A Swiftly Tilting Planet

By: Madeleine L'Engle

Narrated by: Jennifer Ehle

In this companion volume to A Wrinkle in Time (Newbery Award winner) and A Wind in the Door fifteen-year-old Charles Wallace and the unicorn Gaudior undertake a perilous journey through time in a desperate attempt to stop the destruction of the world by the mad dictator Madog Branzillo. They are not alone in their quest.

Charles Wallace's sister, Meg - grown and expecting her first child, but still able to enter her brother's thoughts and emotions by "kything" - goes with him in spirit.

But in overcoming the challenges, Charles Wallace must face the ultimate test of his faith and will, as he is sent within four people from another time, there to search for a way to avert the tragedy threatening them all. "L'Engle's gifts are at their most impressive here". (Publisher's Weekly)

©1978 Crosswicks, Ltd (P)2012 Listening Library

Intriguing multi-generational story

I feel like Madeline L'Engle is playing mind-games with me. For her third book, she took away everything I love about her previous Time Quintet books. Meg has become ordinary. Gone is her awkwardness and anger. She's dared to grow up and has become acceptably beautiful, blossoming into a perfectly pleasant, evenly-keeled woman. Gone are the unexpected Cherubim, Farandolae and shape-shifting Echthroi, we now have a perfectly ordinary unicorn. But despite taking away what I thought held me enthralled in her books, the subversion of expectation does not ruin the fact that Madeline L'Engle is a great story-teller.

Spinning a multi-generational tale, backed against the words of Patrick's Rune, the story explores a lot of themes which may in a today's context be thought of as "too adult" for children's books. The things that are kept hidden from children so as to preserve their innocence.

I really hope to be able to read this series to my children one day.

Excellent!! MUST LISTEN/READ!

Narrator was fabulous. Great story & series for all ages! I highly recommend!

Exceptional

A brilliant ending to a story that is deeper than you expect it to be. Enjoy the journey- it's a good one (;

Intricate story weaving

The story draws you in and is strangely relevant to any time. Wonderful prose and vivid descriptions carry you along into the hearts of the characters.

Latin is wrong.

"Amanda is Sanskrit." False. Amanda means going or intending to be loved in Latin. As for the book, it was good.

great story

I cried. I love both this author and the voice actor. 10/10. I can't wait to relisten.

My favorite of the Time Quartet

I have to respond to the old review which says, “The Latin is wrong.” It is Ananda, not Amanda. As the book correctly says, Ananda is Sanskrit (not Latin):

Ānanda (Sanskrit: आनन्द) literally means bliss or happiness.

I enjoy the intricacies of this book. Some aspects of the plot may be a touch problematic to modern sensibilities, but the spirit/intent behind it is good.

A Swiftly Tilting Planet

I really liked this book. Not as much as the first or 2nd book but it was still a good one. I don't know why but I never thought I'd like this book series growing up, at least I like it now. I thought it was cool that this book had a main character that was a unicorn in it. I never really read // listen to books that have unicorn in them. I was confused a couple times listening to the book so I'm going to give it another try to see if I hear something I didn't pick up on the first time. I hope Disney continues to make this book series into movies because I'd love to see all of the books in this series turned into movies.

Well Done version of a favourite

Jennifer Ehle does a wonderful job bringing this highly imaginative and heart-warming story to life. All LEngle's books are suitable for all ages, and emphasize personal growth and responsibility while telling an exciting tale.

Much easier to follow

I have read Wrinkle in Tiime and Wind in the Door , but this book was easier to follow . It is my favorite. After such a prickly adolescence, Meg turns into a beautiful young woman, happily married to Calvin, also from a Wrinkle in Time, and expecting their first child. I follow history more easily than I do science so maybe that is why I enjoyed this more. Also I have Welsh ancestry, and I love Celtic Myths! Also it was interesting to meet a member of Calvin's family. I remember from a Wrinkle in Time that he had a difficult family life. Here I found out why. Loved Gaudior the Unicorn and his scenes with Charles Wallace. Hope that heaven arouses the same feelings that the hatchery does for Charles Wallace. And I shall always remember Patrick's Rune!