alendis's review against another edition
2.0
Subtle as a brick and aged kind of badly. For the most part, nothing much happens.
elizah28's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
gormhog's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
ashleylm's review against another edition
4.0
For a novel featuring sea dragon attacks, pitched battles, mysterious shape-shifters, and blood-thirsty forest creatures, it's a surprisingly gentle, calm read. There is very little in the way of characterization*, and the plot essentially unfolds as one would have it. The incidents are interesting in-and-of themselves, but don't particularly propel the plot forward or add to any depth or richness. It is, at the core, a travelogue, with evocative settings quickly visited, but somehow it all works.
(I read it once, ages ago, as a teenager, and remembered almost nothing of us other than I'd enjoyed it. I liked it at least as well on this return visit--and look forward to more Majipoor, not having realised back then that there would be others in this series).
*If you absolutely insist on psychological complexity, or at least interesting, distinctive personalities, you will be profoundly disappointed. It makes The Lord of the Rings's cast seem like Hamlet. Almost everyone is nice, brave when required, concerned about others, plucky, thoughtful, etc., and not one of them springs to life or stands out. It didn't bother me. I've read enough early fiction where this is not a strong point, and to a large extent this book resembles those traditions (e.g. A Pilgrim's Progress or Le Morte D'Arthur).
(Note: 5 stars = rare and amazing, 4 = quite good book, 3 = a decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. There are a lot of 4s and 3s in the world!)
(I read it once, ages ago, as a teenager, and remembered almost nothing of us other than I'd enjoyed it. I liked it at least as well on this return visit--and look forward to more Majipoor, not having realised back then that there would be others in this series).
*If you absolutely insist on psychological complexity, or at least interesting, distinctive personalities, you will be profoundly disappointed. It makes The Lord of the Rings's cast seem like Hamlet. Almost everyone is nice, brave when required, concerned about others, plucky, thoughtful, etc., and not one of them springs to life or stands out. It didn't bother me. I've read enough early fiction where this is not a strong point, and to a large extent this book resembles those traditions (e.g. A Pilgrim's Progress or Le Morte D'Arthur).
(Note: 5 stars = rare and amazing, 4 = quite good book, 3 = a decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. There are a lot of 4s and 3s in the world!)
metaphorosis's review against another edition
4.0
This may have been the first Silverberg story I read. Almost certainly the first novel, and I think it's the best work of his that I've read (and a clear step above others in the series). I still have the paperback I bought around the time this first came out - despite the fact that I foolishly left it out, and some SOB apparently showed off by ripping it partly in half. I don't know what s/he learned. I learned never to leave books around people who can read, but are too foolish to want to. (Not to worry - I bought a replacement. I use this one as a travel book.)
In any case, the magic worked again. This time, I learned that Silverberge has something of [a:Vance|5376|Jack Vance|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1207604643p2/5376.jpg]'s knack with weird description, but without the cold-bloodedness. In fact, one of the strength's of the novel is Valentine's warm heart. Where Vance travels though bizarre lands tense but unmoved, Valentine pours his heart out to anyone that will listen. Of course, since it's a novel, they all do. It works remarkably well. There are a few throwaway characters that get thrown away, and the non-human bystanders that don't get much screen time. But the humans are the heart of the story, and that's done very well.
The main weakness of the story is that while it sets up a fascinating planet, and explores both its surface and its governance, the story doesn't dig very deeply into the main mystery - the Metamorphs whose planet this is. Silverberg addressed that reasonably well in subsequent books, but as a standalone, Lord Valentine's Castle does leave you wanting a little more.
All in all, though the book is a very enjoyable, literate adventure story about identity, discovery, and the power of a warm and generous heart.
Plus, as I found this time through, there's a nice tip of the hat to [a:Mervyn Peake|22018|Mervyn Peake|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1341040504p2/22018.jpg]'s [b:Gormenghast|39058|The Gormenghast Novels (Gormenghast, #1-3)|Mervyn Peake|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1362402890s/39058.jpg|38776] in reference to the complex Labyrinth and vast Castle.
In any case, the magic worked again. This time, I learned that Silverberge has something of [a:Vance|5376|Jack Vance|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1207604643p2/5376.jpg]'s knack with weird description, but without the cold-bloodedness. In fact, one of the strength's of the novel is Valentine's warm heart. Where Vance travels though bizarre lands tense but unmoved, Valentine pours his heart out to anyone that will listen. Of course, since it's a novel, they all do. It works remarkably well. There are a few throwaway characters that get thrown away, and the non-human bystanders that don't get much screen time. But the humans are the heart of the story, and that's done very well.
The main weakness of the story is that while it sets up a fascinating planet, and explores both its surface and its governance, the story doesn't dig very deeply into the main mystery - the Metamorphs whose planet this is. Silverberg addressed that reasonably well in subsequent books, but as a standalone, Lord Valentine's Castle does leave you wanting a little more.
All in all, though the book is a very enjoyable, literate adventure story about identity, discovery, and the power of a warm and generous heart.
