Rating: Summary: Best book ever Review: The only thing whrong with this book is that I read it 15 years ago, and now I compare everything i read to the enjoyment I got out of that book, and nothing lives up to that standard.
Rating: Summary: Entertaining pulp Review: These books are nominally sci-fi but really have more of a fantasy flavor, especially the second and third installments in the trilogy. Heroes, gods, monsters, epic quests, nukes, and lots of human-human and human-alien sex. In other words, all the ingredients of a pulp space opera. The series makes good beach reading but parts of it are not for the squeamish, so be warned. The dust jacket of my copy of "Titan" compares it with Frank Herbert's Dune books, which is ridiculous, but all in all these novels aren't a complete waste of time.
Rating: Summary: Entertaining pulp Review: These books are nominally sci-fi but really have more of a fantasy flavor, especially the second and third installments in the trilogy. Heroes, gods, monsters, epic quests, nukes, and lots of human-human and human-alien sex. In other words, all the ingredients of a pulp space opera. The series makes good beach reading but parts of it are not for the squeamish, so be warned. The dust jacket of my copy of "Titan" compares it with Frank Herbert's Dune books, which is ridiculous, but all in all these novels aren't a complete waste of time.
Rating: Summary: This was really bad... Review: This is my 3rd attempt to get a review posted. Normally, I'dhave given up, but my opinion of this book is so strongly negative, Ijust had to try again. Let me start off by saying that I'm a big fan of Varley's shorter novels (Millennium, Ophiuchi Hotline), as well as his short stories. I think that he has one of the most vivid imaginations ever, and even better, he is able to combine his amazing creations into a cohesive story that is usually very enjoyable. When it comes to his longer works, however, his skills waver. Titan contains his trademark creativity, but the storyline is so weak, and the ending so bland, that everything else gets dragged down with it. It's as if he decided to coast on the strength of his creations instead of doing something significant with them. A sign that I've had a good read is when I finish the book and say, "Yeah, I can see that." With this book, it was a resounding, "So what?" Another problem I have with this book is the amount of sexuality contained within. Now, I'm no prude, and I don't mind a little sex in my reading as long as it serves some point, furthering the plot or whatever. In Titan, however, Varley takes an almost adolescent preoccupation with it, and it's SO prevalent. It's as if he knows the reader is getting bored and needs to spice things up or risk losing them. That's a trick employed by bad writers, and he should know better. Finally, let me say that if you're expecting this book to be quality science-fiction or to have a central message, you'll be disappointed. I wouldn't call it sci-fi at all; it's purely escapist adult fantasy, and poorly written at that. What amazes me is that this is book one of a trilogy. I can't imagine continuing to read this storyline.
Rating: Summary: Not a 1-star book, but definitely not 5-stars Review: This is one of those science fiction (fantasy?) books where nothing is gained by reading it, but then nothing is lost with the exception of a few hours. Its mildly entertaining with average prose, average dialogue, characterization, etc. It falls way short of much better books such as McDonald's "The Broken Land". All of the 5-star ratings really puzzle me. I read this book cover to cover and quite frankly, its not a 5-star book. Right, Mr. Varley? (you can tell us - we respect your work).
Rating: Summary: TITANically overrated Review: This was the first SF book I read and consequently almost the last. Varley's descriptions are derivative, referring to 20th century popular culture ("The Wizard of Oz," "2001: A Space Odyssey," and a car no one remembers) and showing very little imagination. The plot was thoroughly forgettable; the campy references, alas, have not been. (It's been over a decade since I read it.) I had forgotten Varley was the author until I spotted this book on the shelf recently, and I was surprised, since he gets such good reviews. On this one he shouldn't.
Rating: Summary: Titan is SF at its very best! Review: Titan and the two sequels to the Gaean trilogy are quite simply the best science fiction novels I've read. If you want to know how good SF can be, read Titan or any of Varley's other books.
Rating: Summary: One Very good book Review: Titan is a book that raises so many questions on so many subjects, that the only thing you can do about it is keep reading on and save pondering about these questions till the end, after you close it. I must confess that I couldn't implement this advice and so this 300 or so pages book took me over 2 weeks to finish, since I had to stop and think about what I've read every now and then. I had "Wizard" at hand when I finished "Titan", but only a week later I started reading it, since I had a lot of thinking to do about Titan before reading on. whether it is an innocent parody on what is godhood or a true atempt at defining authority, both in the personal, social or/and theological aspects, Titan is a sci fi adventure you need to read, even if it's just for fun.
Rating: Summary: Wow! What an imagination! Review: Titan takes us to another world, and world of crazed demigods and galloping centaurs and angels and furry creatures and razor-teethed sharks and seed boats and...you get the picture. Varley takes what would otherwise be a 60s LSD trip or fast-forwarded Alice-in-Wonderland and turns it all into a glorious adventure, sort of an updated Road to Oz with plenty of action and unusual sex thrown in. Outstanding book, John!
Rating: Summary: The most fun I've ever had reading a novel. Review: Varley's Gaian series gave me an adrenalin surge unsurpassed as of yet in all my eighteen years of reading science fiction. This is the purest fun you could have reading, and I believe it's one of the finest science fiction series ever published. My hands might as well have caught fire when I read this! I read this over sixteen years ago, and I still count it among my top five reads, of any kind, EVER. And my personal top ten book list includes UBIK by Philip K. Dick, Varley, Tolkien, Stephen King's Night Shift and The Mist!
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