The Iron Bridge

by David E. Morse

Maggie Foster takes a trip back through time to England, on the eve of the construction of the world’s first iron bridge. To let the bridge be built and the Industrial Revolution to continue unbridled or to destroy the bridge and alter the course of history are among the dilemmas Maggie faces in this “richly evocative and fascinating piece of historical speculation” (Kirkus Reviews).

Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Time Travel, Historical Fiction

436 pages, Hardcover

First published July 15, 1998

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow, all I can say is that if I can prevent a few people from wasting their time on this book, maybe my suffering would have been worth something. I was actually liking it in the beginning but it got worse and worse until in the end, my goodness, what was Morse thinking?

Problems:
- All the future stuff was weak and, more importantly, utterly irrelevant to the story. I kept waiting for it to tie back together--it never does, at all.
- The protagonist used some modern language early on, perhaps understandably, but then kept on using it years later. Don't you think anyone with half a brain would have adapted their language, particularly the frequently used expressions? Worse--this was so much of the dialogue--over and over it was something along the lines of "Okay". "What did you say?" "Oh, I mean that's fine." "Thy speak strangely."--it was painfully tedious.
- Early on the protagonist realizes that she has changed history and that her historical roadmap was no longer valid. Throughout the book this point is repeated. However, throughout the book she keeps referring back to her historical roadmap as if was still valid--I was amazed. Worse, she did this for the most crucial scenes. She expressed her sadness in that the historical roadmap would no longer hold hundreds of pages after she had refuted it. Ugh!
- Minor issue: it would have been easy and helpful for the author to have included more background information on iron-making for those without a working knowledge of 18th century industrial processes.

Indirect spoiler:
- Why did I finish this book? I liked the beginning and just wanted to see how this would all be resolved--how would her intervention affect the future? That is never presented, at all. Far worse, and this is the worst part of the book, is that literally in the last 10 pages it's as if Morse decides that his entire book was worthless and goes in an entirely different direction. I was aghast. Maybe if the entire book had been this different direction it would have been okay but there is no time to develop this left turn, it's like the editor stuck on a few pages at the end. Also, this other direction isn't resolved either. Aargh!!!

[jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is good for people interested in the Quaker life, the iron trade and steam engines of the 18th century, and bad for people wanting the next book to be made into the next guns and explosions hollywood summer blockbuster. The pace is a bit slow, but it kept my interest by providing the right balance of the life and times of people living in 18th century England, early technology, and a feisty chick from the future to occasionally stir things up. The description of the period is done well and the characters are mostly interesting. Give it time, as it might seem to not be making progress at times; it eventually ends up someplace and it is not to shabby.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book put the reader in eighteenth century Coalbrookdale, England during the construction of the worlds first steel bridge, which marked the beginning of the industrial revolution. The story revolves around a woman from the 21st century who goes back in time to try to alter history. Unfortunately, this appears to be David Morse's only novel. His attention to detail and his meticulous research brings this story to life.

[Phyllis Gauker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I looked for this book because I knew the author when he was a teenager in Arlington, Virginia. I was so impressed with the history and his imaginative story within. His idea preceded Michael Crichton's! Thanks, Dave.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A woman goes back in time to prevent the first iron bridge which in turn leads to the destruction of the planet. So far, very interesting.