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120th out of 253 books
—
379 voters
Emperor (Time's Tapestry #1)
Inscribed in Latin, The Prophecy has resided in the hands of a single family for generations, revealing secrets about the world that is to come, and guiding them to wealth and power...
It begins when a Celtic noble betrays his people at the behest of his mother's belief in The Prophecy and sides with the conquering Roman legions. For the next 400 years, Britannia thrives-...more
It begins when a Celtic noble betrays his people at the behest of his mother's belief in The Prophecy and sides with the conquering Roman legions. For the next 400 years, Britannia thrives-...more
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published
January 2nd 2007
by Ace Hardcover
(first published 2006)
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Genre: Science Fiction/Alternative History[return]Setting: Roman Britain[return]No. of pages:[return]Part of a series: Yes, 1st book in Time's Tapestry Quartet.[return]Next book: Conqueror[return][return]A woman going through a difficult birth starts uttering words in latin, a language she doesn't know. It is a prophecy, a prophecy that will echo down the centuries...[return][return]This book is set mostly in Roman Britain, from before the Romans came to Britain to the fall of Rome. The book is...more
Doh! I've been tricked again! This book isn't science fiction! It's not even fantasy, but historical fiction with a VERY little bit of speculation that a prophecy could be someone's attempt to change history from the future.
The discussion of the nature and symptoms of the collapse of the Roman empire was interesting. He even introspectively (half-jokingly?) suggests through one of his characters that every middle-aged man projects his own looming senescence on the world around him, seeing whatev...more
The discussion of the nature and symptoms of the collapse of the Roman empire was interesting. He even introspectively (half-jokingly?) suggests through one of his characters that every middle-aged man projects his own looming senescence on the world around him, seeing whatev...more
A historical novel following two indigenous families from the point of time the Romans expansion into Britain after Caesar through Constantine. The families are linked together by a prophecy. I found the book to be very entertaining if a bit shallow, particularly the dialog and story development. The leaps in time and space with the families continuing to find each other is a bit of a reach. It was particularly hard to believe that in one case, after one family had been doomed to 2 centuries of...more
Set in Ancient Roman times, centered around the second invasion of Briton with Hadrian. Some may find redeemable qualities of this book; the attention to details here and there, the actual use of Latin in the text, and the building mysteries, however I found myself not even being able to read this one cover to cover. The plot is vague at first, as each chapter jumps ahead in time too many years to keep up with the characters given to said chapter. Character development is highly lacking, and the...more
Stephen Baxter is a good author, and I generally find his books easy to read. I came at this book from having primarily read his more straight-out science fiction novels, and found this to be very different. It is essentially a generational saga of an British family, starting at the time of Claudius' invasion and following this family through until the 5th century AD - after the Romans had left.
As the first book in a series called Time's Tapestry, I was expecting some alternate history or someth...more
As the first book in a series called Time's Tapestry, I was expecting some alternate history or someth...more
I read this book just after I moved to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne so the historical background of the book (Hadrian's Wall) was interesting to me to understand more of the past of the place I had moved to.
As far as I can tell (I am no Roman Empire specialist), the historical details show that the author has deeply researched historical truth before writing. However, the feeling of true historical background does not match at all with the Prophecy story that guides the book. I finished the book more by...more
As far as I can tell (I am no Roman Empire specialist), the historical details show that the author has deeply researched historical truth before writing. However, the feeling of true historical background does not match at all with the Prophecy story that guides the book. I finished the book more by...more
Stephen Baxter returns with a new–and surprising–series, called
Time’s Tapestry
. In the first book of the series, Baxter chronicles the rise and fall of the Roman Empire in Britain. Time’s Tapestry is positioned as an alternate history epic.
In Emperor , readers are introduced to the Prophecy of Nectovelin, which is central to the entire series. Broken into several parts, Emperor follows the descendents of Nectovelin through history, beginning with the second Roman invasion of Britain, and chron...more
In Emperor , readers are introduced to the Prophecy of Nectovelin, which is central to the entire series. Broken into several parts, Emperor follows the descendents of Nectovelin through history, beginning with the second Roman invasion of Britain, and chron...more
This was a good book, especially in the way it detailed the building of Hadrian's wall and the decline of the Roman Empire, at least as it applied to Britain. My only complaint: I just didn't feel that the people who received this prophecy from the future (the mysterious "Weaver") would have received it as such. It would be far more likely to be taken as a message from one of their gods. And I am left with a question concerning who is actually sending these messages into the past, and whether th...more
This book stood out for me. It's historical fiction, and it's a great introduction to why "historical fiction" deserves it's own category. It complimented my world history classes very well. It painted a great picture of day to day life in ancient England. It focused on a historical event and made it interesting. The characters were believable but brief. The book seemed to be concerned with history and if it didn't have much to do with world event's, it kept things brief. That could be a negativ...more
As a huge fan of sci-fi, time travel, alternate history, and the Roman empire, I thought I would love, love, love this book. Turns out I was wrong. Sure, there was plenty of the Roman empire in the book, but sci-fi? Time travel? Come ON! In addition, the characters were weak and annoying, and I didn't notice any character development at all. The book was very obviously written by a man, judging by the description of labor pain - and description (or lack of thereof) all in all.