Plus, as I found this time through, there's a nice tip of the hat to [a:Mervyn Peake|22018|Mervyn Peake|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1341040504p2/22018.jpg]'s [b:Gormenghast|39058|The Gormenghast Novels (Gormenghast, #1-3)|Mervyn Peake|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1362402890s/39058.jpg|38776] in reference to the complex Labyrinth and vast Castle.
angrywombat's review against another edition
3.0
Intro
I am frankly torn. This story is a wonderful example of amazing worldbuilding that presents new and compelling sights around every corner, and constantly made me want to pick up the book every time i saw it lying on the table... and yet is equally full of an excruciating internal monologue that made me want to poke my eyes out at times. This is all the best things I want from Sci Fi and Fantasy, but mixed with some of my most hated excesses of a character wallowing in indecision. Luckily for me the balance fell over on the fantastic imagination, and I managed to make my way through.
Depending on tastes though, this could fall to a 2 or 1 star (if you dont like the "world tour" aspect and hate the constant internal thoughts) or perhaps reach up to 4 stars (if you like following the thoughts of an amnesiac and constant self doubt, and love the imaginative worldbuilding)
Characters
This is Valentine's story through and through - and what an odd hero he is! He is a Hero in the classic mode - a do-gooder and righter of wrongs. But he doesn't achieve this is the good ol' waving sword way - he juggles and uses compassion to win people over. He is at heart a true pacifist who just wants everyone to be happy, and honestly finds the idea of pomp and ceremony and the weight of responsibility to be distasteful - and yet he sets out to reclaim the ultimate throne of power on this huge world because it is the right thing to do. I actually really liked this change - as it felt very different, and Valentine was a very likably and sympathetic character...
His only drawback is that he is so conflicted.. and he does go on (in his head) constantly agonising over what choices he should make... until often the choice is taken away from him and he just has to act on what is forced upon him.
There are a bunch of other characters, but few really impinge on the bubble of self-conflicted thoughts that fill most of this narrative. But the array of alien species and strange cultures is a constant kaleidoscope that doesn't leave me feeling too left out.
Plot/Setting
Oh wow. The sheer scope leaves me breathless.
This is a straightforward story. We start with a guy who doesn't really remember what is going on, and while trying to survive he joins a juggling troupe in a strange world. But as his memories come back he realises he's the deposed ruler of the world, and he's got to get his position back.
But along his trip he meets dozens of strange new races, is exposed to amazing devices of science and magic, crosses mountains, forests, cities, rivers, oceans.. all across the massive world of Majipoor.
I love Majipoor. Its a strange mix of Science fiction and fantasy. We have anti-grav vehicles, genetically engineered animals, talk of space-farers and aliens and colonists from earth, and terraforming machinery - but along side that we have dream-reading oracles, strange magicians and sorceries, and a plot pulled out of the pages of an epic high-fantasy. The best I can imagine is a high-tech scifi world that has long long ago fallen back into a semi-feudal society where very few people have any understanding of how technology works and so it has fallen into the realm of mysticism and occultism - but the result of horse-drawn anti-grav carriages, bows and arrows vs plasma guns - it all feels really dream like and just flat out strange.
Pacing/tone/Writing Style
Here is my sore point. This book is a collection of things that happen, but they are not really tied together by a cause and effect / action and repercussions. They are nearly all "just things that happen along the way", but only a few of them really push the plot in any real way, and we get pages and pages of time wasted on Valentine agonising over "am I the real ruler, or just wishing it" or things along that line. It was interesting the first time, but he agonises over the same questions pretty much after every encounter - and it gets really really draining (and predictable). I think if we cut the repetition the book would be about half the length...
Sometimes I just came to the end of a chapter and felt I couldn't take it anymore and put the book down, but by the next day I was wondering what new things Valentine would see and had to pick up the book again.
You'd like this if : You want to see some truly imaginative landscapes - and want to see a truly good, peaceful and compassionate character try to take back his throne without bloodshed.
Other Thoughts
I honestly don't think i would have made it through this book if it wasn't for book-bingo. The first 1/4 was weird and enchanting, but the next 1/4 was absolutely horrible - with Valentine really unsure of himself or the reality of his situation and just questioning everything in his own head - but this questioning never seems to have an effect on his actions or his choices... he agonises so much that the time to make choices just slips away... But by the half way point he doesn't sort himself out a little bit and actually start making a plan and acting on it, which makes the book go a whole lot better. It took me more than a week to get through that second quarter - the last half only took a couple of days :)
I am frankly torn. This story is a wonderful example of amazing worldbuilding that presents new and compelling sights around every corner, and constantly made me want to pick up the book every time i saw it lying on the table... and yet is equally full of an excruciating internal monologue that made me want to poke my eyes out at times. This is all the best things I want from Sci Fi and Fantasy, but mixed with some of my most hated excesses of a character wallowing in indecision. Luckily for me the balance fell over on the fantastic imagination, and I managed to make my way through.
