- Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: Legend paperbacks; New edition edition (21 April 1988)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0099533308
- ISBN-13: 978-0099533306
- Product Dimensions: 17.4 x 11 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,790,185 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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1st edition paperback, vg++
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The vivid pictures that this story painted upon my minds eye have stayed with me, as clear as they were over those few nights when I was transported to this 'Other World'. As a writer, I have been inspired by many of Greg Bears' works, From the first read of Eon through to The Anvil of stars I have journeyed through the imagination of this exceptional writer. The Infinity Concerto is a wonderful journey!
Format:Paperback
It is important to read both The Infinity Concerto and The Serpent Mage and in that order as they form essentially part 1 and part 2. The key achievement of Greg Bear with these two volumes is that they leave you permanently haunted by this beatifully written desciption of a connection with another and very surreal world. I had the same creeping feeling of fascination and dread as a young boy with a play on TV called "Whistle and it comes". That play was about a strange bone flute that was so inscribed and the drawn out and increasing fear and apprehension that followed the initial bravado of playing a note and ignoring the warning.
The Infinity Concerto/Serpent Mage is is very different from Greg Bear's other works. It draws on elements of science fiction with its hints at string theory and the multiverse but also ventures into the horror genre. It is written too in a far more descriptive and nationally neutral style than that which he usually deploys (and which can be a little irritating to those of a non USA persuasion). The surrealism derives from a shamanistic influence that pervades the work and a feeling of remorseless and callous inimity of this other world towards living things, underpinned perhaps by some guessed at higher purpose.
Not for SF purists but in my view a piece of creative literature that leaves a permanent impression and deserves recognition as a classic of modern times.
The Infinity Concerto/Serpent Mage is is very different from Greg Bear's other works. It draws on elements of science fiction with its hints at string theory and the multiverse but also ventures into the horror genre. It is written too in a far more descriptive and nationally neutral style than that which he usually deploys (and which can be a little irritating to those of a non USA persuasion). The surrealism derives from a shamanistic influence that pervades the work and a feeling of remorseless and callous inimity of this other world towards living things, underpinned perhaps by some guessed at higher purpose.
Not for SF purists but in my view a piece of creative literature that leaves a permanent impression and deserves recognition as a classic of modern times.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
A slow but compelling start to a very complex fantasy series
7 April 2000
Format:Paperback
This is the 1st book of a 2 book series. The last is The Serpent Mage. Both books have also been combined as another title, "Songs of Earth & Power." My detailed rating would be 4.1 for this book. The essential story of this book is very simple. The main character (Michael) is forcibly drafted by the Elves (Sidhe) to learn magic. It's a traumatic experience. But that's not the strength of the book. Bear generally writes fairly hard SF. The magic here has some interesting physics to it! But the best thing is the history. Bear provides a detailed history starting at the beginning of time. Not exactly with quarks either. This extremely complex history of the 5+ sentient races on Earth drives the whole story, and you learn that history a piece at a time through the two books. Why is Michael drafted by the elves? You find out by the middle of the second book. This first book would not be satisfying all by itself. You need the second also. If you like friendly elves, this is not the series for you. Most of the elves here are cold, cruel, and callous. Why? That's part of the history!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Complex and intriguing work
30 Aug 2007
Format:Hardcover
"The Infinity Concerto" - Book One of Songs of Earth and Power - is a very deep book; multi-layered and textured. I believe it will likely take me several readings to find all the meanings that are embedded in the story. The basic storyline revolves around Michael Perrin, a thoughtful young man who wants to be a poet. He befriends a composer named Arno Waltiri, who it is said wrote a concerto called The Infinity Concerto that was so unusual that it drove its listeners mad - and many of those listeners disappeared. Waltiri claims that the concerto was primarily inspired by a man called David Clarkham, who subsequently disappeared; Arno gives Michael a key and a piece of paper with directions to follow, that should lead him to Clarkham. Waltiri dies soon thereafter. Despite warnings from Waltiri's wife Golda that Waltiri repented of his choice to give these to him, Michael decides to go ahead and follow the directions - and ends up somewhere . . . that is not Earth anymore. Forced to learn to survive, Michael has to grow up and grow strong very quickly - but is he just a pawn in some hidden power struggle? Or is he something else altogether?
Some sections of this book seemed rather slow moving, but everything was necessary for the plot. Because the plot is so intricate, at times ponderous prose is necessary to bring about all the necessary information. All-in-all, I found the story quite enjoyable and I am also enjoying the beginning of the sequel, The Serpent Mage.
Those who are fans of epic fantasy, stories of the Sidhe (especially of the darker natures thereof) or simply well-crafted alternate realities, please do not miss this one. I do not know how easy it is to pick these books up separately - I have the omnibus edition of the series, as noted above (Songs of Earth and Power). A recommend from me!
Some sections of this book seemed rather slow moving, but everything was necessary for the plot. Because the plot is so intricate, at times ponderous prose is necessary to bring about all the necessary information. All-in-all, I found the story quite enjoyable and I am also enjoying the beginning of the sequel, The Serpent Mage.
Those who are fans of epic fantasy, stories of the Sidhe (especially of the darker natures thereof) or simply well-crafted alternate realities, please do not miss this one. I do not know how easy it is to pick these books up separately - I have the omnibus edition of the series, as noted above (Songs of Earth and Power). A recommend from me!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
If only Bear would write more like these
22 Nov 2003
Format:Hardcover
This story takes fantasy out of the usual dragon, unicorn, and magic users arena. The rewrite of the Serpent Mage in the combined stories of Songs of Earth and Power does full justice to the tale begun by this book. A great read!
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