Rating: 
Summary: Splitting teams
Review: I have loved Tad William's fantasy trilogy which is one of the best I ever read. So when the Otherland series was completed I bought book 1 as a start. Once again I was gripped and book 1 is just excellent. Now, in book 2, the story goes splitting more and more in many different ways. Too many in fact. And progressively, the adventure starts to be cut in so many pieces that you feel like being dragged from one place to another. Moreover, splitting the story again and again breaks the whole atmosphere or suspense which he tries to build up. So I liked half of the book hoping for a more action packed book 3. I started it (book 3) and after half of it discovered that the story was going on and on in the same direction, splitting even more what was already too much. So, unfortunately I must admit I gave up and did not finish it. Sorry for Mr Williams, the idea of the book is great but way too long. 3 books was the maximum. Too many details, too many little parts and finally I completely did not care about what was happening. Too bad. Please come back to fantasy !
Rating: 
Summary: This is a wonderfully satisfying read! But be prepared...
Review: I have read and enjoyed the entire book now... That is to say, all four books of this one immense volume. That is why I say to be prepared! The first three books do not have clean 'everything gets resolved' endings. They are simply somewhat random stopping points for this character rich tale. But as you finish the final volume, Mr. Williams brings everything together masterfully, with a suspence that rivals the most twisting of mystery novels. It is also believable sci-fi, without the need for 'galaxy far-away' civilizations and incomprehensible alien technologies to make it work. Otherland is a testament to the sci-fi genre.
Rating: 
Summary: Slower than the first, but you must trudge onward
Review: Reading this book is a similar tale to those of the characters mucking their way through Otherland. At times the quest becomes tedious, but there is enough action to keep you flipping the pages and I always give Tad Williams the benefit of the doubt.I have to say that this book is as difficult as the first and dont think you are going to get through this in one night. I have to keep a timeline to keep up with the characters and where they are located. I am writing this review after having read the third book "Mountain of Black Glass" and I have to tell you to keep pushing forward because it gets much much better the farther on you go. RECOMMENDATIONS: KEEP GOING AND FINISH THE SERIES
Rating:
Summary: It starts to grow on you
Review: I found that the first massive tome of this series to be somewhat stretched and too big for what it was trying to do. In this second installment, I would contend the same complaint, although I think that the series is starting to grow on me (which I suppose it had better after 1200 pages!) This volume continues right where Volume 1 left off, and does not waste time trying to reacquaint you with the previous stories; if you don't know it, too bad! I kind of like that, although it would be difficult for readers who take time between books.
Sometimes the story still gets repetitive as the characters are shunted endlessly from one simulation to another. Given that Otherland is an alomst infinite series of simulations, Williams is in danger of trying to get the reader to see them all...on the other hand, he often does keep the stroy moving well, though his use of cliff hangers at the end of each chapter can start to wear thin at times.
With that said, I cannot help now but get the next volume of this rather remarkable series.
Rating:
Summary: A good follow-up to an awesome first part.
Review: City of Golden Shadow got me excited like no book has in a long time. I burned through Otherland's first book. Once I got River of Blue Fire though, I seemed to hit a wall. It took me twice as long to get through this one. It is still great, but this is obviously the part of the story where things get complicated. I found myself lost in the many plot lines at times. Still an amazing book, but I think it could have been better. Or maybe the first one was just too good.
Rating:
Summary: The best so far
Review: I've read the first three in the massive Tad Williams quartet, and this is my favorite, by far. If you've read the first one(and even if you haven't) this is more fantasy than that, which is why I liked it. All your favorite characters form the City of Golden Shadow are back, this time with more worlds to explore, new characters to figure out, and another long read. Sure, this series does contain a lot of pages, but I like that, because it means a lot of detail and thought went into every paragraph. Even if you didn't like the first book, try this one. I think it's more refined, more enchanting, and one of the best books I've read this year.
Rating: 
Summary: A little heavy on the scenery
Review: I must admit, I thought the first series I read by him (...green angel tower or whatever...) was a good story with decent writing. Unfortunately I found this series to be WAY too slow. Not to say it doesn't have any redeeming qualities at all .... I read the first book and found it mildly interesting so I went ahead and bought the second one. Like the pathetic series lover that I am, I even bought the third, which I'm reading now. Sort of. I tend to fall asleep after just 8 or 9 pages of ABSOLUTELY NOTHING happening. I really can't tolerate the "Steven King" style of over-desciptiveness. If you don't have any light forms of ADHD then perhaps you will enjoy this book immensely, but if you're like me, save some money and just let this series go.
Rating:
Summary: This is where the story gets really interesting
Review: River of Blue Fire is the second volume in the four-part story of the Otherland. It continues the adventures of the characters from City of Golden Shadow, deepening their predicament and developing their personalities. It is definitely NOT for anyone who hasn't read the first volume, so take care. Not troubled by the need for exposition and obvious plot devices that burdened the first book, this is where the Otherland story hits its full stride. By now, the readers are as confused as the protagonists about what is going on - and as desperate to find out. While at times the extended sub-plots at various stops along the way become a bit too long, and sometimes there are simply too many hints about what's going on behind the scenes without enough of a payoff, suspense and interest are never lost. Characters continue developing and becoming more and more three-dimensional - and as the story progresses even characters that are orignally two-dimensional become real people you care about. If you've already read City of Golden Shadow and liked it you should definitely continue, and expect to become more engrossed in the plot.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reading
Review: On his own website Williams says he doesn't like 'middle books' in a series because they don't have a real beginning and ending. Well, you can rest asssured that this book is not in any particular need of a beginning or ending, since it is brilliant anyway. Renie, !Xabbu, Orlando and the others are well into the Otherland-network, where they stumble around another series of different worlds looking for a way to uncover the secrets of the Grail Brotherhood. The best thing about this book is probably that Williams manages to create such a diversity of virtual worlds. It just doesn't get boring. Ad to that the evolution of Dread as the epithomy of evil and the continuing mystery of Paul Jonas's past and you have yet again enough sparkles, thrills & questions to makes this a hell of a 'middle book'. Did I long for an ending? Boy no, I just wanted the next 'middle book'.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: Anyone who complains about this book must not have the right state of mind to read it. Everything about it is so intricate and well done, it was impossible for me to dislike it. While this book, like the others, is considerably lengthy, the length is nessecary to convey all the things that are going on. I find myself so wrapped up in the characters and the plot, I completely lose track of time. The best part for me is the fact that you end up caring a lot about the characters, and wondering what is going on with them. You wonder about their past, even the characters that are introduced only for a chapter or so. However, if you decide to read this series, I suggest you reserve yourself a substantial amount of time because you will get so wrapped up in these books, that the second you finish one, your mind will be thirsting to get the next.
|
