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nimue0fiana's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
violinknitter's review against another edition
I have mixed feelings about this book. Besides some of the “Wow, this was definitely written in the 70s” stuff, the large cast meant the story was constantly jumping from plot threads I was deeply interested in to threads/characters I was meh about. I’ll probably keep going, since Lisa Schmeiser and Erica Ensign are doing a podcast about the series, and I adore listening to the two of them talk about ANYTHING.
scheu's review against another edition
4.0
High adventure in the far past continues in part two - things blow up, characters you like will die, and slowly the stage is set for my favorite part of the story (the link to the Galactic Milieu series).
branch_c's review against another edition
5.0
The Pliocene Exile/Galactic Milieu saga is a masterpiece of SF/F, and this second book in the series stands out as one of the most brilliantly constructed volumes of the series.
With the stage set and the preliminaries out of the way in The Many-Colored Land, here May is free to follow the implications of the human group's arrival in the past to its surprising but entirely logical conclusions on multiple fronts. We get to see how the machinations of individuals and factions play out against the backdrop of the intertwined goals of human and hybrid, Tanu and Firvulag.
The end result is a supremely polished effort that's dramatic, humorous, exciting, and just plain fun to read. The amazingly varied cast of characters is wonderfully well-drawn; the categories of hero and villain are often deliciously ambiguous, but the characterizations are always sharp and engaging.
Another enjoyable re-read, to be continued with the next volume soon.
With the stage set and the preliminaries out of the way in The Many-Colored Land, here May is free to follow the implications of the human group's arrival in the past to its surprising but entirely logical conclusions on multiple fronts. We get to see how the machinations of individuals and factions play out against the backdrop of the intertwined goals of human and hybrid, Tanu and Firvulag.
The end result is a supremely polished effort that's dramatic, humorous, exciting, and just plain fun to read. The amazingly varied cast of characters is wonderfully well-drawn; the categories of hero and villain are often deliciously ambiguous, but the characterizations are always sharp and engaging.
Another enjoyable re-read, to be continued with the next volume soon.
wazbar's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
slow-paced
3.5
As book 2 of 4, I think this does about what it sets out to. It's able to develop the large cast of characters and complex plot established in book 1 pretty well, and it also shakes things up dramatically in its conclusion to leave one wondering where the heck it's going.
I do have some criticisms, mainly some persistent misogyny and one instance of extreme and otherwise unexpected transphobia. Another possible criticism is that the conclusion shakes things up too much, to the extent that a lot of things this books spends a lot of time developing are effectively washed away.
I'm willing to keep reading to see where this goes.
I do have some criticisms, mainly some persistent misogyny and one instance of extreme and otherwise unexpected transphobia. Another possible criticism is that the conclusion shakes things up too much, to the extent that a lot of things this books spends a lot of time developing are effectively washed away.
I'm willing to keep reading to see where this goes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Slavery and Transphobia
docpacey's review against another edition
5.0
So much good world building, with attention to the mythical detail that made it so clever. One series I always enjoy re-reading. RIP Julian May
orlion's review against another edition
4.0
If you have gotten this far, you will know what the setting is to the Saga of the Pliocene Exile. You may also be wondering what, exactly, is going on with the four characters that went to the Tanu capital of Muriah. And that is where the book picks up.
So, the reader finds themselves backwards in time before the rebel uprising at the end of The Many-Colored Land to catch up with Bryan, Aiken Drum, Elizabeth, and the 'Viking' Stein. Theirs is a much more politically driven story, as they maneuver the conniving of various factions that strive for dominance of the Many-Colored Land. As an anthropologist, Bryan embarks to complete a survey of human-Tanu relations that the King hopes to use to support is breeding program. Elizabeth, as the *cough* first fully meta-functional operant is key to that breeding program and a target for those who wish for a pure-blooded Tanu race. Aiken, meanwhile, decides that he is going to throw his hat into this game of throne and attempt to overthrow the King's heir and the King in the ritual Grand Combat so that he can be ruler over the Many-Colored Land... and Stein is caught up in Aiken's story.
These characters are followed until the beginning of the Grand Truce, after which we are reunited with our other intrepid time-travelers as they prepare to carry out the final phases of their revolution to free humankind from Tanu control.
And of course, in the end, we have the Grand Combat, which Julian May utilizes to grand effect to, as it were.
Julian May writes political intrigue right. It is fun, suspenseful, and irritating. Most of all, it is not overdone. There is a good balance between the political plot of some of the characters and the adventure plots of our intrepid rebels. Furthermore, in what might seem to be revolutionary to modern readers, most of the story threads are wrapped up! *gasp!* Satisfactorily! *Wha-wha-whaaaat?*
Kinda makes you wonder what the second half of the saga is going to be about.... *goes to read prologue to The Non-Born King* Well... they're boned.
So, the reader finds themselves backwards in time before the rebel uprising at the end of The Many-Colored Land to catch up with Bryan, Aiken Drum, Elizabeth, and the 'Viking' Stein. Theirs is a much more politically driven story, as they maneuver the conniving of various factions that strive for dominance of the Many-Colored Land. As an anthropologist, Bryan embarks to complete a survey of human-Tanu relations that the King hopes to use to support is breeding program. Elizabeth, as the *cough* first fully meta-functional operant is key to that breeding program and a target for those who wish for a pure-blooded Tanu race. Aiken, meanwhile, decides that he is going to throw his hat into this game of throne and attempt to overthrow the King's heir and the King in the ritual Grand Combat so that he can be ruler over the Many-Colored Land... and Stein is caught up in Aiken's story.
These characters are followed until the beginning of the Grand Truce, after which we are reunited with our other intrepid time-travelers as they prepare to carry out the final phases of their revolution to free humankind from Tanu control.
And of course, in the end, we have the Grand Combat, which Julian May utilizes to grand effect to
Spoiler
clear the boardJulian May writes political intrigue right. It is fun, suspenseful, and irritating. Most of all, it is not overdone. There is a good balance between the political plot of some of the characters and the adventure plots of our intrepid rebels. Furthermore, in what might seem to be revolutionary to modern readers, most of the story threads are wrapped up! *gasp!* Satisfactorily! *Wha-wha-whaaaat?*
Kinda makes you wonder what the second half of the saga is going to be about.... *goes to read prologue to The Non-Born King* Well... they're boned.
sepptb's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism and Racial slurs
fredalily's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is my 4th reading of this series. I have really enjoyed re-reading this book series multiple times, because the plot and characters are so engaging, some of the characters are inspiring, others deeply flawed, and others are unlikeable. The novels are extremely well written, and the overall story is so engaging.