A Time For Glory

The Time Warrior Sagas

Fiction - Science Fiction
293 Pages
Reviewed on 11/15/2017
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Charles Remington for Readers' Favorite

The year is 2143 and planet Earth is at peace. The population is stable and protected albeit within firm guidelines. Individuals have enough food, shelter and unlimited healthcare, enabling them to live well into their second century. The authorities even provide genetically matched and psychologically compatible partners so why has suicide reached epidemic proportions? Many are finding the stable, meaningless existence of this cosy world excruciatingly tedious. Some indulge in dangerous sports, some take their own lives and, in an age where time travel has become possible, some choose to travel back in time to experience combat shoulder-to-shoulder with the warriors of ancient tribes. Guilds have been organised specialising in specific periods (the Stone Age, Bronze Age and so on), authorised to train and transport individuals back in time.

A Time For Glory by M.L. Strong opens with the central character, Logan, fighting for his life as the Saxon army which he has joined is ambushed by an overwhelming horde of Danes. With him is his shield brother and fellow warrior Dawson, and a third combatant, also from the future, a rather nasty piece of work called Arthos who likes to collect body parts -
ears, noses and such - as mementos of his exploits. After a desperate battle in which Dawson is badly injured, the trio manages to get back to their own time. Inspired and excited rather than daunted by their experience, they start training for another ‘jump’ - this time to join battles between some early German tribes and invading Gauls. But the events of this trip cause bitter divisions, splitting the shield brothers and sending them in different directions until Dawson becomes trapped in a time frame where Iceni warriors, led by British Queen Boudicca, are fighting the Roman invaders. Despite their differences, Logan must try to convince a reluctant guild to mobilise and mount a rescue for his stranded comrade, but time is running out. Can they possibly prevail against the might of the Roman army?

I was surprised by the basic subject matter of A Time For Glory, a storyline tackling issues around friendship, honour, comradeship and bravery in battle - subjects somewhat out of tune with the current prevailing science fiction trends. I was initially taken aback by the macho antics of the central characters, whose principal reason to travel back in time was to put themselves in extreme danger and kill as many people as possible. But, strangely, I seemed to understand why they were doing it. I am not a soldier and have never been involved in combat, but I know that we males are designed to hunt, gather, defend and protect. A life of coddled security would drive most men crazy. As a species we seem to need challenges that test our capabilities, our intellect and our strength. Without these challenges life lacks any real meaning. With this work, M.L. Strong has prompted me to look again at my basic nature and think carefully about what life would be like without those challenges. For me, A Time For Glory has been a deeply thought-provoking book and I urge anyone trying to understand the male psyche to read it.

Kim Anisi

The first book in The Time Warrior Sagas, A Time For Glory by Martin L. Strong throws readers right into the middle of a brutal battle in the distant past - when fighting still happened man vs. man instead of push-of-a-button vs whole countries. There is something different about that ancient battle, though: Logan and his companions do not belong in that time. They have time traveled from the year 2143. All seems to be well in that future, maybe too well: people are bored, some lack the will to live because there is no challenge in their lives; there's nothing to fight for, nothing to worry about, nothing to hope for, nothing to dream about. Suicide is the second most common reason for deaths in the future. People are literally bored to death. Logan does not want to be one of those people. He joined the fighters' guild that uses time travel to enable their members to experience what it is like to be part of something, and to fight for something. But one day, something goes wrong. One day, the guild's training isn't enough. Logan finds himself in a rather peculiar situation, and needs to change the past to save a friend's life.

I always find time travel stories a bit mind-bending, and thus interesting to read. A Time For Glory by Martin L. Strong did not disappoint. The first chapter was a bit too long for me, and it took a while to get to the part where readers learn about Logan's background. But that's about the only thing I could complain about. Once you get into the story, it's an enjoyable journey (not so much for Logan, but for the readers!). The book is quite descriptive, and you won't have any issues with having the fights and battles in front of your mental eye. Fortunately, the time travel in this novel has some rules, so you don't get too confused with time travel paradoxes. It's a good start to what promises to be an exciting series.

