It’s brutal, ugly, nasty and horrible in a fashion that only Aldiss can create. It’s hopelessly flawed with elements that border upon the utterly ludicrous. It breaks just about every law imaginable that is associated with the “successful SF series”. Yet no matter how much I gnaw and bite at it. No matter how much I should hate it: The Helliconia series survives my ill intent and leaves me breathless with admiration.

The complex and sophisticated world-building; the stygian, abyssal humour; the almost hopeless rage against the power of Nature: I LOVE IT!

Bravo Brian Aldiss!