Then again, it's no...more
Then again, it's no...more
This was one of the hardest books to finish, but I'm glad I did. The first 3 times I tried to read it I got caught up . This is an epic without the length. The story is about one families survival through the time of Rome's occupation of Britain. It starts with Agrippina and Cunella and their ill-fated love and it goes on through their two families through the next 400 or so years.
The story is told in parts which makes it easier to read once you get past the initial 60 pages which seem to drag....more
The story is told in parts which makes it easier to read once you get past the initial 60 pages which seem to drag....more
Put it in time-travel, altrough its really an alternate history. If I read more alternate histories, maybe I'll add a shelf an fix that.
And, for that matter - the title of the book is Emporer. So, if I type that into the goodreads search box, why do I get back lots of books without emporer in their title first? I mean, I like 'quo vadis' but, if I'm searching on "emporer" I don't really mean that one. *sigh*
this one was interesting....a prophesy comes back to a mother dying in childbirth, dealin...more
And, for that matter - the title of the book is Emporer. So, if I type that into the goodreads search box, why do I get back lots of books without emporer in their title first? I mean, I like 'quo vadis' but, if I'm searching on "emporer" I don't really mean that one. *sigh*
this one was interesting....a prophesy comes back to a mother dying in childbirth, dealin...more
While I finished this book, i won't be reading any others in the series. I found the lack of character development and the skipping over several centuries at a time quite annoying. This could have been a really good read if the author had developed this single novel into the whole series, properly developing the characters and feel for the different periods in Roman Britain. The historical research was excellent, I loved the way the feel of the towns and the different eras were conveyed, it real...more
The book is the first in a four part story concerning the Weaver.
This book covers the period in British history from the arrival of the Romans under Claudius up to Constantine.
The story is epic and was follows the history of a prophesy spoken in Latin during a birth and the mother's descendants.
I did have to put the book down on occasions as I found it hard going at times but this hasn't stopped me finishing the book and buying the next in the series.
This book covers the period in British history from the arrival of the Romans under Claudius up to Constantine.
The story is epic and was follows the history of a prophesy spoken in Latin during a birth and the mother's descendants.
I did have to put the book down on occasions as I found it hard going at times but this hasn't stopped me finishing the book and buying the next in the series.
Apr 21, 2012
Bryan
added it
Stephen Baxter's work of historical fiction centers around several generations (spanning over 400 years) of a British bloodline, whose members' lives are shaped, for good or ill, by a prophecy.
Emperor is a satisfactory read. The narrative is gripping at times, but the storyline gets tiring after the time of Audax's adulthood. For those who are interested, there is a follow-on book as this is the first installment in the Time's Tapestry series. Any history buff would only guess precisely what wo...more
Emperor is a satisfactory read. The narrative is gripping at times, but the storyline gets tiring after the time of Audax's adulthood. For those who are interested, there is a follow-on book as this is the first installment in the Time's Tapestry series. Any history buff would only guess precisely what wo...more
I came across this book at my local library and when I saw it was first of a series, grabbed it.
The story gives a good insight into the early days of Britain, with the return of the Romans - building of Hadrians Wall etc.
Running through the story is the people involved in the Prophecy of Nectovelin.
Just about to start the 2nd book called Conqueror which has the time period 1066.
The story gives a good insight into the early days of Britain, with the return of the Romans - building of Hadrians Wall etc.
Running through the story is the people involved in the Prophecy of Nectovelin.
Just about to start the 2nd book called Conqueror which has the time period 1066.
I really don't know what I was thinking when I picked this novel up at the library ~ but thoroughly enjoyed it! A pleasant blend of history and fantasy/sci fi, I found myself checking out the whole series to read in a weekend. Baxter has an easy reading style, he tosses in enough historical events to hold my interest, and I really wanted to see how the series finished.
