Books › Bearing an Hourglass
Bearing an Hourglass
384 pages
A surreal, puzzle-box exploration of cosmic duty where the mechanics of living backward become a meditation on grief and purpose.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a philosophical puzzle box where the laws of physics and morality are tangible, shifting gears. The narrative moves at a steady, contemplative pace, asking the reader to untangle the surreal logistics of living backward through time alongside a deeply melancholic protagonist. It is less of an action-packed adventure and more of an earnest, wry meditation on grief, cosmic balance, and the heavy burden of duty. The prose is accessible but highly analytical, treating magic and divine intervention as complex systems to be outsmarted. It will delight fans of classic fantasy who love watching a clever mind navigate impossible paradoxes, finding profound meaning in the space between predestination and free will.
- Mood
- contemplative
- surreal
- melancholic
- nostalgic
- Tone
- philosophical
- wry
- analytical
- earnest
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- the burden of duty · nature of time and regret · cosmic balance · finding purpose in despair · mechanics of morality
- The writing
- The prose is accessible and conversational, yet heavily focused on untangling logical puzzles and delivering philosophical exposition.
- The arc
- The journey shifts from aimless despair to a complex, burdened acceptance of cosmic responsibility and subtle triumph.
- Who it's for
- Readers who enjoy classic, system-heavy fantasy that treats cosmic forces as logical puzzles to be outsmarted.
Content notes
- suicidal ideation
- grief
- existential dread
About the book
When life seems pointless to Norton, he accepts the position of Incarnation of Time. With the other incarnations—Death, Fate, War, and Nature already distracting him, Satan springs a cunning trap. Science fiction/fantasy legend Piers Anthony combines a gripping plot with a serious and thought-providing study of good and evil. Bearing an Hourglass is a fascinating, richly imagined tale that reaches beyond the normal science fiction/fantasy realm.
Description from Open Library.
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