Wendy H. (donkeycheese) -
I had the pleasure of reading Palma's book The Map of Time last year so I was excited to get my hands on his new release, The Map of the Sky. Palma has a distinct writing voice, one filled with deception, grace and melodic prose.
The Map of the Sky is told in three parts. H.G. Wells is perturbed about a sequel to his best-selling novel, The War of the Worlds. He didn't write it and he wants to meet the author. But the author shows Wells something that he has only imagined - an alien that was found earlier on an Antarctica expedition, one which Edgar Allen Poe was on.
Emma Harlow is consistently turning away male attention, until one such gentleman won't take no for an answer. His name is Montgomery Gilmore. He's wealthy and it's a good thing, because Emma issues him a challenge. Recreate the alien invasion from Well's book The War of the Worlds and she'll consider his proposal. Not to turn away from a challenge, Gilmore does just that.
As the aliens begin to descend upon London, is it fantasy or reality? Soon they are fighting and running for their lives and Palma does not let up with his blend of history and fantasy. From page one, the story will grab a hold of you and not let go until the final conclusion. Entranced? Absolutely! I loved this book! You don't have to read The Map of Time to read this one, but I highly urge it. It too is wonderful!
The Map of the Sky is told in three parts. H.G. Wells is perturbed about a sequel to his best-selling novel, The War of the Worlds. He didn't write it and he wants to meet the author. But the author shows Wells something that he has only imagined - an alien that was found earlier on an Antarctica expedition, one which Edgar Allen Poe was on.
Emma Harlow is consistently turning away male attention, until one such gentleman won't take no for an answer. His name is Montgomery Gilmore. He's wealthy and it's a good thing, because Emma issues him a challenge. Recreate the alien invasion from Well's book The War of the Worlds and she'll consider his proposal. Not to turn away from a challenge, Gilmore does just that.
As the aliens begin to descend upon London, is it fantasy or reality? Soon they are fighting and running for their lives and Palma does not let up with his blend of history and fantasy. From page one, the story will grab a hold of you and not let go until the final conclusion. Entranced? Absolutely! I loved this book! You don't have to read The Map of Time to read this one, but I highly urge it. It too is wonderful!
The Map of the Sky is a campy, sci-fi thriller and is better than its predecessor, The Map of Time. Both books consist of three intertwining stories based on H.G. Wells novels, War of the Worlds and The Time Machine, respectively. While The Map of Time was about the Victorian obsession with time travel, in The Map of the Sky fantasy becomes reality.
The first story involves a 1830 expedition to Antarctica gone wrong. The ship becomes trapped in ice and not only must the crew fight hunger and bitter cold but they soon realize there is a monstrous alien in their midst. If you've read Dan Simmons' The Terror, you know what I'm talking about.
In the second story, H.G. Wells witnesses War of the Worlds actually become reality almost exactly how he wrote it in his novel. With a Scotland Yard detective and a few characters from the first novel, Wells is in a race to save mankind.
The third story relates in detail how Wells faces the biggest test of his life while discovering things about himself he would never have imagined.
Palma also neatly sets up the next book in the series. This series is meant to be read in order and you will enjoy The Map of the Sky more if you read the previous novel first. This is a very original historical fantasy series.
The first story involves a 1830 expedition to Antarctica gone wrong. The ship becomes trapped in ice and not only must the crew fight hunger and bitter cold but they soon realize there is a monstrous alien in their midst. If you've read Dan Simmons' The Terror, you know what I'm talking about.
In the second story, H.G. Wells witnesses War of the Worlds actually become reality almost exactly how he wrote it in his novel. With a Scotland Yard detective and a few characters from the first novel, Wells is in a race to save mankind.
The third story relates in detail how Wells faces the biggest test of his life while discovering things about himself he would never have imagined.
Palma also neatly sets up the next book in the series. This series is meant to be read in order and you will enjoy The Map of the Sky more if you read the previous novel first. This is a very original historical fantasy series.
