Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
Against the Tide of Years (Island in the Sea of Time #2)
George R. R. Martin hailed S. M. Stirling's bestselling novel Island in the Sea of Time as "an utterly engaging account of what happens when the isle of Nantucket is whisked back into the Bronze Age." Now the adventure continues with Against the Tide of Years.
MP3 Book, 0 pages
Published
January 8th 2009
by Tantor Media, Inc.
(first published May 1st 1999)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
2,704)
I enjoyed Island in the Sea of Time more as I went along, so I'm willing to give this one a chance. But really, the writing style and over-all plot seem to coincide just a BIT too closely with the 'dark and mysterious stranger' bio pic the author included that CLEARLY indicates his position as ren-faire roleplayer extraodinaire. And the social commentary and revenge of the nerds mentality DOES get a little heavy at times.
Regarding the first novel in this series, 'Island in The Sea of Time', the premise was interesting and I like the characters but, something was missing. There is a more than enough detail on how things work or are built, etc. but the writing never felt electric or moving in the way that great authors do. I don't expect every writer to be great but, if it's going to be a novel of ideas and conjecture, the writing style and prose should have passages that really strike deep. If it's going to be a...more
Oct 13, 2011
Books-treasureortrash
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
reviewed,
science-fiction
Book Review: 2 Treasure Boxes
pages), ASIN: B001NNC0KG
The Island of Nantucket moved 3,000 years into the past 8 years ago. Against the Tide of Years shows how the Islander's are adapting, what impact they are having on the Bronze age society. Walker and his evil wife Alice Hong are still rampaging and causing strife wherever they go, it is now time to track them down and stop them but something always seems to interfere with this task.
This is the second of three books in the Nantucket series, and...more
pages), ASIN: B001NNC0KG
The Island of Nantucket moved 3,000 years into the past 8 years ago. Against the Tide of Years shows how the Islander's are adapting, what impact they are having on the Bronze age society. Walker and his evil wife Alice Hong are still rampaging and causing strife wherever they go, it is now time to track them down and stop them but something always seems to interfere with this task.
This is the second of three books in the Nantucket series, and...more
Stirling continues the saga of the time-displaced Nantucket Island, swept back in time to 1250 BC by a still unexplained Event. As in the first title Island in the Sea of Time the Republic of Nantucket is making technical strides, reaching out to the Bronze Age cultures in North America, England, Africa, and the Middle East in the hopes of surrounding and catching the renegade William Walker, who is making similar strides in Greece, Sicily, Eastern Europe, and Anatolia.
Stirling does an excellent...more
Stirling does an excellent...more
Ok, so this is the 2nd book of a series, but this review will suffice for the first two books.
The series deals with the island of Nantucket getting sent back in time to about 1200B.C., and how the people of the island deal with the sudden changes in their lives.
The bad side of the series is that Stirling enjoys writing about the technical details of everything. He describes how the ships sail in detail in the first book, and goes into long descriptions of how the forges work and such. I recogni...more
The series deals with the island of Nantucket getting sent back in time to about 1200B.C., and how the people of the island deal with the sudden changes in their lives.
The bad side of the series is that Stirling enjoys writing about the technical details of everything. He describes how the ships sail in detail in the first book, and goes into long descriptions of how the forges work and such. I recogni...more
SOLID followup to the first book (which you obviously MUST read before this one)
When Stirling starts listing all the multiple timelines at the beginning of each chapter it's best to just ignore them and keep reading. I swear, he starts some chapters with FOUR time-stamps (with some in parenthesis) that you are suppossed to keep track of and correllate to the various constantly shifting perspectives!! Is he insane? If you want people to follow such things list them at the start of each perspectiv...more
When Stirling starts listing all the multiple timelines at the beginning of each chapter it's best to just ignore them and keep reading. I swear, he starts some chapters with FOUR time-stamps (with some in parenthesis) that you are suppossed to keep track of and correllate to the various constantly shifting perspectives!! Is he insane? If you want people to follow such things list them at the start of each perspectiv...more
May 14, 2012
Cv Rick
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
time-travel,
science-fiction
I guess it's predictable that this book was going to end right at the cusp of the war. I suppose Stirling had outdone himself when he ended the first book at a point where the main plot had resolved, yet there was enough turmoil to keep the readers interested in another book.
This is still filled with characters of perfection, or as I like to refer to them - cardboard cutouts with good and bad written on them. Is complex characterization too much to ask? I suppose it is.
There also seems to be to...more
This is still filled with characters of perfection, or as I like to refer to them - cardboard cutouts with good and bad written on them. Is complex characterization too much to ask? I suppose it is.
