Time Travel discussion

Time's Eye

For eons, Earth has been under observation by the Firstborn, beings almost as old as the universe itself. The Firstborn are unknown to humankind until they act. In an instant, Earth is carved up and reassembled like a huge jigsaw puzzle. Suddenly the planet and every living thing on it no longer exist in a single timeline. Instead, the world becomes a patchwork of eras, from prehistory to 2037, each with its own indigenous inhabitants.

Scattered across the planet are floating silver orbs impervious to all weapons and impossible to communicate with. Are these technologically advanced devices responsible for creating and sustaining the rifts in time? Are they cameras through which inscrutable alien eyes are watching? Or are they something stranger and more terrifying still?

The answer may lie in the ancient city of Babylon, where two groups of refugees from 2037 three cosmonauts returning to Earth from the International Space Station, and three United Nations peacekeepers on a mission in Afghanistan have detected radio signals: the only such signals on the planet, apart from their own. The peacekeepers find allies in nineteenth-century British troops and in the armies of Alexander the Great. The astronauts, crash-landed in the steppes of Asia, join forces with the Mongol horde led by Genghis Khan. The two sides set out for Babylon, each determined to win the race for knowledge . . . and the power that lies within.

Yet the real power is beyond human control, perhaps even human understanding. As two great armies face off before the gates of Babylon, it watches, waiting. . . .

Discussion opens December 1. Remember to try and post spoilers behind spoiler tags since every one joins in at different times.

I've got it out from the library, but am taking off for a week or two and so it'll have to wait.

I have to go get this from the library on Thursday.

I'm about halfway through. I've been so tired somehow, lately, that I keep falling asleep. I don't think it's the book's fault, however.

Otoh, it is sort of an alternate history. All these characters from all these eras. I wonder why we meet the ones that we do, and also what happened to cause this mess....

The blurb, copied above, is very spoilery. I edited the one on the book page somewhat, but I can't edit what Nancy posted, unfortunately.

A reader does need a strong stomach for this. I'm getting tired of fighting nausea. The authors pay lip service to the horribleness of war, slavery, etc., but spend most of the pages describing the gore, filth, military strategies, etc... all in a tone of glorification and enjoyment at the thrill of it all.

I'm getting a bit closer to the end and reading as fast as I can to get it over with.

Done. Ack. Might have made a good novelette. Not much actually developed. I don't know what to 'discuss' about it, at least while watching for spoilers.

Uh oh. That doesn’t sound good. I haven’t had a chance to go to the library. I’ll go tomorrow.

Good luck! I know our taste differs; I hope you like it!

I didn’t make it to the library.

I just finished and really enjoyed the story. I am looking forward to the discussion. I thought some of the story lines were interesting. (view spoiler)[ 1) Alexander vs Genghis Khan with some modern technology and future knowledge. 2) The Eyes themselves (are we told what they are later in the series?) 3) Seeker (although I hated she was tortured) (hide spoiler)] Thank you to whoever suggested this book.

I'm so glad you liked it.

I recommended because the two authors are big names and I thought that the group 'should' enjoy it, and because I figured some of us would like it.

My disappointment is my own problem.

I look forward to opinions about why the ones who ended up time shifted were selected considering the vast time lines and people who could have been chosen. Would have loved to have had some great scientific minds included or maybe they are in later books.

Well, of course the biggest names were chosen because the Beings were playing a "Who would win?" game, just like kids and nerds do.

And Ruddy, well, why not? He (and his entourage) represent their era pretty well. The cosmonauts are the most recent, associated with what some would consider the highest level of technology ever achieved.

I would have liked to learn more about other 'pieces' of the 'patchwork' that Earth had become.