Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
New York: DAW Books, c1999.
Pages
xxvii; 689
Description
The third book in New York Times-bestselling author Tad Williams's cyberpunk fantasy series * "Tad Williams is the brightest and best of the fantasists." ―Neil Gaiman, author of American Gods "The Grail Brotherhood has built the most powerful, sophisticated simulation network imaginable. At the same time, they have manipulated and injured the minds of thousands of children." This proclamation from the mysterious Mr. Sellars confirmed what Renie Sulaweyo had feared to be true when she first broke into the Otherland network in a desperate search for the cause of her brother Stephen's deathlike coma. Now Renie, the Bushman !Xabbu, and their companions find themselves navigating a treacherous and ever-changing course―from a strangely unfinished land, to a seemingly endless labyrinthine House―pursuing a sociopathic killer who has stolen one of their group. To Renie's despair she is no closer to uncovering the secrets which could help save Stephen's life, and now it appears that something may be very wrong with the Otherland network itself. As Paul Jonas, Orlando, Renie and the rest strive to reach Priam's Walls, in the heart of Troy, they know that their quest is running perilously short of time. For the Grail Brotherhood has finally set the date for the Ceremony when they will make their bid for the immortality, and thereby seal the fate of Earth's children forever. But before Renie and her allies can hope to stop the Brotherhood, they must first solve the mysteries of Otherland itself, and confront its darkest secret―an entity known only as the Other.… (more)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1999
Physical description
xxvii, 689 p.; 9.45 inches
ISBN
0886778492 / 9780886778491
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User reviews
LibraryThing member aleahmarie
In "Mountain of Black Glass," book three in Tad Williams' "Otherland" tetrology, the sci-fi saga continues.
An overly simplified summation of a very complicated plot:
Children around the world are being lost to unexplained comas, including Renie Sulaweyo's baby brother, Stephen. Researching
Which brings us to book three:
Renie, Orlando, Jonas and their companions are still adrift in the seemingly endless simulations that compose the Otherland. The members of this mismatched group, fractured early on in the series, are braving many obstacles as they try to find their lost friends. During the course of their misadventures each are summoned to "Priam's Walls" by a mysterious woman who is somehow part of the system in which they're trapped. In their quest to reunite the group and reach their destination they encounter a re-created Ancient Egypt that is alive with warring gods, an entire world that exists in a giant house, and even Homeric Troy. Will our heroes be strong enough to survive and make a stand against the Brotherhood?
My take:
I absolutely love complex world building and juicy make believe. Tad Williams gives me all of that and then some. I will admit to being slightly bogged down about halfway through this tome. There are so many characters and plot lines that my brain needed a breather. But once I came back to it I was instantly hooked again. This tetrology is for those who love epic science fiction* and revel in richly detailed narration. If you prefer a short and sweet novella don't touch this series with a 10-foot pole. You've been warned.
*Is epic science fiction a genre? If not, it should be.
An overly simplified summation of a very complicated plot:
Children around the world are being lost to unexplained comas, including Renie Sulaweyo's baby brother, Stephen. Researching
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Stephen's condition leads Renie to the Otherland, a massively complex virtual reality network. Its architects? A secretive group who refer to themselves as the Grail Brotherhood. In an attempt to save Stephen, Renie and her friend, !Xabbu, find a way into this exclusive network. Once there they discover others who are on similar quests. But in an even more nightmarish twist our adventurers soon learn that they are stuck on the network – and although the environments are simulated, the dangers are all too real. Which brings us to book three:
Renie, Orlando, Jonas and their companions are still adrift in the seemingly endless simulations that compose the Otherland. The members of this mismatched group, fractured early on in the series, are braving many obstacles as they try to find their lost friends. During the course of their misadventures each are summoned to "Priam's Walls" by a mysterious woman who is somehow part of the system in which they're trapped. In their quest to reunite the group and reach their destination they encounter a re-created Ancient Egypt that is alive with warring gods, an entire world that exists in a giant house, and even Homeric Troy. Will our heroes be strong enough to survive and make a stand against the Brotherhood?
My take:
I absolutely love complex world building and juicy make believe. Tad Williams gives me all of that and then some. I will admit to being slightly bogged down about halfway through this tome. There are so many characters and plot lines that my brain needed a breather. But once I came back to it I was instantly hooked again. This tetrology is for those who love epic science fiction* and revel in richly detailed narration. If you prefer a short and sweet novella don't touch this series with a 10-foot pole. You've been warned.
*Is epic science fiction a genre? If not, it should be.
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LibraryThing member PhoenixTerran
Otherland: Mountain of Black Glass is the third book in the massive four volume series, Otherland, written by Tad Williams. The Grail Brotherhood continues its quest of immortality while a group known as The Circle tries to thwart at least some of the Brotherhood's plans. Dread, a rogue "servant"
I haven't been reading the series straight through, which is somewhat unfortunate since I forget many of the details from one book to the next. Luckily, Williams as included a synopsis for each of the previous two books, Otherland: City of Golden Shadow and Otherland: River of Blue Fire. (The synopsis of Otherland: City of Golden Shadow is the same one he used in the second book, except that it is missing a paragraph.) While I still feel I'm missing out on quite a bit of the detail (which really is very understandable sine these books are huge in several ways) they do provide adequate summaries which make it much easier to jump back into the story after a break.
