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The Anubis Gates

4.03 of 5 stars 4.03 · rating details · 5,620 ratings · 489 reviews

The Anibus Gate is the classic time travel novel that took the fantasy world by storm a decade ago. Only the dazzling imagination of Tim Powers could have created such as adventure.

Hardcover, 361 pages

Published July 1st 1990 by Mark V. Ziesing (first published 1983)

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Nov 19, 2008 Brad rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi, speculative, sci-fantasy

More time travel than steampunk, although it has been categorized as the latter, Tim Powers' The Anubis Gates is fun, but it leaves one feeling a little short changed.

The problem is that Powers' story has the narrative scope of Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle, but it is packed into a mere 380-ish pages. Beggar's guilds, Egyptian wizards, Romantic poets, business magnates, and prize fighters mix with cross dressing vengeance seekers, mad clowns, body snatchers, fire elementals and gypsies. Time s...more More time travel than steampunk, although it has been categorized as the latter, Tim Powers' The Anubis Gates is fun, but it leaves one feeling a little short changed.

The problem is that Powers' story has the narrative scope of Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle, but it is packed into a mere 380-ish pages. Beggar's guilds, Egyptian wizards, Romantic poets, business magnates, and prize fighters mix with cross dressing vengeance seekers, mad clowns, body snatchers, fire elementals and gypsies. Time slips from 1983 to 1810 to 1660-something and back to 1811, seemingly following a linear path of cause and effect, then spilling paradoxically into a strange whirlpool motion where effect can be cause before effect.

And all of this is tremendously effective.

It generates curiosity, makes one read at high speed, fills the imagination with wonder and provides great entertainment, but it is not enough.

There are huge gaps in the tale, like Brendan Doyle's/William Ashbless' time in Egypt, where the story jumps too quickly, leaving the promise of more adventure -- sweeping adventure, epic adventure -- unfulfilled.

Powers creates characters so compelling, even his supporting characters, that one finds oneself wanting more, but the more never comes. We spend a tantalizing amount of time with Horrabin, the puppeteer-clown-beggar master, but it is never enough. We barely get to know Powers' versions of Lord Byron and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and then they are gone. There is simply never enough of these characters, and it leaves one feeling cheated.

So in case you haven't already guessed, the great failing of The Anubis Gates is that it leaves the reader wanting more -- too much more. Occasionally that feeling can be healthy, but in this case it is mostly frustrating. Had Powers reduced the scale of The Anubis Gates, or increased the size of his story to match the scale, it could very well have been his masterpiece. But without serious alterations, The Anubis Gates is little more than an entertaining sci-fantasy confection that is difficult to recommend.

But recommend it I shall, to anyone who likes time travel or creepy clowns or good, old fashioned chases. No matter how frustrating The Anubis Gates is, it is never boring nor a waste of time.(less)

25 likes · like · see review

Jan 07, 2008 Martine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, science-fiction, historical-fiction, north-american, pseudo-nineteenth-century

Ever wonder what it would be like to travel in time and be able to rewrite parts of history? In The Anubis Gates, Brendan Doyle, a professor of nineteenth-century English literature living in 1983 California, accidentally gets to try his hand at it when he is invited by a mad scientist to attend a lecture given by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1810 London. Needless to say, an accident prevents Doyle from returning to his own time (it always does in these books, doesn't it?), so he is stuck in early...more

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Nov 18, 2008 Sandi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2008, fantasy

"The Anubis Gates" is a terrific time travel fantasy. I never quite knew where the story was going or what was going to happen next. Tim Powers is one of those writers who packs meaning and significance into every scene. I found myself having to backtrack several times to see if I had missed something. In the last third of the book, there's so much body switching and name changing that I had trouble telling who was who. I really liked the challenge though, it kept me on my toes and it was unlike...more

8 likes · like · see review

Dec 29, 2008 Kristjan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Kristjan by: GR Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Club

Shelves: historical-fantasy, book-club-selection, reviewed

This book was billed as a classic 'Steam Punk' story that helped define the genre ... the only problem here was that there was NO steam [tech:] and there was little or no punk either. In fact, the only way it fits here would be to credit the time period as Victorian (IMHO a useless expansion of the term), before mixing in a tremendous amount of magic in what should be more honestly billed as a time-travel fantasy. That said … it WAS a pretty decent time-travel story :)

The story opens with a magi...more

4 likes · like · see review

view all 6 comments

Kristjan Kevin wrote: "Who cares about a label given to any genre of book?

