- Hardcover: 692 pages
- Publisher: Orbit; First Edition edition (1 May 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1841491276
- ISBN-13: 978-1841491271
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16 x 5.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 808,304 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
A masterpiece of the imagination, THE WAR OF THE FLOWERS is a truly epic novel which once again pushes the boundaries of fantasy fiction into new and unexplored territory. In the great city, in the dimly lit office of an impossibly tall building, two creatures meet. Gold changes hand, and the master of the House of Hellebore gives an order: 'War is coming. The child must die.' In our own world, a young man discovers a manuscript written by his great uncle. It seems to be a novel - a strange fairy tale of fantastic creatures and magical realms. But it is written as a diary ...as if the events were real ...as if his uncle had journeyed to another world. For the young man, the fantasy is about to become reality. Find out more about this title and others at www.orbitbooks.co.uk
About the Author
Former singer, shoe-seller and radio show host, Tad Williams is now a full-time writer. His Memory, Sorrow and Thorn and Otherland series have established him as one of the most internationally popular fantasy authors of recent years.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing after Dragonbone Chair,
By A Customer
This review is from: The War of the Flowers (Hardcover)
I bought this on the strength of some of Williams's past work, which I have enjoyed. I did not think this was up to his usual standard. The main problem is the hero, Theo Vilmos. He is a thirty-year-old failing musician who lives in San Francisco, whose mother dies of cancer; he then finds a book written by his great-uncle which purports to be a travelogue of Faerie. But is the book fiction ...?So far, so good. The early sections of the novel are good - Theo here comes across as a realistic and sympathetic character, and the setting (which Williams obviously knows well) is well-drawn. These early chapters are interspersed with some from the points of view of various faerie characters. These also are good, up there with the best bits of Memory, Sorrow and Thorn. the problem for me comes when Theo enters faerie. He becomes a very passive character - he does almost nothing that isn't suggested or ordered by someone else. I cannot believe Williams does not understand that the main point of fiction is the choices characters make - Theo makes almost none. Since he is the character you are supossed to be identifying with, it makes the story a very uninvolving read. Also, Williams insists on telling us Theo's thoughts on everything - we are not allowed to observe faerie merely through his description, we also have to read Theo's reactions, which usually consist of comparing everything to aspects of modern life (often this is done in a very jokey way, which seems very inappropriate when Theo is in grave danger; in fact this robs the danger of any real bite). Finally, the book is way too flabby. (The same problem as with the later bits of Memory Sorrow and Thorn trilogy.) It would have been a lot sharper, and would have lost nothing, with 200 pages cut from it. By the end, the writing has lost its spark, and it feels like Williams is going through the motions to get it finished. Sorry, but all in all a very disappointing read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing new Tad Williams book,
This review is from: The War of the Flowers (Hardcover)
Having read both the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy, and the Otherland series, I am firmly established as a Tad Williams fan. His writing is insightful, accessible and absorbing, and as such I was looking forward to reading The War of the Flowers. Unfortunately the book does not reach the admittedly high standards set in the previous books, and is both predictable and tedious in parts. The narrative drags, and lacks the energy, lustre and human insight that so characterised Williams' previous work. For anyone new to Tad Williams, I cannot recommend the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy highly enough - leave this book to the die-hard fans.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Getting back to his best,
By
This review is from: The War of the Flowers (Hardcover)
After the Otherland series of books Williams returns to the realm of fantasy from his dalliance in sci-fi. Showing the intelligence and characterisation that’s evident in all his work, The War of Flowers is a pretty compelling read. Like Kay did with Tigiana, Williams has proved that there is mileage in a single volume fantasy piece (Robert Jordan please take note!) that will appease fans who like Memory Sorrow and Thorn, whilst simultaneously annoying them that the promised romp through the history of Osten Ard still hasn’t seen the light of day. The lead characters are likeable and well fleshed out, showing Williams has the ability to write good non genre literature should fantasy ever bore him. (Fingers crossed it doesn’t!)
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