitate events from an earlier volume.


Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars "No Present Like Time"
After reading the first three books, I'm utterly devoted to Steph Swainston's faultless writing, beautiful poetry, inspired characters and settings, and her mode of storytelling... Read more
Published 7 days ago by David Brookes

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming second book in the Fourlands
While the first book "The Year of Our War" ended too suddenly, this second novel seems to have difficulty in finding a focus. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Book Pusher

5.0 out of 5 stars A very fine sequel
The writer can purportedly be gauged more by the sequel than the original. If this is true of No Present Like Time then Steph has shown herself to be a writer of inimitable... Read more
Published 18 months ago by D. Powell

5.0 out of 5 stars Most captivating novel of last 2 years
I devour books from this genre and i have to say this and the first book are the best pair for some time. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Simon R. Williams

5.0 out of 5 stars Just might change your mind
I don't read fantasy because I don't like fantasy.
I read this, I liked it.
Try it, you might like it.
Published 24 months ago by just some bloke

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject








i.e., each product must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback

Ad

Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.