{In this case ... name ONE example from the story that highlighted technology at all,...more
Oct 21, 2009 07:08pm

Kevin I'm amused that labeling a genre of books moves you to the point of banter.

I stand by my claims.

I dont think you or anyone else can lay claim to what...more
updated Oct 22, 2009 01:35pm

Aug 30, 2007 thefourthvine rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone who loves time travel stories the way fetishists love their kink porn.

Shelves: sff

Tim Powers is at his best with wacked-out time travel stories, and that's precisely what this is. He basically took the entire collection of English-language literary devices and tossed them into one book. And then added some poetry. And some genderfuckery. And Ancient Egyptian myths and legends. And, also, did I mention the time travel?

So. A mild-mannered literature professor (this is, um, something of a theme character in Powers' work) goes back to the time of Lord Byron, and - look. Things h...more

5 likes · like · see review

Dec 18, 2008 Otis Chandler rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Otis by: Sci-fi Fantasy bookclub

Shelves: sci-fi, fiction

I enjoyed every second of this book. I haven't read a time travel book in a long time, but loved this one, as the descriptions of London in 1812 were very rich. I loved how Lord Byron and other famous poets were running around, and the descriptions of all the beggars were fascinating. Add in some ancient Egyptian magic and you've got a great book!

Random sidenote: It's interesting to think that back then poets were the rockstars of the age, as the only form of mass-media was newspapers, so those...more

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May 27, 2008 J rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A friend loaned me this book long ago. It was his absolute most favorite book at the time. So I cracked the spine and moved right in. When I'm really into a book it becomes an extension of my left arm and tends to get in the way of meals. When I finally returned it, full of crumbs and tea stains, the cover had somehow gone missing. My friend was unhappy with me but I had thoroughly enjoyed his book. Thanks, Nathan.

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Mar 21, 2009 Danielle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: pans, fantasy, sci-fi, 2009-read

A decent idea, loved the Horrobin character, but the story was all over the place. This would have been much better if it spanned several books instead of trying to cram so much into so few pages. And while the beginning of the book dragged along, the ending was so hurried and abrupt that I lost my connection with the characters.

I loved loved loved all the time travel, the back and forth, and following the different characters across the ages to figure out how they all fit together.

My biggest h...more

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Oct 30, 2008 Jon rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Jon by: SciFi & Fantasy Book Club November Theme Selection (Steampunk)

Shelves: fiction, science-fiction, read-in-my-40s

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Brendan Doyle is a biographer and researcher specializing in poetry and prose of the early 19th century. In fact, it's his knowledge of Coleridge and the obscure contemporary William Ashbless that leads Doyle into his time traveling adventure. An eccentric named Darrow has discovered a method of time travel. To secure venture capital for his personal scheme, he sells tickets to a Coleridge lecture in 1810. Doyle is hired as the Coleridge expert brought along to prep the audience.

The party arriv...more Brendan Doyle is a biographer and researcher specializing in poetry and prose of the early 19th century. In fact, it's his knowledge of Coleridge and the obscure contemporary William Ashbless that leads Doyle into his time traveling adventure. An eccentric named Darrow has discovered a method of time travel. To secure venture capital for his personal scheme, he sells tickets to a Coleridge lecture in 1810. Doyle is hired as the Coleridge expert brought along to prep the audience.

The party arrives successfully in London in 1810 and convinces Coleridge to give an impromptu lecture. Darrow had misinformation about the date of the "real" lecture. At the conclusion of the lecture, Doyle is sent to fetch the carriages and is kidnapped.

His kidnappers are ancient Egyptian priests with a master plan to destroy the English (and the French) in order to restore the Egyptian gods (and their powers which provide the source of their sorcerous endeavors).

