Mountain of Black Glass

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

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.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

some technical problems

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

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

just Wow!

this follow up to the otherland saga book 2 does the series justice. the voice acting is some of the best I've ever listened to. but what about the story? the story continues and rehashes very little from the previous story, leaning more on simply continuing where the first book left off. very few stories do this now a days and I find it both refreshing and respectful to the readers of the first book. I can't wait to finish the final volume!!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great

This series continues to amaze. Thoroughly enjoying it and cannot wait for the conclusion. George's narration is stellar as always.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Tad Williams best writing

This series is probably Tad Williams best writing. The prose seems more polished than some of his other works.

A good exploration of the good and bad that could follow full sensory virtual reality. This third book in the series continues to build on an imaginative odyssey.

George Newbern is, as usual, quite good.

hooked !

cant believe there is an entire book left before the story concludes, cant wait !

Simply wonderful storytelling and delivery

Another amazing read by George Newbern of the thrilling tales of Tad Williams. A must buy.

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!

Bad end...should have seen it coming!

Absolute crud...bad series, bad ending...very good narrator...a complete waste of his talent and my money.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Amazing book, Choppy performance.

You can tell that they had to re-record a lot of sections of this recording and it got annoying after a while. Book is still great and worth a listen.