Jul 30, 2011
Joel Sassone
added it
A potentially interesting alternate(?) history series is somewhat hamstrung by the constant skipping ahead to later generations. Just as you get to know a group of characters, they all die and you're being introduced to some new characters from the previous batch's future. The series has potential, though, so we'll see where Baxter goes with it... 3/5 stars.
a great introduction to historical fiction for myself and i loved the description of the Roman battles. Those guys should have ruled the world if it wasn't for the barbarians trashing it all. I've only read the first three books of the series and this would have to be the strongest of the 3
I enjoyed this book although I became a little, tiny bit bored towards the end.
I think I'll persevere with the series, Baxter is a decent writer and the book has dramatically improved my knowledge of the Roman Empire in general and Roman Britain in particular, and that's always a good thing.
I think I'll persevere with the series, Baxter is a decent writer and the book has dramatically improved my knowledge of the Roman Empire in general and Roman Britain in particular, and that's always a good thing.
The book is several stories based around the time of the Romans which follows the progression of a prophecy through several generations and I found it an interesting way to tell a story.
Having read the book, I discovered it was "alternate history". Having very little knowledge of the Romans, I hadn't actually realised the book wasn't all 'fact' as all the bits I recognised from my distant days at school seemed to gel with the book. So, sadly, I have no idea which bits of the book were meant to b...more
Having read the book, I discovered it was "alternate history". Having very little knowledge of the Romans, I hadn't actually realised the book wasn't all 'fact' as all the bits I recognised from my distant days at school seemed to gel with the book. So, sadly, I have no idea which bits of the book were meant to b...more
it was a very slow read for me. i found it to be a big graphic as well, for something i found in the young adult section of the library. there were also a few too many homosexual references than i felt were necessary to prove the point. i found it thin with plot and thick with mundane details until the very last chapter.
I picked up this book on the SALE table at a book expo and thought 'meh, sounds alright'. How wrong was I?!! I couldn't put it down! I LOVE the historical aspect entwined with time travel and the 'Weaver', and the character lineages. I was hooked
it was good for the historical bent. he does a nice job of drawing parallels between modern life and Roman life in Britain. who knows how accurate it is! Baxter seems to be the type to be particular about accuracy, so it's probalby pretty good. I almost always enjoy ancient historical fiction, no matter how bad. and this wasn't that bad. The rest of it, however, was not so great. I have a particular hatred for stories that have personalities and intellects being hereditary. I just hate it. I fee...more
Sometimes it's a bit too abstract, but mostly it sets the stage for more books about somebody monkeying with the past. It's a quick, easy read. I'm ready to read a few more like it to get to the story.
The alternate history that begins with a prophecy in post-Roman Britain.
In fairness I must say that this is not at all my kind of thing. Alternate history is usually lost on me because my knowledge of actual history is so weak, and empires, wars, epic concerns of that sort simply don't interest me.
I do also think that the book is flawed, though; it's very tell-y, with more conversation than action -- I mean, even when a woman is screaming through a life-threatening birth, or when invading ships...more
In fairness I must say that this is not at all my kind of thing. Alternate history is usually lost on me because my knowledge of actual history is so weak, and empires, wars, epic concerns of that sort simply don't interest me.
I do also think that the book is flawed, though; it's very tell-y, with more conversation than action -- I mean, even when a woman is screaming through a life-threatening birth, or when invading ships...more
quite good. takes places in several parts over a 400 year period in Roman Britain, roughly following people who are decended from each other.
Thoroughly enjoyed the details of Roman society. (I guess the HBO series Rome got me in the mood.)
I know some folks knock Baxter for limited character development, but I think his writing style is more an emphasis on human characters as events as opposed to people. Get that? What I'm saying is that he uses the characters more for their actions to define ideas than go into serious depth into the characters themselves. Anyway...
I liked the linking of each generation back to the 1st and how the 'f...more
I know some folks knock Baxter for limited character development, but I think his writing style is more an emphasis on human characters as events as opposed to people. Get that? What I'm saying is that he uses the characters more for their actions to define ideas than go into serious depth into the characters themselves. Anyway...
I liked the linking of each generation back to the 1st and how the 'f...more
A good start to a historical SF series. But felt a little heavy going in places.
Well researched novel set in Roman Britain. An interesting take on fate and future.
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Stephen Baxter is a trained engineer with degrees from Cambridge (mathematics) and Southampton Universities (doctorate in aeroengineering research). Baxter is the winner of the British Science Fiction Award and the Locus Award, as well as being a nominee for an Arthur C. Clarke Award, most recently for Manifold: Time. His novel Voyage won the Sidewise Award for Best Alternate History Novel of the...more
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