A review by stannenb
The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. by Nicole Galland, Neal Stephenson

5.0

The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O is a Gordian Knot of a time travel novel. It manages to start in the 1850s which is, in the linear story, practically the end of the tale, which takes place in (one alternative universe of) modern time. That structure serves its narrative purpose well. You *want* to know just it all turned out that way. But this is a big book. It's easy to find yourself wishing that some of it had gotten pruned away in editing so you get to the conclusion faster. But it's a rollicking ride, with a satire of bureaucracy at the intersection of magic and time travel worthy of Charlie Stross.