This Is How You Lose the Time War

by Amal El-Mohtar, Max Gladstone

Hardcover, 201 pages

English language

Published July 16, 2019 by Simon and Schuster.

ISBN:: 978-1-5344-3100-3

(312 reviews)

Two time-traveling agents from warring futures, working their way through the past, begin to exchange letters—and fall in love in this thrilling and romantic book from award-winning authors Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone.

In the ashes of a dying world, Red finds a letter marked “Burn before reading. Signed, Blue.”

So begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents in a war that stretches through the vast reaches of time and space.

Red belongs to the Agency, a post-singularity technotopia. Blue belongs to Garden, a single vast consciousness embedded in all organic matter. Their pasts are bloody and their futures mutually exclusive. They have nothing in common—save that they’re the best, and they’re alone.

Now what began as a battlefield boast grows into a dangerous game, one both Red and Blue are determined to win. Because winning’s what you do in war. Isn’t it?

A tour de force collaboration from …

In the ashes of a dying world, Red finds a letter marked “Burn before reading. Signed, Blue.”

So begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents in a war that stretches through the vast reaches of time and space.

Now what began as a battlefield boast grows into a dangerous game, one both Red and Blue are determined to win. Because winning’s what you do in war. Isn’t it?

A tour de force collaboration from two powerhouse writers that spans the whole of time and space.

5 editions

John Lusk reviewed This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

Amazing book, for someone who generally reads pulp

4 stars

I had to read this book 2.5 times. Once at my normal pulp-reading speed, once again at a pause-after-the-letter speed (like: a 1-day pause), and then a whole bunch of go-back-and-re-read-a-piece-because-I-clearly-missed-something.

It's great. I do recommend taking your time on your first read. The plot is macramé, and it's really nicely done.

I think I did have a little trouble with the transition from being competitors to being in love. Seemed a little abrupt. I guess I still missed something important. Maybe there was implied stuff I'm too dumb to comprehend.

Anyway. Good book. Have a crack at it. Maybe you'll do better than I.

AlexaReadMeABook reviewed This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

Beautifully Written

4 stars

I listened to the book but may have been better read than listened to. Was not a bad listen though. The narrator's were great. The writing exquisite and beautiful. This is the first book ive read by two authors and the way things intertwined was great. Theres a lot of dichotomy throughout the novella and worth reading until the end. Best going into it without knowing much about it. As a birder though I do love the bird references and the beauty of the world they created; throughout all strands. Solid and would recommend

Aimee Gunther reviewed This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

Vacation reread: rating upgrade due to slow reread to catch all the details 🌿🤖 #Bookstodon

5 stars

The first time I read it, it was in audiobook form and the interruptions meant I missed a few things. This time, so much more fit together.

Elise reviewed This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

I can't think of a way this book could possibly have been improved.

5 stars

Even in the flaws it grows stronger. This is a book that is going to stay with me for a long, long time.

Mr.F reviewed This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

Cute romance with a disappointing sci-fi setting.

3 stars

Amal El-Mothar and Max Gladsonte's "This is How You Lose the Time War" follows two agents, Red and Blue, on opposite sides of a war that spans all of time and (some of?) space across multiple universes.

Each chapter starts with a snapshot of what each agent is doing to advance their side's cause, whether that's taking part in major historical events or planting the seeds for 'coincidences' in the future, and ends with the discovery of a letter from their counterpart. What begins as acknowledgements of respect, nods across the battlefield, gradually grow into something more.

Fans of science fiction may be disappointed by the lack of focus on the time-traveling, universe-hopping backdrop to this story of star-crossing lovers. Details are sparse, and little is disclosed about the factions or why they are at war other than hints and impressions throughout the book.

The gradual, tip-toeing romance between Red …

The gradual, tip-toeing romance between Red and Blue via their elegantly composed letters is the strength of this book. There is a sweetness as the characters, hovering just beyond what one might call "human", discover that they are capable of such love, and for who should be their mortal enemy, no less. Readers who never tire of "Romeo and Juliette" will find much to love in "This is How You Lose the Time War".

Phil in SF reviewed This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

Not really for me

3 stars

Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone write gorgeously, but I had trouble following the story.

Myaa reviewed This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

Absolutely Love This Book

5 stars

What an incredible journey this book was! Filled with delightful prose, beautifully abstract concepts, and a deep, heartfelt tale of two warring lovers across time. If you love sci-fi, romance, and abstract storytelling you'll love this!

