Titel: Zeitreisen deluxeDer Klappentext und das wundervolle Cover motivierten mich dazu diesen wundervollen Roman zu lesen.Und eins vorweg: dies ist kein Buch, welches man mal eben so zwischendurch liest. Es fordert einem 100% Aufmerksamkeit ab.Das Buch ist in 3 Handlungsstränge unterteilt, die in sich zwar abgeschlossen sind, aber jeder Teil hat etwas mit den anderen zu tun. Die Geschichte spielt im ausgehenden 19. Jahrhundert. Wir lernen die Hauptcharaktere Andrew Harrington, Claire Haggerty und Inspektor Garret kennen. Besonders das Schicksal von Andrew Harrington hat es mir angetan. Er führte eine Liaison mit der Prostituierten Marie Kelly, die später von Jack the Ripper getötet wird. Dies verwindet Andrew nicht und trägt sich mit Selbstmordgedanken herum. Nur sein Cousin kann ihn davon abhalten, in dem er ihn überredet eine Zeitreise zu machen. Claire Haggerty hingegen verliebt sich bei ihrer Reise in die Zukunft in jemanden aus der Zukunft und setzt alles daran diesen jemand wiederzusehen. Und was hat Inspektor Garret von Scotland Yard mit all dem zu tun. Was verbindet diese Personen miteinander? Sind es wirklich nur die Zeitreisen allein? All dies erfahrt ihr in diesem Kleinod von Roman.Felix Palma kann einfach auf eine unbeschreibliche Art und Weise schreiben, die einen die Zeit und alles um einen herum vergessen lässt. Toll fand ich vor allem den Erzähler, der den Leser direkt anspricht und ihn mit den zahlreichen Wendungen überrascht und teils an der Nase herumführt.Fazit: Für mich eines der schönsten Bücher über Zeitreisen. Well, Palma can certainly write! I really enjoyed his world-building in this book. The alternate reality Victorian London felt rich and three-dimensional. Characters were well-drawn and substantial, with just enough surprises in them to feel like they were growing during the course of the novel. Where *A Map of Time* falls down for me is, as for others, in the plot. I didn't mind that this novel is really three loosely connected novellas (note that the publisher's description only deals with the last story! Bad form!!); rather, I found the twist at the end -- the one that should pull together the three sections into a coherent whole -- just didn't work all that well. It seemed oddly contrived and clumsy compared with the rest of the work. For me, Palma's intriguing premise and strong writing makes it worthwhile to read the second novel in the series. With a bit of luck (and a really good editor), he'll find his groove.
What do You think about Die Landkarte Der Zeit (2010)?
So much potential, so poorly executed. The book consists of three novellas that are inter-related taking place in Victorian England. It's hard to tell more about the plot without spoilers, but I'll say that all the plot twists are rather disappointing. The writing ranges from brilliant to repetitive and self-satisfied. The author has a tendency towards long windedness and could have used a good editor. All the pieces for a really great book are there, but they don't come together. And the book drags on and on (for which I docked it a star - usually I'd have given it a 3 star review but for the endless pages of description where nothing happens and the description isn't interesting or plot relevant). I had high hopes for this book. Especially after the first few chapters which seemed so elegantly written. But in the end, I was let down. I don't anticipate reading the rest in the series.
—karine
Rollicking Good Fun!Until I was several chapters into this book I was beginning to wonder if I wanted to continue. At times I groaned while reading, sometimes smiled, and often stopped to ponder certain paragraphs. It was a story of many things; imaginative, different, strange, but yet, soon became compelling enough to finish. When I finally read the last page, I felt I had been thoroughly entertained and pleased to have read such a creative and unique book.
—immie0404
Very creative story line and good characters. I will probably read more of these.
—CLMOR