While many of the simulated worlds in the previous books were literary references that I could recognize (Wonderland, Oz, and War of the Worlds for example) I was not particularly familiar with those featured in this book beyond the Ancient Greek classics of Homer--The Oddessy and The Illiad. There is even a brief appearance of Virgil's Aeneid (an accidental theme in my reading recently). The other simulation worlds were extraordinarily creative and were quite a bit of fun.
In some ways, this book seemed to drag on--I noticed its length much more than I did the first two books, and I didn't find it quite as engaging either. It is very much a "middle" book, and seeing as it is the second one at that, execution is particularly tricky. I did begin to wonder about the point of it all but happily, by the end of the book, the multitudinous story-lines at least begin to coincide. Certainly not all of them, but enough that things start to pull together nicely. Many, many questions still remain to be resolved but answer are beginning to be hinted at.
Experiments in Reading
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of the head of the Brotherhood, Felix Jongleur, works towards his own goals by his own, terrifying, means. All the while, the Otherland system is becoming more and more unstable. Paul Jonas, Renie Sulaweyo, and the others trapped in the system struggle to survive in an increasingly dangerous situation as they try to make sense of what is happening to them, the system, and their loved ones.I haven't been reading the series straight through, which is somewhat unfortunate since I forget many of the details from one book to the next. Luckily, Williams as included a synopsis for each of the previous two books, Otherland: City of Golden Shadow and Otherland: River of Blue Fire. (The synopsis of Otherland: City of Golden Shadow is the same one he used in the second book, except that it is missing a paragraph.) While I still feel I'm missing out on quite a bit of the detail (which really is very understandable sine these books are huge in several ways) they do provide adequate summaries which make it much easier to jump back into the story after a break.
While many of the simulated worlds in the previous books were literary references that I could recognize (Wonderland, Oz, and War of the Worlds for example) I was not particularly familiar with those featured in this book beyond the Ancient Greek classics of Homer--The Oddessy and The Illiad. There is even a brief appearance of Virgil's Aeneid (an accidental theme in my reading recently). The other simulation worlds were extraordinarily creative and were quite a bit of fun.
In some ways, this book seemed to drag on--I noticed its length much more than I did the first two books, and I didn't find it quite as engaging either. It is very much a "middle" book, and seeing as it is the second one at that, execution is particularly tricky. I did begin to wonder about the point of it all but happily, by the end of the book, the multitudinous story-lines at least begin to coincide. Certainly not all of them, but enough that things start to pull together nicely. Many, many questions still remain to be resolved but answer are beginning to be hinted at.
Experiments in Reading
Show Less
LibraryThing member leld
Very ambitious series, that delivers quite well. Lots of details and storylines. I suggest reading the series without stopping for very long between books. Wonderful world creation and storytelling. Great character work. The whole thing is staggering.
LibraryThing member FionaCat
This is the first of the four volumes that make up Otherland, which is really one long novel published in four parts, like The Lord of the Rings. Make sure you have plenty of time for reading before you start this one!
Tad Williams has a talent for sucking you into his stories so that you read
Otherland is a slight departure from his previous (and later) fantasies. Primarily science fiction, this story deals with a not so distant future when the Internet can be experienced via virtual reality. When children begin to fall into comas, trapped in VR, our story begins. But it is also the story of a mysterious man who is also trapped within the virtual world of the 'net. With multiple storylines that interweave and tangle, Otherland delivers a fully realized world that is a pleasure to experience.
Tad Williams has a talent for sucking you into his stories so that you read
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steadily, never lamenting the length of the books. Otherland is a slight departure from his previous (and later) fantasies. Primarily science fiction, this story deals with a not so distant future when the Internet can be experienced via virtual reality. When children begin to fall into comas, trapped in VR, our story begins. But it is also the story of a mysterious man who is also trapped within the virtual world of the 'net. With multiple storylines that interweave and tangle, Otherland delivers a fully realized world that is a pleasure to experience.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Karlstar
There are a few surprises in the conclusion of this series. Not the 'Huh?' kind of surprises, but the kind that fulfill the potential of the story and make it seem even better. A great book and a good end to the story.
LibraryThing member mopedronin
Slightly long-winded, but a fantastic, scary look at an otherwise possible future. If you love epics, this is a book for you.
LibraryThing member wweisser
Very long but for some reason I couldn't put it down. Amazing that a fantasy author could put out science fiction of this caliber.
LibraryThing member DinadansFriend
In this penultimate volume, the basic conflict in the real world, and in Otherland is laid bare. The Grail Brotherhood continues to defend itself from the adventurers and the episodes are played out at the siege of Troy,