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Roads to Moscow #1
The Empire of Time
There is only the war.
Otto Behr is a German agent, fighting his Russian counterparts across three millennia, manipulating history for moments in time that can change everything.
Only the remnants of two great nations stand and for Otto, the war is life itself, the last hope for his people.
But in a world where realities shift and memory is never constant, nothing is certain, least of all the chance of a future with his Russian love...
Otto Behr is a German agent, fighting his Russian counterparts across three millennia, manipulating history for moments in time that can change everything.
Only the remnants of two great nations stand and for Otto, the war is life itself, the last hope for his people.
But in a world where realities shift and memory is never constant, nothing is certain, least of all the chance of a future with his Russian love...
496 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 3, 2014
17 people are currently reading
254 people want to read
About the author
David Wingrove
50 books165 followersDavid Wingrove (born September 1954 in North Battersea, London) is a British science fiction writer. He is well-known as the author of the "Chung Kuo" novels (eight in total). He is also the co-author (with Rand and Robyn Miller) of the three "Myst" novels.
Wingrove worked in the banking industry for 7 years until he became fed up with it. He then attended the University of Kent, Canterbury, where he read English and American Literature.
He is married and, with his wife Susan, has four daughters Jessica, Amy, Georgia, and Francesca.
Between 1972 and 1982 he wrote over 300 unpublished short stories and 15 novels.
He started work on a new fictional project called A Perfect Art. Between 1984 and 1988, when it was first submitted, the title was changed twice, becoming first A Spring Day at the Edge of the World and then finally Chung Kuo, under which title it was sold to 18 publishers throughout the world.
A prequel to the Chung Kuo series, called When China Comes, was released in May 2009 by Quercus Publishing, which also re-released the entire series: "The series has been recast in nineteen volumes, including a new prequel and a new final volume. After a series launch in May 2009, Quercus will embark on an ambitious publishing programme that will see all nineteen volumes available by the end of 2012."
He has plans for a further a novels, a a first person character novel called Dawn in Stone City and three very different novels: The Beast with Two Backs, Heaven's Bright Sun, and Roads to Moscow.
Wingrove worked in the banking industry for 7 years until he became fed up with it. He then attended the University of Kent, Canterbury, where he read English and American Literature.
He is married and, with his wife Susan, has four daughters Jessica, Amy, Georgia, and Francesca.
Between 1972 and 1982 he wrote over 300 unpublished short stories and 15 novels.
He started work on a new fictional project called A Perfect Art. Between 1984 and 1988, when it was first submitted, the title was changed twice, becoming first A Spring Day at the Edge of the World and then finally Chung Kuo, under which title it was sold to 18 publishers throughout the world.
A prequel to the Chung Kuo series, called When China Comes, was released in May 2009 by Quercus Publishing, which also re-released the entire series: "The series has been recast in nineteen volumes, including a new prequel and a new final volume. After a series launch in May 2009, Quercus will embark on an ambitious publishing programme that will see all nineteen volumes available by the end of 2012."
He has plans for a further a novels, a a first person character novel called Dawn in Stone City and three very different novels: The Beast with Two Backs, Heaven's Bright Sun, and Roads to Moscow.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 19, 2014
Extremely complex, but very logic and well thought, this series will be regarded as the definitive take on time travel and time travel paradoxes. I love what Wingrove is doing with the past and with the alternate histories, but what really shines in The Empire of Time is the future, where everything collides and from where everything begins.
June 30, 2015
One of the best time travel novels I have ever read, hands down. Where even to begin? Empire of Time is set in every time period between 3,000 BC and the end of the world, and everything in between. It's not a historical drama, although it includes history. It's about a Rassenkampf--a racial war between the Germans and the Russians fought across time. They're fighting for the future of mankind, they're fighting for history itself. It's surprisingly easy to read, but with a twisting plot that will have your brain in knots trying to unravel. It has singularities and time loops and mazes of possibilities that all end in defeat time and again. This is a must read for any time travel or SF enthusiast.
started_finish_later
May 5, 2014for whatever reason the author's prose just doesn't work for me here or in Chung Kuo
August 27, 2016
Quite well written, and interesting premise, but I hated the whole Nazis vs Russians theme, didn't like any of the characters, and ultimately didn't enjoy the story
November 26, 2021
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3794666.html
Did not finish. Seems to have very confused plotting.
Did not finish. Seems to have very confused plotting.
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December 28, 2020I'm struggling to find a better time travel novel or series. Wingrove's Empire of Time is definitely the best in the genre, but it it fails to deliver at the end (typical Wingrove, remember Chung Kuo?). I do hope he will return to it after fixing the Chung Kuo, as these two series have the potential to turn into the two most underrated book series I've ever read.Both need better endings and fixes for some plot inconsistencies or failures to deliver explanation about whatbis happening or why.
