Time's Eye

A Time Odyssey, Book 1

By: Stephen Baxter, Arthur C. Clarke

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2005 Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"An exciting tale full of high-tech physics, military tactics and larger-than-life characters in the first of two novels related to the bestselling senior author's Space Odyssey series." ( Publishers Weekly)

Half Hearted attempt at an AC Clarke book

I guess Clarke had a use for the money so he attached his name to it. Rehashing major pieces of 2001 A Space Odyssey - right down to the final words describing the Star Child echoing the ones used to describe the first proto human - we find a mishmash of chaos along with a thinking person's version of who would win a boxing match between Marciano & Ali. A great narrator providing a great performance can't save this preposterous - and that's given its science fiction - storyline that relies on star studded cameos by historical fugures.
If you saw Bill & Ted's Bogus Adventures and hoped to read it in novized versions then this one is for you.

mixed fillings

interesting ideas presented in this book but in some part along the way it's getting tiresome

It's just ok

The story was a bit intriguing but not quite my style. I like a story to be based in reality and be believable. This was a bit outside that for me.

Yawn. Interesting idea but slow!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Action? Suspense? Be nice to see more of that!!

Has Time's Eye turned you off from other books in this genre?

I'm a life long sci-fi fan, but this is old school and it shows. It did put me to sleep fast,tho!

Bubble gum for the mind.

The story reads like an extended version of the Star Trek Original Series episode "The Savage Curtain." The Earth has been broken up into numerous "time fragments," each stuck sometime in our past. The fun begins when people and animals cross over between fragments, including some of history's most notable warriors. The narration is superior, and it actually "lifts" the story up when it begins to drag in the middle. I enjoyed this audiobook.

Kinda expected more from AC Clarke

Didn't feel like Clarke's. OK book but I expected better from a world class author

Fun book, interesting mystery

What did you like best about this story?

While some elements seem a bit eye rolling and predictable, overall it's a fun story with an interesting mystery at the heart of it.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

John Lee is probably my least favorite Audible narrator. His voice is very monotone and I have trouble paying attention to what he says. Also he recycles the same character voices for everyone of his books, which is quite annoying. I'm now looking for books that he does not narrate and will get books he narrates in actual book form and read them that way so that I don't end up hating the story just because he's the one reading it.

Excellent Narration, Fun Story

The narrator did an excellent job, I really enjoyed the book and look forward to finishing the series.

Interesting, but slow

Intriguing story, but incredibly slow. Felt kind of like a mildly intriguing news article that ran too long until the actual “events” start taking place. Less than satisfying ending.

Time's Eye

Though, I have read several of Arthur C Clarke's books, I was unaware of this series that begins with Time's Eye. This was an excellent reading. I have already stored the subsequent two books in the series in my library, and will explore those also! I'm very satisfied with the reading.