Rating: 
Summary: Dark Fantasy at its finest!
Review: Tad Williams is one of the most inventive fantasy writers working today. He is also one of the very few fantasy writers who takes great care not to repeat himself. So, instead of cranking out one Osten Ard trilogy after the other, he has delved deeply into fairy lore and has written THE WAR OF THE FLOWERS. His first full-length stand-alone novel since his debut novel TAILCHASER'S SONG (1985). Theo Vilmos's journey through an industrialized Fairyland may seem tedious and pointless at times, but this is not a book for the impatient reader or someone who is looking for cheap thrills. It's full of allusions and resonances to literature and popular culture and everything comes together in the end. It's a long journey, but it's worth the trip.
Rating: 
Summary: Once Again...Fantastic!
Review: A friend of mine introduced me to Tad Williams a few years ago by giving me book one of the "Otherland" series. I was instantly hooked. I devoured that series, and the "Memory, Sorrow, Thorn" trilogy as well. I was, and still am, amazed at the amount of detail Tad puts into his writing. He doesn't just paint a picture for you, he immerses you in the world he has created. This book holds true to Tad's discriptive and colorful writing style, though not nearly to the extent of most of his previous works, largely, I'm sure, due to the fact that it is just one book, as opposed to 3-4. The main character, Theo Vilmos, is fleshed out fairly well, though some of the other key and secondary characters aren't developed quite to the extent they were in other of Tad's books. I was mildly disappointed in the ending. As usual with Tad, the climax of the book involved wide sweeping, chatostrophic changes to the world he's created. The ending of this book didn't satisfy my curiosity about what happened to the world and the characters in the aftermath. It seemed too quick and vague, though this alone does little to detract from the quality of the book. Many people complain that Tad Williams is too long winded, his books too wordy. Granted, it would probably be possibly to tell the stories alone in half the number of pages. But the amount of detail he puts in, the way that you can envision EXACTLY what he is writing about, is what makes Tad so very entertaining to read. I recommend this, and all of his books. Don't let their size scare you, it is SO well worth it.
Rating:
Summary: A rip-roaring delight!
Review: There are so many good things to say about this, my first Tad Williams experience. It's a stand-alone fantasy, astoundingly rich in minute detail, that kept me hanging on pretty much from start to finish. (Those looking for a didactic message will find examinations of cultural and racial prejudices throughout; I thought of American slavery history from time to time). Admittedly, I thought the beginning dragged a bit - just a bit. But doesn't take long to pick up once Theo discover's Eamonn's notebok; from then on it's a wild ride. What it lacks in plot originality (your basic everyday-guy gets sucked into a war-torn fantasy land), it more than makes up for in detail and sheer storytelling proficiency. Mr. Williams passes briefly over so many small ideas that seem to demand in-depth exploration that this book might easily have been five times longer if Williams was concerned with world-building. Williams also displays a genuine talent for empathic characterization - all the major players in this trek across the mortal world and Faerie alike are multi-dimensional and dynamic enough that I really did care about Theo; I rooted for him and Poppy; my heart went out for Rufinus; and I was honored that Button would make such a sacrifice for - well, for my world. And Applecore - she's impossible not to love! Williams didn't split the sides down evenly into simple good guys and hated bad guys either; the loyalties of several (Dowd, Poppy, etc.) are purposely left vague for some time. Williams has succeeded at a difficult task: making an entire world and its people come to life on a page. Regarding some odd goblin customs, Williams proves adept at making the reader familiar with a strange culture, something I had previously thought monopolized by the (also immensely talented) Orson Scott Card. In short, there is nothing wrong with this book. Williams smoothly brings together a wide range of characters and concepts into a seamless, delightful romp. Truly an excellent offering modern fantasy. There is no excuse for missing this trip!
Rating:
Summary: Solid but unspectacular.
Review: Tad Williams is turning into a hit or miss for me. I
loved Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn. One of the few books/series
to ever make me cry. Otherland just didn't do it for me. Too
much. This, his latest, The War of the Flowers, is somewhere in between. First we have to take into consideration that it is one book,
not one book in a series. There is one major character,
someone from our own 21st century world-- a down and out singer
with personal issues. He gets transported into the world of
Faerie,an interesting interpretation of Fairyland on Tad
Williams' part. I suppose that fans of Fairy-like things will
find his interpretations and extrapolations interesting. But I
wasn't all that impressed. Compared with the detail and
richness of the worlds in his other books, even Otherland
(Otherland's storyline didn't grab me, but his world and
descriptions were nice, and some of the characters were nice),
this one was a bit-- not shallow, just underexplained. Sometimes, IMHO, Williams tends to describe so you can picture
something, but there isn't as much soul or substance underneath
as I would like. The protagonist is pretty straight-forward. He matures,
evolves, and becomes a better person. The issues aren't
complex. Neither is the plot. The protagonist struggles to survive
through Fairyland, and somehow manages to triumph by a
combination of inspiration and coincidental timing (ie luck)
over impossible odds. There is betrayal, love, and friendship,
but it is all understated. The action is basically running.
Magic doesn't play an overt role, but is more profound than in
Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn. A solid fantasy all in all.
