Rating: 
Summary: Fine fantasy from a writer better known for Hard SF
Review: Greg's Bear original writing was, in contrast to his SF as seen in Moving Mars or Eon, a fine fantasy novel called the Infinity Concerto. Several years later, a sequel, the Serpent Mage appeared. Finally, several years ago, the two reappeared in a single hardcover volume, Songs of Earth and Power. Rewritten somewhat and polished, it instantly became a part of any Greg Bear or fantasy fan's library, albeit expensive.
Now, long overdue, this volume is finally available in affordable paperback. If you want to see Greg Bear write in a completely different mode than his typical hard SF, or if you are a fantasy writer who wants to read fantasy with logic, strength and consistency, then this book is for you
Rating:
Summary: Stick with it (its great)
Review: Hey all of you reading this book, stick with it. It can be difficult at first, I had to read it a second time to actually get it. Once you do get it though, WOW, this is my favorite book and it has influenced me alot. Good luck.Danny
Rating:
Summary: This book outdoes everything else in its genre...
Review: I have a confession to make. Before I read Songs of Earth and Power by Greg Bear, I was a fan of the SciFi/Fantasy genre. Now, nothing can satisfy me. In his spectacular book, Bear more than raises the bar for his fellow writers. As for his supposed "blasphemous" writing: Bear is taking creative license. I am a very religious person, and I beleive wholeheartedly in God. Yet I am openminded, and can read a novel that questions God and the story of creation and take it for what it truly is -- a story, nothing more. If you cannot be open minded and take offense at "blasphemous" writing in a fiction novel, then you probably shouldn't read this book. This is the most imaginative, original, and creative book I have ever read (and I read quite a lot); now, every other SciFi/Fantasy book on the shelf just seems like another brainless, cookie cutter novel complete with dragons, magic, and the like. So, if you want to experience an intellectual, thought-provoking, and entertaining Fantasy (which seems like an oxymoron to me now), RUN not walk to read this book. However, if you want to continue reading and enjoying other SciFi/Fantasy novels, I would recommend that you avoid this one. It'll spoil everything else for you.
Rating:
Summary: This book outdoes everything else in its genre...
Review: I have a confession to make. Before I read Songs of Earth and Power by Greg Bear, I was a fan of the SciFi/Fantasy genre. Now, nothing can satisfy me. In his spectacular book, Bear more than raises the bar for his fellow writers. As for his supposed "blasphemous" writing: Bear is taking creative license. I am a very religious person, and I beleive wholeheartedly in God. Yet I am openminded, and can read a novel that questions God and the story of creation and take it for what it truly is -- a story, nothing more. If you cannot be open minded and take offense at "blasphemous" writing in a fiction novel, then you probably shouldn't read this book. This is the most imaginative, original, and creative book I have ever read (and I read quite a lot); now, every other SciFi/Fantasy book on the shelf just seems like another brainless, cookie cutter novel complete with dragons, magic, and the like. So, if you want to experience an intellectual, thought-provoking, and entertaining Fantasy (which seems like an oxymoron to me now), RUN not walk to read this book. However, if you want to continue reading and enjoying other SciFi/Fantasy novels, I would recommend that you avoid this one. It'll spoil everything else for you.
Rating:
Summary: A Pleasant Diversion From Hard Sci-Fi
Review: I have been an avid fan of all genre of sci-fi for as long as I can remember. I found most of my books in a little out-of-the-way used book store in Sudbury,MA called "Bearly Read Books". The owner of the shop and I became great friends over the years and when an original print copy of Greg Bear's "The Serpent Mage" became available, it was highly recommended to me with the stipulation that I put it away somewhere and wait until a copy of it's predecessor "The Infinity Concerto" became available. At the time I purchased the sequel I had already become a fan of Bear's work (along with writers like Larry Niven & L. Sprague de Camp); so it was with great difficulty that I stored the book away to await a first edition copy of "The Infinity Concerto". I had completely forgotten about the stashed copy of part two of Bear's epic fantasy when part one became available some eighteen months later.....then I began to read....
Being more of a hard sci-fi reader, it was mildly difficult for me to get the grasp of this complex fantasy but once I settled into it, it became extremely hard for me to put the book down when it became time to live in the real world (that is, to eat, sleep and earn a living). Greg Bear has done his homework with his research of Gaelic & Celtic cultures to incorporate them into his work which makes this story more believeable (sp?) and his religious, though irreverent, connotations I found amusing. I am an agnostic who was raised as a strict Catholic and I disagree with those who call Bear's reference to biblical interference by the Sidhe "blasphemous". You people need to lighten up; after all this is a work of fiction.