There also seems to be to...more
I enjoyed the book overall. We have moved into the ancient world that is more familiar. We are connecting with Homer's heroes before they become heros. As history changes they won't get to be heroes. We see Troy, Babylon, Assyrian and even the Hittite empire. It was interesting having all those Empires interacting at once without one dominant force. If I remember right the Hittites should have had dominance along with Egypt. Babylon and Assyria have several centuries before their dominance or ev...more
I enjoyed this book as Stirling develops this alternate world with the bad guys rising up to dominate 2000 BC. William Walker just keeps getting stronger while the champions of freedom and goodness win battles but seem to be losing the war.
As I listened to this book I keep sort of rooting for Walker. He represents a type of person I wish I could be more alike. He is a driven character. He knows what he wants and he lets nothing get in his way. He wants to be King of the World and he does all in...more
As I listened to this book I keep sort of rooting for Walker. He represents a type of person I wish I could be more alike. He is a driven character. He knows what he wants and he lets nothing get in his way. He wants to be King of the World and he does all in...more
I think that I have a soft spot for alternate history and I know I have a soft spot for all things about the Bronze Age . . . so maybe I am biased but I can't help but rate this as an all around amazing book! Although, I think that the Coast Guard is most likely not as hard core as they're portrayed . . . the Marine Corps of the Bronze Age kicks freaking a**!
I can't wait to get caught up on this series and see how how it ends! S.M. Stirling is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers and as l...more
I can't wait to get caught up on this series and see how how it ends! S.M. Stirling is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers and as l...more
Apr 29, 2009
Donald
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
sci-fi-fantasy,
read-in-2009
This would have been closer to four stars if it weren't for all the jumping around in the sequence of the story. I had to keep flipping back to the start of each chapter to confirm when things were taking place. Stirling used the dual timelines much more effectively in "The Protector's War", here it had me more annoyed than engaged.
That said, I enjoyed the continuing adventures of the Nantucket crowd and their long distance maneuvering against Walker and his crew. Being the second in the series...more
That said, I enjoyed the continuing adventures of the Nantucket crowd and their long distance maneuvering against Walker and his crew. Being the second in the series...more
This alternate history series consists of:
Island in the Sea of Time
Against the Tide of Years
On the Oceans of Eternity
The island of Nantucket and the Coast Guard barque Eagle are mysteriously sent back in time to around 1000 BC. Being too small a society for self-sufficience, the inhabitants (including many seasonal visitors) must go out in the world and survive using technology and cunning. Epic adventure, well researched and well written.
Note: Stirling’s Emberverse series is connected to the...more
Island in the Sea of Time
Against the Tide of Years
On the Oceans of Eternity
The island of Nantucket and the Coast Guard barque Eagle are mysteriously sent back in time to around 1000 BC. Being too small a society for self-sufficience, the inhabitants (including many seasonal visitors) must go out in the world and survive using technology and cunning. Epic adventure, well researched and well written.
Note: Stirling’s Emberverse series is connected to the...more
In book #1 Island in the Sea of Time, modern day Nantucket and its inhabitants are transported back to the Stone Age. In this sequel, one of their own has broken ranks with the group and stepped out to forge his own destiny and be a ruler rather than be ruled. Characters such as Agamemnon and Odysseus are Walker's foils to get what he wants. Commodore Alston has ships to command and fight against Phoenician vessels who have been supplied with cannons. Both sides try to beat each other to the Bab...more
Aug 25, 2012
Kim
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
action,
adventure,
alternate-history,
book-club,
historical,
war,
time-travel,
male-author,
1990s,
book-club-scifi-and-fantasy
The second book of the Nantucket series picks up a couple years after the first book, though there are bits and pieces set during the intervening years as well. The Nantucketers have spread further around the globe with numerous bases in North and Central America as well as the British Isles, South Africa and the western Indian Ocean.
After the events in book one Walker has established himself firmly in ancient Greece where he is building an empire. It is up to the Nantucketers to find and recru...more
After the events in book one Walker has established himself firmly in ancient Greece where he is building an empire. It is up to the Nantucketers to find and recru...more
Probably closer to a 3.5 star rating than just 3.
Anyway. There were parts of this that I enjoyed much more than I did the first book and there were other parts that didn't strike me as interesting as the first novel. The climax of this one was dramatic and all, but it didn't have the same kind of dramatic quality as Walker's defection and betrayal. I'm still going to read the last one, because a) some of these characters are just the most interesting characters I've encountered in speculative fi...more
Anyway. There were parts of this that I enjoyed much more than I did the first book and there were other parts that didn't strike me as interesting as the first novel. The climax of this one was dramatic and all, but it didn't have the same kind of dramatic quality as Walker's defection and betrayal. I'm still going to read the last one, because a) some of these characters are just the most interesting characters I've encountered in speculative fi...more
Jul 20, 2012
Amblingbooks.com
marked it as to-read
George R. R. Martin hailed S. M. Stirling's bestselling novel Island in the Sea of Time as 'an utterly engaging account of what happens when the isle of Nantucket is whisked back into the Bronze Age.' Now the adventure continues with Against the Tide of Years.
