One of the most well thought out and complete fantasy worlds created by any author since Tolkien-both Clarke and Tolkien use thorough research and preexisting mythologies as a stepping stone in the creation of their own unique realms-not simply skimming the surface of myth like the Harry Potter series (which I also enjoyed).
Yes, the book is long, and perhaps some small fragments here and there could have been removed, but at the end I found myself longing for more immersion in this fascinating tale-thank goodness for Clarke's short story collection "The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories"!
The footnotes are often as compelling as the story itself.
The characters aren't unlikeable, as many have claimed, merely human and caught up in the same limited world-view and self-imposed problems that most of us are.
One of the best fantasy book for serious readers out there, ever.
Yes, the book is long, and perhaps some small fragments here and there could have been removed, but at the end I found myself longing for more immersion in this fascinating tale-thank goodness for Clarke's short story collection "The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories"!
The footnotes are often as compelling as the story itself.
The characters aren't unlikeable, as many have claimed, merely human and caught up in the same limited world-view and self-imposed problems that most of us are.
One of the best fantasy book for serious readers out there, ever.