Nikki Leigh Willcome

A Time For Glory: Book One of The Time Warrior Sagas by M.L. Strong is about a utopian future where, for a growing minority, life is anything but perfect. The novel centers around Logan, a creative entertainment designer in the year 2143, who is also a member of the Iron Guild, a company that has turned time travel into a tourist attraction, or rather, an escape from the mundane existence of a hyper-controlled society. With boredom and suicide at an all time high, the government’s attempt to provide every need and comfort of its citizens has backfired, spurring the creation of the warrior guilds and a draw to more dangerous times when traits like honor, loyalty, and courage were valued above all. When a time bounce goes awry, Logan is blamed for misconduct and is shunned by his other shield brothers. But when one of these shield brothers goes missing on a trip to the past, Logan will have to overcome not only his own demons, but legions of Roman soldiers to get his friend back … and to prove his own worth.

A Time For Glory by M.L. Strong is wickedly addictive and imaginative. I was immediately intrigued by the idea of an imperfect Utopia, especially when so many current novels set themselves in a dystopian future. The whole idea that the government has made life so peaceful and planned, and where crime is essentially eliminated, that it spawned the creation of these time travel guilds where it's perfectly acceptable to send people back in time to kill other people is horrifying yet at the same time so creative. Strong is able to combine elements from movies like Gattaca and Gladiator in this novel; two completely different worlds that strangely come together in an exciting way. I will say that while I rooted for Logan to overcome his struggles, I was morally cringing at his chosen method of entertainment, though Strong made a good attempt to make me overlook that in the worlds he created. I applaud Strong’s knowledge of historical characters and events, and appreciated the references to the demands and details of physical training, though in some cases the latter overshadowed the former. Overall, the book was a fast read, full of unexpected turns, and a fun ride to the past and future. I am looking forward to seeing where the second book in the saga takes me.

K.J. Simmill

Forced to retreat as the Danes close in on their flanks, Logan and Dawson flee. The Saxons were losing this battle. Reunited with their savage ally, Arthos, they finally find the space to activate a strange device. Before the Danes' eyes the three Saxon warriors vanish from sight. But that was not the end of this trio, it was simply the conclusion of another adventure. The year was 2143, and combat experiences were all the rage to stem the growing boredom of the masses. Time travel was just one of the benefits of being a member of the Iron Guild. There was a rule that was always upheld; you protected your shield brother. When Logan did his first 'bounce,' he had fled, leaving Dawson to fend for himself. Logan had been shamed, but since that day he had upheld this rule.

Logan and Dawson experienced many battlegrounds together, and as soon as they arrived back, Logan was already preparing for their next one. But it didn't go as planned. From the very onset everything went wrong, resulting in grave danger to both of them. Separated and tortured, they barely managed to escape with their lives, but, to Logan's surprise, on his return he found a lie had been woven, one which questioned his honour and destroyed his friendship. Sent into a spiral of despair, Logan almost loses everything. Then came the news, Dawson was missing. Logan will do everything he can to bring his friend back, despite Dawson vowing if their paths ever crossed again he would kill Logan. Discover ancient conflicts in Martin L Strong's multi-layered tale, A Time For Glory.

A Time For Glory is part of Martin L Strong's Time Warrior Sagas and makes for an action packed, roller coaster of a read. From jumps and battles in history to character turmoil and conflict, Martin L Strong successfully weaves a believable cast and world and, as in life, everything and everyone has their own agendas. The author shows talent in both character development and imagery, making it easy to visualise everything that transpires. There are enough futuristic elements to satisfy a sci-fi reader, while not alienating those who would shy away from the genre. Martin L Strong presents excellent ideas in the theory and application of time travel, inclusive of the debates and repercussions of such an undertaking.