Rating: 
Summary: A beautiful read
Review: This is actually the first of Bear's works, though published as a unit much later. It is essentially a work of fantasy, but written with the underpinnings and attention to detail and consistency only a true hard-SF author would give attention to. If you've ever wondered if faeries were real, or if a myth really were true, what would the world be like, this book is for you. He treats these ideas seriously without taking himself too seriously. It -is- a long book, but you will feel enriched for reading it. A very personal afterword by the author is quite endearing and makes the novel even more enjoyable after the fact. Get the book, take your time, and read it. This is a book to be savored.
Rating:
Summary: Very imaginative and well written
Review: This is the story of a young man that comes to learn that world he has lived in is not all that seems or all that it could be.Faeries are real, but have had a blood fued with humans for eons. It is this the outcome of this struggle and our protaganist's role in it that constitute the story. Greg Bear has written a very imaginative and thoughtful story with plenty of introspection and action. Through his story telling, we come to learn how humanity lost its magic both literally and figuratively. Allowing us, by the end, to see the real history behind our history. I found the book quite original after seeing so many Lord of the Rings knock offs. All powerful evil thing bent on world domination must be stopped by a band of stalwart, but limited heroes, who by the grace of ***fill in the blank*** find/destroy the talisman of ultimate blah, blah, blah. Greg Bear doesn't tell that story (again). He tells a different one, and it is quite refreshing.
Rating:
Summary: Very imaginative and well written
Review: This is the story of a young man that comes to learn that world he has lived in is not all that seems or all that it could be. Faeries are real, but have had a blood fued with humans for eons. It is this the outcome of this struggle and our protaganist's role in it that constitute the story. Greg Bear has written a very imaginative and thoughtful story with plenty of introspection and action. Through his story telling, we come to learn how humanity lost its magic both literally and figuratively. Allowing us, by the end, to see the real history behind our history. I found the book quite original after seeing so many Lord of the Rings knock offs. All powerful evil thing bent on world domination must be stopped by a band of stalwart, but limited heroes, who by the grace of ***fill in the blank*** find/destroy the talisman of ultimate blah, blah, blah. Greg Bear doesn't tell that story (again). He tells a different one, and it is quite refreshing.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent read
Review: This was my first Greg Bear book and I loved it. At first it was a little hard to follow in some parts (weird visuals, etc), but hang in there, cause you'll get used to it later on. I think at that point I was just used to reading easy space-opera type books so I had a little trouble with the weirdness.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting Fantasy work with a fun history behind it
Review: This work combines 2 previous LONG books. I have read the 2 separately, and am combining the reviews here. This book has got to be huge. My detailed rating for Infinity Concerto separately is 4.1, and The Serpent Mage is 4.5. The essential story of Infinity Concerto is very simple. The main character (Michael) is forcibly drafted by the Elves (Sidhe) to learn magic. It's a traumatic experience. But that's not the strength of the book. Bear generally writes fairly hard SF. The magic here has some interesting physics to it! But the best thing is the history. Bear provides a detailed history starting at the beginning of time. Not exactly with quarks either. This extremely complex history of the 5+ sentient races on Earth drives the whole story, and you learn that history a piece at a time through the two books. Why is Michael drafted by the elves? You find out by the middle of the second book. In The Serpent Mage, Michael has completed his magical training, and now he has to use it. There is lots more of a story to this book compared to the first. What with meeting a nice girl, training an apprentice Sidhe, trying to force a peace between Sidhe and humans, and trying to save the world, Michael has much to do. The main problem in the book is that the Realm, created by Tonn as a home for the Sidhe, is literally falling apart. So everyone there needs to find a new home, quick! And considering the history of this universe, there will obviously be cosmic problems with that. The book also includes a lot of film/film score/classical music scholarship. It doesn't interfere TOO much with the story. The book DOES answer some questions -- what IS the Loch Ness monster? But at the end I still have a few. What happened to Michael's horse? Why did saving Tonn's wife fall to Michael, not the Crane Women, or the Ban? In any case, this pair of books is quite satisfying when you reach the end.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: To the people who gave it 2 stars and 3 stars shame. They did not fully apreciate the imagery contained in these two novels. I rarely re-read novels but this is one I just had to. It taps into our need for something more, this is the way all fantasy should be written, not the usual heavy going stuff.
Rating:
Summary: Could it be true?
Review: Where are we from, why are we here, where do we go? If these questions cross your mind, read this book. It will tickle the borders of your imagination. If we originally are just a little bit like Michael in these books, we have become very unaware indeed. This book can unveal your hidden capacities. It will obviously not make you the 'maker' as described, but it may change your insight in the possibilities of the spirit. Can we influence whatever will happen to us? After having read this book, I think I can, more than I thought before. I don't think this is blasphemy, since we were created after the image of God. Both the capacity and the responsibility are within us. It has weakened though, since there are so many of us now. The Serpent in the second book symbolises a combination of several(!) religions. That makes him also the caricature in the story. The cement in the credibilty of the rest of the two books. Brilliant. I found him the most fascinating character. Why not live for another million years? Because of his demency? Brilliant and extremely humorous.
Rating:
Summary: Could it be true?
Review: Where are we from, why are we here, where do we go? If these questions cross your mind, read this book. It will tickle the borders of your imagination. If we originally are just a little bit like Michael in these books, we have become very unaware indeed. This book can unveal your hidden capacities. It will obviously not make you the 'maker' as described, but it may change your insight in the possibilities of the spirit. Can we influence whatever will happen to us? After having read this book, I think I can, more than I thought before. I don't think this is blasphemy, since we were created after the image of God. Both the capacity and the responsibility are within us. It has weakened though, since there are so many of us now. The Serpent in the second book symbolises a combination of several(!) religions. That makes him also the caricature in the story. The cement in the credibilty of the rest of the two books. Brilliant. I found him the most fascinating character. Why not live for another million years? Because of his demency? Brilliant and extremely humorous.
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