Depending on tastes though, this could fall to a 2 or 1 star (if you dont like the "world tour" aspect and hate the constant internal thoughts) or perhaps reach up to 4 stars (if you like following the thoughts of an amnesiac and constant self doubt, and love the imaginative worldbuilding)
Characters
This is Valentine's story through and through - and what an odd hero he is! He is a Hero in the classic mode - a do-gooder and righter of wrongs. But he doesn't achieve this is the good ol' waving sword way - he juggles and uses compassion to win people over. He is at heart a true pacifist who just wants everyone to be happy, and honestly finds the idea of pomp and ceremony and the weight of responsibility to be distasteful - and yet he sets out to reclaim the ultimate throne of power on this huge world because it is the right thing to do. I actually really liked this change - as it felt very different, and Valentine was a very likably and sympathetic character...
His only drawback is that he is so conflicted.. and he does go on (in his head) constantly agonising over what choices he should make... until often the choice is taken away from him and he just has to act on what is forced upon him.
There are a bunch of other characters, but few really impinge on the bubble of self-conflicted thoughts that fill most of this narrative. But the array of alien species and strange cultures is a constant kaleidoscope that doesn't leave me feeling too left out.
Plot/Setting
Oh wow. The sheer scope leaves me breathless.
This is a straightforward story. We start with a guy who doesn't really remember what is going on, and while trying to survive he joins a juggling troupe in a strange world. But as his memories come back he realises he's the deposed ruler of the world, and he's got to get his position back.
But along his trip he meets dozens of strange new races, is exposed to amazing devices of science and magic, crosses mountains, forests, cities, rivers, oceans.. all across the massive world of Majipoor.
I love Majipoor. Its a strange mix of Science fiction and fantasy. We have anti-grav vehicles, genetically engineered animals, talk of space-farers and aliens and colonists from earth, and terraforming machinery - but along side that we have dream-reading oracles, strange magicians and sorceries, and a plot pulled out of the pages of an epic high-fantasy. The best I can imagine is a high-tech scifi world that has long long ago fallen back into a semi-feudal society where very few people have any understanding of how technology works and so it has fallen into the realm of mysticism and occultism - but the result of horse-drawn anti-grav carriages, bows and arrows vs plasma guns - it all feels really dream like and just flat out strange.
Pacing/tone/Writing Style
Here is my sore point. This book is a collection of things that happen, but they are not really tied together by a cause and effect / action and repercussions. They are nearly all "just things that happen along the way", but only a few of them really push the plot in any real way, and we get pages and pages of time wasted on Valentine agonising over "am I the real ruler, or just wishing it" or things along that line. It was interesting the first time, but he agonises over the same questions pretty much after every encounter - and it gets really really draining (and predictable). I think if we cut the repetition the book would be about half the length...
Sometimes I just came to the end of a chapter and felt I couldn't take it anymore and put the book down, but by the next day I was wondering what new things Valentine would see and had to pick up the book again.
You'd like this if : You want to see some truly imaginative landscapes - and want to see a truly good, peaceful and compassionate character try to take back his throne without bloodshed.
Other Thoughts
I honestly don't think i would have made it through this book if it wasn't for book-bingo. The first 1/4 was weird and enchanting, but the next 1/4 was absolutely horrible - with Valentine really unsure of himself or the reality of his situation and just questioning everything in his own head - but this questioning never seems to have an effect on his actions or his choices... he agonises so much that the time to make choices just slips away... But by the half way point he doesn't sort himself out a little bit and actually start making a plan and acting on it, which makes the book go a whole lot better. It took me more than a week to get through that second quarter - the last half only took a couple of days :)
orangeburrito's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
A prince with amnesia goes gallivanting across a fantasy world and accrues a number of quirky companions in order to reclaim the throne from his doppelganger. Includes a buff giant warrior woman and the token love interest who basically functions as a surrogate mother.
mollymortensen's review against another edition
5.0
A unique blend of science fiction and fantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I especially like the way he describes all of the locations the characters travel through.
The only part that bothered me was how he had so many characters and for long stretches we wouldn't hear anything about some of them.
The only part that bothered me was how he had so many characters and for long stretches we wouldn't hear anything about some of them.
mlejoy's review against another edition
3.0
Sometimes maybe you should judge a book by it's cover - in this case it's He-Man in tights riding some sort of Dr. Suess looking horse-animal from the early 80s. This book started out interestingly enough, but anyone with a brain can figure out the entire plot in the first 100 pages. I kept reading thinking things would get better, but it just ended up being a 400 page book about people traveling with interminable descriptions about the local plants along the route. Meanwhile, every bad thing that could happen to the group does - and it just seems unrealistic and not dangerous at all - since you know no one is going to die or be injured (or if someone does die, it's a throw-away character). Literally nothing of consequence happens in the entire book until the very obvious ending. I thought everyone on that world must be so stupid since every person Valentine runs into immediately bows down to him, just because he SAID he was the king. Very silly. I was expecting a big pay off at the end when Valentine finally gets to the Castle Mount to reclaim his thrown, but all that happened in about 20 pages. This book just wasn't for me, I'm dumbfounded by all the great reviews.