Tad Williams
- Thread starter Dallandra
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I loved both series BECAUSE they are that different. My thoughts: Each has its own characteristics, in a positiv and negative way...MS&T marks the evolution from Tolkien-Williams to Williams-Williams, Otherland is pure Williams, both series are exeptional reads
Sammie, I don't disagree at all - MS&T and Otherland are slow reads, but I experienced the slowness in another way than I did in e.g. "Path of Daggers", if you take my meaning. So it's all about the writing-style - I just love Tad's way to write, so I don't mind if he takes his time, it's just his way to tell a story. If you cannot stand his style, well, you will throw away "Dragonbone Chair" after 50 pages anyway 
I read MS&T in college, and liked it, slow pace and all. I wonder whether I would have the same reaction if I were to reread it now, almost 10 years later. It was one of the first few fantasy series I'd read.
I read Otherland a year ago and on the whole didn't like it very much. I found it bloated and repetitive, with many hundreds of unnecessary pages. And while I like Williams' prose, it's not quite good enough to justify that much excess writing.
I read Otherland a year ago and on the whole didn't like it very much. I found it bloated and repetitive, with many hundreds of unnecessary pages. And while I like Williams' prose, it's not quite good enough to justify that much excess writing.
Miriamele
Witch of the Woods
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- May 24, 2002
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As much as I enjoyed Otherland, I agree that it could have been condensed. I still really liked it as is, but I would have absolutely loved it if it had been three books instead of four. Some entire chapters were uneccesary to the main story. However the slow pace was entirely worth it to me. Not only did I think the story was fascinating, but I actually enjoyed Williams's detail-rich writing style. It's my cup of tea.
Gravity's End
Registered User
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- Feb 22, 2003
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- 131
I agree, Otherland was a fantastic series that could have used a bit more editing. Still, Tad is such a terrific writer that even the extraneous material is enjoyable.
And to be honest, I think the criticism of the series' length is disproportional to how good it was. This series is truly a masterpiece, and the writing itself is (IMO) superior to at least 95% of the other writers discussed in these forums.
And to be honest, I think the criticism of the series' length is disproportional to how good it was. This series is truly a masterpiece, and the writing itself is (IMO) superior to at least 95% of the other writers discussed in these forums.
- Joined
- May 17, 2000
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- 10,139
I don't think the pacing of MS&T was all that slow. Sure Tad Williams is a descriptive author, but I feel that is one of his strengths. The world of Osten Ard is so richly developed, the style by which Williams lays out the world, IMHO, really immerses you in the world. Especially in The Dragonbone Chair, TW shows the world through Simon's eyes, the protagonist, you can both see how "true" the world is and you can also chart Simon's growth and development through the way he views the world.
Originally posted by Miriamele
As much as I enjoyed Otherland, I agree that it could have been condensed. I still really liked it as is, but I would have absolutely loved it if it had been three books instead of four. Some entire chapters were uneccesary to the main story. However the slow pace was entirely worth it to me. Not only did I think the story was fascinating, but I actually enjoyed Williams's detail-rich writing style. It's my cup of tea.
I've mentioned it elsewhere but it seems worth saying again:
Those who enjoyed Otherland may want to check out "Donnerjack" by Roger Zelazny and Jane Lindskold. It explores similar themes to Otherland but manages to do so in a single volume; unlike Tad William's bloatfest. Now that's detail-rich writing!
Blackfish
Card Carrying Cynic
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- Dec 6, 2002
- Messages
- 87
I read MS&T when it first came out, and I just wasn't that impressed. It was good enough for me to finish the series, but that's about all. I remember it being a huge, overly-descriptive series. Williams is still the only author I know of that wrote a novel so big (the third volume) that it had to be split into two enormous paperbacks in America (I know, Martin's SoS went into two paperbacks in Britain, but not here...Williams is still the only one).
MS&T just didn't impact me the way it apparently has with others on this board (then again, I really didn't care for Hobb either) I picked up the first book of Otherland, and I find myself continuously putting it off simply because I remember the length of time and amount of effort it took to get through MS&T and that the payoff just wasn't really worth it (IMO) so I'm concerned that I don't want to invest that much effort into another huge series only to have it be another bloated disappointment.
MS&T just didn't impact me the way it apparently has with others on this board (then again, I really didn't care for Hobb either) I picked up the first book of Otherland, and I find myself continuously putting it off simply because I remember the length of time and amount of effort it took to get through MS&T and that the payoff just wasn't really worth it (IMO) so I'm concerned that I don't want to invest that much effort into another huge series only to have it be another bloated disappointment.
I'm another one who can't "appreciate" Williams. I do like a descriptive story (that's why I enjoy Jack Vance so much) but not to point where I need a description of what a zig-zag path is. I struggled throughMS&T trilogy(or 4 books here in the UK) but had to give up on Otherland after the first 2 books.
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