We follow Doyle as he barely escapes with his life and his efforts to return to 1983 (where he came from originally). He is continually confronted with danger and mysteries, especially in his hunt for Ashbless. He even manages to contract pnuemonia, but his "saved" from that fate when his body is snatched by one of the Egyptians who is cursed with a werewolf-like malady after a failed attempt to force the return of the ancient Egyptian gods.

Eventually, Doyle (in a different body now) is drawn into resisting and actively battling the Egyptians and their master (confined in Cairo).

I had some difficulty connecting with most of the characters in this story. I had hopes that I would at least be drawn in by Elizabeth because of her efforts to disguise her gender and avenge her fiance' but the different points of view was disrupting. The action was exciting and the horror elements weren't overdone or overwhelming. Perhaps by not staying with one character or one location or even one time for very long, I just didn't have time to connect with the characters.

An interesting twist to the time travel formula with some good action, horror and a bit of humor and irony.

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Mar 07, 2007 Zach rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: People who don't mind reading about English professors time travelling.

Bitchin', this book was bitchin'. If you have any interest in William Faulkner, Proust, or Seamus Heaney, then you might like this book, because it has some poetry in it. But there are no real instances of class or racial issues, and it isn't really related to anything French or Irish, for that matter. The book does have words.

Essentially, Tim Powers devised a shit load of really off-the-wall (mostly supernatural) characters, threw them in an old, worn Adidas shoe box, shook it up a bit, and to...more

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Jun 09, 2009 Jim rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I gave it 100 pages & really didn't care about what was going on, so I quit. It could have been interesting, I think. The problem for me was I just didn't get any feeling for any of the characters or the situation. I wanted to, felt I should, but every time I picked up the book it was a chore & I found my mind wandering.

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Mar 29, 2012 Ramón Pérez rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Si alguien clasifica este libro cono steampunk, un manual de Termomix es steampunk. Lo que sí es es una novela excepcional sobre viajes en el tiempo, inteligente, precisa, y redonda como ninguna. Es muy difícil cerrar adecuadamente todas las paradojas en una obra así, pero Powers lo hace con la elegancia que le caracteriza. Una novela excelente para conocer al autor si no lo conocías, y que no defrauda si ya le conoces.

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Mar 12, 2013 Kevin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, favorites

THE ANUBIS GATES

Tim Powers has crafted a unique time-travel story, which proves to be multifaceted. Alternate history, magic, a werewolf, poets, beggars, body swapping., and a multitude of strange events fill every page of this colorful novel.

Having never read Tim Powers I wasn’t sure what to expect, I hoped for the best and my wish was answered. The story is bright, witty, and very well written. Mr. Powers prose flow effortlessly, he has complete command of the English language and a cool sens...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 03, 2009 Roxane rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: steampunk, science-fiction

I was starting to feel really guilty at the idea of never having read a single of Tim Powers' book especially after all the good I had heard of them. And then I had the opportunity to listen to one of his (few!!) interviews by a French journalist and well, I must say that the guy sounded quite easy going and humorous so I told myself: "Self, it is definitely time"

And may I add that Self doesn't regret this in the least...

I think that the word that best describes the Anubis Gates is diversity: a...more I was starting to feel really guilty at the idea of never having read a single of Tim Powers' book especially after all the good I had heard of them. And then I had the opportunity to listen to one of his (few!!) interviews by a French journalist and well, I must say that the guy sounded quite easy going and humorous so I told myself: "Self, it is definitely time"

And may I add that Self doesn't regret this in the least...

I think that the word that best describes the Anubis Gates is diversity: a fine mix between egyptian mythology, time travelling, English literature of the 19th century, magic and historical events... most of the plot takes place in the 19th century.

Of course, there are a few details that you guess even before the main character, Brendan Doyle, even thinks about it, but I'm not sure that this wasn't made on purpose on the part of the author. After following a discussion on clichés and such on Communautés epicfantasy, I can definitely say that a 100% surprise doesn't make a suspenseful novel. I'm tired of these characters doing and saying things that make no sense at all. I like telling myself "Ok this is logical, I would've done that too had I been in the same situation". I'm sick and tired of characters doing unjustified things because it fits the storyline better... see what I mean?

