A Tale of Time City
Author: Diana Wynne Jones, Forward by Ursula K. Le Guin
Publisher: Firebird; Reprint edition (April 12, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0142420158
ISBN-13:978-0142420157
I have always been a big fan of Diana Wynne Jones, and have read most of her books. I was excited to read A TALE OF TIME CITY, and it did not disappoint. One of the things I love about Jones’ books is how a fantastical world can seem so real and believable. Taking a tour of Time City, I was as agog with wonder as Vivian in the story and yet, like Vivian, I fully believed it was real. I didn’t feel lied to or tricked, which sometimes happens when Fantasy writing goes awry.
A TALE OF TIME CITY is the story of Vivian, or V.S who is mistakenly kidnapped from a train station in WWII England where she is being sent to be fostered as were many children during the war to keep them safe from the bombings. Her kidnappers are two young boys, Jonathan and Sam. They think she is someone called the Time Lady who is out to do harm to their city, a curious alternate reality that sits outside of time itself and observes all the eras. Their world is shaking up, becoming uncertain and they are determined to save it.
At first, Vivian is angry and upset, but her anger quickly fades to wonder at her new and fantastic surroundings. A friendship develops with the boys, yet there is always that undercurrent of tension that you often find with siblings. They are the annoying brothers that you love, but exasperate you. She tastes her first butterpie, a magical and delicious creamy concoction on a stick that when you eat it, is both hot and cold. She gets used to the strange clothing and customs as well as struggling through a very common struggle for children – school. As Vivian becomes a part of the boys world, she becomes just as determined as they to save it and an exciting quest ensues. Will they save the city? Who or what is Faber John? Who is the mysterious time ghost who daily tries to climb the clock tower? More importantly, who is the Time Lady and what is Vivian’s role in Time City?
Jones, with her usual magic of deft writing, humor and skillful world-building is at her best in A TALE OF TIME CITY. The book, though published years ago, stands the test of time and is in no way dated though the book was first published back i 1987. Jones manages to bring both the fantastical world of Time City brilliantly to life as well as draw a realistic England in World War II. The Firebird re-issue is beautifully done with a lovely forward by none other than Ursual Le Guin, another incredible writer. There’s a reason Diana Wynne Jones was called the Queen of the Fantastic, and this book is a great example of why.
Highly recommended!
About the Author
Diana Wynne Jones was the multiple award-winning author of many fantasy novels for children, teenagers, and adults. Her book Howl’s Moving Castle was made into an Academy Award-nominated major animated feature by Hayao Miyazaki. She received the World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. Married to the medievalist J. A. Burrow, with whom she had three sons, she lived for many years in Bristol, the setting for many of her books. Diana Wynne Jones passed away in March 2011, after a long illness.
