In Time of War: An Alex Balfour Novel (Alex Balfour Series) [Hardcover]

Allen Appel (Author)

Book Description

Series: Alex Balfour Series | Publication Date: July 2003

Professional historian-hero and time-traveler Alex Balfour returns in the most exciting of his critically acclaimed adventures. This time he wakes up literally in the middle of the Civil War. And this time, he’s not the only one traveling through time. Last seen falling asleep on a small Japanese island shortly after Hiroshima, Alex, a twenty-first century New Yorker, awakens between a Rebel stand and a Union charge led by George Armstrong Custer. Wounded by crossfire, Alex is taken to a makeshift hospital, but not before he witnesses the gruesome murder of a helpless soldier long after the fighting has ceased. Meanwhile, in present-day New York City, Alex’s girlfriend and intrepid Times reporter Molly Glenn loses her way chasing a story and winds up in the thick of the Civil War herself. As Alex tries to make sense of the murder and Molly, in cumbersome crinolines and petticoats, tries to make headway against prevailing male attitudes toward women, they meet such historical figures as Abraham Lincoln, Sidney Lanier, Ambrose Bierce, and Walt Whitman. Confronting hard-hitting historical truths, exploring moral dilemmas, and packing page-turning adventure, In Time of War continues the timeless series beloved by legions of fans.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This lightweight and fun fourth installment in the Alex Balfour series finds intrepid but unwitting time traveler Alex Balfour plopped in the middle of a Civil War battle. Immediately wounded, Alex survives thanks to an anonymous boy who provides him with a slain Union officer's papers. Alex soon finds himself installed in a Washington hospital, where, in spite of the teeming capital's chaos, he immediately meets Ambrose Bierce and Walt Whitman and spots John Wilkes Booth. Alex's New York Times pregnant reporter girlfriend, Molly, is also unwillingly spirited back in time to join him. She soon finds herself in a Washington brothel, where she works as a "seer" and a curiosity. As the plot moves forward, Alex and Molly find themselves variously imprisoned, chased and otherwise subjected to danger, at least some of which is orchestrated by Alex's nefarious father, who is also time traveling. Driven often by coincidence, the story takes second place to colorful, wide-eyed descriptions of period habits-Molly squeezes herself into a corset; Alex marvels over a salad of poke weed and purslane-and a good bit of speechifying. In chatting with the madam of the brothel, Molly asks, "Don't you ever imagine a future where men and women are equals intellectually and professionally?"; she also sets Bierce on his literary path by applying her notions of contemporary rhetorical style to his smoky Victorian prose. That there will be an attempt to thwart the assassination of Lincoln is a foregone conclusion, but other intrigues distract the time-crossed lovers often enough to keep the story rolling. Though Appel's rather sanitized, politically correct view of the period may make history buffs squirm, those in search of exuberant Civil War-flavored entertainment will find much to enjoy here.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Appel continues his excellent time-travel series, sending historian Alex Balfour back to the Civil War era in order to alter his own future. After his girlfriend, journalist Molly Glenn, dies in his arms during the out-of-time exploit chronicled in Till the End of Time (1990), Alex realizes that he must try to resurrect his only link to the present by changing the past. Transported to a Civil War battlefield, a seriously injured Alex witnesses the brutal murder of another wounded soldier. Recuperating in a Washington hospital and befriended by both Ambrose Bierce and Walt Whitman, he tries to make sense of the seemingly pointless homicide and contemplates what, if anything, he should do about Abraham Lincoln's impending assassination. When he realizes that a now pregnant Molly has been transported also, he feverishly works to bring them back together so they can safely return to their own time with their baby. Appel has adeptly combined science fiction and history into another compelling adventure that stretches back and forth through time at a breathless pace. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 380 pages
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf (July 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786711620
• ISBN-13: 978-0786711628
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,846,730 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Appel does it again!, September 2, 2003

By 

Larry Kahaner "www.AK-47book.com" (Mclean, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Time of War: An Alex Balfour Novel (Alex Balfour Series) (Hardcover)

I have read all of the Alex Balfour time travel books and this is the best one yet. Appel's description of the Civil War era, especially people's day to day activities is outstanding.
The story builds to an ever increasing crescendo as time traveler Alex and his love Molly find each other amid the chaos leading to the assasination of President Lincoln.
Preventing tragedies like the assassination of Lincoln has always been the fodder of time travel novels but Appel does it better than anyone else. Does he prevent Booth from killing Lincoln? I won't tell, but rest assured that the author offers a twist you will find both satisfying and exciting.
Thumbs up on this!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Appel does it again!, August 11, 2003

By 

Larry Kahaner "www.AK-47book.com" (Mclean, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Time of War: An Alex Balfour Novel (Alex Balfour Series) (Hardcover)

This is the latest in a series of outstanding time travel books from Allen Appel. This one does not disappoint.
Through a tightly woven plot, threaded with fascinating facets of history, Appel's hero, Alex Balfour travels to the Civil War time period in a sharpshooting tour de force. This is no ordinary time travel tome, but a smart, witty and accurate portrayal of life -- and death -- during our country's most difficult period.
The dialogue sings; the scenery shines and the ending will knock you out like a cannonball shot from a hidden grove. Think you've got it figured out? Think again!

My only complaint is that his books are published too far apart.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great read by Appel, March 28, 2004

By 

Rp "azrick997" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Time of War: An Alex Balfour Novel (Alex Balfour Series) (Hardcover)

Appel continues the story of his time-traveling history professor with another volume that may be the best one yet. You don't have to read these books in any particular order, but having read one, you'll want to check out the rest. I won't give away any details; just know that the books are well written, interesting, and exciting. I first found this guy's work at a used book sale; it was a diamond in the rough.