Bobby Pendragon, Tome 3 : La guerre qui n'existait pas (original: 2003; edição: 2004)

I think what I love most about this series is the different worlds. Every book, there's a completely new setting to lose yourself in, complete with a new cast of characters. But of course, sometimes the best ones from previous novels come along for the ride.

Bobby Pendragon now finds himself in a very familiar territory indeed; First Earth, his home planet in the 1930's. And he quickly discovers that the "tipping point" here has everything to do with time. Somewhere, someone, helped along by none other than Saint Dane, is going to set something in motion that may become the catalyst for an event that will change history: World War II. And in order to save First Earth, Bobby will have to unravel the web of the past, the present, and the future, as well as make one of the most difficult choices ever.

Accompanied by the complex, vengeful, charismatic Vo Spader from the previous novel, with the addition of First Earth's mellow and wise Traveler Gunny, Bobby has reached a personal tipping point of his own; the time when he will truly come to understand what it means to be a Traveler.

I loved that this book took place in our own past, with all the time-appropriate references. I honestly used Google a couple times just to see if some of the characters Bobby met in the past were based on real people! Reading Bobby's incredulous, wondering account of experiencing all the time-travel was very realistic and consistant with his unique narrative voice. And as usual, the cliffhanger leaves you just like Bobby's ever-loyal friends Mark and Courtney; waiting for his next journal and his next adventure in a new territory.

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I think what I love most about this series is the different worlds. Every book, there's a completely new setting to lose yourself in, complete with a new cast of characters. But of course, sometimes the best ones from previous novels come along for the ride. ( )

stuck....stuck putting this one aside for a while to get unstuck

I really enjoy this series, and this one offers a different perspective on the duties of the 'travellers.' Great continuation of the series. ( )

This third installment of the Bobby Pendragon series has the usual glitches--for example, as the whole second book made clear, Courtney and Mark are not the only people who know where Bobby is, since Mitchell does, too; Bobby worries briefly that Jinx might be Saint Dane but decides that "nothing about her set my radar off" (119) though his "radar" was highly inadequate in book two, etc. However, there are far fewer of these errors than in the first two books, and higher internal consistency.
In the present volume, Mark and Courtney are almost absent, relegated to just a narrative bracket around Bobby's story. Fortunately, Mark is dissatisfied, too, and at the end of the book begins to explore ways to support Bobby more directly. The conflict this time takes place on First Earth in the 1930's and involves an enjoyable alternate history of the World War II era. Star Trek fans may hearken back to the original series episode The City on the Edge of Forever at times.

Unlike the first two books, Bobby's internal emotional battles seem realistic and genuine. This inspires the reader identification and empathy that have been lacking to this point. The present volume is a bildungsroman. That couldn't be said for the previous two.This makes me cautiously optimistic about the direction of the series, and hopeful about reading further. ( )