- Paperback: 496 pages
- Publisher: Gollancz; New edition edition (5 Dec 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 185798319X
- ISBN-13: 978-1857983197
- Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 11 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 206,460 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Sideshow (Gollancz S.F.)
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Book Description
The sequel to RAISING THE STONES, an exhilarating, dazzling tale of religious and political turmoil in a world where nothing is quite as it seems
Product Description
Barbaric customs and bizarre human cults are prserved on the planet Elsewhere. The rest of the universe has been taken over by the Hobbs Land Gods, which means that everyone alive, with the exception of the people on Elsewhere, lives in perfect harmony with nature and with each other. But Elsewhere is ruled by computer-encrypted professors who have been dead for a thousand years. The professors werededicated to maintaining human diversity. Their ancient analogs are dedicated to something far more sinister. The time has come to consider whether enslavement by the Hobbs Land Gods is not preferable to the depravity being cultivated on Elsewhere. The time has come to ask the Big Question: what is the Destiny of Man? And answer it . . .
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I first read "Sideshow" several years ago. I read it again shortly after and then read it yet again recently. This is a book that probably suffers from being lumped under the "science fiction/fantasy" label which detracts from the fact that it is a beautifully written and remarkably imaginative story containing strong characters and elements of shear horror that would not be out of place in a Clive barker novel. There are scenes - I use the term scenes pointedly... you feel as if you've watched them rather than read them... that will haunt you long after turning the final page. The "conversion" of the twins into "Dinka-Jin's" - the ultimate in artificial body enhancement - is something that belongs in a nightmare - yet is strangely compelling. This is the literary equivalent of watching Erazorhead. The conclusion is almost incidental... it is the wonder of the journey that takes you there that will remain in your memory, whether you wish it to or not, for a very long time
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I first read this book many years ago (makes me feel so old, but it was my lunch time read at my work - very vivid memory of this). You become absorbed into the fabric of the characters very quickly, particularly the twins. Sheri doesn't treat her characters with the apparent respect that many other authors do; They seem to feel that the hero/ine should at (almost) all times come out on top. The first one of hers I read was 'After Long Silence', and at the end you knew she wasn't going to give you a comfortable time - or go along with your expectations. (One scene in 'The Gate to Women's Country' springs instantly to mind.) As for the title of the review; I was sat at the table in the kitchen at work, as I usually did on my breaks, reading this book. And when.. well, I'll not spoil it. She draws you in to the plights of the characters, and the twins you could just hug. So when she did...THAT to them I hurled the book across the kitchen and just sat there. I could happily have throttled her! But I was back in the book after a few minutes chilling out. Films may make you cry, but when a book (of fiction) can do that you just have to recommend it to everyone you can.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
15 reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
GOOD READ--INTERESTING PLACES & CHARACTERS
1 Jun 1998
Format:Paperback
The book was just a teensy bit slow to start. Many characters, destined to meet later on, were introduced, but you also got to know them pretty well and, most importantly, care about them. Some of the premises, like the abilities of the core personalities, didn't seem quite plausible, but it didn't detract too much from the story, at least for me.
Many interesting viewpoints concerning the concept of diversity and religious practices were explored through the characters: How far should we go in respecting another's diversity? At what point should someone step in, if indeed they should step in at all, to put a stop to what others might see as barbaric practices? Are we really free or just products of our individual cultures and upbringing? Are the choices we make really our own? Do our supposedly objective views and moral codes change when events wear a more personal face?
All in all, most of the characters were pretty likable, though Danivon was a little too stiff and seemingly perfect for my liking. His olfactory abilities were rather interesting though. The different cultures visited in the book were also quite, uh, interesting--actually they were a bit frightening. A few events towards the end of the book even managed to surprise me, but just a bit. :-)
I would definitely recommend this book as a good read. It gave me food for thought, made me rethink some of my own ideals. Really, once the characters were introduced, and the action picked up, I couldn't put it down. =RTK=
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Plot-heavy but fascinating
3 Nov 2002
Format:Paperback
This was my introduction to Sheri Tepper and, while I didn't understand all the references to the previous happenings in this trilogy, I couldn't tear myself away. I liked the characters a lot, I loved the world (altho it is a little similar to one of Jack Chalker's series), and I thought the overall plot was good. If you like plot-driven books (as most SF books are), you probably will enjoy this one. Plus, the sheer variety in this world is fascinating. I would probably recommend that you start off with Grass, tho it didn't hurt me to do it backwards. This book will always have a place in my heart since it introduced me to a great SF writer.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Awesome book
24 July 2009
Format:Paperback
I read this after reading Grass, and was pleased to note a couple of familiar names and faces. Personally, this is one of my favorite of Ms. Tepper's works, and the commentary on religion and tolerance amidst various barbaric practices in this book make it a worthwhile read.
This book would have achieved 5 stars if it wasn't for the Tepper-style deuz ex machina that I have come to expect from her books. This one wasn't as obvious or contrived as some of her other books (Family Tree, The Visitor, Gibbon's Decline and Fall) and it was a bit of a letdown, but the ending was better than some of her other books, so a solid 4/5 stars.
This book would have achieved 5 stars if it wasn't for the Tepper-style deuz ex machina that I have come to expect from her books. This one wasn't as obvious or contrived as some of her other books (Family Tree, The Visitor, Gibbon's Decline and Fall) and it was a bit of a letdown, but the ending was better than some of her other books, so a solid 4/5 stars.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
