Title: A Swiftly Tilting Planet

Author: Madeleine L’Engle

Pages/Format: 256/paperback

What I Thought: A Swiftly Tilting Planet is another book in Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle In Time series.  There are 4 books in the series, although there is a 5th book that is sometimes included.  A Swiftly Tilting Planet is the 3rd book in regards to publication, but is the 4th chronologically. 

Anyway, it was still a very enjoyable read, and the story continues with the threat of nuclear war from dictator Mad Dog Branzillo.  It is up to Charles Wallace to go back in time, and prevent disaster.  Meg helps Charles Wallace by kything.  Calvin, while not making an appearance in the novel, is still mentioned, and we learn that Calvin and Meg are married with Meg expecting their child.  Calvin’s absence is explained by him giving a conference in Great Britain.

Charles Wallace goes out to the family star-watching rock and recites Patrick’s Rune, which he learned from Calvin’s mom.  He comes across a unicorn named Gaudior, and they go back in time in order to prevent a nuclear disaster.  Charles Wallace changes key events (or might-have-beens), in the lives of Branzillo’s ancestors. 

Along the way, the ever present Echthroi try to threaten the work Charles Wallace is doing.  While Charles Wallace is trying to change the future for good, the Echthroi are trying to change the future for evil. 

I wasn’t surprised that in the end, nuclear war was preventing by Charles Wallace changing the might-have-beens.  Branzillo ends up being a peaceful man instead of a South American dictator.  

Rating: 4 out of 5.  It definitely kept up in the spirit of A Wrinkle In Time and A Wind In The Door.  It was an enjoyable and quick read, and it was nice to see the entire Murry family as well as Calvin’s mom.