- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Tor; New edition edition (11 Aug 1995)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0330335197
- ISBN-13: 978-0330335195
- Product Dimensions: 17.8 x 10.9 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 956,719 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
A return to the world of Majipoor. Centuries after the events in "Valentine Pontifex" an archaelogical expedition sets off to Majipoor to search for the secrets of a vanished race. The quest for knowledge turns into a nightmare battle for survival when they are captured by a mountain tribe.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Mountains of Majipoor is a rather short story for a novel. It is readable and entertaining enough but it lacks depth even if you regard this story as a novella. This story is about Prince Harpirias, who because falls out with someone powerful at Castle Mount, is transferred to a dead-end desk job. That is until one day he is asked to lead an expedition to negotiate the release of some scientists captured by a lost tribe who dwell in the very cold mountain range in Zimroel. This is Harpirias' redemption because if he is successful he would likely be able to return to Castle Mount.
What I liked about this story was the two main characters: Harpirias and the Shapeshifter, Korinaam. Despite his position, Prince Harpirias strikes me a person who rather laze around in unearned comfort than to work hard to justify his title. And yet, when forced into tricky situations Harpirias proves himself as quick thinking, able and intelligent. Like Lord Valentine (in the book Lord Valentine's Castle), Harpirias is also a pacifist, more willing to negotiate the release of hostages when he could have easily overpowered the primitive tribe. And Korinaam is your nightmare of a translator. He is supposed to be Harpirias' translator, but he not only translates, but also edits, adds and deletes Harpirias' words during negotiations! There is never any doubt that King Toikella, king of the primitive tribe, would finally release the hostages, but Robert Silverberg manages to make us feel frustrated that King Toikella seemed to be taking his own sweet time about it. King Toikella appeared more fascinated with Harpirias and wants his company as long as possible. This is much to Harpirias' annoyance because he is uncertain if his negotiations are going anywhere. And with Korinaam's translation, Harpirias can never be sure! It is easy for Harpirias' frustration to rub off you.
Unfortunately, the good points of this story are developed at the sacrifice of other aspects. The character of King Toikella is strangely underdeveloped; in fact, no one in the primitive tribe seemed important in this story. I also didn't learn much about the primitive tribe either. They were just some tribe with some odd culture. Period. The primitive tribe's ancient enemies were also too mysterious.
Though this story has several very good ideas, they were not developed deeply enough. Consequently, I did feel as if I was reading an outline or proposal of what would otherwise be an excellent novel. The Mountains of Majipoor should be a good read while you are travelling on a plane or train. Just don't expect a master class story.
Format:Hardcover
When I read 'Lord Valentine's Castle I was nine years old and befell enamoured with the book. So, I collected the complete Majipoor series. But reading 'Mountains of Majipoor' was a turning point. The delicate, subtle style and philosophical insights that are the finest quality of Mr. Silverberg's writing are vanquished and replaced by mere action. However, I still think that Majipoor deserves the readers' attention.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
6 reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Short-story with novel pretensions
23 Oct 1997
Format:Mass Market Paperback
For those of us who have read Silverberg's novels located in huge, beautiful and diverse Majipoor, the publication of a new book on this marvelous world is always a special event. Two of three previous books in this saga ("Lord Valentine's Castle" and "Valentine Pontifex"), have been full-length novels, with well developed characters and plots, covering 400 pages or more. The third one ("Majipoor Chronicles")is a collection of short stories, which contains one titled "A thief in Nimoya", which I consider one of the best ever written by Silverberg. However, "Mountains of Majipor" is only a short story, maybe what is considered a "novella" in the science fiction jargon. A large print and a clever page layout converted an otherwise short-story in a novel. The books depicts the adventures of a court noble who is disgraced and sent to one of the most remote and harshest areas of Majipoor, where he finds a primitive people, with very strange customs. His mission is to rescue several scientists who have been kidnapped by that isolated tribe. Silverberg's talent for creating believable and interesting aliens appears again in this book, which offers clues to the origin of one of the native peoples of the planet, the shapeshifters. I consider "Mountains of Majipoor" a loosening exercise by the author, preparing himself for the bigger task of giving his readers once again a full novel placed in Majipoor. That one is "Sorcerers of Majipoor", recently published. It was a good read, I liked it, but I expected a little more depth from one of the most respected authors in science fiction.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
A great short story in the realm of Majipoor
2 April 2004
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
While I wouldn't put this book on the same level as Valentine Pontifex just because of its size, it is still a really fun book to read. WHile the events here do not affect the world of Majipoor in any big way, the simplicity and excitment of this one are really great.
Basically, the story consists of a prince from Castle Mount (Harpirias) being sent on a mission to recover a team of scientist that were captured by a lost tribe of barbarians (the Othinor) in the Kyhntor Mountains. While the story line was very simple, the action was great and the interactions among the characters (which had major communication problems) were entertaining and interesting.
This is a short, easy read, and I'd reccomend it to anyone who has enjoyed Silverberg's other Majipoor novels.
The poorest of all the Majipoor novels
18 April 2009
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Buy this one last after you've read every other Majipoor novel, and you're addicted. It's a poor story that could have taken place anywhere; there's little that ties it to Majipoor at all. Silverberg doesn't seem to have dedicated much thought to this one.
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