Rating: 
Summary: Reminiscent of the Peter Gabriel song, "Big Time"
Review: A big book, with a big plot, set in a big world, with a big history, big cities, big continents, big rivers, and big oceans.
Seriously, Silverberg seems to have decided that the way to tell a classic epic tale of an epic quest is to make everything about the world on which the tale is set larger than life. The world is ostensibly a world colonized by humans 14000 years prior to the setting of the story, a world immense by earth standards but metal-poor enough that the gravity and atmosphere are basically earth-normal. (A concept which I find dubious at best.)
Still, if I don't care for the world on which he sets his story, the characters are interesting and vibrant, and Silverberg even manages to discuss a worthwhile philosophical question or two. And being a juggler myself, it was delightful to have a troupe of jugglers as the primary background characters, and the plot device of an overthrown king with amnesia becoming an apprentice juggler was a novel touch.
Rating: 
Summary: Simplistic
Review: After reading the other reviews i was stunned. I read this book years ago and although i am not avid SF reader found the book simplistic, unimaginative and predictable. Just my 2 cents. My favourite SF is Simmons 'Hyperion' and for a real good non-SF novel read Follets 'Pillars of the Earth'. B
Rating: 
Summary: Unique Fantasy Masterpiece
Review: Capsule Description: An unusual epic fantasy with some science-fictional overtones and a unique protagonist. A fantasy quest, but not really like any other fantasy book I've read. Extremely highly recommended. Review: I find Silverberg to be erratic in terms of whether what he writes appeals to me. Some of it is interesting but, in my opinion, flawed (Up the Line) while others just don't grab me (several of the later Majipoor books). But Lord Valentine's Castle ranks up at the very top of the SF/Fantasy heap, one of the books I would call a true classic. "And then, after walking all day through a golden haze of humid warmth that gathered about him like fine wet fleece, Valentine came to a great ridge of outcropping white stone overlooking the city of Pidruid." This is one of my favorite opening sentences of all time -- "And then..."?? Why do we start out this way? Is this the way our viewpoint character sees it? Is this lush description going to continue, and should it? The "Why" we have to wait for -- a large part of the book, in fact, will pass before we understand "why". But the other questions can all be answered "yes". This is a book with the Sense Of Wonder in full gear, one that will take us into the world that Silverberg has created and immerse us in it. A world where everyone takes Dreams seriously, and where there are two rulers, not one, yet only one who acts. A world of dozens of different races and a depth of description that lends conviction to the believe that not only does Majipoor, that impossibly huge world, exist, but that we have visited there and seen its incredible cities, ascended the unbelieveable Castle Mount, and touched the essence of the Divine. Much of the book's appeal, and a great deal of its originality, comes from its protagonist, Valentine. I love a square-jawed, butt-kicking Hero as well as (or perhaps better than) just about anyone, yet even I will admit that there seem to be a bit TOO many of these around at times. On the other hand, though I will recognize the literary merit of the anti-hero, and a few such I can even enjoy reading about (such as Thomas Covenant, from the series by Stephen Donaldson), I really don't LIKE spending much time in the company of people who either make me want to kick them or shoot them. Valentine is neither; the protagonist of this book, the man who becomes the center of a struggle of mythic proportions, is a convincing man of peace, one who recognizes that violence perhaps is necessary at times, but whose very nature rebels against such things. It takes a great deal to convince me to believe in a man who can forgive things that I, personally, could not. Valentine convinces, effortlessly, because he seems so real that I could imagine meeting with him. Try a visit to Lord Valentine's Castle; you won't regret it.
Rating:
Summary: Bloody Excellent
Review: Great plot, I loved the plot. It keeps the reader in the dark at the start until most is revealed later in the book. A lovely horrible twist at the end. Loved it loved it loved it.
