Rating: 
Summary: Very well done.
Review: I really liked this book. The way in which Robinson builds the chain of events after the Fall of Europe may seem a little forced, but, since we don't really know exactly why it was that Western Europe acquired its technological edge over the rest of the world, we don't know exactly how accurate Robinson's scenario really is. Also, the highly localized nature of the plague that annihilates Europe but leaves the Middle East undamaged is pretty far fetched. But readers that are bothered by this should remember that they're not reading an article by a historian speculating on what probably would have happened if Europe had been wiped out in the late 14th century, they're reading a NOVEL, a work of fiction. In this case the historical development of his hypothetical world depends on the plot, not the other way around.Nevertheless, if we put aside that fact, this is truly a great novel. The characters are great, and the use of reincarnation provides a wonderful way to interconnect all the different time periods. I agree with other reviewers who say that the first stories in the book are the best, but that doesn't necessarily means that the others are bad. I admit they do get a little preachy, but anyone who has read Robinson's Mars novels will recognize what I'm talking about. If it didn't bother you there, then you should have no problem with this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Years of Pork and Wine?
Review: I enjoyed The Years of Rice and Salt, but it contains some flaws that will subtract from this enjoyment for some. The first occurs when the Muslim Emperor Ackbar is served shredded pork with curry. Uh... Oops! That's not kosher! I mean not halaal! This error is, later in the book, compounded with much wine drinking and many references to reincarnation. Mr. Robinson, PLEASE study up a bit more on your Islam!
Rating: 
Summary: Kim Stanley Robinson's Great Alternate History Novel
Review: "The Years Of Rice And Salt" is the best recent alternate history novel I've come across. Robinson does an admirable job weaving philosophy, theology, science and compelling characters in an epic tale that spans nearly 8 centuries. What if the bubonic plague killed off virtually everyone in Europe is the beguiling question that leads Robinson off on an exhilirating odyssey. His portrayal of a moderate - indeed liberal - Islamic civilization is one which Muslims of all strips should take heed. It is one of many premises I easily accepted, most notably his scientific renaissance in India, which results in the subcontinent's military and technological leadership - though not total supremacy - of Earth. Told in crisp, often lyrical, prose, Robinson's latest novel merely affirms his reputation as one of our most important science fiction writers. This is one splendid novel I strongly recommend to those unfamiliar with science fiction; both fans and casual readers of science fiction should be as captivated as I was with Robinson's splendid storytelling.
Rating:
Summary: a beautiful novel
Review: I loved KSR's Mars novels, but I had to admit that Robinson tended to let things drag at times with long ramblings on various topics--good ramblings, but sometimes I just wanted to skip ahead and get back to the interactions of the wonderful characters. (I *love* KSR's characters!) The Years of Rice and Salt has all the good points of the Mars books--deep characters you can fall in love with, grand visions of entirely possible utopias, and yes, philosophical rambling--but not *overly long* ramblings. The Years of Rice and Salt ranks with the Mars books as SF novels about which you don't have to say, "It's good...for an SF novel." Nope, this is just plain good.
Rating: 
Summary: No point
Review: I stopped reading about halfway through because it got too boring to plod through it. It is billed as an alternate history book, "What if the black plague wiped out 99% of Europe?" Sounds like an interesting premise for a book. The first part of the story covers the discovery and discussion of what happened to all of the people that use to populate Europe. It also covers the religious and political attitudes of the people of China and the Middle East. It always falls back on reincarnation to progress the story with a little moral story. Everything was progressing nicely until the author bogs the story down with finite details. I made it to the point where the author writes about fictitious characters discovering gravity, telescope, and so on. Ten to twenty pages were spent talking about the speed of light and the speed of sound alone. They went on to discover about mass attracting mass (gravity); if you put a spin on a cannonball, it will fly farther. I could not take the mundane and boring story of how these men discovered things, so I stopped reading figuring the rest of the story would be about how more men discovered other important things. I was looking for a more grand story about how the middle east, and far east developed the world.
Rating:
Summary: Ponderous, dull, self-absorbed, metaphysical BS.
Review: It took months to slog through this yawner because I alternately fell asleep or found somthing far more interesting to read, which wasn't a difficult task.
Rating: 
Summary: Poor attempt to mix alternate history w/ views on religion
Review: Saw the good reviews.. Had high expectations. The author took what could have been a great topic, and overlaid it with a metaphysical view on reincarnation. As a story mechanism, it worked ... OK.. but in the end became over used.
The story pacing is Veeeery slow. Unless you are a speed reader, you will bail on the story. If you like other authors of alternate history (Turtledove, Stirling, Flint, etc..) this book is NOT for you. Kim's topics are good, but the vignettes read like molasses.
Rating:
Summary: Not as advertised
Review: I bought this book based upon the authors past history such as his Mars trilogy. This book was a total disappointment. I found it boring and verbose. The description of the plot and the back cover touted it as an alternate history of the world starting in the 14th century. This was misleading description. It became almost painful to get through the last couple hundred pages, then to book just stopped. It did not come to an abrupt end, or a logical conclusion - it just stopped.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling
Review: I've been a fan of Robinson since I first read his Mars trilogy. This is him at his best. Tibetan religion and reincarnation as a vehicle for telling an entirely new and believable history of the world since the Plague make this one of the most compelling reads I've had in a long time. One of the things I love about Robinson is his knack of providing extensive background information in an interesting way (e.g. 'Antarctica') I have recommended this book to every person I know since I read it last fall. Truly amazing. Worth battling through the first chapter which is a little slow to get to the rest. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: interesting concept, waste of time
Review: I had high hopes for this book. I am an avid reader, especially alternate history, like Turtledove or Harrison, or "Disaster at D-Day" or "Fox on the Rhine." This book stands by itself as a book, if it was the only alternate history book I had ever read, I would never attempt to read another. The author, and I use that term loosely, spouts religious beliefs nearly every page. This book does not belong in Fiction or Science Fiction genre's, but in RELIGIOUS FICTION under Buddhist or Hindi. At least then I would have been prepared for the characters continually going to hell and coming back. In conclusion, the author basically outlines a world where Christianity has been eliminated, or enslaved, and Islam and China rule the world. He paints a picture that I believe make it obvious that he would have prefered a world where Christianity didn't "taint" ethics with such drivel as human rights and equality and hope. But that is neither here nor there. This is a bad book, people, be prepared for that if you attempt to read it.
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