This Is How You Lose the Time War

by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar

paperback, 224 pages

Published March 17, 2020 by Gallery / Saga Press.

ISBN:: 978-1-5344-3099-0

(22 reviews)

Two time-traveling agents from warring futures, working their way through the past, begin to exchange letters—and fall in love in this thrilling and romantic book from award-winning authors Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone.

In the ashes of a dying world, Red finds a letter marked “Burn before reading. Signed, Blue.”

So begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents in a war that stretches through the vast reaches of time and space.

Red belongs to the Agency, a post-singularity technotopia. Blue belongs to Garden, a single vast consciousness embedded in all organic matter. Their pasts are bloody and their futures mutually exclusive. They have nothing in common—save that they’re the best, and they’re alone.

Now what began as a battlefield boast grows into a dangerous game, one both Red and Blue are determined to win. Because winning’s what you do in war. Isn’t it?

A tour de force collaboration from …

In the ashes of a dying world, Red finds a letter marked “Burn before reading. Signed, Blue.”

So begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents in a war that stretches through the vast reaches of time and space.

Now what began as a battlefield boast grows into a dangerous game, one both Red and Blue are determined to win. Because winning’s what you do in war. Isn’t it?

A tour de force collaboration from two powerhouse writers that spans the whole of time and space.

6 editions

dare reviewed This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

Review of 'This Is How You Lose the Time War' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This is probably someone's favourite book of the year. It's not mine - it's pretty far from the kind of stuff I usually love - and I was still really impressed and moved.

A love story with a backdrop of a paradimensional war, with the focus on beautiful writing and all the worldbuilding strictly as an afterthought. This is a novel that knows exactly what it wants to be and succeeds in that admirably. There's nothing superfluous here, only beautiful prose and a story that cannot but end tragically. Maybe.

David Clubb reviewed This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

Beautifully written and inventive; but not my cuppa

3 stars

For all this book's beautiful, poetic narrative, and hugely imaginative premise, I couldn't engage with it fully. I was too impatient for the plot, and I had to make myself read it rather than jump eagerly in for the next installment.

bibliotechy@bookwyrm.social reviewed This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

Lyrical and engrossing

5 stars

On one level, a lyrical and ethereal time travel romance that feels fresh. On another, a metaphysical work about the power of words to transform our selves and our world. Absolute stunner.

Koven Smith reviewed This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

Review of 'This Is How You Lose the Time War' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

This was absolutely lovely, one of the most beautiful sci-fi novels I’ve read in a long time. It’s a bit of a slow start, but really draws you in and sweeps you up.

Sami Sundell

rated it

Nov. 24, 2019

Anders

rated it

May 29, 2023

Sivuojanteen lautturi

rated it

May 26

This Is How You Lose the Time War

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