Anyway, out of all this diversity and crazy universe, Powers manages to make something really good and believable, in the end, you can't exactly tell what's historical fact and what's not... I think the whole adventure could've turned out to be absurd or even a parody but here, even though you smile and sometimes even laugh, we're a far cry from Pratchett's style.

Constantly playing and different styles (Thriller, SF, humor... urban fantasy even?), Powers never gets lost in long detailled scientific explanations about time travelling... I think that could've lead to poor characterization... so amateurs of hard science might be a bit disappointed here.

A few questions remain unanswered but nothing that really disturbs the conclusion of the story. A few plot holes or rather paradoxes withing paradoxes that mustn't be lookd at too closely but overall a more than satisfying book that you pick up and can't seem to let down (yeah, just my luck when I should've been reading Raboteau's "Slave Religion"!)

Highly recommended to all. (less)

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Jan 20, 2009 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Anubis Gates is a pleasantly weird novel. Stealing directly from the back cover, "The Anubis Gates is the classic, Philip K. Dick Award-winning time travel novel that took the fantasy world by storm a decade ago. Only the dazzling imagination of Tim Powers could have assembled such an insane cast of characters: an ancient Egyptian sorcerer, a modern millionaire, a body-switching werewolf, a hideously deformed clown, a young woman disguised as a boy, a brainwashed Lord Byron, and finally, our...more The Anubis Gates is a pleasantly weird novel. Stealing directly from the back cover, "The Anubis Gates is the classic, Philip K. Dick Award-winning time travel novel that took the fantasy world by storm a decade ago. Only the dazzling imagination of Tim Powers could have assembled such an insane cast of characters: an ancient Egyptian sorcerer, a modern millionaire, a body-switching werewolf, a hideously deformed clown, a young woman disguised as a boy, a brainwashed Lord Byron, and finally, our hero, Professor Brendan Doyle."

When two men--under the direction of a seemingly evil Master--invoke a spell from an ancient Egyptian book, it creates holes in time--among other things. Amenophis Fikee and Doctor Romany are the two men responsible. Fikee suffers worse--in my opinion--in that the spell transforms him into a werewolf. Fortunately for him, unfortunately for nineteenth century England, he's now got the power to switch bodies with others. Which wreaks havoc, of course, because Fikee is a murderous monster with ever-changing identities.

Enter Professor Brendan Doyle. He's a twentieth-century professor (1980s) down on his luck. When the DIRE company offers him a unique job, he's quick to take it. They want him merely to give a lecture on Coleridge. Now Coleridge isn't his poet of choice. No, he's spent most of his adult life studying the more obscure poet--a contemporary of Lord Byron--William Ashbless. There are so many puzzles in this life that are unsolved. He seems to show up out of the blue in England in 1810. No details are known about where he was born, who his parents were, where he went to school, etc. Doyle would love to solve the mystery of this little-known poet. And the good money that DIRE is offering may just be what he needs to fund his project.

Doyle has been employed by Mr. Darrow to give a lecture about Coleridge to a very select group of people--all wealthy and willing to pay huge sums of money. What he discovers is that this is a once-in-a-lifetime, out-of-this-world experience. For the group will begin in 1983, travel back in time to 1810 to actually hear Coleridge give a lecture in a tavern, and then return to 1983--all in a period of four hours. Doyle is ready to dress the part and have some intellectually stimulating fun.

Sounds like fun, right? Well, for Doyle, things don't go quite according to plan. He's kidnapped by Dr. Romany and separated from the others. Though he manages to escape his initial capture, now, Doyle is trapped in 1810--without money and street smarts--and danger abounds everywhere. That's all I have to say about that.

