Otherland, an incredibly complex and detailed virtual reality, has appeared. Surrounded by secrecy, it is home to the wildest dreams and darkest nightmares of its users and its creators. Vast amounts of money have been lavished on it. The best minds of two generations have laboured to build it. And somehow, bit by bit, it is claiming the Earth's most valuable resource - its children. The story begun in OTHERLAND continues in this, the second volume of an astonishing series which is destined to become a landmark in imaginative fiction.
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Amazon Review
Tad Williams made his name in fantasy with the immense "Memory, Sorrow and Thorn" trilogy (1988-93). His "Otherland" quartet, opening with City of Golden Shadow (1996), is mid-21st-century SF set in an ultra-sophisticated software universe containing countless worlds. This episode features a deadly nature reserve of giant insects, a poisoned Oz, a madcap cartoon reality, London as in The War of the Worlds, 16th-century Venice, Xanadu, ancient Egypt, the Odyssey's Ithaca and the Drones Club. Otherland is the playground of the monstrously rich and unscrupulous Grail Brotherhood, who hope for on-line immortality and are abducting children's souls into their VR system. Opposing them is the enigmatic "Circle", plus a handful of ordinary folk who've penetrated Otherland and are trapped there, floating from world to world on the digital river of the title. There's a spy in this group, though; Otherland's operating system is becoming unstable; the Nemesis program that hunts down software anomalies seems murderously out of control...
Williams writes fluently and evocatively, conjuring up a vivid succession of virtual realities as he manipulates numerous storylines inside and outside Otherland, climaxing with multiple cliffhangers. It's slightly frustrating, though, that halfway through the series we've learned little more--especially about the tantalizing suggestion that Otherland is a metaphysical threat to "real" reality--than emerged in book 1. Next volume: Mountain of Black Glass. --David Langford
Review
True speculative grandeur (Time Out )
A big colorful novel full of real-world conspiracy and virtual reality wonders, with characters worth caring about (LOCUS )
Tad Williams proves himself as adept at writing science fiction as he is at writing fantasy. Best of all, however, are Williams's well-drawn sympathetic characters . . . (PUBLISHERS WEEKLY )
Tad Williams made his name in fantasy with the immense "Memory, Sorrow and Thorn" trilogy (1988-93). His "Otherland" quartet, opening with City of Golden Shadow (1996), is mid-21st-century SF set in an ultra-sophisticated software universe containing cou (David Langford, AMAZON.CO.UK REVIEW )
A big colorful novel full of real-world conspiracy and virtual reality wonders, with characters worth caring about (LOCUS )
Tad Williams proves himself as adept at writing science fiction as he is at writing fantasy. Best of all, however, are Williams's well-drawn sympathetic characters . . . (PUBLISHERS WEEKLY )
Tad Williams made his name in fantasy with the immense "Memory, Sorrow and Thorn" trilogy (1988-93). His "Otherland" quartet, opening with City of Golden Shadow (1996), is mid-21st-century SF set in an ultra-sophisticated software universe containing cou (David Langford, AMAZON.CO.UK REVIEW )
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Although I am a big fantasy books fan, I usually avoid science fiction books, since a large percentage of them are just cyberpunk nonsense and very badly written and it is hard to get hold of a real masterpiece once you read the classic ones. Having read (and loved) the Williams fantasy books, I decided to give Otherland a try and never regretted it: the book stands among the (say 10) best I ever read (classic literature included).
Williams is really talented and the book is exceptionally well-written. The author takes great care to set up the characters and the background,while there are some great ideas in the book. Being a computer scientist, I am happy to say that this is one of the few books where even most of the wildest technology-related ideas manage not to sound silly and have an actual basis. Williams is perhaps a bit influenced by other SF books, but the result is a very original and gripping story that stands out from the usual SF stuff. Just one advice: be prepared that all four Otherland books should be considered as one book in four volumes, after finishing each one of them the story does not come to any kind of end, you must be ready to get the next one.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought Otherland for around £2 second-hand (and knowing aboslutely nothing about Tad Williams) and I have to say it's much better than I'd expected.
I've been systematically avoiding Tad Williams for fear of disappointment (not being a huge fan of the newer Fantasy / Sci-Fi novels) but this one blew me away - it's superbly written with plausible plots and characters (a rare combination) in addition to some truly horrific and breathtaking moments. I swam through the book in three days and loved every last word of it.
I can understand the technological criticisms some have levelled at it but, as a programmer, I cannot personally see much which is not conceivably achievable (besides, sci-fi ought to be, at least in part, fantastic :) It *is* cleverly done though - not once in the book did it seem, in any way, to be a detached experience.
Is it flawed? Absolutely... almost all books are. However, the flaws it does have in no way detract from the experience of reading it. Give it a try - personally I hate the idea that I might have never read this one.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By "philzpilz"
Format:Paperback
I am a newbie to Tad Williams work, but am now hooked!
He starts magnificently with a twisting tale in the prologue, and continued to keep me guessing and changing my opinion throughout the whole book. The way the type of writing changed was done excellently, and I loved the whole book.
He starts magnificently with a twisting tale in the prologue, and continued to keep me guessing and changing my opinion throughout the whole book. The way the type of writing changed was done excellently, and I loved the whole book.
