This is a short novel about Shakespeare's character Caliban, from The Tempest. It is basically a retelling of Caliban's story from Caliban's perspective. I wasn't familiar with The Tempest before reading this, so I had to do a little reading up on it. I thought this was quite good, I just wonder why authors seem compelled to write about Caliban. ( )

As a Tad William’s fan of many years, I was excited to have the opportunity to read Caliban’s Hour. The book was gifted to me by Tad’s wonderful wife Deborah Beale who I have corresponded with on Facebook. She took the time to critique my poetry which I appreciated very much. They have decided to jump on the e-book train with the reissue of Caliban’s Hour to digital format.
Another take on “The Tempest” by Shakespeare, the story is told from Caliban’s perspective. Tad Williams delivers a masterful story retelling that pulls you into the mind of Caliban. I was pulled into the story immediately with the intricate descriptions of people and places. You feel as if you are immersed in Caliban’s world and see reality from his perspective.
The story begins with Caliban’s journey from his island to the darkly rich landscape of Naples, Miranda’s & Prospero’s world. Here he again meets up with Miranda, an unwitting victim of Caliban’s revenge. He proceeds to tell her his story and why he comes to be there. You soon learn that love turns to hate, and that they both merge to complete the cycle of vengeance.
I couldn’t help but find myself on Caliban’s side and felt that he was an unwitting victim to circumstance. I applauded his reasons for doing what he does in the end.
If you are a fan of Tad, this is a must read. His world building skills and descriptions do exactly as a good story should. He pulls you into the character’s heart and soul and leaves you wanting more.
I gave this masterpiece a 5 star rating as it did exactly as it should and allowed me to escape into Caliban’s world.
( )

In the tradition of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern is Dead, this book is a re-telling of Shakespeare by a minor character. In this case, it is a retelling of The Tempest by the Shakespearean sidenote of Caliban, part of the comic relief in The Tempest. The book opens with a confrontation between Caliban and a now-middle-aged Miranda in her castle in Naples. He threatens to kill her after he spends one hour telling him his full story and explaining how she and her father ruined his life. Caliban tells her in his own words about his early childhood on the island with his mother, Sycorax, and describes the arrival of Prospero and Miranda and how their appearance changed his life.

Williams takes Caliban from being the butt of a joke to a thinking, feeling human being who was deeply wronged by the two protagonists of The Tempest. Williams prose is rich and detailed enough to satisfy most readers and in the end, he presents Shakespeare's version with this brief line: We arrived at the house on the hillside at least, to discover the game was played, the story told, and we three by comic afterthoughts..

People familiar with the story would probably appreciate this book more than those with no prior knowledge of The Tempest. ( )

As a Tad William’s fan of many years, I was excited to have the opportunity to read Caliban’s Hour. The book was gifted to me by Tad’s wonderful wife Deborah Beale who I have corresponded with on Facebook. She took the time to critique my poetry which I appreciated very much. They have decided to jump on the e-book train with the reissue of Caliban’s Hour to digital format.
Another take on “The Tempest” by Shakespeare, the story is told from Caliban’s perspective. Tad Williams delivers a masterful story retelling that pulls you into the mind of Caliban. I was pulled into the story immediately with the intricate descriptions of people and places. You feel as if you are immersed in Caliban’s world and see reality from his perspective.
The story begins with Caliban’s journey from his island to the darkly rich landscape of Naples, Miranda’s & Prospero’s world. Here he again meets up with Miranda, an unwitting victim of Caliban’s revenge. He proceeds to tell her his story and why he comes to be there. You soon learn that love turns to hate, and that they both merge to complete the cycle of vengeance.
I couldn’t help but find myself on Caliban’s side and felt that he was an unwitting victim to circumstance. I applauded his reasons for doing what he does in the end.
If you are a fan of Tad, this is a must read. His world building skills and descriptions do exactly as a good story should. He pulls you into the character’s heart and soul and leaves you wanting more.
I gave this masterpiece a 5 star rating as it did exactly as it should and allowed me to escape into Caliban’s world. ( )

I adore Ron Perlman. And Ron Perlman's voice is one huge reason I adore Ron Perlman. His performance in this was beautiful. In places, this was not fun, and the only saving grace was that voice.

Add to Ron Perlman and Tad Williams the conceit that this is a sequel of sorts to Shakespeare's Tempest, and this ought to have been heaven.

Well...

Full review here: http://agoldoffish.wordpress.com/2011/06/30/calibans-hour-tad-williams/ ( )