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Fiction. Literature. Science Fiction. In the years since the Event, the Republic of Nantucket has done its best to re-create the better ideas of the modern age. But the evils of its time resurface in the person of William Walker, renegade Coast Guard officer, who is busy building an empire for himself based on conquest by technology. When Walker reaches Greece and recruits several of their greater kinglets to his cause, the people of Nantucket have no choice. If they are to save the show more primitive world from being plunged into bloodshed on a twentieth-century scale, they must defeat Walker at his own game: war. show lessTags
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This is the second book in the Nantucket trilogy in which the island of Nantucket is thrown back in time from 1988 A.D. to 1250 B.C. Without the newness factor from the first book, I had slightly more mixed feelings about this one.
I’m still enjoying the general story, and it’s great fun to read about modern-day Americans meeting and interacting with ancient cultures. I still enjoy reading about the challenges they face with limited modern supplies, and their innovations as they try to make up for that lack with the tools they have available. This book had a few medical-related sections, more than the first book anyway, and I thought those were particularly interesting.
On the other hand, the things I like about the series are often show more pushed aside in favor of battles. Lots and lots of battles. To me, they have a very repetitive and same-y feel. I’m not sure that my boredom with this is entirely a matter of my not being “into” reading about battles. It’s true, I’m not really that into them, but I still fondly remember the six-book Belisarius series that I read 3.5 years ago. I loved those books, and they were chock full of battles. In this series, every now and then I do get caught up in the action and it holds my attention, but often my eyes glaze over. Also, I’m only moderately invested in the characters.
I’m giving this the same 3.5 star rating I gave to the first book, but this time I’m rounding down to 3 stars on Goodreads instead of rounding up. I do like it well enough to go ahead and finish up the trilogy. show less
I’m still enjoying the general story, and it’s great fun to read about modern-day Americans meeting and interacting with ancient cultures. I still enjoy reading about the challenges they face with limited modern supplies, and their innovations as they try to make up for that lack with the tools they have available. This book had a few medical-related sections, more than the first book anyway, and I thought those were particularly interesting.
On the other hand, the things I like about the series are often show more pushed aside in favor of battles. Lots and lots of battles. To me, they have a very repetitive and same-y feel. I’m not sure that my boredom with this is entirely a matter of my not being “into” reading about battles. It’s true, I’m not really that into them, but I still fondly remember the six-book Belisarius series that I read 3.5 years ago. I loved those books, and they were chock full of battles. In this series, every now and then I do get caught up in the action and it holds my attention, but often my eyes glaze over. Also, I’m only moderately invested in the characters.
I’m giving this the same 3.5 star rating I gave to the first book, but this time I’m rounding down to 3 stars on Goodreads instead of rounding up. I do like it well enough to go ahead and finish up the trilogy. show less
The second book of the Nantucket series picks up a couple years after the first book, though there are bits and pieces set during the intervening years as well. The Nantucketers have spread further around the globe with numerous bases in North and Central America as well as the British Isles, South Africa and the western Indian Ocean.
After the events in book one Walker has established himself firmly in ancient Greece where he is building an empire. It is up to the Nantucketers to find and recruit willing allies to help bring him down.
As this is the middle book of the series it does suffer a lot from being used to set up the final book. Due to the circumstances there is little exlporation and the book is mostly focused on building show more relations and an army in the Middle East. At times it can get rather detailed, and some might say boring. But it's all necessary for the final confrontation brewing for book 3.
I can't wait to get into the last book though I really hope it goes a bit further than this war as I really want to know what happens centuries later, how the world has fared.
Overall a good book in a hard place. The middle book is generally always the weakest but it's done a good job here. show less
After the events in book one Walker has established himself firmly in ancient Greece where he is building an empire. It is up to the Nantucketers to find and recruit willing allies to help bring him down.
As this is the middle book of the series it does suffer a lot from being used to set up the final book. Due to the circumstances there is little exlporation and the book is mostly focused on building show more relations and an army in the Middle East. At times it can get rather detailed, and some might say boring. But it's all necessary for the final confrontation brewing for book 3.
I can't wait to get into the last book though I really hope it goes a bit further than this war as I really want to know what happens centuries later, how the world has fared.
Overall a good book in a hard place. The middle book is generally always the weakest but it's done a good job here. show less
Very interesting! I really enjoy post-apocalyptic and alternate-history fiction, and I like early history as well. This one is a little of all-of-the-above. The storyline is absorbing and interesting; the action takes place in several locales. I find it interesting to contemplate how history as we know it would be re-written as a result of the actions of the characters. I previously read the first book in this series (Island in the Sea of Time) and look forward to the third one in this trilogy. I enjoy it enough to have committed to the other series from this author as well.
I liked the book and could not put it down, but I do have some minor problems with the book's format.
1. Do we really have to be introduced to characters who are starting a journey across America??? This has little if any part in this story.
2. Why does the author call a character by their first and last name separately? It is hard enough to keep all of these character names in your head as it is, but to see a page where the character is called by his last name and then a few sentences later by their first name is very very confusing...you think this is a different character.