Rating:
Summary: Epic science fiction with the flavor of fantasy
Review: I first read Robert Silverberg's amazing novel "Lord Valentine's Castle" many, many years ago, but his superbly drawn world has remained with me. Re-reading the book reminded me why I initially fell in love with it. LVC is an interesting, almost hybrid sort of novel: it is a work of science fiction that has the feel of an epic fantasy novel. LVC takes place thousands of years in the future on the distant world of Majipoor, a gigantic world with a population of 20 billion people of many different species: humans; the three-eyed Liimans; the four-armed, "Bigfoot"-like Skandars; the planet's shapeshifting aboriginal folk; and more. Silverberg brilliantly evokes the history, geography, zoology, botany, politics, and architecture of Majipoor, a world of great strangeness and great beauty. The plot takes Silverberg's hero on an epic quest across this richly imagined world. Along the way are some amazing sensations: a view of the crystalline Ghayrog city of Dulorn, a taste of sea-dragon milk, and more. Silverberg addresses many relevant issues: memory, bigotry, responsibility, leadership, and the terrible burdens of history. The art of juggling is a fascinating motif that distinguishes the book. And the whole story is enlivened by Silverberg's superb writing style: accessible and contemporary, yet with a timeless, classic feel. "Lord Valentine's Castle" is a triumph by a master of the fantastic.
Rating:
Summary: Epic science fiction with the flavor of fantasy
Review: I first read Robert Silverberg's amazing novel "Lord Valentine's Castle" many, many years ago, but his superbly drawn world has remained with me. Re-reading the book reminded me why I initially fell in love with it. LVC is an interesting, almost hybrid sort of novel: it is a work of science fiction that has the feel of an epic fantasy novel. LVC takes place thousands of years in the future on the distant world of Majipoor, a gigantic world with a population of 20 billion people of many different species: humans; the three-eyed Liimans; the four-armed, "Bigfoot"-like Skandars; the planet's shapeshifting aboriginal folk; and more. Silverberg brilliantly evokes the history, geography, zoology, botany, politics, and architecture of Majipoor, a world of great strangeness and great beauty. The plot takes Silverberg's hero on an epic quest across this richly imagined world. Along the way are some amazing sensations: a view of the crystalline Ghayrog city of Dulorn, a taste of sea-dragon milk, and more. Silverberg addresses many relevant issues: memory, bigotry, responsibility, leadership, and the terrible burdens of history. The art of juggling is a fascinating motif that distinguishes the book. And the whole story is enlivened by Silverberg's superb writing style: accessible and contemporary, yet with a timeless, classic feel. "Lord Valentine's Castle" is a triumph by a master of the fantastic.
Rating:
Summary: One of the most provacatively entertaining books of the deca
Review: I first read this brilliant masterpiece in the middle of my exams when i was in grade 4. and i failed them because of this book.A wickedly entertaing and fascinating novel,it explores the dark conciousness of the human mind and tells of the troubles of a man to get back what he rightly deserves and how he goes on about his dealings of life with the people around him who he comes to accept as his family. Just to feel the magic again,I had to read the book a second time and I'm one of those type of people who don't read thier books twice. i recommend this book for any one who is young at heart and is ready for an absorbing novel which will take you to the depth's of that glorious thing that man calls the mind.
Rating:
Summary: A very enjoyable read for readers of all ages.
Review: I have read it twice and wanting to return to Majipoor a third time to meet all the wonderful characters once more. A very good story from one of the very best in the field.
Rating:
Summary: Rich, deep, dark and light! An awesome book!
Review: I just got finished re-reading Lord Valentine's Castle for the - I don't know how many - times. Robert Silverberg's Majipoor is like a well-preserved old tapestry - deep, rich, full of color, and pattern, dark in some places, brilliant in others. I love Valentine, he's totally heroic and beautiful. This is one of my favorite fantasy series, and it ranks well above most fantasy being written today. I wish I lived on Majipoor!
Rating:
Summary: a struggle
Review: I picked up this book with high hopes based on the reviews but was uninspired by its text. Although the first 50 pages were interesting, the next 450 were a struggle to finish as the novelty of juggling (I'm a juggler) wore off and the plot became predictable. I would not recommend to those over fifteen.
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