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Synopsis
When Cirrocco Jones, captain of the spaceship Ringmaster, and his crew are captured by Gaea, a planet-sized creature that orbits around Saturn, they find themselves inside a bizarre world inhabited by centaurs, harpies, and constantly shifting environments.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Blackhorse47
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Mass Market Paperback
A giant alien structure is discovered orbiting Saturn. Inside there are lifeforms that have been specially created to worship the structure's god-like creator. The exploring astronauts' leader Cirocco Jones decides to free the inhabitants, but how can she succeed in a closed environment in which everyone is controlled by the world itself?
This is an enjoyable romp. Initially it starts as a giant structure exploration story in the style of Rendezvous With Rama with a bunch of astronauts investigating a large and fascinating artificial alien environment. But then it veers away into more interesting territory and almost becomes a fantasy genre type work with quests and ultimate battles between good and evil.
Although the themes are free will and the nature of god, it doesn't spend much time on being philosophical and instead it provides plenty of action and humour. Along with a great location, a god with a love of 'B' movies and one of the best female leads in sf, this a tale that's well worth reading.
This is an enjoyable romp. Initially it starts as a giant structure exploration story in the style of Rendezvous With Rama with a bunch of astronauts investigating a large and fascinating artificial alien environment. But then it veers away into more interesting territory and almost becomes a fantasy genre type work with quests and ultimate battles between good and evil.
Although the themes are free will and the nature of god, it doesn't spend much time on being philosophical and instead it provides plenty of action and humour. Along with a great location, a god with a love of 'B' movies and one of the best female leads in sf, this a tale that's well worth reading.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I found this book on an old second hand books stall, and I have to say it's brilliant! Ever since I read it I have been searching for the others in the trilogy (without success). Then I thought of Amazon.com - oh joy! Sorry to contradict some of the other reviewers, but Titan is not unbelievable. It is because it is strange and so out of the ordinary that is is believable and compelling. I would recommmend it to any sci-fi freak (like me!).
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I bought this on the recommendation of a friend and to be honest, I had a few reservations. All the descriptions of the book, including those here on amazon.com sounded a little hoky and a little weird. I said I would eat my hat if I loved the book. In time I was duly forced to get out the salt and pepper and get torn in to my trilby. This is a massively enjoyable book that is an exercise in imagination beyond imagination. For those looking for a more concrete idea of what Titan is about and how good it is then look no further than Larry Niven's Ringworld or A World Out of Time. It's drawn from exactly the same vein as those two classics. Varley has let his imagination run wild while still retaining suspension of disbelief. To those who claim this book is not SF then I would challenge you to point out exactly where. This is no less SF than the aforementioned Niven classics and as a fan of hard SF than is a strong recommendation in its favour. Varley writes with a terrific style, being easy to read and maintaining a breakneck pace, never once lulling into middle-book periods of tedium that seem to plague some novels. Having read this book, having been proved wrong and having enjoyed it immensely I can't recommend this book strongly enough to anyone with a mind for SF or good fantasy for that matter. If you like the aforementioned Niven books then why haven't you bought this earlier? My only regret is not discovering it sooner. Now, anyone know where I can get a copy of Wizard and Demon? :o)
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Each one is interesting, imaginative, and something I enjoy reading over and over (which I have done). They are books I would suggest to anyone who loves science fiction, fantasy, or good entertainemnt.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I first read Titan in 1979 and waited a year or so for Wizard. After Wizard was another year, and by the time Demon came out, I had forgotten the first two, figuring I'd go back and reread them someday. 20 years (and many books) later, I picked up the first two and rediscovered the magic and genius of this series, but now Demon is out of print!! Buy these books, read them, and demand a new edition of Demon! I'm still waiting to find out whatever happened to Cirocco Jones!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Titan takes us to another world, and world of crazed demigods and galloping centaurs and angels and furry creatures and razor-teethed sharks and seed boats and...you get the picture. Varley takes what would otherwise be a 60s LSD trip or fast-forwarded Alice-in-Wonderland and turns it all into a glorious adventure, sort of an updated Road to Oz with plenty of action and unusual sex thrown in. Outstanding book, John!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I first read the book in 1980, I have a 1979 title. I was absolutely stunned! I read it in 2 days, turned around and read it again! I've read it 6 times now, and the sequels 2 times each. It was one of those books you want to find someone else that has read it to share in it. I think that I am going to order a new printing right now to read, I don't want to put anymore wear on the original.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
The first time I read Titan (for I have since lost count of how many times I have pulled it down from my bookcase), I stayed up all night gobbling page after page this epic. Capt. Cirocco Jones and the rest of the crew, are quite literally hijacked by a planet, a living contruct-God called Gaia. They are thrust without food, clothing, or shelter, as naked as newborns into an alien environment. I mean what do YOU do when you find yourself living in a God, which is quite possibly insane? Varley is definitely on my top ten list of SF authors. He is funny, cynical and sexy. I DO suggest that if you read TITAN, have WIZARD and DEMON available as well. You won't you be fit company for anyone until you can find out what happens next. Trust me, I know.
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3.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great reading.
This is one of my favourite science fiction books and the other two in the series are even better. John Varley has a real talent for creating vast new worlds and filling them with... Read more
Published 9 days ago by Piers Harper
5.0 out of 5 stars
How to reach the stars! - the technology needed
That's not what the "Gaia" trilogy is usually seen as. It's often reviewed as an exciting space opera with heroes and villains on an artificial life-form, the size of a planet, in... Read more
Published on 25 Jun 2007 by Mr. G. J. Kewney
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Enjoyable
John Varley is a good writer, there is not much doubt about that. His writing is recognised in the field for being original and full of new ideas as well as being excellent... Read more
Published on 4 Dec 2002 by R. J. Hole
5.0 out of 5 stars
Start of the best trilogy in science fiction
I adore the Gaean trilogy. The imagination required to create and furnish a believable and yet wondrous world *without* invoking a load of warp-drive stupidity is itself a feat... Read more
Published on 19 Aug 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Awesome Book!!!
I read this book a few years ago and I loved it! It keeps you engaged throughout the story and there are so many interesting twists and turns. You should definitely read it. Read more
Published on 18 Aug 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow!
I bought the entire trilogy at a garage sale, a few years back. To this day, these books are my favorite. I've read them again, and again. Read more
Published on 2 July 1999
3.0 out of 5 stars
Only having read this book, I have mixed feelings..
I've only read Titan, and haven't read any of the other books in the trilogy. This gives me a different perspective from the readers here who obviously appreciate this book for... Read more
Published on 5 Jun 1999
1.0 out of 5 stars
Too much sex
Sex is an overriding theme in this book, largely overshadowing all other aspects. By the time I decided to stop reading, I had read about incestuous sex, homosexual sex,... Read more
Published on 16 April 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best of the best!
I have read the Titan, Wizard, and Demon trilogy over and over and I never tire of them. To read these novels is to visit a world unlike any you have seen before. Read more
Published on 10 Nov 1998
5.0 out of 5 stars
Varley Rules!
I read this book several years ago and it has become the standard for which I base innovative SF. I have read everything that John Varley has written since. Read more
Published on 27 Sep 1998
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