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Conqueror
(Time's Tapestry #2)
by
The second novel in a thrilling alternate-history series-from national bestselling author Stephen Baxter.
Three centuries have passed since Rome fell, as The Prophecy foretold. Now The Prophecy's scroll is in the hands of a young girl, the last surviving member of the family who received The Prophecy. She lives in tranquility, disguisd as a boy among the monks on the isle ...more
Three centuries have passed since Rome fell, as The Prophecy foretold. Now The Prophecy's scroll is in the hands of a young girl, the last surviving member of the family who received The Prophecy. She lives in tranquility, disguisd as a boy among the monks on the isle ...more
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Hardcover, 302 pages
Published
August 7th 2007
by Ace Books
(first published February 22nd 2007)
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Start your review of Conqueror (Time's Tapestry, #2)
The first book of this series did not hold my attention well, as it seemed to be a series of disconnected historical events with a weak prophecy storyline attempting to tie them together.
With this second volume in the series, the prophecy storyline is starting to make a bit more sense, and the narrative is becoming more a battle through history by competing forces tying it together rather than a chain of isolated incidents.
The vignettes of history are well handled enough, for the brief time they ...more
With this second volume in the series, the prophecy storyline is starting to make a bit more sense, and the narrative is becoming more a battle through history by competing forces tying it together rather than a chain of isolated incidents.
The vignettes of history are well handled enough, for the brief time they ...more
While I started reading this series with a certain expectation, I started reading this book, the second in the series, with an entirely different set of expectations tempered by the first book, Emperor.
Emperor introduced the overarching mystery of "the Weaver," the style of barely-connected short stories spanning pivotal eras across the years, and convinced me that it would be foolish to invest myself in any set of characters' stories.
With that in mind, when I started Conqueror and immediately ...more
Emperor introduced the overarching mystery of "the Weaver," the style of barely-connected short stories spanning pivotal eras across the years, and convinced me that it would be foolish to invest myself in any set of characters' stories.
With that in mind, when I started Conqueror and immediately ...more
In the second book of of Time's Tapestry, I'm starting to see what we're in for: it's a guided tour of English history. With that in mind, I think this book improves on the problems of Emperor, having more convincing dialogue.
"And this is what you have brought me, this doggerel?" - King Alfred re: Prophecy, 184.
That quote, in a nutshell, encapsulates the plot. While this book was significantly easier for the reader to read, in contrast to the first book of the series, the multi-generational stories can play tricks on the reader's mind if they do not remain vigilant in paying attention.
Baxter is clearly a proficient author, and this book is further proof that he is a master when it comes to creating a stage to play ...more
That quote, in a nutshell, encapsulates the plot. While this book was significantly easier for the reader to read, in contrast to the first book of the series, the multi-generational stories can play tricks on the reader's mind if they do not remain vigilant in paying attention.
Baxter is clearly a proficient author, and this book is further proof that he is a master when it comes to creating a stage to play ...more
I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series. The "Weaver" plot was explained a bit more and had a bit more presence in the narrative. We now have an idea what the Weaver is trying to accomplish, which was missing from the first book.
I also enjoyed the depiction of England as its population was invaded over and over again, and the slow changes in the population as a result of mixing with the Saxons, the Angles, the Danes, and the Norse. I was also impressed by the sense of history that ...more
I also enjoyed the depiction of England as its population was invaded over and over again, and the slow changes in the population as a result of mixing with the Saxons, the Angles, the Danes, and the Norse. I was also impressed by the sense of history that ...more
Good fictional book covering Anglo-Saxon England in several parts, each a few hundred years apart. Like the first book in the series, there is a 'prophesy' that traces the course of the book, with the theory that some future person has sent this prophesy back in time to control the past.
(view spoiler) ...more
(view spoiler) ...more
You really need to read Emperor first. History still pretty on track in this one, though the characters talk a lot about the Weaver who is behind the prophecies, presumably someone from the future trying to change things. I happen to like this period almost as much as the Romans: this has episodes covering the last surviving "Roman", the Viking raid on Lindisfarne, King Alfred in the marshes, and the Battle of Hastings. The Prophecy is one uttered by Isolde from the last chapter of Emperor: it
...more
I came across this historical novel by Stephen Baxter at local library. I would say it is a very good novel to learn a little bit about British history from the fall of Roman Empire in the end of the 5th century to Norman conquest of England in 11th century.