This novel had many individual elements that intrigued me: ties to Ancient Egyptian culture, ties to the British Romantic poets, time travel, werewolves, etc. I liked it. I did find it a bit confusing at times with all the body-switching going on. I'm sure a second reading would probably clear up a few of my lingering questions. But overall, I liked it.(less)

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Jan 09, 2009 Jim rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sf-f

This is one of the strangest books I've ever read. It's a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle, and every time I think I know where he's going, he throws in a few more pieces that dramatically change the picture. Another author would probably have needed 700-800 pages in order to include all of the plot elements, but Powers pulls it off in under 400. I'm only giving it four stars instead of five, because the complexity of the story required him to introduce fascinating characters who have important func...more

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Oct 16, 2012 Alan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Defenders of the realm

Recommended to Alan by: Time's arrow

Steampunk before steampunk even existed, much less was a marketing category... The Anubis Gates is nearly three decades old as I type these words. It was only Powers' fourth published novel, in fact—but this is the one that began winning him awards. I can see why. The novel holds up very well to a re-reading; I believe I got even more enjoyment out of it this time than I did twenty years or so ago when I first read it.

Like most of Powers' work, The Anubis Gates is a standalone novel, which is an...more

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Jun 20, 2012 Krky7 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I didn't know much about this book when my friends recommended it to me. I knew it involved time-travel, so I assumed that it will be firmly placed within a science-fiction genre. Well, I was definitely in for one of the most pleasant book-related surprises of my life. First and foremost, I'm a fantasy freak, and when I read the first several pages, I was blown away. Not often do you see this type of take on the tried and true time-travel concept. Powers is brave, straightforward and unstoppable...more

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Apr 21, 2012 Luke Van Lant rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

For a long time, The Anubis Gates was my favorite book, one which devoured a good portion of my Hawaii vacation. I honestly at the time wouldn't have been able to explain why, but for days afterwards, clowns and poets and spoonsize boys were in my thoughts, day and night.

The book reads, at least to me, like a series of intertwined short stories, following no plot, but simply the flow of time; plot is nothing but the experiences of Brendan Doyle as he skips around time and, along the way, encount...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Charlie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Its never good is it when you find yourself having to check wikipedia for an explanation of whats happening but with the Anubis Gates I am afraid I did. Dont get me wrong, I enjoyed it and it was entertaining but I found the first half of the book better than the second half and there were too many switches of plot from one character to the next which made it seem scattered. Its been commented before I think that though the story is intriguing and has an air of dark fantasy the writer tried to c...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Jacey rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, fiction

First off, I read this book on a recommendation when I asked rasfw for a reading list of steampunk books. I understand why someone chose to include it, but it's not steampunk in the way I understand it, though it does have a Victorian setting. This is magic at work rather than clanking oily, fantastical engines and pseudo-science.

When literary scholar Brendan Doyle accepts an invitation to travel back to Victorian London to hear a lecture by Samuel Taylor Coleridge he grabs opportunity even thou...more First off, I read this book on a recommendation when I asked rasfw for a reading list of steampunk books. I understand why someone chose to include it, but it's not steampunk in the way I understand it, though it does have a Victorian setting. This is magic at work rather than clanking oily, fantastical engines and pseudo-science.

When literary scholar Brendan Doyle accepts an invitation to travel back to Victorian London to hear a lecture by Samuel Taylor Coleridge he grabs opportunity even though he barely understands the principles of the time travel jump from one window of opportunity to another. He's been researching the life of minor poet William Ashbless and hopes to fill ion some of the details while he's there. When he's attacked and misses his return window, he's cut loose in the London of 1810 and seemingly in danger from separate sources. If the dark magician doesn't get him, someone else will, either the hunters from his own time or the beggar-lord, Horrobin the Clown, or Dog-Face Joe, the werewolf, who has the ability to leap from body to body when the one he's in becomes too hairy or in dire danger.

Briefly befriended by Jackie, the beggar boy from the rival beggar court, (a young woman disguised as a beggar in order to revenge herself on Dog Face Joe, but Doyle doesn't twig why Jackie is so effeminate until she tells him at the end) he manages to get his bearings and learns, to his surprise, that there are worse things than begging for a living. He tries to make contact with Ashbless and fails, but then after a run-in with Dog-Face Joe finds himself in another body - a younger, stronger, altogether hairier body. When he shaves his face he finds himself looking at Ashbless in the mirror.

