Tad Williams’ “Otherland” series is a brilliant four-volume set which takes place primarily in a realm of virtual reality. It’s practically like a role-playing game which takes place in virtual reality: except that the events and challenges (and risks!) are real.
The series is about a disparate group of individuals who, by means best left undescribed, end up trapped in this virtual reality universe in which they need to accomplish a variety of goals (also best left undescribed.)
In many ways, it reminds me of Dungeons and Dragons, the tv cartoon from the 80’s, in that respect. The actual content is, of course, significantly different, but does contain definite homage to the world of video games and role-playing.
Tad Williams, in general, is one of my favorite authors in the whole realm of modern genre fiction. You can’t really go too far wrong with anything he’s written — although I have to confess I’ve never read his first book, Tailchaser’s Song.
Of course, after writing this, I immediately picked up “Tailchaser’s Song,” so that may change soon.
Filed under Reviews by Joe