Nice thing about this novel is the fact that even though author's description of living conditions and brutality of dark ages are very vivid, he still managed to make it "easy" to read and digestible for modern readers. Stephen Baxter managed ...more
Nice thing about this novel is the fact that even though author's description of living conditions and brutality of dark ages are very vivid, he still managed to make it "easy" to read and digestible for modern readers. Stephen Baxter managed ...more
Another good historical novel, especially in the way it describes a fairly brutal period of the history of England, climaxing with the Battle of Hastings. (I especially enjoyed seeing the invention of "zero" come in!) The only problem with these longitudinal novels is that you have to connect to a whole new bunch of characters every time the novel jumps to a new time period. But the author does this fairly well. And now I am extremely suspicious about the mysterious "Weaver". Can't wait to find
...more
I didn't connect very much with any of the characters, but I still enjoy Baxter's writing, and I'm going to slog through this series because I really do want to find out who/what the Weaver is. I will be the first to admit that I would probably have enjoyed this more if I'd known more (or anything) about this time period.
One thing is for certain: the majority of Baxter's characters continue to die horrible, devastating deaths.
One thing is for certain: the majority of Baxter's characters continue to die horrible, devastating deaths.
Wasn't able too reach me. The idea is interesting. However the characters are introduced and once you know them a bit then Baxter jumps ahead in time to a point where the just introduced characters are dead. So he starts over again bringing in new personas. Because of that it is very difficult to connect with the plot and be intrigued by it. I will not go on reading this Time Tapestry series.
Didja you know the NY Public Library has hundreds of copies of parts 1, 3 and 4, and NO copies of part 2. Weird. I had to track this down through the Brooklyn library. Even better than part 1, it takes place during the German and Scandinavian period in Britain (AD 600-1066), and concludes with the Battle of Hastings in which William the Conqueror might very well lose.
This is the second in the Weaver series.
The story starts with the death of the last Roman and concerns the arrival of the Vikings, Norsemen and Saxons into Britain and ends in 1066.
As with the previous book the story follows the descendants involved in the Prophesy, the second delivered at the end of the previous book.
I found it more compelling than the first book.
The story starts with the death of the last Roman and concerns the arrival of the Vikings, Norsemen and Saxons into Britain and ends in 1066.
As with the previous book the story follows the descendants involved in the Prophesy, the second delivered at the end of the previous book.
I found it more compelling than the first book.
it was like watching the history channel computer animated reenactments. Entertaining but not high quality. Taught me some history, but more b/c it led me to look things up, not because it actually taught it.
Another enjoyable episode from this historical trilogy. What I'm enjoying most about this series is the filling-in of some historical periods I've always been a big vague about. Good stuff, looking forward to the final instalment.
Slightly better than the first book in the series because Baxter stays a bit longer with each generation of characters before moving to the next. Still not the best Baxter, but kudos for trying something new. A British history junkie would love this series. 3 1/2 stars out of 5.
It was good. It gets a little samey toward the end. By the time you reach the Battle of Hastings you feel like you've done this before a few times, but it was good.
3/5 stars
Interested to see what the next book brings.
3/5 stars
Interested to see what the next book brings.
This was a bit of a slog as there was just so much going on over a very long period of time. I got a bit bored in some of the complexities but saying that I did still enjoy. I kind of like the cameos of character from across the ages but it can be a bit confusing crossing over time.
Just having trouble working up the enthusiasm for this series; it has at least 2 more books to go, but, the mcguffin from the first 2 is now done, so I'm at least a little curious to see how the 3rd is linked in.
Slightly better than the first book in the series because Baxter stays a bit longer with each generation of characters before moving to the next. Still not the best Baxter, but kudos for trying something new. A British history junkie would love this series. 3 1/2 stars out of 5.
Great second instalment of a historical SF series.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Another good book in the series. But i think the pace is starting to flag which is what i've typically discovered with S.Baxters work over anything more than a single entry
Interesting book set in Britain from 607AD through to 1066, culminating in the Battle of Hastings. Historical/speculative fiction.
We move on now to Vikings and Germans. That's what I'm talking about. Baxter waxes a bit more philosopically in this one too which adds to its enjoyment.
Interesting premise - as with the first book - but PLEASE DEAR GOD WHY WAS THERE SO MUCH RAPE!?!??!
Jul 27, 2008
Tal
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Shelves:
sf-fantasy,
library-book
a continuation of Stephen Baxter's Time's Tapestry series, this book focuses on a Britain for whom the Romans are but a distant memory (roughly 400 - 1066 AD)
Great beginning to a fascinating series!
Great portrayals of Danish invasions of Lindisfarne; Alfred the Great and the Battle of Hastings
not as interesting as Emperor. research of the history fiction is impressive, though.
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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
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Time's Tapestry
(4 books)
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