But the newer, stronger body is hardly going to save Doyle when he's up against not only Doctor Romany, but also Romanelli and Amenophis Fikee, all magician-servants of The Master who is attempting to destroy British political rule in Egypt and open Anubis' gate into the underworld to let the old Egyptian gods return to the world.

Ranging from the London of 1810 back to the London of the 1600s and then Egypt before ending up back in early nineteenth century London where Doyle is reunited with Jackie for the climax of the book. Doyle is often the victim, but somehow manages to land on his feet, not always due to his own ingenuity.

I'm not sure this always lives up to my expectations or the quotes on the book jacket. It flaggs a little in the latter part of the Egyptian section and the defeat of the Master seems to be a bit of an anticlimax, though he was the originator of the whole gate plot. Horribin the clown and Doctor Romany always seem much more fearsome and more immediately dangerous, and so they are the final opponents to be vanquished.
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Feb 07, 2012 Nader Elhefnawy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In the steampunk classic The Anubis Gates Professor Brendan Doyle accompanies a party recruited by tycoon J. Cochran Darrow to travel back in time to 1810 - and ends up immersed in not just one, but several, deadly conspiracies colliding with one another.

The characters are mostly one-dimensional - and protagonist Doyle rather forgettable - but together they certainly comprise a large and colorful cast, with Doyle's blandness working by letting him play the "straight man" to the dark and at times...more

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Oct 19, 2011 Sandy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tim Powers' fourth novel, 1983's "The Anubis Gates," is a book that I had been meaning to read for years. Chosen for inclusion in both David Pringle's "Modern Fantasy: The Hundred Best Novels" and Jones & Newman's "Horror: 100 Best Books," as well as the recipient of the Philip K. Dick Memorial Award in 1984, the book came with plenty of good word of mouth, to say the least. And, as it turns out, all the ballyhoo back when was fully justified, as this really IS some kind of superb work. As J...more Tim Powers' fourth novel, 1983's "The Anubis Gates," is a book that I had been meaning to read for years. Chosen for inclusion in both David Pringle's "Modern Fantasy: The Hundred Best Novels" and Jones & Newman's "Horror: 100 Best Books," as well as the recipient of the Philip K. Dick Memorial Award in 1984, the book came with plenty of good word of mouth, to say the least. And, as it turns out, all the ballyhoo back when was fully justified, as this really IS some kind of superb work. As John Clute puts it in the Jones & Newman volume, it is "a book which it is possible (rare praise) to love"; as Pringle writes, it is a "virtuoso performance." I could not agree more.

In the novel, we meet a middle-aged widower named Brendan Doyle, an expert on Samuel Taylor Coleridge and the (fictional) poet William Ashbless. Doyle is asked by an eccentric millionaire who has come up with a time travel device to journey back to London in the year 1810, to attend a Coleridge lecture with a group of wealthy chrono tourists. Doyle warily agrees and--to make things brief--gets marooned in the past, where he soon becomes enmeshed in the machinations of Egyptian wizards attempting to destroy England. Powers' way-out plot somehow manages to conflate the brainwashed "ka" of Lord Byron, a body-hopping werewolf, an underground criminal society headed by a deformed clown on stilts, a plucky young vengeance-seeking woman disguised as a man, Egyptian gods, 4" high "Spoonsize Boys," fire and wind elementals, the Mameluke slaughter of 1811, a menagerie of freaks, the Beatles (!) and on and on. And just when the reader thinks this plot could not possibly get any wilder, Powers catapults Doyle back even further, to the year 1684! Indeed, there is no way for anyone to possibly guess what is coming next, in this truly zany romp of a book. Remarkably, every single page of this nearly 400-page affair boasts some startling conversation, plot twist, description or speculation. Powers has done a huge amount of historical research, and his book always has the ring of verisimilitude, despite the outrageousness of the plot. An originator not only of the so-called "steampunk" literary genre but also of the "secret histories" style of writing, Powers, in this book, puts forth his amusing explanations for London's Great Fire of 1666, as well as Byron's apparently simultaneous presences in Greece and London in the autumn of 1810. And although stories with time travel paradoxes can sometimes leave me with a headache, I found this one absolutely delightful. Let me not mince words: This book is a blast, from its opening scene in a London gypsy camp in 1802 to its wonderful, ironic, totally satisfying conclusion in the swamps of Woolwich. Clute was right; I really DO love this book, and indeed am in awe of it. So many wild elements mixed together, such an original and imaginative story line, and the whole thing coming together so completely and perfectly...Tim Powers must be some kind of a freakin' genius! I'm gonna need more of this guy; possibly his 1979 novel "The Drawing of the Dark," which is highly praised in Cawthorn & Moorcock's "Fantasy: The 100 Best Books"....

