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The Chronicles of Solace #2
The Ocean of Years
Time Is Up
In a far-flung universe--where history is a timeshaft away--a manhunt begins to determine the future of a world....
Oskar DeSilvo was the founder of the planet Solace. As the director of its terraforming project, he literally made the world--but he’s been dead for over a hundred years. Or so Anton Koffield thought. Now, as Solace slides into ecological collapse, Koffield discovers that DeSilvo may still somehow be alive--and that the secrets he holds could save not only Solace but all of humanity.
But Koffield has his own reasons to find DeSilvo. Once a decorated officer of the Chronologic Patrol, he now battles against all they stand for to find the man who nearly destroyed him. Driven by a ruthless sense of justice and honor, Koffield takes his crew back through a timeshaft wormhole to a time and a place none of them have ever Earth of the next century. There the search begins. A quest not only to explore the past--but to free the future from the clutches of a genocidal madman....
In a far-flung universe--where history is a timeshaft away--a manhunt begins to determine the future of a world....
Oskar DeSilvo was the founder of the planet Solace. As the director of its terraforming project, he literally made the world--but he’s been dead for over a hundred years. Or so Anton Koffield thought. Now, as Solace slides into ecological collapse, Koffield discovers that DeSilvo may still somehow be alive--and that the secrets he holds could save not only Solace but all of humanity.
But Koffield has his own reasons to find DeSilvo. Once a decorated officer of the Chronologic Patrol, he now battles against all they stand for to find the man who nearly destroyed him. Driven by a ruthless sense of justice and honor, Koffield takes his crew back through a timeshaft wormhole to a time and a place none of them have ever Earth of the next century. There the search begins. A quest not only to explore the past--but to free the future from the clutches of a genocidal madman....
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
2 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Roger MacBride Allen
57 books102 followersRoger MacBride Allen is a US science fiction author of the Corellian Trilogy, consisting of Ambush at Corellia, Assault at Selonia, and Showdown at Centerpoint. He was born on September 26, 1957 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He grew up in Washington D.C. and graduated from Boston University in 1979. The author of a dozen science-fiction novels, he lived in Washington D.C., for many years. In July 1994, he married Eleanre Fox, a member of the U.S. Foreign Service. Her current assignment takes them to Brasilia, Brazil, where they lived from 2007 to 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 23, 2010
A decent sequel to Depths of Time, though not as much gets accomplished. There's a whole two hundred pages or so where the heroes run around in circles, only to find the key they were looking for right under their nose. A whole lot of introspection during the search for DeSilvo, which then culminates in ten pages of exposition right at the end that basically says, "Yes, the situation is dire. But it's even more dire than *that*!" And then we're off to the next book.
Strictly speaking, you could skip pretty much directly from Depths of Time to Shores of Tomorrow, just assume that they caught up with DeSilvo in some fashion, and you will have missed very little. A disappointing filler book; though the writing is as good as ever, it really feels as if the author should have just gotten on with the story.
Strictly speaking, you could skip pretty much directly from Depths of Time to Shores of Tomorrow, just assume that they caught up with DeSilvo in some fashion, and you will have missed very little. A disappointing filler book; though the writing is as good as ever, it really feels as if the author should have just gotten on with the story.
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April 4, 2019(#2 in 3-book series)
Well-written, and an intriguing plot... but hampered by the fact that much of it is unnecessary and dragged out. You could read the last 60 pages (out of 431 total) and know everything you need to know, then go to the next book (#3).
A bit reminiscent of some of Asimov's FOUNDATION series, esp. concerning one Hari Seldon / psychohistory. If you're into the long-term consequences of humans settling planets in other solar systems -- and don't mind a dragged-out plot -- it's still a decent read with good characters. Or check it out if you like Sci-Fi/mystery mashups.
VERDICT: 4-star plot arc, but this book could have been done in 2 chapters or less. I'll say 2.5 stars overall, as I like the characters but this was a lot of reading for an incremental advancement in the overall plot.