The human race's hero and savior in this epic is a young man named Michael Perrin, an aspiring young poet of 17 (or is it 21?) years who, after befriending a famous composer, sets out one evening shortly after the composer's death to discover "what lies between, above or below" his reality and finds himself transported, quite violently, to another dimension-another world-another space in time alternately known as Sidhedark, the land of faerie, or simply, The Realm.
Michael soon finds he must adapt and learn as much as he can about his new surroundings if he is to survive long enough to find his way back to Earth; for The Realm is a harsh and unforgiving place where humans are only tolerated because of a pact between a defeated human sorceror and the Sidhe, into whose world young Michael Perrin has been thrust.
In part I of the epic, "The Infinity Concerto", we become young Michael and follow his accomplishments (few) and failures (many) in his quest to meet The Isomage, the defeated human sorceror, who's the only one that has the power to return Michael to Earth. There are many twists and turns in the story and you may find yourself going back to reread certain passages, being literally afraid that you may have missed some minute but crucial piece of badly needed information that the story needs to progress.
In part II, "The Serpent Mage", we find Michael Perrin back on Earth five years later (but it only seemed like a few month's time while he was in The Realm); vastly more knowledgeable but still not sure of the potential he must accomplish to become what he has been fated for. The Serpent Mage, Manus is truly a delightful character who, while imparting his knowledge (quite unwittingly at times) to Michael, sheds light on the creation of man and all the original five races of beings.
Both of these volumes; and this is a long read; have been polished up a bit and incorporated into a single volume titled "Songs of Earth and Power". I found myself purchasing all three volumes to keep in my library and (chuckles) now find myself rereading this epic story once again. I honestly couldn't tell you how many times I have reread this story. There is something in it that tugs at the corners of MY reality!
I sincerely do not wish to impart too much of the story because, pray tell, then why would anyone need to read the book(s).
If your name is George Lucas or Steven Spielberg, you really should contact Bear to get the film rights to this property which could easily become a trilogy. You can probably even get him to do the screenplay. But most importantly, pay very close attention to my last few words......
Bear's ending of book II seems to have left completion of his epic satisfying but the door is still "open" for perhaps a third book featuring Michael and Kristine's daughter. After all....magic IS stronger in the female.....
Rating:
Summary: A Pleasant Diversion From Hard Sci-Fi
Review: I have been an avid fan of all genre of sci-fi for as long as I can remember. I found most of my books in a little out-of-the-way used book store in Sudbury,MA called "Bearly Read Books". The owner of the shop and I became great friends over the years and when an original print copy of Greg Bear's "The Serpent Mage" became available, it was highly recommended to me with the stipulation that I put it away somewhere and wait until a copy of it's predecessor "The Infinity Concerto" became available. At the time I purchased the sequel I had already become a fan of Bear's work (along with writers like Larry Niven & L. Sprague de Camp); so it was with great difficulty that I stored the book away to await a first edition copy of "The Infinity Concerto". I had completely forgotten about the stashed copy of part two of Bear's epic fantasy when part one became available some eighteen months later.....then I began to read....
Being more of a hard sci-fi reader, it was mildly difficult for me to get the grasp of this complex fantasy but once I settled into it, it became extremely hard for me to put the book down when it became time to live in the real world (that is, to eat, sleep and earn a living). Greg Bear has done his homework with his research of Gaelic & Celtic cultures to incorporate them into his work which makes this story more believeable (sp?) and his religious, though irreverent, connotations I found amusing. I am an agnostic who was raised as a strict Catholic and I disagree with those who call Bear's reference to biblical interference by the Sidhe "blasphemous". You people need to lighten up; after all this is a work of fiction.
The human race's hero and savior in this epic is a young man named Michael Perrin, an aspiring young poet of 17 (or is it 21?) years who, after befriending a famous composer, sets out one evening shortly after the composer's death to discover "what lies between, above or below" his reality and finds himself transported, quite violently, to another dimension-another world-another space in time alternately known as Sidhedark, the land of faerie, or simply, The Realm.
Michael soon finds he must adapt and learn as much as he can about his new surroundings if he is to survive long enough to find his way back to Earth; for The Realm is a harsh and unforgiving place where humans are only tolerated because of a pact between a defeated human sorceror and the Sidhe, into whose world young Michael Perrin has been thrust.
