One book changed Hugh Howey’s writing for the better
Sometimes, the most compelling stories aren’t just found on the shelves; they are found in the shared, unspoken connections between authors. For the prolific writer Hugh Howey, a particular novel has cemented itself as a favorite, a touchstone in his literary landscape: This is How You Lose the Time War.
Released in 2019, this novel, penned by the brilliantly paired voices of Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone, manages to blend epic, high-stakes conflict with a deeply introspective and often whimsical exploration of existence itself. It is a book that doesn’t just tell a story; it invites you to question the very nature of reality, time, and the relationships we forge within the chaos.
The narrative operates on a plane where paradoxes are the currency and paradoxes are the plot. El-Mohtar and Gladstone construct worlds brimming with impossible scenarios, where the rules of causality are as mutable as the characters themselves. Their work is a masterclass in speculative fiction, utilizing a unique blend of deep emotional resonance and mind-bending conceptual complexity.
It is this particular blend of grand scope and intimate detail that draws many writers to the work. The novel taps into a universal human fascination—our desperate attempts to manage the fleeting nature of time and our need to find meaning in enduring relationships, even when those relationships exist across timelines or dimensions.
For someone deeply immersed in the complexities of world-building, like Howey, the novel serves as a potent reminder of the limitless potential of storytelling. It demonstrates how two distinct creative minds can weave a tapestry that is simultaneously heartbreaking, hilarious, and profoundly philosophical.
Ultimately, the enduring appeal of This is How You Lose the Time War lies in its masterful refusal to settle for simple answers. It leaves readers pondering the echoes of war and love, the fragility of memory, and the strange, beautiful ways we navigate the temporal currents of life. It stands as a shimmering example of how fiction can explore the vast, often contradictory, landscapes of the human experience.
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