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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A remarkable collection of linked stories spanning centuries of the history of the world of Majipoor. Each has a protagonist confronted by their own preconceptions - of themselves, their world, the other peoples they encounter. There is politics, religion, art, friendship, even romance and magic. The world-building is subtle and richly detailed. The lessons are not too very deeply buried - essentially the familiar trope of the complexities and, bluntly, evils of colonization - but treated with a variety of perspectives.
There is an innate sadness that runs throughout, but also great beauty and thoughtfulness.
The narration by Stefan Rudnicki brings the various characters to life with exquisite sensitivity (and occasional humour). Thoroughly enjoyable listening.
There is an innate sadness that runs throughout, but also great beauty and thoughtfulness.
The narration by Stefan Rudnicki brings the various characters to life with exquisite sensitivity (and occasional humour). Thoroughly enjoyable listening.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Violence, Xenophobia, War
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Still have no memory of purchasing this book, but ok. It showed up on my shelves so I read it. I’ve not previously read any of Silver Bob’s work and I enjoyed it and am curious to read the actual books in this series, not just the short stories.
Some really interesting stories in here, but an absolutely breathtaking level of sexism (sometimes subtle) in the basic assumptions and foundations of this world. Interested to see if that holds true for the main Majipoor series, as well.
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This collection of stories are incredibly atmospheric and instantly take you back to the world of Majipoor. The characters are rich and the world interesting. I often found myself unhappy to move onto the next story because I was invested in finding out more about what happened to the characters I had settled into. While I’m not sure each story was successful the book was enjoyable. The pace of these books creates a laid back, hypnotic dream like atmosphere that is unique, original and very alien in some places.
Very good.
I am ashamed to say that I had somehow missed the fact that the tales are addenda to an older series. But the collection works very well on it's own.
Perhaps too well - I feel I know so much about Majipoor now that it might be not too urgent to explore more as many other yet unknown worlds await.
I am ashamed to say that I had somehow missed the fact that the tales are addenda to an older series. But the collection works very well on it's own.
Perhaps too well - I feel I know so much about Majipoor now that it might be not too urgent to explore more as many other yet unknown worlds await.
Disclaimer: I haven’t read Silverberg’s other Majipoor books (this happens when you review books—publishers can send you books from series you haven't read). On the one hand, it’s useful to have a fresh perspective so that new or prospective readers have some idea of where they can and can’t jump into a series. On the other hand, there were setting details that I had issues with, and I freely admit that they might be addressed within the novels. This does mean, however, that this book doesn’t stand entirely on its own.
The prologue briefly establishes the basic premise of Majipoor—how it was settled by humans even though there were natives already present, how the population exploded over time, and how other alien races also eventually came to settle there. It’s a quick introduction, and I thought it would be enough for me to grasp the setting, but after I read a handful of stories I was only more confused.
Where’s the technology? Only sporadic mention or use of any kind of technology is in evidence, and that mostly in the final story. This planet was colonized by settlers from another planet. Various alien races also settled on the planet at various times during its history. A society that should have started with a technological edge and had injections of alien technology at regular intervals somehow took 8,000 years to show much technological advancement at all. (Look at how far humans have come on Earth in that time, and that’s without the advantages the inhabitants of Majipoor should have had.) Most of the stories had a fairly standard fantasy feel with a bizarre little bit of sci-fi tacked on in certain places. Magic seems to come out of nowhere, and it’s never reconciled with the sci-fi aspect of the setting.
Please, someone, tell me that these things are explained in the books! Either way, if you have a tendency to be bothered by world-building holes, I would recommend reading this book after reading the novels, in the hope that they explain these issues.
Overall I found the stories and the sense of time passing to be rather fascinating. I loved seeing the contrast of the depiction of current characters followed by near-mythical views of them in historical contexts. The writing style, however, made me feel detached from most of the characters (perhaps the short form makes it harder for Silverberg to get into his characters? I’d have to read the novels to know for sure), which left me with little emotional investment in the book. Add that to the setting confusions, and overall this wasn’t my favorite book. I’d love to hear from someone who has read the novels and has a sense of whether this is an artifact of reading this as a standalone book, or a pattern from the novels as well.
[NOTE: review book provided by publisher]
For a longer review including a breakdown by story, you can visit my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/reviews/2013/05/03/tales-of-majipoor-robert-silverberg/
The prologue briefly establishes the basic premise of Majipoor—how it was settled by humans even though there were natives already present, how the population exploded over time, and how other alien races also eventually came to settle there. It’s a quick introduction, and I thought it would be enough for me to grasp the setting, but after I read a handful of stories I was only more confused.
Where’s the technology? Only sporadic mention or use of any kind of technology is in evidence, and that mostly in the final story. This planet was colonized by settlers from another planet. Various alien races also settled on the planet at various times during its history. A society that should have started with a technological edge and had injections of alien technology at regular intervals somehow took 8,000 years to show much technological advancement at all. (Look at how far humans have come on Earth in that time, and that’s without the advantages the inhabitants of Majipoor should have had.) Most of the stories had a fairly standard fantasy feel with a bizarre little bit of sci-fi tacked on in certain places. Magic seems to come out of nowhere, and it’s never reconciled with the sci-fi aspect of the setting.
Please, someone, tell me that these things are explained in the books! Either way, if you have a tendency to be bothered by world-building holes, I would recommend reading this book after reading the novels, in the hope that they explain these issues.
Overall I found the stories and the sense of time passing to be rather fascinating. I loved seeing the contrast of the depiction of current characters followed by near-mythical views of them in historical contexts. The writing style, however, made me feel detached from most of the characters (perhaps the short form makes it harder for Silverberg to get into his characters? I’d have to read the novels to know for sure), which left me with little emotional investment in the book. Add that to the setting confusions, and overall this wasn’t my favorite book. I’d love to hear from someone who has read the novels and has a sense of whether this is an artifact of reading this as a standalone book, or a pattern from the novels as well.
[NOTE: review book provided by publisher]
For a longer review including a breakdown by story, you can visit my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/reviews/2013/05/03/tales-of-majipoor-robert-silverberg/
I'm a sucker for a framing device and I like the one used here quite a bit. It's a nice way to bind together short stories originally published seperately.