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I just finished part 2 in Tad Williams' Otherland series, called =
"River of Blue Fire". This author just keeps writing larger and larger =
novels. According to him, the whole Otherland series was meant to be =
one big novel, but it's too big to publish in one cover. So we're =
talking about a total of about 2500 pages here. Obviously the man is =
bursting with ideas.
That's the one thing you have to admire about him - he has lots of =
ideas. The story is filled with little subplots, mini-adventures, all =
interesting and complete. Also, the book takes place in multiple =
settings: most of it takes place in the Otherland virtual environment, =
which is comprised of a series of fantasy worlds. this is a great tool =
for Williams to let his imagination run wild, creating a dark version of =
Oz, a world filled with giant bugs, a story-book Mars, a cartoon-type =
kitchen populated by animated kitchen implements, etc.=20
It seems like Williams spends more time on setting than on =
characterization. Most of the characters are rather flat. They all =
have a background story, which they all reveal at a certain point in the =
novel - but so far, there is very little growth. Exceptions are, of =
course, Renie, !Xabbu, Gardiner and Fredericks. But apart from these 4, =
the rest seem like cardboard.
Also, sometimes the abundance of mini-plots becomes a bit too much. =
You know those people who are in love with their own voice? It seems =
Williams is in love with his own writing. Some things should be =
shorter, some sidetrack stories could be cut. In short: an editor would =
be a good idea. =20
Don't get me wrong, I love curling up on the couch with these tomes, =
and just forgetting everything. But, well ... I would like it a bit =
more trimmed too. I simply don't have the energy for another mammoth =
like Jordan's Waste of Time series. Then again, I will probably end up =
buying the next installment anyway.
Anyway, on Alexlit I rated "River of Blue Fire" as enjoyable. Part =
1 was a bit more focused than this one - I hope part 3 will return to =
the central plotline and spend less time on the side-track adventures.
Stefan Raets
*************************************************************
It takes a man to suffer Sting and smile. (G. Jacobs)
*************************************************************
[log in to unmask]
ICQ UIN: #870540
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<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2> I just finished =
part 2 in Tad=20
Williams' Otherland series, called "River of Blue Fire". =
This=20
author just keeps writing larger and larger novels. According to =
him, the=20
whole Otherland series was meant to be one big novel, but it's too big =
to=20
publish in one cover. So we're talking about a total of =
about 2500=20
pages here. Obviously the man is bursting with ideas.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT><FONT =
size=3D2> That's=20
the one thing you have to admire about him - he has lots of ideas. =
The=20
story is filled with little subplots, mini-adventures, all interesting =
and=20
complete. Also, the book takes place in multiple settings: most of =
it=20
takes place in the Otherland virtual environment, which is comprised of =
a series=20
of fantasy worlds. this is a great tool for Williams to let his=20
imagination run wild, creating a dark version of Oz, a world filled with =
giant=20
bugs, a story-book Mars, a cartoon-type kitchen populated by =
animated=20
kitchen implements, etc. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2> <FONT color=3D#000000 =
size=3D2> It seems=20
like Williams spends more time on setting than on =
characterization. Most=20
of the characters are rather flat. They all have a background =
story, which=20
they all reveal at a certain point in the novel - but so far, there is =
very=20
little growth. Exceptions are, of course, Renie, !Xabbu, Gardiner =
and=20
Fredericks. But apart from these 4, the rest seem like=20
cardboard.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2> Also, sometimes the abundance of =
mini-plots=20
becomes a bit too much. You know those people who are in love with =
their=20
own voice? It seems Williams is in love with his own =
writing. Some=20
things should be shorter, some sidetrack stories could be cut. In =
short:=20
an editor would be a good idea. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT><FONT color=3D#000000 =
size=3D2> Don't get=20
me wrong, I love curling up on the couch with these tomes, and just =
forgetting=20
everything. But, well ... I would like it a bit more trimmed =
too. I simply don't have the energy for another mammoth like =
Jordan's=20
Waste of Time series. Then again, I will probably end up buying =
the next=20
installment anyway.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2> Anyway, on =
Alexlit I rated=20
"River of Blue Fire" as enjoyable. Part 1 was a bit more =
focused=20
than this one - I hope part 3 will return to the central plotline and =
spend less=20
time on the side-track adventures.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><BR>Stefan=20
Raets<BR>*************************************************************<BR=
>It=20
takes a man to suffer Sting and smile. (G.=20
Jacobs)<BR>*************************************************************<=
BR><A=20
href=3D"mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</A><BR>ICQ UIN: =20
#870540</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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