A Tale of Time City

by Diana Wynne Jones

Other authorsUrsula K. Le Guin (Introduction)

Paperback, 2012

Status

Available

Call number

823.914

Genres

Publication

Firebird (2012), Edition: Reprint, 384 pages

ISBN

0142420158 / 9780142420157

Description

In 1939 an eleven-year-old London girl is kidnapped to Time City, a place existing outside the stream of time and manipulating the history of humanity, where she finds the inhabitants facing their worst hour of crisis.

Pages

384

Rating

½ (294 ratings; 3.8)

User reviews

LibraryThing member Tinwara

Really liked this, thrilling tale and well structured. Just what I needed after a period of hard work. One of those books that so totally grab you that you seem to forget about reality.

It is amazing how Diana Jones keeps on using the same elements in her stories, and yet, every book turns out to be

completely different. So here, like in Howl's Castle and like in Charmed Life, a slightly lonely teenager, who is very drastically taken away from "normal" life. A secretive adventure that almost gets out of hand. Adults who are not as easily fooled as the heroes think and in the end lend a helping hand. Misunderstandings. Travel between different worlds (in this case: times), one of which is usually the world that we know so well ourselves. New friends. The concept is equal yet the story very different every time.

So, even if this is a book intended for young teenagers, I found that I sincerely enjoyed it, and I am sure I will read it again, as I did with Jones's other books. Knowing how it ends, I have found that the stories remain entertaining, because the second time around I start to enjoy the little details that predict later actions and the humour that is used in describing the characters.

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LibraryThing member annapanda

Dianna Wynne Jones' book, A Tale of Time City, tells the story of Vivian Smith, who is stolen from her own time period (1939, during WWII), and transported to Time City, a city that stands outside of history. This city is in charge of making sure that history happens as it is supposed to, gently

nudging the right people in the right direction, or preventing things from being invented too soon.
Vivian is kidnapped by two young boys, Jonathan and Sam, who overhear their parents saying that they need to find a Vivian Smith in order to awaken Faber John, the founder of the city. Time City is unraveling, and he is the only one that can put it right. However, Jonathan and Sam have captured the wrong girl, and since it's illegal to bring anyone from History back to Time City, she has no choice but to stay with Jonathan and Sam and help them save Time City.

I always enjoy reading Dianna Wynne Jones. I think that she is an excellent author of young adult fantasy. I devoured The Dark Lord of Derkholm and Deep Secret and anything else I could get my hands on by her. However, I was a little disappointed by this book. Maybe because it was written for a younger audience that I had anticipated, or maybe it was another reason that I couldn't quite place my finger on, but I constantly found myself being let down by the quality of the writing and the how in-depth Jones went with the story. Yes, it was entertaining, and I enjoyed reading it (after all, it's a fantasy novel, and I've always had a soft spot for those), but I felt like she could have done so much more with the idea that she presented her readers with.
I also thought that the ending wrapped everything up a little too nicely for my tastes, as well. It took about a page and a half to tie allt he loose ends together, and I was really hoping for something a lot more. I don't want to ruin it for anyone that might pick up a copy of the book, but at the end I couldn't help but let out a loud groan.

I would recommend this book to anyone that's familiar with Dianna Wynne Jones' work. Although not her strongest (in my opinion), it's a quick read, and if you're looking for some easy entertainment, it's worth picking up.
I think I would give it a 2 out of 5 stars, personally.

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LibraryThing member katekf

A Tale of Time City follows Vivian Smith, an evacuee from London who is pulled from her train to a place called Time City which is out of time by two boys having an adventure. The book moves quickly as things are going wrong in Time City and Jonathan and Sam are trying to figure out how to fix it

and they think Vivian can help. I found this book a satisfying read and many of the things that Diana Wynne Jones does best in her books appear such as kids who sounds like kids, complicated plots, humor and deep world building. In terms of age, I would recommend this book to ages twelve and up as it deals in passing with some difficult issues concerning war and changing history.

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LibraryThing member Pbarto

In 1939, Vivian Smith gets off her evacuee train to go meet and stay with her cousin Marty when she is kidnapped. Vivian finds that her kidnappers are two young boys, one is sweet and intelligent, the other with an unusual craving for "Butter-Pies", and both with a thirst for adventure. Also,

