Rating: 
Summary: Very good, Like nothing that I have ever read before.
Review: I bought a copy for my sister's birthday. I had nothing to do one night so I started to read the book. I had to go out a buy a copy for myself. It took a long time to read, becase I do not have a lot of time. But I found myself getting into each person in the book. So many different story lines come togather. I look forward to the next book to come out to fine out what will happen to all the people. What would it be like if we could do the things that are in the book, almost like the holo deck on Star Trek. Read it you will enjoy it
Rating: 
Summary: Judge a Book by its Cover
Review: I must admit I bought this book because I thought the cover was stunning; however, I was relying on the fact that Tad Williams's storytelling talent that grabbed me in his Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy would once again capture my attention and leave me begging for more at the end of this monster. He did it. Despite its all together different story, set in a futuristic technologically endangered planet Earth, Williams's characters are so alive I talk to them. A sure sign that an author has done his job and done it well. It might be different from what you expected, but hang in there guys because the inside more than lives up to its cover
Rating:
Summary: An excellent, intriguing read.
Review: As an avid reader of Williams' previous works, I rate this as his clear best overall. The depth of plot and careful interlacing of subplots earns this intricate novel a permanant
place on the bookshelf (except when being read). For complete satisfaction, this book needs to be read all the way through
because as the plot thickens, so do the characters and their previously hidden connections to each
other. Williams' skill made me hate Jackal, wait for chapters with Renie, !Xabbu and Orlando, and study every calculated move that Mister Sellars made. The revelation of Paul Jonas' true history in the 'real' world and his small victories in the cyberworld were cleverly portrayed, giving me every satisfaction as I slowly realised the details of Williams' complicated and compelling story.
I highly recommend this novel to other readers of Williams' work, or to anybody who likes a good yarn.
His writing is stylish and carefully thought-out, as are his plots. The City of the Golden Shadow slowly reveals itself to the reader throughout the book, though with sufficient mystery to keep them wanting more. In some of Williams'previous works, I had occasionally found him long-winded and used to count the pages until one of my favourite characters would appear on the scene again so that I had something to look forward to. However, in this book, I had no such problem. All characters are compelling and the "good guys" quickly become cherished. I am eagerly awaiting the next installation of this compelling saga.
Rating:
Summary: Possibilites abound.
Review: In Tad Williams' "Otherland", he weaves a compelling look at the amazing possiblities of what the internet could become.
Reminiscent of Neal Stephenson's "Diamond Age", Williams allows the reader to ride along in his intricate dream of the future full of wild, fantastic tales and hard core science fiction.
The incredible capacity for learning and exploration are only a few of the possibilites of the internet. There also lies the capacity for nightmare.
Irene Sulawayu lives this nightmare first hand as her brother lies a victim of a attack from the unknown force inside the net. In her efforts to bring him back from his electronically imposed coma, she runs the gamut of experience from terror to amazing encounters of beauty in the all possible domain of the net.
I think the most compelling aspect of this book is the emphasis that the net has two faces. Yin Yang is universal. Williams lets this borderline cautionary tale have a personality...and without preaching to an already paranoid world.
Rating:
Summary: Great potential
Review: I have just this morning finished this book, and have also just read comments of others on the novel. As a great fan of the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series this book was a must read for me. In my opinion this book is not as good as Williams' first series, and I was surprised to read so many comments giving the book a 10 (especially by people who hadn't even finished reading it). As with The Dragonbone Chair I find Williams starts very slowly, only hinting near the book's conclusion as to the scope of this four book series.
I did enjoy Williams' easy to read writing style, and his must be praised for his research and insight into our potential near future. I particularly enjoyed his netfeeds at the beginning of each chapter, as to the type of society Williams' imagines we may encounter in a few decades time.
A thoroughly enjoyable book, and I await the next instalment eagerly. I can however only judge it an eight at present, as so much of what is yet to come remains too much of a mystery (which is very frustrating having read over 700 pages). But there is enormous potential here, and the saga as a whole may yet rival Williams' earlier works. We will just have to wait and see.