Well-written, and an intriguing plot... but hampered by the fact that much of it is unnecessary and dragged out. You could read the last 60 pages (out of 431 total) and know everything you need to know, then go to the next book (#3).
A bit reminiscent of some of Asimov's FOUNDATION series, esp. concerning one Hari Seldon / psychohistory. If you're into the long-term consequences of humans settling planets in other solar systems -- and don't mind a dragged-out plot -- it's still a decent read with good characters. Or check it out if you like Sci-Fi/mystery mashups.
VERDICT: 4-star plot arc, but this book could have been done in 2 chapters or less. I'll say 2.5 stars overall, as I like the characters but this was a lot of reading for an incremental advancement in the overall plot.
February 11, 2025
Middle books are always tricky, but this one pulled me even deeper into the story. I just really like this grim take on terraforming in the future.
December 13, 2010
I just finished Ocean of Years and again found myself immensely enjoying the second book in the Chronicles of Solace trilogy.
As another reviewer pointed out, the plot isn't hugely exciting in this novel apart from a few key points. The main characters are simply stumbling around looking for clues to the location of the elusive antagonist DeSilvo.
The ending culminates with a "but wait... there's more... and it's worse than you think" moment leading straight into the third and final book.
What I did enjoy (again) was the new ideas put forward. For example, while visiting a planet overtaken by deadly mold the characters don two space suits - the external suit and the internal protective suit.
Escaping the planet with the mold already spreading through their landing craft and across their external suits presents an important challenge - how do you decontaminate fully to ensure the mold doesn't spread to your main craft. Even a few spores could kill everyone on board.
The solution - the returning crew don't enter the main ship directly - instead they enter bubble tents that are filled with oxygen and then ignited - setting fire to and destroying both the mold and their external suits.
Freed of contamination they can return to the main ship and crash the lander into the planets atmosphere.
Fun times!
As another reviewer pointed out, the plot isn't hugely exciting in this novel apart from a few key points. The main characters are simply stumbling around looking for clues to the location of the elusive antagonist DeSilvo.
The ending culminates with a "but wait... there's more... and it's worse than you think" moment leading straight into the third and final book.
What I did enjoy (again) was the new ideas put forward. For example, while visiting a planet overtaken by deadly mold the characters don two space suits - the external suit and the internal protective suit.
Escaping the planet with the mold already spreading through their landing craft and across their external suits presents an important challenge - how do you decontaminate fully to ensure the mold doesn't spread to your main craft. Even a few spores could kill everyone on board.
The solution - the returning crew don't enter the main ship directly - instead they enter bubble tents that are filled with oxygen and then ignited - setting fire to and destroying both the mold and their external suits.
Freed of contamination they can return to the main ship and crash the lander into the planets atmosphere.
Fun times!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2017
If you are into time travel and epic space odyssey's this book series is for you. Really enjoyable trilogy that does not sweat the actual science very much.
May 21, 2024
HAVE THIS BOOK.
September 15, 2015
really boring but very interesting, like the first book. For me its an audio book, I wouldn't have the patience to read it as it is soooo slowwwww.
How on earth are some authors so very boring but you still cannot put it down once you start?
How on earth are some authors so very boring but you still cannot put it down once you start?
December 7, 2010
One of my favorite sci-fi trilogies!
June 28, 2011
Wow! Just as amazing as the first book, with an equally unpredictable ending! Fantastic!
December 6, 2017
Onvan : The Ocean of Years (The Chronicles of Solace, #2) - Nevisande : Roger MacBride Allen - ISBN : 553583646 - ISBN13 : 9780553583649 - Dar 464 Safhe - Saal e Chap : 2002
November 28, 2016
Much the same as my review of the first book. I am enjoying the "villain" of the story. I also enjoy the hero in the sense that he is very much a Heinlein-ian, military overachieving master of self-control and there is a sense of comfort in that type of character.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews