I decided to read this book as it was mentioned in Ultima. However, to my great disappointment, it turned out to be a complete waste of time.

The Legion of Time might have had some value back in 1938 when it was first published. But in my humble opinion, it simply doesn't stand the test of time.

The story and its concepts may have seemed revolutionary at that time, but today they appear rather dated and uninteresting. The writing style, too, fails to engage the modern reader.

Perhaps if I had read this book during the era it was written, I might have had a different perspective. But as it is, I cannot recommend it to others. It's a pity that such a once-promising work has lost its charm over the years.

I'm left wondering if there are other books from that era that have aged better and are still worth reading today.

Sandy gave 4 stars to a certain work.

The review can be found at http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi....

It seems that Sandy was quite impressed with the work to award it 4 stars. This rating indicates that the work likely has many positive aspects that caught Sandy's attention.

Perhaps the story was engaging, the characters well-developed, or the world-building was outstanding.

By following the provided link, readers can access Sandy's full review and gain a better understanding of why this work received such a favorable rating.

It could serve as a valuable resource for those interested in exploring the world of fantasy literature and finding new works to enjoy.

A magnificent beginning, at the Abraham Merritt, with the appearance of two goddesses, one of Good, the other of Evil, who could have made a cover for Margaret Brundage.

They represent two probabilities of future antagonists. At the point of divergence, a perfectly ordinary object that must be there at the exact place and time for the world of Good to have a chance of existing. A brilliant fall.

Between the two, there are many, many battles with a "lizard-men from Pluto" side that was the mark of the Astounding before Campbell. Jack Williamson and Legion of Time is precisely the first big catch of Campbell as an editor and has contributed to changing the tone of the magazine.

Campbell's influence on science fiction was profound. His editorial vision brought a new level of sophistication and excitement to the genre. The stories he published often explored complex themes and ideas, challenging the readers' imagination.

With the appearance of Legion of Time, Williamson introduced a new concept that would become a staple in science fiction. The idea of time travel and its consequences was explored in a thrilling and engaging way.

The story not only entertained but also made the readers think about the nature of time and the choices we make. It was a landmark in the history of science fiction and a testament to the creativity and talent of Jack Williamson.

I decided to read this book as it was nominated for the Retro-Hugo Award.

The contents of the book deviated somewhat from what was described on Goodreads. This is the Bluejay Books paperback edition from November 1985.

It encompasses the short novel, "The Legion of Time," along with the short novel, "After World's End." Both were originally published in 1938 and have no other connection.

The total page count is 249, and the book is illustrated by Ilene Meyer. The cover illustration shown on Goodreads is clearly from a Pyramid edition, not the Bluejay one.

Both stories in this book are decent, but neither can be mistaken for modern science fiction, nor are they especially memorable. They are both filled with exciting space adventures involving exotic aliens and damsels in distress.

I suspect that some Hugo voters might have confused "The Legion of Time" with the better-known "The Legion of Space" (1947).

You could do worse than read this book, but it is by no means grandmaster Williamson's finest work.

I hadn't fully grasped that this was the very source where the phrase "jonbar point" came into being.

When I read a reference in a 1938 book to the defence of Paris in 1940, I couldn't help but twitch with excitement. Although, then there were mentions of Russian rocket pilots from 1947, which seemed a bit too early.

The intense descriptions of hand-to-hand combat, almost like trench warfare, really struck me. Presumably, this must have been a common theme in the war literature of that era, reflecting the previous conflict. Williamson himself would have been too young to have any direct experience of it.

I was also amused by the idea of gathering together the best soldiers of all time, an idea that was later copied by Doctor Who and others.

However, I winced a little at the rather simplistic "Good Princess vs Bad Princess" concept.

And finally, I was a bit surprised when the whole thing was over after less than a hundred pages.

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2304620.html

This book is composed of two distinct novellas.

The first one, "The Legion of Time", was initially serialized in the May - July 1938 issues of Astounding. It's an early time-opera where space-time branches into multiple possible futures.

Two timelines are of particular interest: one leads to the Utopian city of Jonbar, while the other to the dystopian city of Gyronchi and human extinction.

Four 1930s college students are at the crossroads of time. Denny Lanning is the main character, and his roommates also play roles.

One roommate becomes a physicist who develops a time viewer, but observing a possible timeline makes that future more likely, leading to Gyronchi sending minions back in time.

The heroes must set things right and repair future history by assembling a crew of deceased WWI era war heroes and becoming the "Legion of Time".

The second novella, "After Worlds End", is more of a space-opera with a key element of time travel.

A wealthy scientist builds a rocket and hires Barry Horn to pilot it to Venus. An anti-radiation drug goes wrong, causing Horn to fall into suspended animation for a million years.

Meanwhile, on Earth, Horn's son grows up to be a scientist and creates a cyborg named Malgarth.

Malgarth turns evil, kills his creator, takes over his company, and plots to destroy mankind.

After a million years, Horn awakens and is rescued by robot-fighting rebels. Together, they must save humanity from robot doom.

There are many exciting elements like positronic ray guns, disrupters, robot armies, and more.

Both novellas are written in a typical pulp style with flaws but also an amazing density of ideas that have influenced later science fiction writers.