Rating:
Summary: A Virtual Reality Thriller: Complex Cyber Action!
Review: This is a complex, interesting Cyber-Thriller; based somewhere in Africa and the Virtual Reality Universe. This a blend of Past, Present and Future mixed into a computer-based alternative reality. Great Read. I can't wait for Part 2!!
Rating:
Summary: Work of monumental scope and proportion--definitely rewards
Review: Richly textured with a cast of wholly believable chracters this work is classical Williams. It is a far-reaching story of a not so paranoid future both on and off the net, with enough mystery to keep the reader driving to the end and enough sense of comradeship with the characters to make the reader sorry it has to end. The book is laced with allusions to classics and other parts of the SF/adventure genre; one has often the sense of an "in joke" among friends. This is not a book that leaves one feeling "This could happen." but rather that "This is too real; it has already happened"--Williams' imagination has given us a window on another world. As others have observed, the hanging plot at the end frustrates, but it has also whet the appetite for the next installment
Rating:
Summary: Deserves a Gold Medal!
Review: Current fans of Tad Williams already know that he is a master in the art of storytelling, with a unique gift for being able to create unusual twists on enjoyable themes. In fact, my only complaint with his last series, "Memory, Sorrow and Thorn", was that it took 200 pages for the story to really get going. Granted, everything was actually essential to creating a feeling of epic proportions, but it was hard to stay with it. But what a payout!
"Otherland" doesn't do that to us. Williams jumps right into the story feet first, and in a way that always managed to keep me guessing as to what was truly going on. Couple this with an all TOO believable view of what the future will be like in about another 40 years, a talent for explaining what could be very confusing techno-gadgetry in an easy and entertaining way, and also with Williams' remarkable characterizations. The result is an instant classic.
Yes, the subject material is rather dark (although certainly not horror). But it also manages to be funny in all the right places. I laughed out loud many times (which is embarassing on a bus!), particularly at one character that I will only say gives whole new meaning to the term "fashion plate". You feel for these people, and hardly notice as the cast continues to grow and grow.
My one complaint with "Otherland" is that it is not a book. It is four, of which "City of Golden Shadows" is only the first -- much the way Williams broke "To Green Angel Tower" into two books because the story was so massive. It does not stand on its own, and I am expecting an exasperating six months or so waiting for the next installment of the story. The only consolation is that he could have pulled a Robert Jordan and gone for ten parts!
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly engrossing
Review: I refrained from giving the book 10 only because I know that once I finish it (and this will be soon), I'll be hanging around for months waiting for the continuation of the story. This is only a problem because the story is so captivating that it takes you on your own VR (Virtual Reality) trip and it is a disappointment to return to RL (Real Life). I just hope that Mr. Williams and the publishers can keep the three sequels coming at a pace that doesn't leave us all hanging on the edge for too long. I mean, let's face it, 99% of the people who read the first one are going to read the next three, so why hold back? Let us have them now, I say.
(PS. I don't know if I should feel honoured or offended at the fact that the evil bad guy lives in my own home town of Sydney, Australia...)
Rating:
Summary: A step forward in SF!
Review: This being the first novel I've read from Williams, I wasn't sure what to expect. I'll be blunt. This is a masterpice and an instant classic. The huge, sprawling storyling take a bit to come full circle, but it's worth the wait as you need the time to meet the characters (and there's a bunch!). !Xabbu, Paul, and Dread are easily some of the most interesting characters I've ever "met". You truly begin to feel for these people in their times of need. While !Xabbu (pronounced a bit like "Kssaboo"...) is about as kind and pure as they come, Dread is a real psychotic. The way Williams allows us into their heads really adds to the depth of this beautiful book. He really paints out th elandscapes for the reader. All these factor into a wonderful book worthy of any SF award! When are we blessed with book two?? Better clear ANOTHER month on the ole day planner....
Patrick Bas
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