Mountain of Black Glass

Otherland, Book 3

By: Tad Williams

Narrated by: George Newbern

Length: 27 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Mountain of Black Glass is the third volume of Tad Williams's highly acclaimed four-book series, Otherland. A truly unique reading experience combining elements of science fiction, fantasy, and techno-thriller, it is a rich epic tale in which virtual reality could prove the key to a whole new universe of possibilities for the entire human race - or become the exclusive domain of the rich and the ruthless as they seek a technological pathway to immortality.

©2000 Tad Williams (P)2015 Penguin Group US

A visit down memory lane!

I love this book. I read it several years ago to my daughter in utero. I have been re reading the whole otherland series. the books are still as good as they were 16 years ago, actually even better. I caught many things that I missed from before. if you are looking for a sci fi fantasy series that is not too technical and weird, this is IT! The books have a good intense plot and lovable characters.

Good story

It has a good story with likable character's and you want to hear more. the books have gotten better as you get into them.

Now it begins!

Part two of the series sets up the third and fourth--and the third most definitely does not feel like filler! If you're looking for answers, you'll find some here, but plenty of new mystery too!

Well paced and expansive

The intertwined story continues with the same pace and interest as the previous book. I am keen to see how the author wi wrap up the story in the final book.

Incredible story with an even better Narrator!

I loved every narrated page of this masterpiece! one of the few standalone science fantasy series that gets better with every book!

another great performance!!

George Newburn is a great narrator :) The fact that the story is rrally enjoyable doesn't hurt either :)

An amazing book! And great presentation!

I love this story and the presentation is so great!! I can’t stop listening it’s so so good!!
Thank you!!

OK! Now we're getting somewhere!

Toward the end of Mountain of Black Glass, a few of the mysteries and problems of Otherland start to be resolved. But this comes at the cost of a couple more of the main characters. There is still a lot more that needs to be resolved, though. And nearly everybody is left in a precarious position.

In fact, most of them are on the edge of danger throughout most of the book. Orlando and Fredericks have some harrowing adventures in the Egypt simulation, where they meet up with the Wicked Tribe again and encounter some members of the Circle. Renie and her crew spend an excruciatingly long time in a world that is a single enormous house where John Wulgaru kidnaps Martine. They manage to kill at least his stolen sim, knocking him offline so they can rescue Martine, but this ultimately does them little good as he resolves to go back online in another form. And Paul Jonas travels all over the world of the Trojan War, tracing the story of Odysseus backward.

Eventually, they all meet up at Troy, where Orlando becomes Achilles, Fredricks assumes the role of Patroclus, T4B becomes Glaucus, and Martine becomes Cassandra. The others are various Trojan soldiers or women, and they must fight the end of the Trojan War again – except that their version does not quite end the same as Homer’s version.

The people helping them on the outside are encountering various difficulties too. Most of them are still more or less in limbo, and it appears that (hopefully) they may be able to have some positive effect in the next book if they are not wiped out first.

Minor quibble

Not much to say. I love this series. The only reason I give the performance a 4 out of 5 is because of the occasional akward pause mid-sentence. I'd give it a 4.5 if I could because it's not enough to detract from the overall performance which is actually one of the best I've heard so far.

some technical problems

story more visionary than it seemed 20 years ago, but interruptions in the sound in one of the last chapters.