Some people have said that the book was too long, and the writing largely un-needed, but i think that you must have read a different book! The descriptions where magnificent, from WWI to mars, and as for too long? The book is, granted, substantial, and you could say the same for Tolkien, but it is heeded as the greatest book of all time! Honestly, read longer books and get used to it!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
An attempt to bring together the gentle side of cyberpunk with fantasy. A lot of work developing the initaial ideas and setting the tone for the rest of the series, some times it seems just a little too much. Although, in itself not particularly original piece of work with recognisable influences from all over, it has captured enough of my interest to buy the second in the series.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Ginger_Ninja
Format:Paperback
I started reading this book after it being recommended by my Dad; he's not one for reading, but couldn't put this book down.
I found the book hard to get into initially, but when the Mister Jingle's funhouse was introduced, it really began to pick up. The plot is very well thought out and superbly written; there are several different storylines running at the same time with numerous characters, and not once did I get confused or forget what was happening to any of the characters; although I would have liked to have read more about Paul initially, however there is plenty more of him in the later chapters.
Tad Williams is a very talented storyteller and was consistently so throughout the Otherland series. It is a four-part story however, so the books do end with no wrap-up, which only made me all the more eager to begin the next volume. You don't necessarily need to be a lover of science-fiction/fantasy, as none of the volumes are absolutely saturated with either.
If you're stuck for a present to buy a book-lover (or yourself), then buy this one.
I found the book hard to get into initially, but when the Mister Jingle's funhouse was introduced, it really began to pick up. The plot is very well thought out and superbly written; there are several different storylines running at the same time with numerous characters, and not once did I get confused or forget what was happening to any of the characters; although I would have liked to have read more about Paul initially, however there is plenty more of him in the later chapters.
Tad Williams is a very talented storyteller and was consistently so throughout the Otherland series. It is a four-part story however, so the books do end with no wrap-up, which only made me all the more eager to begin the next volume. You don't necessarily need to be a lover of science-fiction/fantasy, as none of the volumes are absolutely saturated with either.
If you're stuck for a present to buy a book-lover (or yourself), then buy this one.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
A science fiction story where the net is slowly taking control of the world's children. A really thrilling read I can't wait to read the rest!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Not usually reading sci fi novels made me a little pessimistic about this book, but after opening it I couldn't put it down! I probably rate it as one of the best books I've ever read! I've now read the whole series and am eagerly awaiting the release of Otherland IV.
Although the book has many plots and different threads going, which at first make things a little confusing, I found that they all come together (over the whole series) to make an amazing story.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This has to be the best book I've read for ages. I picked it up thinking it would be the usual sort of fantasy fiction I normally read and was a little surprised to find it was far more futuristic and technological than I expected. However, I was totally gripped within the first two chapters and now can't wait for the release of the third and fourth in the series. It is superbly well written, well thought out and the descriptive imagery is vivid and colourful. Excellent series!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bit of a Classic
I read this book first and read the first, third and fourth in the series afterwards. This is my favourite. Read more
Published 7 months ago by I Simonius
2.0 out of 5 stars
A sad mistake.
Haveing read the Dragon Bone Chair I was very excited to have another Tad Williams
to look forward to. Unfortunateley it did not come close to my expectations. Read more
to look forward to. Unfortunateley it did not come close to my expectations. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Rosie Blake
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pure escapism.
Haven't read a Tad Williams book since the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn Trilogy. Otherland has generally compelling characters, the one I was most intrigued by was Mister Sellers... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Orlando Larsson
1.0 out of 5 stars
"Otherland"
These books came highly recommended to me by somebody who had read them all. I imagine they read the first when it was initially published, and felt compelled to stick with the... Read more
Published on 3 Nov 2009 by David Brookes
5.0 out of 5 stars
An incredible story
This four-book series remains the best I have ever read. The complexity of the plot and how it is handled by Tad Williams speaks volumes about his literary talent. Read more
Published on 14 Oct 2009 by Ken
3.0 out of 5 stars
Otheradventure
I've just finished the last page. At first I would like to say that this is a gerat adventure. Williams borrows from Tolkien, George Lucas, Ridley Scott , Disney etc. Read more
Published on 19 Aug 2009 by Jakob Rydahl Rasmussen
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not delivered
having ordered this item in never arrived. Contacted sellers and have to say they appeared upfront and willing to help, Contacted Amazon and sent a non delivery claim. Read more
Published on 14 April 2009 by kennyboy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exceptional SciFi/Fantasy hybrid
Modern Fantasy, and I do classify this as Fantasy more than Science Fiction, is mostly, with some notable exceptions, truly appalling: derivative, badly plotted, dreadfully... Read more
Published on 2 Nov 2008 by R. Sharpe
5.0 out of 5 stars
Otherland: Volume I - City of Golden Shadow
City of Golden Shadow, the first volume of Otherland, is a masterpiece - assuming that you can easily handle the fact that you'll need to buy the other three books 'and' aren't... Read more
Published on 12 Mar 2004 by Craig A.H.B. Mackie
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting, but desperately in need of editing
I have slogged through the series and can't really recommend it unless you speed-read, otherwise you'll get bogged down. Read more
Published on 19 Dec 2003 by "n_m"
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