- Paperback: 502 pages
- Publisher: New English Library Ltd; New edition edition (18 Mar 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0340696117
- ISBN-13: 978-0340696118
- Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 10.2 x 4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
667,538 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #63 in Books > Reference > Directories > Travel
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Product Description
Review
'Not since I discovered Clive Barker, have I enjoyed horror so much' -- Nightfall 'This is horror fiction as it should be written ... Absolutely bare-bollocked terrifying' -- SFX magazine on KING BLOOD 'A master of eerie thrills' -- Richard Laymon 'One of the best contemporary British horror writers ... Watch this man climb to Horror Heaven!' -- Deathrealm
SFX magazine on KING BLOOD
'This is horror fiction as it should be written . . . Absolutely bare-bollocked terrifying'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was prepared to be disappointed reading the first chapter of this book but baring with it was worthwhile and it turned out to be a very good read indeed.
Thematically it is definitely a horror read, there are grisly deaths or horrendous injury at the end of each chapter to begin with and these chapters are not very long to begin with, it is also a brilliant time travel narrative but while the characters philosophise and try to analysis their circumstances it does not become too indepth. I would describe the time travel aspect as being more akin to fantasy fiction than science fiction, it is a case of magical or mystical transport and/or some kind of prehistoric, ancient, forgotten "technology".
There arent any answers about how this operates, or doesnt operate correctly as the case may be, there are hints in a dream sequence in which a character moves to a horizon and enters a stage he has just left that failing to figure out how to leave at this point will result in being repeatedly subjected to transport by unexplained forces. I thought this was great, similar to HG Wells' brilliant The Time Machine (Penguin Classics), the process itself is mysterious to the reader but the point is to use time travel as a narrative tool, to present a human drama of individuals out of time and place.
Besides this I dont really consider that there are unfinished or unanswered aspects of the book. I kind of see it as a coherent and contained novel and it even finishes with "The End", while some aspects of the story, for instance one of the protagonists have five fingers rather than four fingers and a thumb or a grisly murder early in the story which is seemingly forgotten about but, perhaps on a second reading, these things make sense and relate to dialogue between the characters.
It is a human drama and character development is just brilliant, the protagonists are presented as entirely human, most of them are likeable, some tragic, others are despicable or at least selfish and arrogant but not without redeeming qualities altogether. The pace is great, it quickly develops into an action story with clear cut good and evil forces, the villains are one dimensional and wicked but it doesnt diminish the tale in anyway. The idea of refugees from other historical epoches invading more prosperous time lines was a little absurd and not really necessary but it can safely be overlooked as a piece of speculative dialogue which doesnt effect the overall story.
A great read which I'd recommend to fans of time travel, fantasy or horror fiction.
Thematically it is definitely a horror read, there are grisly deaths or horrendous injury at the end of each chapter to begin with and these chapters are not very long to begin with, it is also a brilliant time travel narrative but while the characters philosophise and try to analysis their circumstances it does not become too indepth. I would describe the time travel aspect as being more akin to fantasy fiction than science fiction, it is a case of magical or mystical transport and/or some kind of prehistoric, ancient, forgotten "technology".
There arent any answers about how this operates, or doesnt operate correctly as the case may be, there are hints in a dream sequence in which a character moves to a horizon and enters a stage he has just left that failing to figure out how to leave at this point will result in being repeatedly subjected to transport by unexplained forces. I thought this was great, similar to HG Wells' brilliant The Time Machine (Penguin Classics), the process itself is mysterious to the reader but the point is to use time travel as a narrative tool, to present a human drama of individuals out of time and place.
Besides this I dont really consider that there are unfinished or unanswered aspects of the book. I kind of see it as a coherent and contained novel and it even finishes with "The End", while some aspects of the story, for instance one of the protagonists have five fingers rather than four fingers and a thumb or a grisly murder early in the story which is seemingly forgotten about but, perhaps on a second reading, these things make sense and relate to dialogue between the characters.
It is a human drama and character development is just brilliant, the protagonists are presented as entirely human, most of them are likeable, some tragic, others are despicable or at least selfish and arrogant but not without redeeming qualities altogether. The pace is great, it quickly develops into an action story with clear cut good and evil forces, the villains are one dimensional and wicked but it doesnt diminish the tale in anyway. The idea of refugees from other historical epoches invading more prosperous time lines was a little absurd and not really necessary but it can safely be overlooked as a piece of speculative dialogue which doesnt effect the overall story.
A great read which I'd recommend to fans of time travel, fantasy or horror fiction.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book explores the theme of time travel, a group of people who are largely strangers are taken back in time for reasons they gradually begin to theorize about. They find themselves eventually on a mission to save the world. This is a wonderful exciting and riveting read, and I have come back to Amazon to get some more by the same author, thats how good it was! The characters are believable and human and I cared about what happened to them. There are several parts of the plot which are left unexplained at the end which hopefully means that a sequel is being planned. I found it impossible to put this book down until I had finished it.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book starts promisingly enough, but devolves into the "massed battle/carnage/personel heroics" scenario seemingly so beloved of formulaic fantasy writers. Several issues are left unresolved at the end; the use of a certain item mentioned and described a number of times, a recurring dream sequence is not explained, and the validity of the heroes theories on their predicament is neither confirmed or invalidated. Having said all that, I did enjoy the book; the action set pieces are well written, the characterisations are good, and you find yourself caring about what happens to them. It was all slightly Wellsian, Morlocks and Eloi sprang to mind, but not enough to make draw obvious parallels.... A sequel which covers the points raised earlier would be a good idea.
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