Play Book Tag discussion

The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers - 4* - My Review

Published in 1983, this book is a wild fantasy-adventure-time-travel-and-historical-fiction featuring magicians, body-switching werewolves, evil clowns, Egyptian gods, mystical creatures, and rips in the space-time continuum. Set mostly in Regency London, it blends fantastical elements and real historical events and includes literary references to classic Romantic poets.

American protagonist Brendan Doyle is a professor whose specialty is 19th century British poetry. He has written a book on Samuel Taylor Coleridge and is now focused on (fictional) poet William Ashbless. A millionaire convinces him to join a group of wealthy time-tourists to be transported back to 1810 to attend one of Coleridge’s lectures. Doyle becomes stranded in the past, where he must deal with magical conspiracies and personal threats as he tries to find a way back to his own time—or at least survive in the one he’s stuck in.

The Anubis Gates of the title refer to magical portals that connect different points in time and space. These gates are controlled by Egyptian gods and magicians, and they play a central role in the villains’ attempts to manipulate history and achieve power. I appreciate that the time travel element is explained and consistent. The tone is Gothic. It is fast-paced, tense, and eerie. It was a fitting read for Halloween. Recommended to fans of secret histories with a fantasy component.

PBT October BWF Extra A and tagged "travel" x14

Fall Flurries - October - Halloween

Also, if anyone is interested in reading it for November's tag, this book is tagged "Steampunk" (though it is set in Regency rather than Victorian times). It is rather lengthy, but it is a wild ride.

This is definitely on my list to read next month - I own it. Glad to know it is good (I don’t mind long)

Hope you enjoy it!