Can't say anything bad about the first book, apart from the second being better and the third becoming a mess at some point near the end.
Can't say anything bad about the first book, apart from the second being better and the third becoming a mess at some point near the end.
February 15, 2018
Having recently re-read most of the Chung Kuo series, I was interested to see how Wingrove handled his first major (and only?) step away from that massive series. Pleased to say that this trilogy is off to a most enjoyable start. I do enjoy his writing style and, while a time-travelling trope may not immediately appeal, Wingrove does fashion an impressive mix of history, destiny, rebellion, intrigue and a good old love story, all couched in the context of a far-future cold war. Will certainly continue with this trilogy.
June 21, 2018
By a male author for male readers. I couldn't find any female character that would be worth mentioning. The author kept reminding the existence of women as a means of procreation. Also I found it quite weird that the time travelers were manipulating Hitler without them questioning the Jewish question. Too much talking for my taste, almost no action. Narration is in the present time but that didn't change anything on the proximity to the story I felt as a reader. Only those parts taking place in the 13th century seemed to well handled.
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November 16, 2025The ultimate time travel thriller -- genre-busting and epic in every way. There is only the war. Otto Behr is a German agent, fighting his Russian counterparts across three millennia, manipulating history for moments in time that can change everything. Only the remnants of two great nations stand and for Otto, the war is life itself, the last hope for his people. But in a world where realities shift and memory is never constant, nothing is certain, least of all the chance of a future with his Russian love.
July 14, 2017
I do enjoy books where time travel is used to change the past, over and over again. This, the first of a trilogy, is in an imagined Earth where Nazi Germany and Communist Russia are in a battle to dominate the planet. A battle where both are attempting to influence past conflicts in the ultimate hope of total domination. Well researched and looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Ray Smillie
Ray Smillie
July 31, 2021
Terrific opening to the series. Fast paced and interesting with a unique take on time travel.
March 13, 2017
Second book in the series is more interesting than the first.
January 31, 2020
An interesting concept un-interestingly executed. It seems more time was spent “building the world” than developing a specific sequence of events worth paying attention to.
June 11, 2015
Love his other series immensely, and consider it one of the better series in literature...
That being said? While this new series is quite good, its...missing something. Sadly enough, I can't quite put my finger on it.
It's nearly as if he wanted it to become the epic that Chung Kuo was, but realized it would become too convoluted...too twisted in scope to get that ambitious.
As it stands, this first volume, at times, left me rereading sections or whole chapters to keep up with the narrative. Not a breezy read, by any measure. Historical knowledge, while not necessary, can be helpful at times to understand what "our" history is, as compared to the events in the novel...
I will state, however that I am eagerly awaiting the next volumes in the series. The story, while complex, is enough to keep the reader interested. I am curious to see the further development of Otto as a character, and the story as a whole.
That being said? While this new series is quite good, its...missing something. Sadly enough, I can't quite put my finger on it.
It's nearly as if he wanted it to become the epic that Chung Kuo was, but realized it would become too convoluted...too twisted in scope to get that ambitious.
As it stands, this first volume, at times, left me rereading sections or whole chapters to keep up with the narrative. Not a breezy read, by any measure. Historical knowledge, while not necessary, can be helpful at times to understand what "our" history is, as compared to the events in the novel...
I will state, however that I am eagerly awaiting the next volumes in the series. The story, while complex, is enough to keep the reader interested. I am curious to see the further development of Otto as a character, and the story as a whole.
January 27, 2015
Muy caotico relato de viajeros en el tiempo (alemanes y rusos) que se putean mutuamente para conseguir quedar por encima del otro. Desde el año 2999 viajan hacia atrás en el tiempo para reconducir hechos que beneficiaron al rival. Y cada vez que uno de los dos bandos consigue un resultado, algo ha cambiado en la base de 2999. Aburrido y mal contado, es una trilogía que no acabaré. Porque ni siquiera he acabado este, que me he quedado en la página 150. A evitar.
April 19, 2015
I have been a huge fan of David Wingrove since first happening on Chung Kuo many, many years ago and this new (shorter!) series opener doesn't disappoint. There may be moments where you have to pause and savour the intricacies to get your head around the whole time travel confusion but those moments just show how well thought out this story is. It's a love story, it's a war story, it's an epic sci-fi romp...
June 17, 2015
I would have liked to have given this book 4 or 5 stars but the concept is epic and this is just the first book in the series. Unfortunately I found it difficult to keep track of who's who and when in time there are. The last 100 pages were more cohrent so I may well give book 2 a try.
April 9, 2017
I read Chung Kuo, back in the day, and then was disappointed that David Wingrove stopped writing for a while. Imagine my surprise and delight to find his new book on a trip to London! I like this overall concept of competing forces waging war in time, influencing events for their own advantage.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews