I sometimes go with the award winners when making a choice like this. I see that The Time Ships won the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. So you might start there. Victor Vinge's A Deepness in the Sky is in that list too. That was a really good one, but of course not by Stephen Baxter.

So the kids and I begin to dig through a bin of books at the thrift store today. Right on top: Manifold Space by Stephen Baxter. I picked it up (32c). You're welcome to it.