Wolf Time [Mass Market Paperback]

Lars Walker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1999

An Ill Wind.... There's something unnerving about the October north wind. It makes a wolf in the wilderness turn southward, in search of dangerous prey. It gets inside people, opening their minds to bizarre ideas and inclining them to violence. Of course there's the comet too, a spectacular one, tracked by ordinary people and by not-so-ordinary cult members. Something's gusting into Epsom, Minnesota. A witch feels it with dread. A Norwegian poet greets it with triumph. And Professor Carl Martell listens to its song with worry -- because Martell cannot tell a lie, but he knows one when he hears it.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Baen (June 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671578154
• ISBN-13: 978-0671578152
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,150,561 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lars Walker is a native of Kenyon, Minnesota and a graduate of Augsburg College, Minneapolis. He grew up on a farm, and has worked as a crab meat packer in Alaska, a mail clerk, an administrative assistant, and a radio announcer, and is now librarian and bookstore manager for the schools of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations in Minneapolis. He is editor of the Journal of the Georg Sverdrup Society, and is a Viking reenactor and Norwegian translator. His website is www.larswalker.com, and he blogs at www.brandywinebooks.net.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Apocalyptic Work from a New Artist, October 8, 2000

By 

Emily Snyder - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wolf Time (Mass Market Paperback)

For those who like their near-future sf/mythology fantasy with an explicitly Christian element, "Wolf Time" is the book for you. Following in the tradition of the literary social prophets, such as Orwell, Huxley and Bradbury, Walker joins the growing ranks of Christian apocalyptics, such as Michael O'Brien's "Father Elijah," Frank Peretti's "Piercing the Darkness," and Bud MacFarlane Jr.'s "Pierced by a Sword."

Carl Martell, history professor at the non-Christian Christiana College, cannot tell a lie. But he can sense when others do. And when acclaimed Norweigan Poet, Sigfod Oski, comes to town, Martell is certain the greatest deceiver of all is in their midst. Peopled with such endearing characters as the quiet but courageous Lutheran pastor, a born-again disk jockey, and the mythological wolf, Fenris, "Wolf Time" pulls you into Walker's all-too-realistic vision of where America is heading, and what believers will be called upon to endure.

Like almost all novels with an agenda (Christian or otherwise), though, the prose sometimes suffers for the Bible verses scattered throughout. Every conversation between two characters revolves around culture and religion, which single-mindedness may put-off would be readers. However, Walker's insights are sound, and his morals excellent - and, better, both are handled with a greater delicacy and tension as the book progresses. Walker is not afraid to present all sides of the argument, to make witches sympathetic while arguing against their theological view, to examine the fundamentalist fanatics' reasoning for fighting fire with fire while showing Christs' equally decisive but remarkably non-violent solution.

Christians, especially Lutherans, will enjoy Walker's take on the near-future. Viking and Norse Mythology enthusiasts will find "Wolf Time" an intelligent look at that religion. Recommended to teenagers and adults, due to several references to sex and violence. People searching for a follow-up non-fiction work may want to check out Peter Kreeft's "Ecumentical Jihad."

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Christian spiritual thriller for our times, December 27, 2002

By 

Stephen D. Schaper (Rochester, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wolf Time (Mass Market Paperback)

Lars Walker's spiritual thriller is set in south-eastern Minnesota in the very near future. Lars grew up near here, so he knows the people and culture from the inside, far better than, say, Garrison Kiellor.

As a spiritual thriller, this book is the most 'tro' or true and accurate (within the canons of mythopoeia) Christian spiritual thriller that I know of. Each re-reading of what might at first glance at the cover, appear a pulp fantasy, shows me more profundity, more depth of truth. If you like Peretti and Left Behind, but desire something deeper, this book is for you. If you like Tolkien and Lewis and wish to read something more contemporary, this novel is also for you.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing Change, June 28, 2002

By 

Carol A. Drollinger (Woodhaven, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wolf Time (Mass Market Paperback)

This extraordinary book can't be placed in one category. It's a book in which you participate in Norse Mythology in modern times, with rich characters and a many layered plot that includes suspense and even subtle humor.

Future fantasy on par with Caleb Carr's "Killing Time."

If you are a fan of C. S. Lewis's Space Trilogy, you may have a touch of deja vu. The protagonists of both "Wolf Time" and the trilogy share similar experiences--if you know the Eldila you'll enjoy this.

There will be no time to lose your place.