I would like to add that "The Anubis Gates" is not an easy read for folks who (like me) choose to look up every historical reference or place name that they encounter. I found a London street map invaluable while reading this book, for example; it's not necessary, of course, but sure does make for a richer, deeper experience. Thus, I was able to spot one of two flubs that Powers is guilty of in his otherwise perfect work. At one point, he tells us that Coleman Street is east of Bishopsgate Street, whereas a quick look at the map will clearly show that it is west. Powers' other goof? When he infers on page 353 that Doyle would be attending a literary meeting at the home of renowned publisher John Murray on a Tuesday, and two pages later says it would be on a Monday. (I also find it hard to believe that the word "savvy" was being used in 1684.) Mere quibbles, of course. For all lovers of sci-fi, fantasy, horror, historical fiction and/or poetry, this book should prove a godsend. It is a very generous book, far more intelligent and humorous than it absolutely needs to be, and well deserving of all the accolades that it has received. Oh...and I just love the inclusion of that pig Latin! (less)

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Sep 23, 2011 Jacqie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book may suffer by being read by me in 2011 instead of 1991. I would have loved it then. Now, the time travel part seems a bit like "Timeline" by Crighton. It wasn't explained especially well, and the main character believed it far too easily. Of course, characters believing crazy things is part of time travel novels that is always problematic for authors. Diana Gabaldon may have done it best.

Once back in time, everybody acts far too blase about being back in time. I would be a total rube...more

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Aug 02, 2011 Vikram added it · review of another edition

I know what you are thinking; not another time travel novel. But this one is really good! The plot involves our intrepid hero, a slightly nebbish professor with an interest in early 19th century English literature, traveling back in time with a wealthy industrialist to hear a lecture in 1810 from Samuel Coleridge. But then things begin to go horribly wrong....Brendan Doyle (the protagonist) is trapped in the past, and has to eke out a living there while at the same time escape the attentions of...more

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Jun 18, 2011 Ulrich Krieghund rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This time travel adventure begins in 1983, the year the book arrived. The protagonist, Brendan Doyle, is a professor and an expert on the English Romantic poets of the early 19th century. He is summoned by a rich eccentric to a remote location and grilled by the wealthy Mr. Darrow about his knowledge of Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

My overall grade is a B, or 4 stars in Goodreads rating system. I did not find Romany as interesting an antagonist as Dog-face Joe.

Plot spoilers and discussion follow

The p...more

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Apr 10, 2011 Alex rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed Tim Powers' DECLARE so much I went to library to grab a couple more. LAST CALL and THE ANUBIS GATES looked good.

I was a few pages into THE ANUBIS GATES when I realized I had read it a few years ago.

But it was so good, I read it again. Just finished. Yep, just as good as I remember.

I am beginning to get a handle on Tim Powers, I think. I have a feeling he does an awful lot of historical research, and then works his stories around the historical facts of the time. In DECLARE, he...more

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Mar 08, 2011 Kim Ryser rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011booksread, steampunk

This is a reread. I read this years ago and since I've been reading lots of steampunk books recently, I wanted to revisit this one. I had forgotten how genuinely scary and horrifying this book is. Not the best thing to be reading at night right before turning out the light. The book has some huge strengths, but it also has its flaws. The plot is so complex and convoluted that, to be honest, the author does a great job making it as readable and comprehensible as it is. But the book is full of une...more

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Aug 17, 2010 Rob McMinn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 09, 2010 Nick rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Check out more reviews and SciFi/Fantasy fun at Lions and Men.

