Rating: 
Summary: Tad Williams "Otherland" is just a great book
Review: Tad Williams, Otherland has shown that fantasy and Science fiction can be blended and he does it amazingly. Don't be disauded by the length of the book, Tad has made it so 300 pages goes by in a flash. There's so much character development and plot twists. You'll be stuck in the book for days at a time. The stor also raises questions: Is our society all about money and greed? And when do we draw the line for big corporations? Does our compassion die when we are in the Net? It also shows us ideas for what the computers will be like in 50 years or so. Will we have wires jutting out of our head or will everyone be floating in jelly filled tanks. Even if your not a fan of sci-fi you'll love the book because it takes place in: World War One, Alice's Wonderland, A 19th century science-fiction version of Mars, The Ice Age, An imaginary America without Europeans, The Machine-Giant's Castle in the Clouds, A land of Giant Insects, The heaven of Ancient Egypt, The world's largest and most terrifying virtual, night club
Rating:
Summary: Another great adventure from the man who brought you MS&T
Review: Well, I had heard a lot about the Otherland series and on one particular rainy afternoon I bought the book and took it home to read. Two days later and I had finished. "City of Golden Shadow" is an excellent story, set in the near future. It shows us a plethora of believable technology, as well as equally believable characters. Just like Tad's famed series "Memory, Sorrow and Thorn", Otherland has many interesting plots and subplots, all twined around the same tree...Otherland.
Rating: 
Summary: You'll love it if you like The Matrix.
Review: I read this book last year, just as a chance book I saw at the library, and since then I was hooked. I was thrilled to see the sequel around Christmas, and I read that, too. This first volume is set in the near future, all over the world. It traces the actions of a super rich cartel of men trying to take control of the Internet, which by now has Virtual Reality, and the people that try to stop them. The writing sometimes drags, though, and I spent a lot of time skimming through pages and skipping some altogether. The concept behind this story is great, though, and after seeing The Matrix, I like it even better. Lots of similarities between the two. All in all, a great book.
Rating:
Summary: Not a bad mixture of sci-fi and fantasy
Review: The book starts out rather oddly, and halfway through you still find yourself thinking, "what is going on???" It can be confusing at times, but the ideas are very mind opening and leads you to continue. But the end of the book makes it worthwhile, and somehow the whole story winds up into a grand epic.....one that makes you glad you finally reached the end.....but the end isn't the end, because you must continue with the next volume....
Rating:
Summary: Great reading!!
Review: I am an avid reader who very rarely reads any scifi or fantasy books. The back cover of this book intrigued me! I bought it and started reading it. I can't hardly put it down. I am not even to the end yet and have already ordered (in hardback) the next volume. And I NEVER buy hardback (unless it's after the paperback has been released.) Anyone who has any interest whatsoever in the Internet should read this book. Mr. Williams has protrayed what it will be like in the next century very well.
Rating:
Summary: Plausible Science Fiction
Review: This book had me up way past my usual bedtime hours. I'm a night owl that loves to read good books. The chase to figure out the cause of the comas with children is enough to keep your interest. Williams also adds a sense of reality to the story that makes me feel that one day we will be able to do all the cool VR things that happen in his book. I also am a history and education major and these books do pay close attention to not offend the South African communities. I respect that fact the someone has made an African (Black) woman a hero. I have not seen much of that from Fantasy of Sci-Fi.
Rating:
Summary: Great Mix of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Review: I recommend this book to those who enjoy realistic science fiction AND fantasy. Williams did a great job of believably mixing the two genres--the best I've seen so far.
Rating:
Summary: Engrossing story with two colorful worlds to explore
Review: I will first say: This book is not perfect. There are a couple places where it gets a bit dry and I had to nudge myself to pick up the book again. All in all, however, it's a great story! Here's my favorite bit: !Xabbu is a bushman. That alone, I feel, is worthy of note. I haven't even seen another book that brings this remote culture into the Western world's line of sight. (I know about The Gods Must Be Crazy, but don't think it did a good job). !Xabbu's differences with most of my cultural norms made him an interesting and thought-provoking character. My second favorite bit was Mr Williams' depiction of cyberspace. I think he nailed it on the head as far as what direction the 'net' is headed. Sort of an America Online on crack. I think Mr. Williams has a firm enough grasp of science fact as to make his science fiction believable. The majority of his depictions use currectly existing technology tweaked just a bit. (It took me a moment to remember ULF meant ultra low frequency) This was the perfect amount to satisfy my SF fix, while keeping the Story as the primary interest in the book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent read
Review: Tad Williams has managed to surpass his not inconsiderable Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series. A novel of epic proportions City of Golden Shadow kept me unable to stop reading right up until the end. The characters, while not, for the most part, exceptionally interesting, were never the less well done and believable (and perhaps even more so for their mundanity; Tad makes sure that you know these are real people, not heroic constructs). The plot is also very well done, believable and keeping Deus Ex Machina to a bare minimum. The future presented is both possible and believable. What immediately grabbed me about this book was it's cover; beautiful. Anyways, this is an amazing read, and well worth whatever you choose to pay for it.
Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL!!! Great, plot, great characters, great images
Review: Otherland was without a doubt the best book I read last year. The susspence was wonderful, and the characters were easy to love, hate, empathize with, and just laugh at. I wish there were more than just five stars. ***********************
|
