Rating: 
Summary: Wordy and boring
Review: Although I enjoyed the prequel, Metropolitan, this book made me want to throw it across the room about half-way through. I found myself skimming whole sections of the book that described the various battles and politics of the book, when the important questions go completely unanswered. The author keeps mentioning the Shield and the Immortals, but we must wait until volume 20 to find out the answers to all the mysteries he presents. This book is obviously a filler while he writes the next sequel. Don't bother.
Rating: 
Summary: An Award Winning Performance
Review: Although I enjoyed Walter Jon Williams's previous Novel, Aristoi, for it's exotic atmosphere and larger-than-life characters, I was somewhat disappointed in Metropolitan. It seemed somewhat contrived and depressing. At the time I did not realize that it was part of a series as it definitely stands on its own as a complete novel. City on Fire is the sequel to Metropolitan and it delivers all the promise that Williams has shown in previous novels.City on Fire is a fascinating novel both for its characters, who evolve and devolve in fascinating ways, but for William's exploration of the interactions of religious, military, commercial, and political factions as they deal with consolidating power in a conquered territory, a situation which is usually the conclusion of most books rather than the starting position. Throughout the novel the action is fast, but never slights the accelerated education of Aiah, the strong and engaging protagonist. Although the setting is science fictional, the actions and reactions are completely and realistically human. This book is a marvel and I intend to nominate it for a Hugo in 1997. Thank you, Walter Jon Williams, for a thoroughly engaging world and characters. I simply can't wait for your next amazing performance.
Rating:
Summary: Creative and utterly engrossing
Review: City on Fire is a transcendant novel in that it goes beyond most works of science fiction. At its heart, it is a story about the rites of passage endured by Aiah as she develops from a young woman into a major socio-political figure. This progression is handled very well, and in such a subtle fashion that it is only at the end of the novel that one realizes just how far she has come. In addition, the novel uses a complex political backdrop and well thought-out future landscape in which to chronicle these events. Many of the characters are larger-than-life, yet Walter Jon Williams manages to make their successes and failures credible. The novel's futurist qualities are a bit more suspect in that it is based on the existence of a compound called "plasm". This compound has almost magical properties, and at times I suspected I was reading a work of fantasy more than of science-fiction. Nonetheless, Walter Jon Williams adhered to a fairly rigorous realization of the socio-economic impact of plasm, and has a very consistent world view such that after the first few pages, I was willing to accept the society that he proposes. Walter Jon Williams novel is also blessed with his writing style--one which remains concise and powerful, yet avoids omissions, thus remaining quite readible. In summary, this is a truly outstanding work. Once you get past the initially odd concept of plasm, the novel becomes a well-written, compelling read. So much so that I am quite sorry to see that there is not third novel in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Creative and utterly engrossing
Review: City on Fire is a transcendant novel in that it goes beyond most works of science fiction. At its heart, it is a story about the rites of passage endured by Aiah as she develops from a young woman into a major socio-political figure. This progression is handled very well, and in such a subtle fashion that it is only at the end of the novel that one realizes just how far she has come. In addition, the novel uses a complex political backdrop and well thought-out future landscape in which to chronicle these events. Many of the characters are larger-than-life, yet Walter Jon Williams manages to make their successes and failures credible. The novel's futurist qualities are a bit more suspect in that it is based on the existence of a compound called "plasm". This compound has almost magical properties, and at times I suspected I was reading a work of fantasy more than of science-fiction. Nonetheless, Walter Jon Williams adhered to a fairly rigorous realization of the socio-economic impact of plasm, and has a very consistent world view such that after the first few pages, I was willing to accept the society that he proposes. Walter Jon Williams novel is also blessed with his writing style--one which remains concise and powerful, yet avoids omissions, thus remaining quite readible. In summary, this is a truly outstanding work. Once you get past the initially odd concept of plasm, the novel becomes a well-written, compelling read. So much so that I am quite sorry to see that there is not third novel in the series.
Rating: 
Summary: Unsatisfying and disappointing on many levels
Review: Essentially a fantasy novel with mild science fictional trappings, I found City on Fire to be routine and over-long. The gimmick of "plasm" is basically an excuse to endow some characters with magical abilities; otherwise plasm functions much like oil does in the present day. The book is light on "ideas content".Beyond that, the novel is basically one of political intrigue and manipulation, and while not bad in that vein, it's nothing special. The characters are not unsympathetic, but they are often ciphers.
Rating:
Summary: Routine "soft" science fiction and political intrigue.
Review: Essentially a fantasy novel with mild science fictional trappings, I found City on Fire to be routine and over-long. The gimmick of "plasm" is basically an excuse to endow some characters with magical abilities; otherwise plasm functions much like oil does in the present day. The book is light on "ideas content". Beyond that, the novel is basically one of political intrigue and manipulation, and while not bad in that vein, it's nothing special. The characters are not unsympathetic, but they are often ciphers.
Rating: 
Summary: Deeply engrossing and fully transporting
Review: Having just finished Metropolitan, I was lucky to find this in the library. Not only is it as well written as Metropolitan, Williams writes in a way to fully involve the reader in his societies. Applying the science fiction genre to the city/state political thriller -- which this book represents -- is a thoroughy enjoyable story. I am even recommending both books to people who do not even like science fiction; and am hoping there will be a third chapter to this story
Rating:
Summary: Incredible
Review: I was blown away by this book and its precursor, Metropolitan. I normally don't go for political intrigue tales, but William's style was so compelling, I couldn't stop reading. His concept of plasm is intriguing as well. I can't wait to see what happens in the third book, with the Dreaming Sisters, beyond the Shield.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Review: METROPOLITAN and CITY ON FIRE have a unique angle on magic which may be refreshing to those who, like me, have "outgrown" traditional fantasy stories. It's a bit on the literal side, more like electricity than like dreams, but the exploration of it is thorough and honest, and the story is compelling. I'm certainly looking forward to the third volume.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Review: METROPOLITAN and CITY ON FIRE have a unique angle on magic which may be refreshing to those who, like me, have "outgrown" traditional fantasy stories. It's a bit on the literal side, more like electricity than like dreams, but the exploration of it is thorough and honest, and the story is compelling. I'm certainly looking forward to the third volume.
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