Jacinto reviewed This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

Vaivenes temporales.

5 stars

Content warning Historia de amor prohibido a través del tiempo.

Es una novela corta que se centra más en transmitir las emociones de las protagonistas que en la construcción del mundo, los viajes del tiempo, o incluso la historia de amor entre ellas. Aún así se recoge la originalidad de la propuesta sobre todo en partes que es mejor leer.

mikerickson reviewed This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

-

2 stars

I must preface this with the fact that I have always disliked time travel in fiction. Not once have I ever enjoyed any depiction of it. I find it frustrating and uncomfortable and this iteration, though definitely a unique take on the topic, was no exception.

This is a very difficult book to pin down and review because it felt like it almost didn't want to be read. While it was extremely formulaic (one chapter told from one of the two protagonists' POV, followed by a letter left by the other, then switch places) the prose was so flowery that I had difficulty understanding just what was supposed to be happening at times. Though I suppose when your two lead characters are literally named 'Red' and 'Blue' it shouldn't be surprising when the rest of the book is absolutely purple. rimshot

There's a war between two factions that both have …

There's a war between two factions that both have some sort of time traveling technology that is never explained. Why the two factions are warring with each other or for how long (if that's even a possible question to ask) is never explained. And I understand that it's left intentionally vague because it's not the focus of the story the authors wanted to tell, but I found what was happening in the background to be more interesting than what was being handed to me.

A slow and careful romance between two combatants on either side of a deadlocked conflict should be an interesting premise. And there are certainly voiced concerns about possible betrayals and thoughts of, "what if this is just a long con to make me a turncoat?" that I'm glad were brought up. I just struggle to believe that a relationship can arise at all when these characters have no direct in-person interactions with each other and spend entire lifetimes without hearing from one another. I just found that the eventual culminating romance to be unearned and wished that it had resulted in a genuine betrayal or a more tragic note than what I got.

(Also, it feels disingenuous to market this as a "sapphic romance" when the two leads are essentially shapeshifters and have a loose association with gender beyond using she/her pronouns. This didn't feel queer in a way I could recognize.)

Clare Hooley reviewed This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

Love letters meets time travel

3 stars

Worth reading but I wasn’t up on all the literary references as much as you need to be. The quality of the writing was obvious and superb, but, oddly for a novella, I felt it a little too long. I wanted the story to move on from the love letter correspondence between Red and Blue one or two letters earlier. The immersion that was achieved for the diverse locations with such brief descriptions was my highlight. There’s a mystery character appearing at the end of each letter, and although readers (esp. any fantasy/SF reader) would spot who that is, when we actually meet them, for the end game, I got more into the romance of it.

MazzaB1 reviewed This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

Review of 'This Is How You Lose the Time War' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

This book is beautiful. The POV through lyrical poetical letters was very clever - I felt as though I was implicated by reading the letters. I absolutely loved it - nothing like anything I’ve read before.

Mouse of Madness reviewed This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

Don't spoil it for yourself, just read it

5 stars

This is a fun ride through timelines and consequences. A war fought across time using the butterfly effect to secure victories and deny options to the other side is an interesting battlefield for love to blossom.

Enum & Valerie reviewed This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

Bigolas Dickolas was right

5 stars

Beautiful novella! A lot of it is very abstract, on purpose. Like, how unlikely is it that two agents from rivaling parties both name themselves after colours, Blue and Red? It doesn't matter. Neither do the specific missions. The war events. The time strands.

What does matter, are the letters they send each other. The Seeker following them everywhere, snorting teapots like cocaine. And how they lose and win the time war.

Bonus points for the writing method (the two authors wrote the letters to each other, one after another, and built the universe that way). Bonus points for wlw romance. Bonus points for singing Steven Universe songs while writing the book. Bonus points for posing with swords on the backcover photo.

mattdsteele reviewed This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

Heed Bigolas’s advice

4 stars

As the memes foretold, it’s best to go in cold on this one and just let it wash over you. What a wonderfully poetic novella. I’d say it’s worth taking the time to savor the epistles between Red and Blue, but truth be told I just read through it in a single sitting.

Marina reviewed This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

A piece of art

5 stars

If you like books where you don't get all the answers, that aren't necessarily linear, and are more about prose and gut-wrenching heartache, you'll enjoy this book. It's art. If you don't like artsy books, you probably should pick something else to read.

I loved it.