This entry feels more fantastical than the first, although science definitely still factors in. It is richer in action and intrigue and perhaps a bit less focused on character development.This is a difficult book to sum up, since so very much happens. It’s an action-packed chunkster, providing the reader with information and new settings without ever feeling like an info-dump. The medieval-like flare of the Tanu and the goblin/fairie/shapeshifter qualities of the Firvulag are stronger in this entry, and it is delightful. Creating a medieval world of aliens on ancient Earth is probably the most brilliant part of the book, followed closely by the idea of torcs enhancing the brain’s abilities. May has created and weaved a complex, fascinating world that manages to also be easy enough to follow and understand.The intrigue is so complex that it is almost impossible to summarize, and yet it was easy to follow while reading it. Surprises lurk around every corner, and May is definitely not afraid to kill her darlings, following both William Faulkner’s and Stephen King’s writing advice. A lot happens in the book, the characters are tested, and enough change happens that I am excited there are still two more books, as opposed to wondering how the author could possibly tell more story. In spite of the action, sometimes the book did feel overly long, with long descriptions of vegetation and scenery far away from where most of the action was taking place.The book is full of characters but every single one of them manages to come across as a unique person, even the ones who are not on-screen long enough to be fully three-dimensional. The cast continues to be diverse, similarly to the first book, with a variety of races, ages, and sexual preferences represented. I was surprised by the addition of a transwoman character. She is treated with a mix of acceptance and transphobia. I think, certainly for the 1980s when this was published, it is overall a progressive presentation of her. She is a doctor who is well-respected in Tanu society. However, she also is presented as a bit crazy (not because of being trans but in addition to being trans), and it is stated by one character that she runs the fertility clinic because it is the one part of being a woman that will always be out of her grasp. I am glad at her inclusion in the story but readers should be aware that some aspects of the writing of her and how other characters interact with her could be considered problematic or triggering. I would be interested to hear a transperson’s analysis of her character.Overall, this entry in the series ramps up the action and more thoroughly investigates the world of the Pliocene Exile. Readers disappointed by the lack of information on the half of the group heading to the capital city in the first book will be pleased that their story is told in this one. Characters are added, including a transwoman doctor, and all continue to feel completely individual and easily decipherable, in spite of the growing cast list. The fast action pace sometimes is interrupted by lengthy descriptions of settings far away from the action, but overall the chunkster of the book moves along at a good pace and remains engaging. Recommended to fans of fantasy who want a touch of science in their stories and who are interested in the idea of medieval aliens.Check out my full review.
Lots of nice twists & turns in this second installment of the Saga of the Pliocene Exile. The worm turns, when humans turn out to be nastier and craftier than their Tanu overlords ever imagined. For one thing, humans are willing to fight dirty. It’s reminiscent of the British facing Native Americans, two different codes of conduct ending in unexpected victories for the less-well-armed side of the conflict. Honour means different things to different cultures and May exploits those differences masterfully.I love May’s involvement of geology in this book, and the couple of appearances by plesiosaurs! Despite the fact that we’re pretty sure that those massive marine reptiles didn’t live in the Pliocene, but still, plesiosaurs!We also discover that becoming psychically operant is not for the faint-hearted, there is pain involved and even necessary for that transformation. Just like childbirth, there is pain & struggle, but once the end product is achieved, there is joy. Unknowingly, the Tanu’s torment of certain humans opens the doorway for operancy. Also an interesting revelation: Mercy (the woman who drew the anthropologist Bryan into exile) has been genetically tested and though she came from the future, she is almost full-blooded Tanu. Which begs the question of how that was possible—presumably some hints will be given in later books. Aiken Drum continues to be a wild card—showing odd moments of compassion, but mostly looking out for number one, this psychopathic human has angered all sides of the conflict now, Tanu, Firvulag and Human. It remains to be seen if all three cultures can agree on his elimination!A lovely balance of male and female roles, which passes the Bechdel test with flying colours. A pleasure to read.Book 177 of my science fiction and fantasy reading project.
