Baxter's Ambiguous Alternate

So, after picking it up and putting it down several times, I finished Stephen Baxter's Conquerer.

It's the second book in his "Time's Tapestry" series, about a prophecy delivered (apparently by time travel) to ancient Britain; and the way it affects the many generations of people who encounter it.

The prophecy is a complicated work of Latin poetry which describes the history of Britain by intervals, with dates linked by the regular return of Halley's Comet. As the series progresses, it becomes obvious that the prophecy is accurate- though its meaning is sometimes unclear until it comes to pass.

The legend surrounding the prophecy says that it was written by "The Weaver," a manipulator from the future who is trying to bring some historical incident to pass. It's unclear where this legend came from, or why people would preserve it since it makes the prophecy heretical; though of course as science fiction readers we understand its meaning at once.

Which comes to the odd part (or, I guess, the interesting part): it's unclear if the Prophecy is working. It undoubtedly changes individual lives; many people live or die because of its influence. But every historical incident it impinges on seems to work out in just the way it did in our actual historical record. Either it's very subtle, or it's not working, or else our history is the one it's trying to bring about.

This second book strongly suggests the second possibility; things haven't worked out as expected. But, of course, that's all a matter of perspective.