With the same unique vision that brought his now classic Mars trilogy to vivid life, bestselling author Kim Stanley Robinson boldly imagines an alternate history of the last seven hundred years. In his grandest work yet, the acclaimed storyteller constructs a world vastly different from the one we know. . . .“A thoughtful, magisterial alternate history from one of science fiction’s most important … fiction’s most important writers.”—The New York Times Book Review
It is the fourteenth century and one of the most apocalyptic events in human history is set to occur—the coming of the Black Death. History teaches us that a third of Europe’s population was destroyed. But what if the plague had killed 99 percent of the population instead? How would the world have changed? This is a look at the history that could have been—one that stretches across centuries, sees dynasties and nations rise and crumble, and spans horrible famine and magnificent innovation.
Through the eyes of soldiers and kings, explorers and philosophers, slaves and scholars, Robinson navigates a world where Buddhism and Islam are the most influential and practiced religions, while Christianity is merely a historical footnote. Probing the most profound questions as only he can, Robinson shines his extraordinary light on the place of religion, culture, power—and even love—in this bold New World.
“Exceptional and engrossing.”—New York Post
“Ambitious . . . ingenious.”—Newsday
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Startlingly original “what if” story lines that converge in a world outside Robinson’s typical hyper-realistic futurism.
Well writen expansive tale. Big.
I found this book very difficult to stay with, yet stuck through to the end. It was an original premise, but didn’t capture me the way other books by the author have. I only finished because I was determined to.
I was totally blown away by the authors original take on an alternate history of the world. What if Christianity had died out in the face of plagues that devastated Christian communities in the west? In his imaginative rendering, China and Islam slug it out for dominance over the ages with Indian and New World Native American nations as powers …
I did not enjoy this book.
Boring and tedious
It started off very interesting but later bogged down and I felt unsatisfied with the end.
Interesting concepts. Makes you really think
I’ve known since the Mars Trilogy that Robinson had a remarkably wide grasp of things scientific, but this book introduced me to his equally impressive understanding of history and religion. The premise is that the Plague killed almost everybody in Europe, eliminating Christianity as a force and leaving Islam and the religions of India and China …
An excellent “what if” of world history, and the role of religion in it.
I lost the connection between the entertaining first half and the slower paced second half.
interesting twist on history
Just a mess of different ideas. Alternate history, reincarnation, political philosophy, religious commentary. But none of it really grabbed me. It’s a bizarre mishmash, hard to stay invested in the characters. The protagonists move from incarnation to incarnation, sometimes with little warning. Then there’s the weird mixing in of the bardo and …
An alternative world history, on several centuries, told as a succession of novelettes. Very realistic and believable … great worlds building. Very weel written. Thinking of it, it might have been nearly as much fun if it were the real history, because the telling is great,
Thought provoking but somewhat difficult to follow. Does not have an absolutely clear narrative arc. But still interesting in providing an alternative history with some, perhaps not entirely accurate, reflections on Islam, Sufism, Hinduism and Buddhism.
Robinson creativity takes us on a very original journey and then some.
Excellent alternate history of the entire world. Thought provoking.
Read this several years ago and thought it was great. Very thought provocating perspectives on the evolution of history – what could have happen and the interaction of events.
Entertaining and fresh take on fantasy.
Good read