Rating: 
Summary: Great Book
Review: This book continues the series excellently, I just cannot wait until the next book is published. I have a hard time getting to sleep at night when I am engrossed in his excellent novels.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: A fantastic third volume to this series. Tad continues to choose great literary works / situations to model the "network". Its a fun read and a mysterious ending to lead into the fourth novel.I hope its not a year in coming!
Rating:
Summary: Superb, fantastic, RIVETING.
Review: I was amazed the first time I picked up Tad Williams and begun reading- he is truly an inspiring writer. The Otherland series, however, has topped all of the standards he set for me with Dragonbone Chair series. Mountain of Black Glass had me completely enthralled. In the last two books, you were still getting to know the characters and watching them all play out, in Mountain of Black Glass you think everything has a conclusion, and this will be the end, until he takes some brilliant twists in plot and starts you guessing as if it was the first book. It kills me to have to wait so long before his next book, but I know I won't be disappointed. I recommend this book, and the entire series to every breathing human out there.
Rating: 
Summary: good head fake
Review: so far this was my least favorite of the books in their series, but that is only because it isn't as interesting in the beginning as the others were. at around page four hundred it really picks up and moves quickly to the end of the book. the ending of this book is something that i personally wouldn't have thought of or chosen but was still pretty good none the less. i didn't see it coming. can't wait for the next one. buy the book. buy them all.
Rating:
Summary: A vivid and lush world unfolds as the grand saga continues..
Review: After having blazed through volume 2, river of blue fire, I couldn't wait to get my hands on volume 3, and I must say it was worth the wait. Williams expands upon the central ideas of the previous books, keeping the story balanced between Otherland and the real world. In addition to filling in some of the character issues arising from the previous two books, he provides startling new twists and turns. I spent a solid 8 or 9 hours devouring this book, and I cannot wait for the next one. Lush and textured each of the new worlds we discover in the Otherland network presents unique and interesting micro-cultures, as well Williams makes some sly references to other literary and pop culture icons such as Tolkien and Blade Runner. Well worth the read, and a definite level above most of today's formulaic fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: Overwritten in places, but overall excellent
Review: First of all, disregard the ignorant Kirkus review above. Complexity and length are negative qualities to a book? For some authors, I suppose, but not for Williams, whom juggles his myriad plots amd subplots with an ease that few can manage. Hmmph. Maybe that reviewer should stick with cookie-cutter fantasy... Ah, the newest addition to the _OTHERLAND_ saga. As usual, it is huge--nearly 700 pages. As usual, it is a tangle of humor, adventure, fantasy, contemporary issues, character evolution, and oh yes, the epic story-line that all these are painted upon. In some ways, MoBG is the best of the series so far; in others, it is the worst. Many of the secrets of the plot, most notably those concerning the Grail Brotherhool and Paul Jonas, are revealed or at least partially uncovered, and after the virtual whirwind of the last volume (and some 1200 pages of continuum to boot), these sort of revelations are very welcome...mandatory, in fact, considering how far this series had come. It is a relief that Tad won't be pulling a "jordan" with this series. Given the material, this sort of indulgence could be very easy...attractive...tempting. The only negative impression I recieved from MoBG is that it is a 'tad' overwritten in parts, and could have used some more editing...'House' in paticular (although the climax to this setting is among Tad's best). Moreover, the constant flux of metaphors and similes tend--in this book--to stifle the story. Usually, Tad uses his metaphors so that they are very effective--perfectly embellising the moment, or describing a character to the hilt. But in MoGB, they sometimes feel sloppy and thrown in, and on other occasions they distract from the story, "jar" one away from the flow. The story itself is very involving, however, even in that Tad only uses maybe half as many of the virtual settings than in RoBF or even CoGS. And the last three chapters...incredible. Story and imagination--five stars. Writing--(contrasting from previous books)--three stars.
Rating:
Summary: How Long Till The Next One Tad ?
Review: After receiving an advanced Copy of Vol.3 I was blown away (again) by Tad's textured and elegant style of writing. The otherland series is destined to be a classic, a must for every Sci-fi reader. I would give away the end Of Vol.3, but i'm not that naughty, lets just say that it's not at ALL what you expect!!!
Rating:
Summary: Good work Tad!
Review: The mountain of black glass has started to bring together many of the paralel plots running in the Otherland series. The book had some nice surprises and some interesting new ideas. I was pleased to see the book diverge from the simple wandering from one simulation to another; aka Riverworld. Instead, we get more plot development outside the network. We also see the Otherland network undergo some changes. We see changes in some of the principal characters. Tad maintains a strong level of suspense. (The unanswered telephone worked very well to increase the suspense.) It was a struggle to put the book down each night, instead of reading straight through. Even with 689 pages, I never found any part of it tiresome. Now I need to wait another year for the conclusion.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting continuation
Review: The story continues with the heroes and heroines trapped in the otherland network and the Grail Brotherhood about to launch their long overdue masterpiece...Immortality. But the plot unfolds in a rather unexpected manner, which gives Tad Williams to go on tho a fourth book. Some may find the series too long, but the way Tad writes this story, it's better to have an ending piece after this one. Well sustained story. I would highly recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Way too long
Review: (this review encompasses all four books)
Otherland will have its fans. However, its mechanical endings, its ridiculous length, and similar themes having been better executed by superior authors will make its influence and popularity extremely short-lived. Yet a lot of people like Williams... it's because he's not a bad author and if you have the stamina to get through him you'll find bits and pieces worthwhile. But bits and pieces are not a genre-shaping event nor will they exert much influence on other authors.
WHO SHOULD READ THIS:
Williams writes convincingly and well; his works, while mechanical, do not lack a sort of charm. Fans of Williams' other works should indulge themselves in Otherland. They're prepared for the absurdly long. Similarly, those particularly impressed with cyberspace and its future applications will find large sections very appealing-but read Snow Crash first.
WHO SHOULD PASS:
Unless you are one of those die-hard Williams fans or a complete techno-geek, read something else. Life is too short to read such a long work that has such little reward. Our site is built so that you can avoid such wastes of your time when you get can equal or better satisfaction with other, shorter books.
READ THE ENTIRE REVIEW AT INCHOATUS.COM
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