In part I of the epic, "The Infinity Concerto", we become young Michael and follow his accomplishments (few) and failures (many) in his quest to meet The Isomage, the defeated human sorceror, who's the only one that has the power to return Michael to Earth. There are many twists and turns in the story and you may find yourself going back to reread certain passages, being literally afraid that you may have missed some minute but crucial piece of badly needed information that the story needs to progress.
In part II, "The Serpent Mage", we find Michael Perrin back on Earth five years later (but it only seemed like a few month's time while he was in The Realm); vastly more knowledgeable but still not sure of the potential he must accomplish to become what he has been fated for. The Serpent Mage, Manus is truly a delightful character who, while imparting his knowledge (quite unwittingly at times) to Michael, sheds light on the creation of man and all the original five races of beings.
Both of these volumes; and this is a long read; have been polished up a bit and incorporated into a single volume titled "Songs of Earth and Power". I found myself purchasing all three volumes to keep in my library and (chuckles) now find myself rereading this epic story once again. I honestly couldn't tell you how many times I have reread this story. There is something in it that tugs at the corners of MY reality!
I sincerely do not wish to impart too much of the story because, pray tell, then why would anyone need to read the book(s).
If your name is George Lucas or Steven Spielberg, you really should contact Bear to get the film rights to this property which could easily become a trilogy. You can probably even get him to do the screenplay. But most importantly, pay very close attention to my last few words......
Bear's ending of book II seems to have left completion of his epic satisfying but the door is still "open" for perhaps a third book featuring Michael and Kristine's daughter. After all....magic IS stronger in the female.....
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting concept, falls short with religious interplay
Review: I have completed the first book, The Infinity Concerto, and I will not continue to the second. His ideas are stimulating and thought provoking. For that, I give him the 2 stars. Otherwise, at times the main character can be simply annoying. As a Christian, I found his repetitive use blasphemous language to be unnecessary and damaging to the story. His insertion of the character's spiritual crisis late in the book is unconnected and seemingly superfluous to the story. It had enjoyable parts to it, and at times I did enjoy his prose. I would consider reading another of his books, if he has left this characteristic behind.
Rating: 
Summary: I'm having trouble with this one
Review: I like Greg Bear and I like fantasy, and these books came highly recommended, but I'm finding them rough going. I slogged through The Infinity Concerto, and I'm trying to decide if I have enough stamina to make it through The Serpent Mage. The writing is fine, the vision of the Realm is different, but it's oh so bleak, dark and generally unpleasant. Don't get me wrong -- bleak and dark isn't bad by itself. I don't want sweetness & light and cute little elves in my fantasy novels. But I want to enjoy what I read and be interested by it, and unfortunately, this one just isn't working for me.
Rating:
Summary: This was a beautiful book, magical, new ways of thinking
Review: I loved this book. It was magical. It was full of ideas, new ways of looking at things: Who was Adam & Eve? Where did Elves come from and where did they go? Who has played god over the humans for millenia? Who was the Loch Ness monster? The Why's of Vegetarianism? Quantum physics or the next sciences? Most importantly---The wierd power of poetry, song, and music to unleash energy .........he left no stones unturned---and I cannot help looking at things a bit differently. (I liked it better than most of Bear's other books, which seem to start out great then flop on a lame, outa character romance.) Regarding the power of poetry, song & music as being a weird sorta quantum power source---read the book and you may feel rather spooky about it---just can't explain why...... (and I am not into poetry, music or song either) The world is a very illogical and unstudied place where major universities document the following: placebo treatments working where they logically should NEVER work, and sick people getting better when they are meditated or prayed about, unbeknownst to the sick people. All these results should be negative, not the HIGHER than random percentage outcomes. One major university tested how music students score higher on psychic testing, than other students, weird or what? Makes you wonder what else science will "discover" or confirm in the next 100 years, if not the next 20. For extra juice on Quantum Physics and science wierdness, read Nick Herbert's books, "Quantum Reality", & "Elemental Mind".
Rating:
Summary: for anyone that likes music or fantasy
Review: I read <i>The Infinity Concerto</i> and then went looking
for the sequel, (<i>The Serpent Mage</i>), only to discover
it was out of print. Needless to say, I was overjoyed to
find both published together in hardcover. Anyone that has
ever found themselves moved by music will enjoy these stories
chronically the journeys of a boy who was moved, literally,
through music into the Realm.
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