The Map of the Sky by Felix J Palma, narrated by James Langton
Published in audio by Simon and Schuster Audio, published in print by Atria, both imprints of Simon and Schuster
This is the second book in the Map of Time series. I previously reviewed the first book, The Map of Time. This review may contain some spoilers for previous books in this series.
Synopsis:
There is a Whole Lot going on in this story. I mean, it is over 600 pages in hardcover and over 2o hours in audio. This being the case, I’m going to give you the publisher’s synopsis so I don’t inadvertently include spoilers:
A love story serves as backdrop for The Map of the Sky when New York socialite Emma Harlow agrees to marry millionaire Montgomery Gilmore, but only if he accepts her audacious challenge: to reproduce the extraterrestrial invasion featured in Wells’s War of the Worlds. What follows are three brilliantly interconnected plots to create a breathtaking tale of time travel and mystery, replete with cameos by a young Edgar Allan Poe, and Captain Shackleton and Charles Winslow from The Map of Time.
Thoughts on the story:
Palma integrates disparate pieces of his story much better in The Map of the Sky than he did in The Map of Time. Perhaps it was partly that I knew more of what to expect, but this time around he seemed to avoid the rambling exposition which occasionally plagued the first book in this series. Not only that, Palma seems to be the absolute master of his narrative in The Map of the Sky. Threads are introduced and seemingly abandoned, only to be picked up later in ways that are nothing short of brilliant.
Thoughts on the audio production:
Oh, James Langton, the only problem with this series is I’m not sure I can ever listen to you in anything else, you so perfectly encapsulate Palma’s cheeky third person omniscient narrator. Occasionally when Palma goes a bit too much into exposition, you keep things light, fun, and moving forward. I can’t imagine anyone else narrating these books and you make 20-odd hours fly by in the blink of an eye.
Really, though, the production is wonderfully smooth, and Langton’s narration even more so.
Overall:
I listened to The Map of the Sky in fewer days than most audiobooks half its length because it is just So. Good. Although I enjoyed The Map of Time, The Map of the Sky is definitely the better of the two and it is even better in audio. Highly recommended.
Buy this book from:
Powells: Print*
Indiebound: Print*
Audible.com
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Hm, at first glance, I figured this wasn’t a book/series for me, but your gushing over the narration of this makes me rethink that.
I agree with bermudaonion - you make me want to pick this book up (well, the audio anyhow). I read the 1st book and while I liked the first half - I found the 2nd half to be rambling and almost like a different book altogether.
This one rambles MUCH less.
I can’t wait to read this one. I have it in print and it’s a few books down in the pile. Good to hear that there isn’t as much rambling in this one. I loved the first book but those rambling asides were a distraction, especially that encounter with Elephant Man, it didn’t seem to have any purpose.
Oh that does sound good… audio saved me all summer long and I find I am still leaning heavily on it as life has not slowed down….
I really want to read or listen to both of these books! I’ve had my eye on Map of Time for some time now.
I definitely recommend listening, especially to the first one, because Palma tends to run on a bit in that one. But really, the narration is so fabulous that you’d be missing out by reading, in my opinion.
This sounds really good. Put a hold on the first book through the library!
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