Rating:
Summary: A Fascinating Read
Review: Recently I've gotten back into reading fantasy and science fiction novels. After completing the Song of Fire and Ice Series by George R.R. Martin (which by the way I thought was amazing), I began and finished Salvatore's Dark Elf Trilogy and Icewind Dale Trilogy (loved these fast paced well crafted reads). Still hungry for more I read the Riftwar Saga by Feist which I really enjoyed. Although I'd purchased a copy of Otherland for future reading, I'd never read a book by Tad Williams, and so when the bookstore clerk recommended this book I decided what the heck I'd give it a try. I'm so glad I did. Easily the best of all the recent fantasy (as well as past) reads I've ever had. I loved this novel. Theo is a fascinating character. Williams does an amazing job descirbing him and sharing this character with the audience. Unlike the previous reviewer, I thought the novel picked up incredible amounts of steam once Theo traveled to Fairie. I loved the characterizations, and Williams ability to make a ready feel like he's right in the middle of a scen is down right amazing. I could not stop turning the pages or racing home to read more of the novel. I've now raced out and purchased the Dragbone Chair so that I can begin to experience more of the imaginiation of this most incredible author. I loved this novel, and you will too...I'm just sorry this is a one parter and I'd love to continue reading about this fascinating world of Fairie which Williams has created. Buy this book, you will not be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Two hundred pages in...
Review: ... and I still didn't care about anyone in this book. I put it down and haven't picked it up again. All of the characters just felt flat. We've got the struggling artist who just doesn't fit in anywhere, the fiesty sidekick, the incompetent aristocrat, a couple of mysteriously evil villains, and none of them feel real. The take on the world of fairy is interesting, but it's not enough to carry a story filled with soulless characters.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing & utterly conventional
Review: It is with some regret that I pan this book. I've enjoyed Williams' previous work (notably _Memory, Sorrow & Thorn_), and his ideas here do have potential. I can't help thinking, however, that _The War of the Flowers_ is one of two nasty things: 1) A "contractual obligation" book (which I doubt); or, 2) A piece of juvenalia that has been pulled out and spruced up (accepted for publication primarily on the strength of Williams' record and name). Many of the elements which make his work compelling are nascent in this work, but none have been sufficiently developed. The characters are flat and sketchy. The premise and setting have some conceptual interest, but the execution thereof is just poor. The plot/conflict is hollow, with caricatures of characters performing stereotypical action in precisely the way one would expect from an unpublished novel. Neither character, setting, nor action display the depth and resonance I have witnessed from Williams in the past. Theo himself is disappointing as a protagonist. He has not the strength and flair to be either hero or anti-hero. He is insufficiently ordinary to be an everyman. And his character is never displayed or nuanced to a degree that would allow him to be a protagonist of a more sophisticated variety. Various women excoriate him as a jackass (that's my paraphrase), but the interaction we see never seems to deserve the vitriol it receives. Instead of a well-drawn portrait of a shallow man, the reader is left with the shallow portrait of a man. Both ancillary "heroic" characters and villainous characters are drawn with a similar lack of regard. Villains are evil, though with one notable exception we know of no clear motivation for their almost cartoonesque villainy. Heroes are noble in intent and possess at least one quirky or odd trait (in keeping with forumlaic tradition). The only person with any depth or texture at all is the sprite Applecore, and even she has only as much depth as one would expect in a secondary character. The novel has some redeeming features, thinly scattered as they are. Although most of the front matter feels as if it's there merely to satisfy the demands of what passes for plot, the illness of Theo's mother is perhaps the high point of the book. The strained relationship, punctuated with unexpected moments of honesty and tenderness, is the only truly nuanced character interaction in the work. It's not worth reading the entire novel for this section, but it is somewhat reassuring to find that not *all* of my reading time was wasted.
Rating:
Summary: Mature Fantasy
Review: Tad Williams is an extraordinary writer. His latest novel gives ample prove of that. THE WAR OF THE FLOWERS is a complex, dark exploration of some of the most popular fairy tropes in literature. Firmly grounded in popular culture, Tad Williams explores important questions of class, race and gender against an exotic and dangerous background. This is a mature novel for the educated, grown-up reader. Read slowly and be amazed!
Rating:
Summary: Haiku Review
Review: Fairies wrestle with
Technology and Luddites.
Luddites win. Too bad.
Rating:
Summary: No Lilly-livered Flowers here!
Review: The War of the Flowers resonated with me on several levels. I personally could identify with Theo. I am a musician(guitar), thus the screenname. Also, the book begins with Theo going through a very trying time in his life. He loses his child, his girlfriend,and his mother all within a very short period of time, and then enters a time of solitude to reflect on his life and try to put the pieces back together. I lost a brother when an adoption fell through about two years ago. My family all had the same reaction; we went into a kind of shock very similar to Theo. Granted, we didn't head to the hills, but we did isolate ourselves from everyone else. I can completely understand why Theo just dropped everything to be alone. I thought the story was well paced and very well-outlined. The hidden tidbits of the plot kept me going. I thought that Theo's true identity was an interesting twist. The battle scenes and the gritty centerpiece (Read it to find out what I mean) were very well put together. They were very realistic and descriptive. There were several humerous parts. Applecore was quite amusing. I thought that the whole "I'm only thirty" subplot was humorous, as well. I really would have liked less language, but that's just me. I also thought that the way that Theo solved the problem at the end of the climax was a bit weak. I know that you probably make your own decision about whether or not you should read this book, but anything by Tad Williams is worth the read. Merry Christmas to all!
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