![]() There is another story in the book, of a man named Paul. They find themselves searching for answers on Otherland, enlisting the help of some others who have also found out about the mysterious world, all seeking answers for what it is and why it’s harming kids. In parallel, a kid named Orlando is exposed to “Otherland” in a part of his online video game. Setting out to try to figure out what left him in the coma, she comes across a hint of a world called “Otherland,” a world within the VR world. One day she comes home to find her little brother, Steven, comatose after spending some time in the VR world. Main character Reny (a nickname for Irene) is a teacher of computer science/VR manipulation at a university. At least, the younger people seem to do this. Many people, instead of congregating/living in cities with malls and town centers and such, live good parts of their lives in the virtual world. ![]() In a future-world setting (the book was written in 1996), virtual reality (VR) in the form of using an avatar to explore the “net,” is fairly commonplace. There are 4 books in the Otherland series in total ( City of Golden Shadow, River of Blue Fire, Mountain of Black Glass, and Sea of Silver Light, the first two of which are available in audio so far). I say “at least” because I have only just started that book (and it’s 24.3 hours long!), and I have no idea if it resolves any of the story. The book ends with no plot lines resolved and more questions than answers…so, if you read this book, be prepared to read at least the next book in the series ( River of Blue Fire. There was only one downside to the book, which I may as well get out of the way now: it’s not a complete story. This is actually a cyberpunk book, a quite good one at that. I saw a fantastical-looking image on the cover and, knowing that Tad Williams typically writes fantasy novels/series, I just assumed it was a fantasy novel. I knew nothing about the book when I started listening, I hadn’t even read the blurb in the description. I hate to admit this, but I judged this book by the cover at first. And somehow, bit by bit, it is claiming the Earth’s most valuable resource – its children. The best minds of two generations have labored to build it. Incredible amounts of money have been lavished on it. Surrounded by secrecy, it is home to the wildest dreams and darkest nightmares. Themes: / cyberpunk / virtual reality / science fiction / I have nothing but high praise for the books I've read by him.By Tad Williams Narrated by George Newbern I can say with certainty that Tad Williams is consistently a superb writer, and a talented and gifted storyteller to the highest degree. But more than halfway through STONE OF FAREWELL I am totally loving it. I consider OTHERLAND amond my favorite SF series, along with Dan Simmons' HYPERION CANTOS and OSC's ENDER'S GAME books.Īlthough now that I'm going back to read his fantasy series, I can't be sure which is better until I'm finished. Your David and Goliath comparison is a good one, and I don't think the idea was lost on Williams either, especially since in the very first chapter (or couple of chapters) of the entire series, Paul Jonas finds himself in a Jack And The Beanstalk situation, which could be drawn as a metaphor for what the characters in the story are up against. It really is a uniquely imaginative and original story, expertly written and delievered in the size and scope of a fantasy epic, even though that's not what it is at all. I'm currently reading MS&T, but totally agree with you about OTHERLAND. I've re-read these books every year since I first purchased them and will continue to do so. This was a great story and for those who didn't make it to the last book, missed a good story. You know the classic David and Goliath story, but set in the virtual reality world. The reason for the story was to find Rene's brother and to help him and all the other children to recover from their coma's caused by cold hearted rich people and their quest for immortality. People seem to forget, there was no big fantasy epic to this story. Christabel or something like that) and I thought the story was well written.Īs to you (I, Brian) saying "Sure, it's very well written, and very imaginative - but somehow the entire story as I remember it is essentially irrelevant - no one really achieves anything" shows that you didn't really get past the details (which make a story by the way). I really liked the characters (especially !Xabbu and Orlando, I also liked the little girl, even though I can't remember her name. ![]() I thought Otherland was on of the more unique SF stories I have read and I have read a lot. I honestly don't know what everyone is talking about.
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