The characters are fairly well developed though and you get to like them...even the bad guys. Stirling does do a reasonable job juggling all the scenarios and you do show more feel a part of the action show less
1. Do we really have to be introduced to characters who are starting a journey across America??? This has little if any part in this story.
2. Why does the author call a character by their first and last name separately? It is hard enough to keep all of these character names in your head as it is, but to see a page where the character is called by his last name and then a few sentences later by their first name is very very confusing...you think this is a different character.
The characters are fairly well developed though and you get to like them...even the bad guys. Stirling does do a reasonable job juggling all the scenarios and you do show more feel a part of the action show less
This is the follow on book to Island in the Sea of Time. Its a bit confusing sometime to figure out which book follows which, since there are several related novels, but this is the direct sequel. The Islanders of Nantucket and their allies have survived for 8 years now in the past, steadily regaining lost technology and improving their living conditions. However, William Walker has relocated to Greece along with his various evil followers, and they still have to deal with him.
I'm not sure what it is exactly about these books that makes them good. The characters are good, and the plot feels plausible. He writes about military strategy in a convincing way, though there are a number of tactical situations that aren't quite right. Despite show more all that, he manages to make it feel right, which makes it a good book to read. show less
I'm not sure what it is exactly about these books that makes them good. The characters are good, and the plot feels plausible. He writes about military strategy in a convincing way, though there are a number of tactical situations that aren't quite right. Despite show more all that, he manages to make it feel right, which makes it a good book to read. show less
Good book. Sometimes the details become tedius. The continuation from book one with all the same characters gives a broader view of who these people are.
More of the same and would warrant 4.5 stars, except for the introduction of a demented German WW2 scientist--out of nowhere!
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149+ Works 32,354 Members
Stephen Michael Stirling is a French-born Canadian-American science fiction and fantasy author. His Birthday is September 30, 1953. He has lived in several countries and currently resides in the United States in New Mexico with his wife. He is probably best known for his Draka series of novels and his more recent time travel/alternate history show more Nantucket series and Emberverse series. In 2014 his title The Golden Princess made The New York Times Best Seller List. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Awards
Series
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Against the Tide of Years
- Original publication date
- 1999-05
- People/Characters
- Heather Alston-Kurlelo (daughter of Marian and Swindapa); Lucy Alston-Kurlelo (daughter of Marian and Swindapa); Marian Alston-Kurlelo; Doreen Arnstein; Ian Arnstein; Jared Cofflin (show all 92); Alice Hong; William Walker, the Wolf Lord; Swindapa Kurlelo-Alston; Kashtiliash IV; Agememnon son of Atreus (fictionalized); Martha Cofflin; Angelica Brand; George Swain; Enkhelyawon; Ohotolarix; Lt. Vicki Cofflin; Ron Leaton; Alex Stoddard; Peter Girenas; Sue Chau; Shamish-nasir-kudduru; Isketerol of Tartessos; Mettri; Rosita Menendez; David Arnstein; Denditwara; Cridzywelfa; Dr. Henry Coleman; Joseph Starbuck; Jairwen; Marian Deer Dancer Cofflin; Hardcase; Dick Carson; Emma Carson; John Martins; Barbara Allis; Augewas; Odikweos son of Laertes; Velarax; Alexandra; Winifred Smith; Justin Clemens; Llandaurth Witharaxsson; William Jefferson "Bill" Cuddy; Victor Ortiz; Candace McReady; Shagarakti-Shuriash; Bahdi-Lim; Eurykleia; Marvin Lockley; Kidin-Ninurta; Arad-Samas; Kenneth Hollard; Kathryn Hollard; Eddie Vergeraxsson; Henry Morris; Dekkomosu; Jaditwara; Greta Hendricksson; Samsu-Indash; Malenterol son of Suaberon; Althea Walker; Harold Walker; Sin-ina-maty; Azzu-ena; Hassan el-Durabi; Warad-Kubi; Alantethol; Ibi-addad; Sam McAndrews; Patrick Joseph O'Rourke; Raupasha; X'tung; Tautorun son of Arimanu; Rover (dog of William Walker); Sabala (dog of Raupasha); Addad-Dan; Mandy Kayle; P.O. Samuel Taumarson; Pvt. Garrett Hopkins; Evelyn Grant; Helmut Mittler; Shaudriskol of Tartessos; Zeurkenol of Tartessos; Pelantorn son of Kaddapal; Khinwarn; Raven Feather; Tudhaliyas; Winnuthrax son of Hotorar; Col. Heponlos Winnuthraxsson; Sarsental
- Important places
- Nantucket, Massachusetts, USA; Babylon; Greece; Troy
- Important events
- Trojan War (alternate)
- Dedication
- To Marjorie Totterdale Stirling,
1920 - 1997. Ave Atque Vale. - First words
- Since the Event, everything has changed. (Prologue)
March, Year 8 A.E.
(June, Year 2 A.E.)
"Get that God-damned moa under control!" - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"And we're not going to."
For it is not the bright arrival planned
But in the journeying along the way
We find the Golden Road to Samarkand. - Blurbers
- Turtledove, Harry; Lindskold, Jane
- Original language
- English
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 1,216
- Popularity
- 20,263
- Reviews
- 17
- Rating
- (3.82)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 11
- ASINs
- 4