Otherland Vol. 2 - River of Blue Fire

Tad Williams

Average Rating 6/10 (1 Review)

YOUR WORLD HAS CHANGED - Otherland is civilisation's most stunning achievement: a private, multi-dimensional universe built over two generations by the greatest minds of the twenty-first century. But this most exclusive of places is also a jealously guarded secret, created and controlled by the Grail Brotherhood, a private cartel know to few and made up of the world's most powerful and ruthless individuals.

The purpose of Otherland is still a mystery. But it may not remain so for long. For a small band of adventurers has penetrated the secrecy that surrounds it and has broken into the amazing worlds within worlds it contains. However, with one among their number determined to ensure that no one lives long enough to reveal the truth about Otherland, an extraordinary quest soon becomes a desperate race against time.

Review by Chrissi (191100) Rating (6/10)

Review by Chrissi
Rating 6/10
This is the second of the "Otherland" Series, and it feels like it is never going to end. I do not mean this is in a derogatory manner, but while the characters remain very real, they seem to be going in pointless circles. Rather like real life I suppose, they make mistakes and get separated - Blair Witch-style.

This makes for a very frustrating book, there are a large number of characters, Renie and !Xabbu, with their band of misfits, including Orlando and T4b, who are still looking for ways to get around inside this amazing Otherland, looking for the lost children, including Renie's brother Stephen.

They have met members of the Grail Brotherhood, and some have been wanting to use the Otherland for their own purposes, like investigating natural eco-systems, and some are using it as the largest ego-trip possible, inventing themselves as ancient deities.

It is a truly huge vision of Tad Williams, but, knowing that it was not finishing near the end, just made my heart sink. This, I know, would be a great bonus for some people, but not for me, the writing is beautiful, with scenes described to an amazing degree, but it is just too long!
Chrissi (19th November 2000)