The cover of The Anubis Gates touts Powers' novel as a "classic of time travel". Between this statement and the less-than-subtle inclusion of Egyptian themes, I became hooked and brought the book home. Does it measure up to expectations? Yes and no.

The Anubis Gates follows the life of Brendan Doyle as he meets up with an eccentric millionaire and travels back to 1810 to watch a speech made by author/poet Samuel Coleridge. In so doing,...more Check out more reviews and SciFi/Fantasy fun at Lions and Men.

The cover of The Anubis Gates touts Powers' novel as a "classic of time travel". Between this statement and the less-than-subtle inclusion of Egyptian themes, I became hooked and brought the book home. Does it measure up to expectations? Yes and no.

The Anubis Gates follows the life of Brendan Doyle as he meets up with an eccentric millionaire and travels back to 1810 to watch a speech made by author/poet Samuel Coleridge. In so doing, Doyle gets involved with bands of murderous street beggars and ancient Egyptian sorcerers.

In short, The Anubis Gates is so packed to the brim with science fiction and fantasy elements that Powers is sometimes unable to juggle them all well. My favorite thing about time travel stories is how the characters' muddling in the past affects their present. And although this can be seen by the end of the book, I was less than impressed with the "time" element for most of it. The main character time traveled, yes, but then the novel seemed to switch over to simple misadventures in 19th century London. Instead of going heavy into time travel, Powers introduces theories such as Egyptian sorcery, cloning, and body-snatching werewolves.

Throughout all of these crazy plot points, the character of Brendan Doyle develops in a mostly predictable pattern (preoccupied academic learns that it is better to live life rather than study it) and the villains just don't feel evil enough.

In reading The Anubis Gates, I was certain that I was going to give it a rating of 3 or under. However, in the end, I was pleased with how all of the seemingly disjointed SFF elements were brought together. Some of the plot points were predictable, but that didn't make them any less fun to read about. Ultimately, I couldn't decide on either a 3.5 or a 4 rating for this one, so I averaged them.

Is The Anubis Gates an epic knock-your-socks-off time travel adventure? Not quite. Although a fun read, there were too many ideas to sift through to make any one shine. This one may or may not be worth the time, depending on what you are expecting.

3.75 out of 5.(less)

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Action/Adventure ...: November Time Travel Group Read: The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers Spoilers	24	18	Dec 01, 2012 06:18am
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Time Travel: THE ANUBIS GATES: General Discussion	37	57	May 03, 2012 02:04pm

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About Tim Powers

Timothy Thomas Powers is an American science fiction and fantasy author. Powers has won the World Fantasy Award twice for his critically acclaimed novels Last Call and Declare.

Most of Powers's novels are "secret histories": he uses actual, documented historical events featuring famous people, but shows another view of them in which occult or supernatural factors heavily influence the motivations a...more

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Quotes from The Anubis Gates

“Thus Milton refines the question down to a matter of faith," said Coleridge, bringing the lecture to a close, "and a kind of faith more independent, autonomous - more truly strong, as a matter of fact - than the Puritans really sought. Faith, he tells us, is not an exotic bloom to be laboriously maintained by the exclusion of most aspects of the day to day world, nor a useful delusion to be supported by sophistries and half-truths like a child's belief in Father Christmas - not, in short, a prudently unregarded adherence to a constructed creed; but rather must be, if anything, a clear-eyed recognition of the patterns and tendencies, to be found in every piece of the world's fabric, which are the lineaments of God. This is why religion can only be advice and clarification, and cannot carry any spurs of enforcement - for only belief and behavior that is independently arrived at, and then chosen, can be praised or blamed. This being the case, it can be seen as a criminal abridgement of a person's rights willfully to keep him in ignorance of any facts - no piece can be judged inadmissible, for the more stones, both bright and dark, that are added to the mosaic, the clearer is our picture of God.” — 7 people liked it

“The Spoonsize Boys steal the dollhouse toys while the cat by the fire is curled. Then away they floats in their eggshell boats, down the drains to their underground world.” — 4 people liked it

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