Listen to Against the Tide of Years on your smartphone, notebook or desktop computer.
Listen to Against the Tide of Years on your smartphone, notebook or desktop computer.
The battle continues and so does the excitement. I'm enjoying the series and plan to jump right on into the last book this month. This may not be an original concept for a story, but it is the first such type that I have read and I'm finding myself getting sweep up in the ancient world meeting modern man.
I guess most of the main players from the first book were back, though we didn't get to see enough of them. I'm hoping that will change with the last book. We got to meet or get to know better s...more
This is a good sequel. It's not a great book, but it's solid. Well-researched, nicely paced. My one gripe would be that the action jumps around between characters, and some of them aren't memorable and/or interesting enough to easily follow the transitions. I'm going to read the third in the series, if that's any indication of my enthusiasm.
The second book was better than the first in my opinion. A little more action, a little more interesting in how they are adapting to the time with the available resources and technology. The bad guy is bad, it always comes to the villian. He makes me want to finish the series to see how it ends.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I'm rating this and the others in the trilogy several months after reading, thus I think, the 3 stars instead of 4. I enjoyed the stories quite a bit as escapist fare, but looking back they don't stand out in my mind as especially good books. YMMV.
This was a good book that I would have given 4 stars to if it hadn't been an audio book. Long books lose something when they are audio books. They become confusing because of the complex plots, the multiple story lines, and the 'cast of thousands'. I can read quite fast, and find it annoying when I can't listen faster, so by the end of long audio books it is always a relief, no matter how good it was.
I read the first in this series, Island in the Sea of Time, back in 2000 on the recommendation of my brother. I really loved the duck-out-of-water story of modern-day Nantucket, pulled from our time and transported to sometime in the B.C. 800s. I actually started this second book not too long after the first, and put it down because it just didn't capture my attention. This time--though I wanted to put it down-- I persevered. I just couldn't get into it. I just didn't care. I was so done with th...more
i really do wish they'd include a map with the old world names for places. i have some idea of the historical places they are refering to from other reading, but it would help.
I was hoping for some of the brilliance I saw in the first book but this book was just a long stretch of descriptions. A firefight stretching over 100 pages -.-
This is an interesting alternate history. The first book was more intriguing, but there's lots of good vs. evil/have we already changed the future we came from...
Not quite as good as the first book, but definitely enjoyable still. At times I felt bogged down a bit by the extreme amount of military and nautical detail. It didn't ruin the story, but did slow me down a bit more than normal. I'm looking forward to reading book 3 still and seeing if Walker is finally dealt with and how badly everyone suffers doing it.
3.5 stars
I enjoyed Against the Tide of Years, but there were a lot of extremely slow parts. I found it difficult to slog through these parts or to want to pick the book up again afterwards. But the parts that were interesting really held my attention, including those where advancements were discussed by the islanders or when they would meet with ancient civilizations. The parts where they allied with the Babylonians and made war on Walker were especially entertaining. Overall I felt it was not a...more
I enjoyed Against the Tide of Years, but there were a lot of extremely slow parts. I found it difficult to slog through these parts or to want to pick the book up again afterwards. But the parts that were interesting really held my attention, including those where advancements were discussed by the islanders or when they would meet with ancient civilizations. The parts where they allied with the Babylonians and made war on Walker were especially entertaining. Overall I felt it was not a...more
This is the second book in the series and continues the story of the first without any fundamental surprises. The Americans of Nantucket, stranded in the past, gear themselves up for war against the unpleasant renegade William Walker and his followers, who have established control of an expanding empire based in Greece.
Stirling shows off to good effect his extensive research into ancient history, and there are some mildly congenial characters. But the book seems long, and feels like the middle b...more
Stirling shows off to good effect his extensive research into ancient history, and there are some mildly congenial characters. But the book seems long, and feels like the middle b...more
Jan 23, 2011
Mieczyslaw Kasprzyk
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
alternative-history,
science-fiction
Having read "Island in the Sea of Time in the middle of November I just couldn't wait to see what happened and to get on the next stage of this exciting adventure... and I was not let down! Absolutely brilliant!
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SciFi and Fantasy...: "Against the Tide of Years" Final Thoughts *Spoilers* | 2 | 25 | Aug 29, 2012 04:23am | |
| SciFi and Fantasy...: Book 2 - First Impressions *Book 1 Spoilers Only* | 4 | 24 | Aug 05, 2012 07:01am |
Stephen Michael Stirling is a French-born Canadian-American science fiction and fantasy author. Stirling is probably best known for his Draka series of alternate history novels and the more recent time travel/alternate history Nantucket series and Emberverse series.
More about S.M. Stirling...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