What do You think about The Golden Torc (1985)?
I first heard the plot of this book described during lunch in the cafeteria of my high school. I'm very happy to finally have read it for myself. It does not disappoint, although knowing what was going to happen probably dulled the shock of the ending a bit. In any case, really like how the author wove the fantastical elements of the story together with scientific speculation on possibly actual geologic events. I'm looking forward to the next two books in the series to see how this saga plays out.
—Keith
Die Revolution geht weiterDieses Buch stellt den zweiten von vier Bänden des Pliozän-Zyklus von Julian May dar. Einen Überblick über den Inhalt des Zyklus und die Reihenfolge der Bücher habe ich bei meiner Rezension zum ersten Band "Das vielfarbene Land" gegeben. Um diese Rezension kürzer zu halten verweise ich an dieser Stelle auf diese Rezension.Am Beginn des Romans gibt es eine sehr gute und ausführliche Zusammenfassung, diese kann die Lektüre des ersten Teil natürlich nicht ersetzen, wenngleich man tatsächlich über alle wesentlichen Punkte Informationen bekommt. Nun also zu diesem Roman:Anders als im ersten Teil wird hier nun auch die andere Seite nämlich die der Tanu erzählt, dennoch kommen die Protagonisten des ersten Teiles nicht zu kurz. Zum Inhalt: Nachdem im ersten Teil eine der wichtigsten Festungen der Tanu zerstört wurde, blasen nun die "Geringen" zum Angriff auf die Tanuhauptstadt und das Zeitportal. Ehe es jedoch dazu kommt wird die innere Konstellation der Tanugesellschaft durchleuchtet und das Bild der Aliens deutlich differenzierter gezeichnet als noch im ersten Teil. Plötzlich treten sehr unterschiedliche Strömungen ins Sichtfeld des Lesers. Kurz gesagt eine weitere Verbesserung der soziokulturellen Betrachtugen des ersten Bandes der Tetralogie.Besonders hervorzuheben ist die weitergehende Charakterentwicklung und die weiterhin sehr tiefe Zeichnung von neuen Charakteren - auch wenn diese Antagonisten sind, werden sie mit viel Liebe zum Detail dargestellt. May scheut sich daher auch nicht einige der liebgewonnen Protagonisten den Weg alles Endlichen gehen zu lassen.Sehr Interessant ist auch die Erzählung der Geschichte der Aliens, die ebenfalls die Liebe zum Detail erkennen lässt. Es ist keine billige Geschichte, sondern sehr gut entwickelt, leicht fassbar und dennoch nicht seicht.Vergleicht man mit dem ersten Teil, so muss man hier nun auch Kritikpunkte anbringen. Diese beziehen sich vor allem auf einige sehr langatmige Stellen, die für den weiteren Verlauf der Geschichte nicht notwendig sind und kaum neue Details entwickeln. Sprachlich ist Julian May fast die ganze Zeit über wiederum der große Stil des ersten Bandes gelungen - allerdings nur fast. Tatsächlich erlaubt sie sich an einigen Stellen schwere Patzer und die Sprache verflacht. Man möchte fast meinen, ein anderer Schriftsteller hätte diese Stellen geschaffen. Eine ganz besondere Herausforderung für den Leser stellt in diesem Band auch der laufende Wechsel der Erzählperspektive innerhalb einer Unzahl von Handlungssträngen dar. Literarisch hoch interessant, verlangt es vom Leser jedoch sehr viel Arbeit immer alle Handlungsstränge abrufbereit zu haben.Insgesamt kann man sagen, dass das Buch natürlich weiterhin eine Empfehlung bleibt, schließlich empfehle ich ja den ganzen Zyklus, man muss sich allerdings an einigen Stellen auf mühsame Strecken einstellen. Größtenteils aber wird die Geschichte interessant erzählt und nennenswert weitergetrieben. Fazit: Mit dem vielfarbigen Land beginnen und weiterlesen.
—Reinhold
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 (view spoiler)[clear the board (hide spoiler)]
—Kevin
