Timeweb

Timeweb Chronicles #1

by Brian Herbert

The Human race is a mercantile society that has spread throughout the galaxy, but they are totally unaware of another dominion just beneath the surface of the galaxy, one that threatens to break open and hurl everything into chaos. Galactic ecologist Noah Watanabe embarks on an epic journey to restore the ancient balances of the crumbling galaxy. He must work with warring, alien races in a desperate attempt to unravel secrets about the early days of the universe that could hold the solution to a vast celestial puzzle. Timeweb, a cosmic filigree, an immense canvas of space and time, can be used for many things, but the galactic races have barely tapped into its potential … until Noah begins to do that very thing, setting the stage for a power struggle that will envelop the very cosmos itself.

Bestselling author Brian Herbert, the son of Frank Herbert, is the winner of several literary honors, and has been nominated for the highest awards in science fiction.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

555 pages, Hardcover

First published May 3, 2006

About the author

Brian Patrick Herbert is an American author who lives in Washington state. He is the elder son of science fiction author Frank Patrick Herbert.

Reviews

[Miki · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took forever to finish this one. It does include a huge number of characters (hard to remember them all), each with their own arc, but it ends up focusing on a major conspiracy to destroy worlds and possibly the fabric of the universe itself, which is when the novel finally picks up speed as many of its threads start to connect and make sense. The universe-building is spectacular and the many "alien" species are all fascinating, but the novel and its main characters seem to lack the capacity to deeply engage and move the reader. It's also a bit disappointing that the only way to unravel the plot involves a huge, convenient transformation of one of the main characters, who turns into a kind of deus ex machina who can now see and do (and show the reader) so many incredible things and eventually also manages to save the day.

[Sikkdays · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not for me. The spacefaring humans who live in an ancient world society with class structures, courtesans, noble lineage was not interesting to me. I felt there was very little imagination in the story. The drama was that of a daytime soap and the motivations of the characters just as bewildering at times.

Typically, I like to see where a story goes, even if I don't particularly enjoy it. However, I can't see myself finishing this series.

[Paul Hancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost stopped reading this book in the first chapter, but I'm super glad that I didn't. There are some writing styles that take a bit of getting used to, like the continual repetition of material from the perspective of different characters (of which there are many).

The overall story is rather convoluted, and what you think is the main story arc is just a background upon which the real story is being told. I don't have a problem with that per-se but many of these side/background stories were as interesting if not more interesting than what turns out to be the main story arc.

I really like the universe that has been built in this book. Some of the characters are a bit clunky and stereo-typed.

Despite my criticisms I found myself enjoying this book a lot. There were lots of interesting characters, some of which developed in interesting ways.

[Samer Ismail · Rating 1 out of 5]

Herbert's writing is not very good, to put it mildly; as just one problem, he spends way too much time having various characters fawning over the awesomeness of his protagonist, Noah Watanabe. Likewise, the environmental metaphor is delivered so heavy-handedly that it feels almost shoved down my throat. [Contrast this to, say, L. E. Modesitt, who features ecological themes in many of his works, but manages to make it less intrusive and more an organic part of his world-building.]

But my biggest problem with this book is how Herbert drew his female characters: there's something "wrong" with every female character in the book. Some of them are just evil, while others use sexuality to get what they want, etc. None of them are what a psychologist would call well-adjusted.

All in all, this book didn't leave me particularly wanting to continue with the series.

[Charl]

Gods, it reads just like the Dune stories. B-O-R-I-N-G. I gave up after several chapters (hey, I'll give a book a fair chance before I toss it).

If you enjoyed the various sequels to Dune, you'll probably enjoy this. It's not in the same universe as Dune, but it's got the same grand, majestic sweep as the Dune epic. If you like that, give it a try.

I don't, I barely made it through Dune and didn't even finish the first sequel. So I'm moving on.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Herbert follows in his father's footsteps with a science fiction tale of his own. So many plots within plots this book keeps the reader on his/her toes right from the beginning to end. Can't wait until the saga continues...

[Martin]

Looks interesting. Thanks Fantasticfiction.com!!

[wayward · Rating 3 out of 5]

slow to get into, but enjoyable. definitely a part one of more, the ending leaves a lot hanging for the next book.

[Tia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little disjointed at times with so many story lines, but an interesting and very solid sci fi read.

[Mike · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't finish it. Just one long, repetitive intro of characters with next to no plot.