# Tad Williams's Otherland series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 28, 2006, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tad-williamss-otherland-series/350187 "2006-03-28T01:29:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tad-williamss-otherland-series/350187/1 "2006-03-28T01:29:07Z")
Reading the thread anent the Wheel of Time series reminded me of Tad Williams in general and his Otherland books in particular. My question, to those of you who have had the determination to make it through the series is: Is it worth it? I bought the first one, and read it from cover to cover (which puts me in something of an elite club among my acquaintances). My reaction was mixed between being truly impressed with the depth of characterization and intrigued with the first little hints of the plot–and being rather daunted by the fact that I could look forward to -four- more books of similar length. I don’t want to invest -that- much time and effort if I’m going to feel like I did at the end of Cryptonomicon (with apologies to fans of that work)–vaguely cheated… ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tad-williamss-otherland-series/350187/2 "2006-03-28T01:45:52Z")
I’m interested, too. I read about half way through the first one before getting bored and giving up. If the series improves, I might trudge through the first one and move on to the next. Which is good, 'cause a half-price bookstore in town has the rest of 'em in hardback for cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tad-williamss-otherland-series/350187/3 "2006-03-28T06:34:37Z")
Huh. That’s interesting. I only got a hundred or so pages into it before I decided I just didn’t care about anyone. It’s one of only a small handful of books I’ve started then didn’t finish. At the time, I thought I was just burnt out on the genre. I really didn’t think it was all that bad - it just didn’t grab me. Now this is making me think it wasn’t just me. ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tad-williamss-otherland-series/350187/4 "2006-03-28T15:49:22Z")
I finished the series and have mixed feelings about it. I thought it borrowed too heavily from books like **Snow Crash** in places, and most of the virtual worlds the protagonists visit in the books will be familiar to most readers. Williams has a knack for characterization but in a sort of predictable way. The plot itself is the series’ strong point, but the final resolution was sort of bizarre and unsatisfying. I’d say that if you care about the characters now, it’s worth the journey just to unravel all of the mysteries set up in the first book. If you’re ambivalent, you should probably move on. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tad-williamss-otherland-series/350187/5 "2006-03-28T16:31:03Z")
Hmm. I liked it, but I didn’t think it was as good as the _Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn_ series. I’m not too big on cyberpunkish books in general. The things that stick out in my mind are the little details- the Wicked Tribe, Paul’s constant hopelessness and pursuit by the Twins, the world that was all a big house. That, plus the netfeeds. I particularly liked the ongoing saga of the band My Family and Other Horrible, Horrible Animals. I thought the slang was fun, and mostly convincing. It didn’t have the emotional depth of some of his other stuff, but I enjoyed it. It’s been a while since I read _Snow Crash_, can anyone point out specifically derivative things, or is it just feel? _Snow Crash_ felt much… er… well, _harder_. More flashing lights. _Otherland_ felt a bit more fantasy and character-driven. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tad-williamss-otherland-series/350187/6 "2006-03-28T16:33:45Z")
I also read most of the first book and then gave up. Just entirely too much detail, and got pretty weird, too, and went further and further away from my interests as it went on. If some people come in here saying it ends up great I may go back, but doesn’t seem likely. ---
**Author:** ![Dob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Dob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dob)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tad-williamss-otherland-series/350187/7 "2006-03-28T16:36:38Z")
I read the whole series, and while I liked it, it did drag a bunch. I think it depends on what kind of story you enjoy the most. These books are way more character driven, then story driven. If you enjoy reading about flawed people, more than story, you will LOVE the rest of this. Me, I like a nice even blend, or a lean toward story more so than people. But still, a good series and worth a read. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tad-williamss-otherland-series/350187/8 "2006-03-29T16:15:32Z")
Thinking back, I think the first book is mostly set-up for the other three. The story he’s building is so complex that it takes a while to get all the characters in place. If you would like a faster-paced series, I strongly recommend reading MSaT instead. Does anyone want to answer me about how it seems derived from _Snow Crash_? I am genuinely interested. ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tad-williamss-otherland-series/350187/9 "2006-03-29T16:49:50Z")
I loved the series. I’m almost ready for a re-read. Funny how tastes differ so much. ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tad-williamss-otherland-series/350187/10 "2006-03-29T23:25:31Z")
> [@Lissla Lissar](#): > > Does anyone want to answer me about how it seems derived from _Snow Crash_? I am genuinely interested. Many aspects of the virtual reality/virtual world stuff seem lifted from **Snow Crash** , which perhaps Stephenson borrowed from someone else. I read **Otherland** almost immediately prior to reading **Snow Crash** , and the VR in **Snow Crash** seemed very familiar. The publication dates indicate who might’ve influenced whom. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tad-williamss-otherland-series/350187/11 "2006-03-30T00:07:01Z")
Thanks for the advice, all. For the moment, I’ll steer clear of it, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tad-williamss-otherland-series/350187/12 "2006-03-30T01:13:30Z")
I read them all, and liked them. Not as much as his other works, but well enough. I’m enjoying his current stuff, “Shadowmarch”, a lot more. It’s not a must-read, as far as I am concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tad-williamss-otherland-series/350187/13 "2006-03-30T05:14:03Z")
Mr. Lissar is reading me _Shadowmarch_ right now, and we’re really enjoying it. My only complaint is that it’s a bit difficult to keep all the kingdoms and politics straight in my head when I’m hearing them. Good story. _The Dragonbone Chair_ et al is still my favourite, though. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tad-williamss-otherland-series/350187/14 "2006-03-30T09:07:49Z")
_Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn_ is my favourite fantasy series ever - mostly because of the appealing characters. I just completed _Shadowmarch_, and though there are certain archetypes similar to _M, S, & T_, it’s sufficiently different to keep me interested. However, _Otherland_ hasn’t even caused me to turn my head its way. Something about its premise just doesn’t interest me.