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Roads to Moscow #2
The Ocean of Time
Part Two of The Roads to Moscow The War For Time Continues. From the frozen tundra of 13th Century Russia to the battle of Paltava in 1709 and beyond, Otto Behr has waged an unquestioning, unending war across time for his people. But now a third unidentified power has joined the game across the ocean of time, and everything Otto holds dear could be unmade...
- GenresScience FictionFantasy
562 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2015
4 people are currently reading
91 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Between 1972 and 1982 he wrote over 300 unpublished short stories and 15 novels.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Between 1972 and 1982 he wrote over 300 unpublished short stories and 15 novels.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 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 12, 2015
In the first volume of David Wingrove's "Roads to Moscow," (inspired in part by Al Stewart's mid 70s hit, he describes a possible future in which Germans and Russians vie for control of history. Their agents dart back and forth in time, tweaking events here, making major changes there, while their opponents undo those changes. Back at base, a controller oversees it all.
This is the second part of the story, and it's not a sequel, but a continuation. If you haven't read the first one, don't even think about reading this one, as it builds on the world building of the first volume. Wingrove changes gears here, but none of will make much sense if you haven't read volume one.
This is an engrossing read, very difficult to put down. However, in this sequence, things begin to get just a bit hard to follow. I wish the novel were available on Kindle, so I could do a search on some of the names. (There is an index of characters at the beginning of the book.)
If you like time travel opera like Asimov's "The End of Eternity" and Barrington J. Bayley's "The Fall of Chronopolis," you should find this series riveting. Wingrove is one of the best writers working in SF today, and his story is much more sophisticated than the earlier works (although it is more action and idea focused than character-based). It's unfortunate he has not found favor in the U.S. (which is why I can't get it on Kindle). The book is available only in England.
Speaking of which, my only quibble is that when American characters are introduced, they talk like Brits. One famous American says, "Fancy a coffee?" I can't imagine a Yank ever saying that, unless he's been hanging out in Britain for a few months. But, it's a minor point.
Wingrove does occasionally fall back on clichéd phrases such as, "and then all hell broke loose." But overall he is a gifted storyteller than can build a complex plot and world without being deliberately obscure.
If you like time travel stories, I recommend this series ... but by all means, start with volume one ("The Empire of Time.")
A third and concluding volume is due in 2016.
This is the second part of the story, and it's not a sequel, but a continuation. If you haven't read the first one, don't even think about reading this one, as it builds on the world building of the first volume. Wingrove changes gears here, but none of will make much sense if you haven't read volume one.
This is an engrossing read, very difficult to put down. However, in this sequence, things begin to get just a bit hard to follow. I wish the novel were available on Kindle, so I could do a search on some of the names. (There is an index of characters at the beginning of the book.)
If you like time travel opera like Asimov's "The End of Eternity" and Barrington J. Bayley's "The Fall of Chronopolis," you should find this series riveting. Wingrove is one of the best writers working in SF today, and his story is much more sophisticated than the earlier works (although it is more action and idea focused than character-based). It's unfortunate he has not found favor in the U.S. (which is why I can't get it on Kindle). The book is available only in England.
Speaking of which, my only quibble is that when American characters are introduced, they talk like Brits. One famous American says, "Fancy a coffee?" I can't imagine a Yank ever saying that, unless he's been hanging out in Britain for a few months. But, it's a minor point.
Wingrove does occasionally fall back on clichéd phrases such as, "and then all hell broke loose." But overall he is a gifted storyteller than can build a complex plot and world without being deliberately obscure.
If you like time travel stories, I recommend this series ... but by all means, start with volume one ("The Empire of Time.")
A third and concluding volume is due in 2016.
August 14, 2016
Simply immense. A story of time travel, of history, of love and of war. Wingrove's writing flows so easily and you find yourself breathlessly clinging on until the final cliffhanger. The final part will be a long wait away!!!
July 31, 2021
Great second novel in the series. Built on the promising start and ramped up the story and danger.
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November 16, 2025From the frozen tundra of 13th Century Russia to the battle of Paltava in 1709 and beyond, German Time Agent Otto Behr has waged an unquestioning, unending war across time for his people. But now a third unidentified power has joined the game across the ocean of time, and everything Otto holds dear could be unmade. An epic novel in three parts, Roads to Moscow is the ultimate blend of thriller, historical novel and science fiction.
June 23, 2015
Let me put it this way. I can't wait for the next book!
January 12, 2016
I really like David Wingrove's stories. Looking forward to Book 3 coming out 6/28, The Master of Time (will be available on Kindle!). There are some plot holes, but the story grabs me.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews