The Map of Time

A Novel

By: Félix J. Palma

Narrated by: James Langton

This instant New York Times bestselling page-turner features a cast of real and imagined literary characters, cunning intertwined plots, and stars a skeptical H.G. Wells as a time-traveling investigator in Victorian London.

Characters real and imaginary come vividly to life in this whimsical triple play of intertwined plots, in which a skeptical H. G. Wells is called upon to investigate purported incidents of time travel and to save lives and literary classics, including Dracula and The Time Machine, from being wiped from existence.

What happens if we change history?

Félix J. Palma explores this provocative question, weaving a historical fantasy as imaginative as it is exciting—a story full of love and adventure that transports readers from a haunting setting in Victorian London to a magical reality where centuries collide and a writer’s mind seems to pull at all the strings.

Deeply disappointing

Well written, cleverly constructed, but no excitement, no real surprises. Not really a thriller or a mytery at all. Had to force myself to finish it...

Entertaining read

Nicely written. Many plot twists, some rather predictable but others not as much. I liked the fact he worked in so many historical character literary worlds. I will probably see what else the author has to offer.

Almost gave up a few times

The Map of Time has an interesting story that kept me entertained enough to continue listening. Unfortunately I wasn't a huge fan of the narrator. He's very slow. Once I figured out how speed up the audio it got better. Not a book a will be adding to my favorites list but not bad either.

Definitely not for the young 'uns

I have an eight-year-old who reads well beyond her age, so finding suitable books for her can be a bit of a challenge. Scott Westerfeld's "Leviathan" is one of her favourite series, so when I saw his endorsement on the cover of this book (and skimmed the synopsis on the back) I thought it might be one that she'd enjoy. To be safe, and thinking I might enjoy it too, I purchased the Audible version to have a listen before I bought her the physical book, and boy am I glad I did!

The opening chapter is a lengthy monologue about committing suicide, delivered in a way that falls just short of glorifying the action. The character in question comes across as very rational but completely resigned that this is their best option.

In the middle of the third chapter there's a rather vivid sex scene that I frankly wouldn't be comfortable with my daughter reading until she were at *least* twice her current age. Oh, and the sex scene involves a prostitute whose husband is sitting in the next room.

At this point I had obviously decided not to get the book for my precocious tween, but having never before quit an Audible title partway through, I kept listening for my own sake.

By the time (about an hour and a half in) that the narrative got into details of Jack the Ripper's particular acts of mutilation, I simply lost patience with the story myself, and the grandiloquent style of the audio performance was a major contributing factor to this.

Mea culpa for not reading the synopsis more carefully and for not recognizing from the cover that this isn't a YA title (which is where it had been shelved by the vendor).

Please take my three stars with a grain of salt, as I've listened to less than 10% of this title.

Might have been fine if written 150 years ago

While the author has tried to conjure the style of 19th century writers (long before the rule "show don't tell), there is so much "tell" here as to remove any suspense. Yes, there are some terrific ideas here - very creative - but they all get short changed in the plotting.

James Langton does his usual excellent job of narrating, surpassing what he has been given to elevate.

If you prefer your novels told in the style of an author from the 1800's, where the entire book is either all descriptive retelling of events already settled, or presented in a series of letters with no immediacy, then this may satisfy. Unfortunately the title sums it up, or perhaps gives a warning; would you rather venture to exotic destinations by looking at a map, or, immerse yourself in actual travel. This is the former.

And it's a shame - the themes here are terrific: the conundrum of time travel and changing history, love across time, class barriers shattered for love, giving up all for a noble cause. After a few of these doors open on nothing, you start to dread the next door when it appears. Or perhaps" become annoyed" is better description, knowing where it will lead.

By modern standards, Wells, Verne, Stoker et al and their works can seem stilted in their tell-to-show ratio, but there is a reason they are still in the pantheon of great and influential authors. I don't think this book however will stand the test of time.