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A Century of Progress
For centuries two meg-powers from the future have been waging war for control of timelines of history. Alan Norlund, a WWII airman vet, is promised a life saving cure for his granddaughter, if he will undertake a mission fifty years back in time to the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. Hitler with his 'angels' from the opposing power would like to take over our timeline and 1933 Chicago may be just the place to start.
Continuing the time-line wars of Fred Saberhagen's MASK OF THE SUN.
Continuing the time-line wars of Fred Saberhagen's MASK OF THE SUN.
315 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1983
1 person is currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Fred Saberhagen
331 books484 followersFred Saberhagen was an American science fiction and fantasy author most famous for his ''Beserker'' and Dracula stories.
Saberhagen also wrote a series of a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular ''Empire of the East'' and continuing through a long series of ''Swords'' and ''Lost Swords'' novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Saberhagen was born in and grew up in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Saberhagen served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] during the Korean War while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an It was while he was working for Motorola (after his military service) that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, ''The Golden People''.
From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Chemistry articles in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' as well as writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full-time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter.
Saberhagen also wrote a series of a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular ''Empire of the East'' and continuing through a long series of ''Swords'' and ''Lost Swords'' novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Saberhagen was born in and grew up in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Saberhagen served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] during the Korean War while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an It was while he was working for Motorola (after his military service) that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, ''The Golden People''.
From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Chemistry articles in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' as well as writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full-time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 5, 2024
3.5/5
Nothing fantastic or amazing here, just a solidly entertaining time-travel yarn.
Nothing fantastic or amazing here, just a solidly entertaining time-travel yarn.
April 6, 2012
Main guy Norlund gets blackmailed to helping some time
travelers to wipe out Hitler in all the timelines available
or something. Are these timeboppers jerks? Desperate
manipulative smarties? Anyway, Norland goes to the very
heart of the 30's and recruits a guy to put up ceramic
cylinders on trees/poles/houses to fight the coming reich
with these relay thingies that will do the job(--or
something). Norlund is out for nazi steak after being a little
confused on why he should bother. This book is especially
great when the 30's are being laid out, it's well
written so you think you're there. The rest of the book
is pretty swell too...although....there's one problem,
everything gets wrapped up so fast (gotta get this gem off
to the publisher!-Fred) that you are left standing
still having to relieve that itching bladder, nowhere
to leak. KILL HITLER!! Ok, but how why when where?!
--they get to the guy in a few timelines so the uberlaw
isn't up to snuff completely, the jews are saved not
slaved--ja...
Aw hell, this is a good airport read, I just wish
(selfish me) it was longer and the nazi Hajo Brandi chiefs
were more developed in the plotmachen. This coulda
been drawn out to a big ol' destroy Adolph across the
timelines series (like Saberhagen is out for Berserkers in
that series of never ending plotmach), but as soon as
they get to Hollywood with the massive weapons of
destruction the book is just winding itself outta the time
spool. The depression era stuff in here is what really
makes this book worth reading, you can have the rest of
it as foam off the top of the bubble bath. 30's
equals warm bath feeling. MMMMM. The rest is just
blowing down the street with the other clear cut trees of
Oregon-bye!
travelers to wipe out Hitler in all the timelines available
or something. Are these timeboppers jerks? Desperate
manipulative smarties? Anyway, Norland goes to the very
heart of the 30's and recruits a guy to put up ceramic
cylinders on trees/poles/houses to fight the coming reich
with these relay thingies that will do the job(--or
something). Norlund is out for nazi steak after being a little
confused on why he should bother. This book is especially
great when the 30's are being laid out, it's well
written so you think you're there. The rest of the book
is pretty swell too...although....there's one problem,
everything gets wrapped up so fast (gotta get this gem off
to the publisher!-Fred) that you are left standing
still having to relieve that itching bladder, nowhere
to leak. KILL HITLER!! Ok, but how why when where?!
--they get to the guy in a few timelines so the uberlaw
isn't up to snuff completely, the jews are saved not
slaved--ja...
Aw hell, this is a good airport read, I just wish
(selfish me) it was longer and the nazi Hajo Brandi chiefs
were more developed in the plotmachen. This coulda
been drawn out to a big ol' destroy Adolph across the
timelines series (like Saberhagen is out for Berserkers in
that series of never ending plotmach), but as soon as
they get to Hollywood with the massive weapons of
destruction the book is just winding itself outta the time
spool. The depression era stuff in here is what really
makes this book worth reading, you can have the rest of
it as foam off the top of the bubble bath. 30's
equals warm bath feeling. MMMMM. The rest is just
blowing down the street with the other clear cut trees of
Oregon-bye!
April 29, 2025
Don't read the spoilers or the back cover. Not his best work but I enjoyed it. It might have made or could make an interesting series.
October 18, 2015
Well, I finished it so I think it merits 2 stars. It really wasn't a good book. As other reviewers noted, the first 3/4 of the book was a very slow read. Then the finish was too fast. The book is about an elderly man who is recruited by people from the future to go back in time and alter history so that Hitler does not unleash his dastardly evil upon the world. As others have said, Saberhagen does an excellent job of depicting the 30's. But the pace that the author used in writing the book was flawed. The conclusion was hurried, confusing and disjointed. It took me a really long time to finish. Unfortunately, I can not recommend this book even to the most staunchest of time travel enthusiasts.
March 11, 2011
Seriously? The girl they saved becomes a Hitler-fighter? Ulterior motives much, people???? WTF.
Also - for every one of the infinite timelines in which Hitler exists, there are an infinite number in which he was never born, an infinite number in which he went on to do something innocuous (like be an artist), an infinite number in which he subjugated the entire world, and an infinite number in which someone else subjugated the world. The idea of doing good by eradicating Hitler from as many timelines as you can get hands on is utter foolishness.
Also - for every one of the infinite timelines in which Hitler exists, there are an infinite number in which he was never born, an infinite number in which he went on to do something innocuous (like be an artist), an infinite number in which he subjugated the entire world, and an infinite number in which someone else subjugated the world. The idea of doing good by eradicating Hitler from as many timelines as you can get hands on is utter foolishness.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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January 11, 20111/10/11: Much like a movie trailer, the blurb on the back of the book should contain enough of a hook to get you reading, but shouldn't tell you about anything that happens after the first act. I can only assume that this rule was followed by the writers of the blurb because after 179 pages (nearly 2/3 through), the author hasn't even bothered with exposition. Not only do I not know what's going on (as an uneducated reader, that is), but the protagonists still have no idea what's going on. This is boring.
October 18, 2012
The cover and the blurb on the back compelled me to read this book, but in the end it wasn't really worth it. The first 3/4 of the book is interesting but very slow and I was beginning to wonder when something of significance was going to occur. The last 1/4 is where most of the action takes place, but it felt very rushed and choppy.
October 29, 2008
It was a good plot, and it had some good characters. I could have been really invested. But it also had the bad habit of being excessively hard to follow.
January 12, 2013
A servicable yet engaging easy-ready, just what I expect from Fred Saberhagen!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews