--- product_id: 62103985 title: "Time Was" brand: "ian mcdonald" price: "E£ 2875" currency: EGP in_stock: true reviews_count: 9 url: https://www.desertcart.com.eg/products/62103985-time-was store_origin: EG region: Egypt --- # Time Was **Brand:** ian mcdonald **Price:** E£ 2875 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Time Was by ian mcdonald - **How much does it cost?** E£ 2875 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.eg](https://www.desertcart.com.eg/products/62103985-time-was) ## Best For - ian mcdonald enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted ian mcdonald brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Full description not available ## Images ![Time Was - Image 1](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Kl5Zt1LfL.jpg) ![Time Was - Image 2](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41psxNmGeaL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Not at all what the blurb says it is, and that's okay *by K***T on Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2018* I don't know who wrote that blurb, but I don't think they read the same book. Wait, hear me out. It's still a book worth reading.Yes, there is a love story. Yes, there are two lads in WWII. Yes, there is some timey-wimey stuff. That's not the heart of the book, however. This is more a literary mystery with a sci-fi twist and a speculative fiction love affair. The majority of the book is from the point of view of a modern day used book hunter/seller who prefers his books to people . He stumbles across an odd book of poetry in a dumpster after yet another bookstore in the city closes. This book, and what he finds inside it, begins the mysterious journey down the rabbit hole in which he learns of Tom and Ben.There are flashbacks, alternating chapters told from Tom's viewpoint that work to intertwine the reader into both timelines and the mystery as it unfolds. These jumps can be a bit confusing, and there are some places where the author seems to change viewpoints without a proper understanding of who's chapter it is (mostly at the end) that I had to re-read to clarify. The true beauty of this book is in the writing, the prose and the way the mystery opens up to the reader, waiting until the very end to come full circle and all is revealed.If you are looking for strictly science fiction romance, this is not it. If you are expecting two boys fighting in WWII, with guns and bombs and daring time-travel adventure and- well, this is not it. There is a love story, though, and it's beautiful. This book is simply that, beautifully written, beginning to end. ### ⭐⭐⭐ It’s not really about the couple *by C***N on Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2018* I picked up this book because it’s short (I read it in a weekend) and it sold me a fascinating premise: Two British WWII soldiers are lovers who get separated each time they travel thru time, so they leave each other notes inside a book of poetry found in historic book stores.Unfortunately, the couple, Tom and Ben, are bit players in their own story. The book is really about Emmet, a present-day bibliophile who hunts and deals in rare war books, and the bulk of the story is about him unraveling the time travel mystery. When the story returns to Tom and Ben, they typically get just one scene. I really wanted to spend more time with them. We don’t get to know much about the lovers, and little distinguishes them other than their occupations... Tom is even nicknamed Tom the Rhymer (he’s a poet) to help you remember.Don’t read the book if you need a tidy ending. It ultimately gets around to explaining the time travel premise, but Tom and Ben’s fate makes zero sense and leaves you wanting more from the book. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Interesting concept ... tight story line ... good characters ... all in all, an excellent read! *by P***E on Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2018* I hadn't read anything by this author when I pre-ordered this book but I liked the preview: I read a lot of M/M stories. However, this is not your typical story within that genre. This is a love story across time ... yes, it is between two men but there is very limited reference to any liaisons; they are almost very close friends. I see why the author chose to have two men and not a man/woman as a woman showing up where the men did would have raised lots of questions. I was a bit lost at the start of the book: the language is off-putting with a lot of description but keep reading ... it gets much better and I realized the start reflected other chapters in the book. The view points are staggered: the majority being from a third party who relates the tale but at times, the view point switches to the men themselves. I would have liked to have read more from the men themselves, especially throughout time, but the book is short and compact: there isn't a way to insert it without derailing the story line. The story itself is an interesting concept. I have to say I wasn't overly thrilled with the ending: if the story is linear, I would have expected more from one man. However, if it's not ... if things 'fold' on themselves, so to speak (I'm trying not to spoil the story), then maybe there's an HE or maybe even a HFN ending. I did leave the book thinking I wished there were more but then again, I like long, romantic stories and this one wasn't meant to be that type of book. I still gave it five stars because the idea is terrific, the story was succinct and without extraneous characters/references, only discovered one or two typos (editing was great!), and I liked the cover. It was worth the wait and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a bit of romance with their Sci-Fi. Yeah, didn't mention that but again, didn't want to spoil the story. I was very pleased and will read it again even though it left me a bit sad and forlorn. Maybe there will be a part two? It would be worth it ... but this story doesn't hinge on it or have a cliff hanger. Job well done. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.com.eg/products/62103985-time-was](https://www.desertcart.com.eg/products/62103985-time-was) --- *Product available on Desertcart Egypt* *Store origin: EG* *Last updated: 2026-04-28*