they're not from her time... they're from Time City. This fantasy fiction, A Tale of Time City by Dianna Wynne Jones expresses how even the littlest of explorers can make a big change in history and end up saving something spectacular.
A Tale of Time City takes place in a place outside of history, Time City. Time city knows all of history and makes sure that everything goes according to plan. With the creator, Faber John, supposedly sleeping, there is a threat that his wife plans to take over Time City. Her name is also Vivian Smith. Jonathan and Sam are two young boys who are bored and want an adventure. They seek out Vivian Smith to try to stop her and by accident, grab an innocent girl with the same name. A girl who was just looking for her cousin Marty, and was instead kidnapped my Jonathan and Sam and brought to Time City.
Time City is said to break down once the end of history meets the beginning. Vivian, Jonathan, and Sam spend their days not only enjoying countless numbers of "Butter-Pies" to fill Sam's craving, but also seek caskets that will stop those who wish to take over Time City and help restore it before the end meets the beginning. They make many friends and encounter many problems and danger throughout their journey to save Time City. Will those in Time City realize that Jonathan and Sam brought back a girl from the twentieth century and punish them? Will they realize Vivian is not really Sam's cousin, Vivian Lee, but Vivian Smith? Most importantly, will they be able to save Time city?
A Tale of Time City isn't the best of Dianna Wynne Jones, but it certainly isn't the worst. A Tale of Time City is an excellent fiction book that portrays the idea that even the smallest can make a big impact. It shows courage, trust, bravery, and encourages one to take a stand and fight. Dianna Wynne Jones always includes miracles and the unimaginable in her writing and this shows it.
A Tale of Time City is a fantasy fiction by Dianna Wynne Jones. It has adventure, suspense, mystery, and a bit of humor. It's story plot is original, but not in the sense of time travel. It's quite detailed and very much summed up in the end. It's a must read for young adults. It's the type of book that takes you in and swallows you whole. You can't put it down for you're lost in it's advanced and beautiful world and inspiring story of how a girl and two boys save Time City.

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LibraryThing member alethea

One of Diana Wynne Jones' typically light, witty, and rather uncatagorizable fantasies. Three children venture through time in order to save Time City, which exists at the beginning and end of time.

LibraryThing member Ysabeau

Time travel books are hard. But Diana Wynne Jones makes it look almost look easy. During World War II, Vivian is snatched out of a London refugee train into Time City, which stands outside out time. But an unknown stress is threatening Time City's stability and if Vivian and her sidekicks can't

discover the nature of the stress, and stop it, she'll never get home again, and Time itself will stop. Another great delivery.

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LibraryThing member inky6

This is a great adventurous book about a girl and these two boys. She's trying to help these boys save history. There's a guy named Faber John in Time City and the legend is that he sleeps under the city, but really a part of him is there all the time. They don't realize that the person they go to

see every day after school is Faber John.

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LibraryThing member simchaboston

Slight but entertaining time-travel tale from one of my favorite fantasy authors. The idea of sending Observers into the past and the worry about not changing things reminded me a little of Connie Willis, but the plot twists are all Diana Wynne Jones -- as is the invention of the butter-pie,

something I wish existed in our universe!

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LibraryThing member wealhtheowwylfing

In preparation for German bombing, children are evacuated from London. Vivian Smith is discontentedly waiting to be picked up by her unknown cousin Marty when an older boy commands her to follow him. Moments later, she finds herself in a strange plastic&metal room. Vivian has been kidnapped through

time and space to Time City! Her kidnappers, Sam and Jonathan, are positive that she's the Time Lady who is destroying temporal reality and Time City itself. Vivian, of course, has no clue what they're talking about. All three embark upon an adventure to find the four time locks, hidden throughout time and fiercely guarded.

Adorable, with great details (the description of butter pie, a sweet that is icy on the outside, bubbling hot on the inside, and tastes like creamy butterscotchy vanilla perfection, was mouth-wateringingly memorable) and unforced characterization. Meant more for older children than young adults, but I sure enjoyed it anyway!

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LibraryThing member AltheaAnn

In 1939, England, a young girl Vivian, is being evacuated from London
due to the onset of WWII (a seemingly common premise for a great deal
of British childrens' stories). However, she never makes it to her
destination, as she is kidnapped from a train platform. Her kidnappers
turn out to be two boys

around her own age, Sam and Johnathan, who
have brought her to their home, Time City. Time City exists in a sort
of alternate time plane, and is collectively responsible for keeping
things 'on track.' However, things have been going wrong. Time is
slipping, and history is getting confused. Vivian's kidnapping was an
unauthorized bid for heroism by Johnathan and Sam, who were under the
impression that Vivian was a powerful and legendary figure, the Time
Lady. Vivian convinces them that she is, in fact, only an ordinary
girl, but finds herself caught up in the quest to repair the time
line, which involves finding a mysterious casket which could be hidden
almost any place - and any time.
Entertaining, but not among Jones' best works.

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LibraryThing member Cheryl_in_CC_NV

I guess I'll have to add DWJ to my list of respected & popular authors that I am not simpatico with, including George RR Martin and Ursula K. LeGuin. I cannot immerse myself in her complex worlds.

LibraryThing member SandyAMcPherson

Time City is "set out of time" and the story is sci-fi more than fantasy. Borrows heavily from WWII history and the evacuation of children during the London Blitz. There were overtones of Arthurian myths and time travel adroitly intertwined to create a unique story. One of my DWJ faves.

LibraryThing member mutantpudding

Despite suffering from a terrible cover, this book is pretty enjoyable. The ideas about time and time travel presented in this book make almost no sense to me, but since you learn about them along with Vivian the main character it sorta works. She gets pulled into this bizzare situation where she

doesnt understand the technology or clothes or food but she sorta learns to just go along with it, and thats what I ended up doing as well. The time city clothes and technology dont make a ton of sense, but they are vividly described and fun to read about. As are the characters. I think this would be worth a reread at some point since its always fun to spot all the little clues that Diana Wynne Jones puts in her stories that dont always pop out the first time round.

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