Let me just start by saying this: the first time I finished this series, I immediately went back and started reading it again. I can't think of any other series that I've done that with.This is one of Tad Williams' "economy-sized manuscripts," similar to his fantasy classic Memory, Sorrow and Thorn. Similar in size and scope, anyway - four giant tomes chock full of all things awesome. It's a series of grand scope, amazing scale and great imagination, well worthy of your time. Seriously, top-shel...

” The world was all mud and wire. The war in the heavens was only a faint imitation of the horror men had learned to make.” Tad Williams is one of the few who can write fantasy and science fiction with the same amazing skills. He’s a born storyteller, too bad he’s underrated. But it’s the readers’ loss. I think City of Golden Shadow is the most complex story I have read so far. It’s a post-cyberpunk at the base, with the most intricate VR I have ever encountered in a book. It's not an easy read,...

Audiobook from Penguin AudioNarrated by George NewbernLength: 28.75 hoursI hate to admit this, but I judged this book by the cover at first. I knew nothing about the book when I started listening, I hadn't even read the blurb in the description. 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 was wrong. This is actually a cyberpunk book, a quite good one at that. There was only one down...

I love this series. I read it years ago, picking it up only because of the cool cover. It's not the type of book I usually read. I'm not a fan of cyberpunk lit. But then again, Otherland is far from typical. Heck the main characters are black South Africans (unlike in District 9, Tad's rendering is realistic and free of prejudice).*Smile*, little did I know that years later, my novel would be bought by the very editor who worked on this awesome series.I'm on page 268 and I'm enjoying it in the s...

I picked this book up on a whim, not realizing that it was just the beginning of four very long books with a myriad of characters and challenges. Fortunately, the book and the series are both amazing.The Otherland series takes place in the near future where the Internet has become fully interactive with rich people literally able to plug themselves into the net and others using less effective virtual reality equipment. In this world, a varied group of people stumble upon a secret plot put in mot...

What a ride! Absolutely loved this book, and I'll be starting part two right away. Wonderful world created by Mr Tad as usual. Written in his kaleidoscopic style, with every chapter returning to another character. I had to get used to it the first 200 pages, but as you get to know the characters it was easy to follow. Plus, that really keeps you reading because you want to know what happens two chapters away! It's a tad long (pun intended) so buckle up for a journey!

My previous experience with Williams’ writing was his Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series, so this book was a bit of a shock to the system! While that series took place in a rather mediaeval setting, this one is set in the future and largely in virtual reality. One thing that remains consistent is the size of each book, being rather brick-like. It took my about 170 pages before I was convinced that I really wanted to read this volume. It reminded me of a lot of books that I’ve read before. The littl...

A very complex, unique series, mixing up different genres, never boring because of Williams´ talent and feeling for language, it describes one of the possible, awaiting futures, making dystopian cyberpunk seem empty in contrast to this rich, colorful, postcyberpunk worldbuilding. I have the suspicion that the inventors of the cyber and post cyber genre names just wanted to pimp, because there is not so much difference. William's style reminded me a bit of Neil Gaiman, just expanded to the ultima...

Tad Williams has been one of those authors I'd never really gotten around to even though he's a pillar of fantasy literature. Technically, I did read his story contained in Songs of the Dying Earth (which was excellent), but never one of his mainstays such as Otherland and his epic, Memory, Sorry, and Thorn series.Apparently that day has come and I've officially read Tad Williams. And what did I think? I hate to say this, but mostly meh.That's not to say I didn't enjoy City of Golden Shadow, but...

I'm giving this book a 3.5* rating which seems a little harsh to me becuase I genuinely really really enjoyed it. Honestly, the only reason it's not quite scooping the 4*s is becuase although I really enjoyed it, it's a 900 page book and it's only just starting the overall plot by the time you reach the end.This is probably one of the most surprising books I have read in a while as it's a slightly older fantasy/sci-fi crossover (pre-2000s) and so I kind of assumed it would be a classic style. It...

I think Renie's quote from the middle of the book sums up my feelings entirely:"...We still don't have any answers or any way to bring my brother back, and the search just seems to get more complicated and more vague. If this were a detective story, you'd have a body and some bloodstains and footprints in the garden - it's definitely a murder, and you've definitely got clues. But all we have here are things that seem a little strange, bits of information that might mean something. The more I thi...

When I picked up this book I initially thought it was fantasy... and for some reason to do with faerie - it really isn't. Well, not very much!Otherland is a story about a virtual world where people can shop, meet up, have businesses, play games, or anything you really want to do! Think if you will of the evolution of the internet. It actually sort of reminds me of OZ in the anime Summer Wars.Something has gone wrong and children are falling into comas and having seizures, and some people are dis...

Robert Jordan level wordulency, plus SF internet idea outdated before its publication date, minus appealing writing style, divided by Michael Springer's mid-semester attention span,times 90-bunjillion pages in four volumes,equals "FUCK YOU, TAD WILLIAMS, YOU GO TO HELL! YOU GO TO HELL AND YOU DIE! YOU FUCKIN' DIE! WHAT THE FUCK!" *Throws book against the wall, then walks over and urinates on it*(Okay, so I actually just took it back to Half Price Books. Whatever.)

Executive Summary: Slow in places, but this story really works for me. Interesting world building and decent characters has me looking forward to the continuing on this series.Audio book: George Newbern does an excellent job with this book. Good inflections and emotion, as well as a variety of accents. He is definitely a narrator that adds extra enjoyment to the book. Full Review My only experiance with Tad Williams prior to this book was his urban fantasy book The Dirty Streets of Heaven. I w...

3.5 StarsThis was a fascinating epic science fiction story that explored ideas of virtual reality in a fun, yet intellectual way. Published in 1996, some of the concepts felt a bit dated, while in other places, the author’s vision of the future was remarkably close to reality. Blending together genres, this book felt different than the science fiction I have read. As a piece of epic science fiction, this novel was quite long with several different character perspectives that eventually started t...

This is my second book by Tad Williams. I didn’t much enjoy The Dragonbone Chair, which I reviewed here. Based on recommendations of this series, I wanted to give him another chance. I fear Tad Williams just isn’t for me.City of Golden Shadow was a step up in some ways from how I felt about The Dragonebone Chair...which wasn’t bad per se but just didn’t grab me. This novel had a relatively interesting plot and at least one or two interesting characters. It was a step-up in overall quality for me...

I don't know what to think of this book. I liked it, but I was confused, so I looked up some reviews on Amazon, and then decided that I didn't like it based on what people said, but then I kept reading, and then I liked it a lot and made my peace with it being just the first part of a four-book series, and then I was totally into it, and then they spent too much time on the villains and their complicated pseudo-Egyptian mythology simulation, and I am sick of completely evil antagonists who are c...

This series has become one of my most reread collections, and this first book has a lot to do with that.In the big picture, Otherland, book 1, is almost entirely set up for the main (huge) story-line that follows. Although there is a frustration in coming to the end of it and realizing that the “journey” hasn't even started yet, it remains the most stand-out of all the books – for me, anyway. Perhaps it is because as the true story unfolds in the following installments, the movement and challeng...

8.5/10This is the second series that I’m reading from Tad Williams and I have to say that I’m really impressed of how different it is compared to his most famous series, Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, although personally I quite liked it even if it’s not outstanding.In this series Tad Williams changes his style and goes to Science Fiction but he also raises his skill level as he has mixed Cyberpunk, lots of mystery and a touch of Fantasy that, I believe, makes all the difference!The story is set most...