Tad Williams

[DarrenGMiller]

Has anyone read the latest Tad Williams novel? If so, how is it? I am thinking of buying it, as I loved Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, but would like to know more about it.

DM

 

[Nifft]

I'm on book 3 of the Otherland series (4 books total). It's good. I suspect I'll get more of his stuff if the quality remains this high.

-- N

 

[lrsach01]

The first book in the Shadowmarch series is very much like the first book of Memory Sorrow and Thorn in style. Things happen, but they lack urgency. He sets up the world, introduces the main characters, and make you feel like you are "there." I expect the next book will really begin to move...especially the way the first ends. Williams also had a one shot book out last year called War of Flowers. If you like Williams, you will LOVE it. Fast paced...different...and deep. Lots to like. The only disappoinment is the fact that it IS a one shot...not a series.

 

[The Serge]

Tad Williams is one of the best fantasy writers out there. Too bad he's not better known.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

It has been quite a while since I read Memory so I won't try and draw comparisons. I am in the midst of Shadowmarch right now (can't wait to finish this cursed paper I have to write so I can finish the book). So for I am enjoying it. The characters are all pretty mysterious, not quite fitting into the expected stereotypes and quite obviously there is a lot more to each one that will be revealed later. As with Otherland, it is difficult to see where exactly the book is going until it gets you there. I like that since too many books are rather predictable. The flipside is that at times the story can be a little difficult to follow. With Otherland, there were parts of the story that I just didn't get until much later in the series. I probably could have, but things didn't click. I am expecting that again in this series as there are parts that I have read and thought, "Huh?"

Of course my biggest problem with this book is that I will have to wait for the rest of the books to be written. I repeatedly vow to not read series until they are done, or only one book away, but I am weak, and then pine for the next book to come out (curse you Melanie Rawn and the Ruins of Ambrai!).

edit: thanks for the word on War of the Flowers. I haven't picked that one up yet.

 

[LightPhoenix]

I haven't picked Shadowmarch up yet, but I will second the recommendation on War of the Flowers. It's a great book, IMO.

Williams' problem (again, IMO) is that he's not so good at writting endings. Both MST and Otherland had pretty solid beginnings and middles, but the endings both felt very rushed to me, as if he suddenly realized he needed to end the series. Flowers didn't suffer that at all, I thought, which is part of the reason I like the book.

 

[DarrenGMiller]

Williams' problem (again, IMO) is that he's not so good at writting endings. Both MST and Otherland had pretty solid beginnings and middles, but the endings both felt very rushed to me, as if he suddenly realized he needed to end the series. Flowers didn't suffer that at all, I thought, which is part of the reason I like the book.

I agree with that assessment. I loved the first two books of MST, but the final book, in addition to being as long as the first two books combined, just seemed contrived, like he gave up on it. I get hooked on Williams from Tailchaser's Song, since I loved Watership Down AND T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, on which TS was based. Then I read MST and loved most of it. I love the scope of things in his writing. It is very broad and world-encompassing. I guess I will have to break down and read Shadowmarch, but hopefully I can find it at the local library.

DM

 

[Dakkareth]

I like Tad Williams a lot and he's one of my favourite authors (even got to see him at the Frankfurt Book Fair, though only from a distance). War of Flowers is quite cool as a stand-alone book and I agree with LightPhoenix, that the flow of Memory, Sorrow and Thorn as well as Otherland are a bit inhomogenous.