( 8 reviews )
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Posted: Feb 7 2009
I originally read this masterpiece in 1984. I thought about it every day since, thinking how ingenious & creative! I revisited this classic novel recently, savoring the flora & fauna. It was better this time around. I love it now more so. Sure, it is set in a sci-fi future with epic overtones. The thing I love about it is the witty humor that had me laughing out loud again. The language is mature, technical and whimsical all at the same time. Would I choose exile? Perhaps. I could see an adaptation as an opera. Mozart or Wagner would have loved setting this endearing tale to music. Opera is often outrageously humorous. This story has so much light in it, it should be required reading. Even the adult themes are handled gracefully. If only Ms. May would revisit her Miliu universe one more time.
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( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Jul 21 2008
This is a powerhouse of a story, written by necessity in multiple volumes, and delivering a compulsive world where every character has a place and destiny. May is able to sustain a wide range of characters and various storylines that never suffer from the narrative transitions. By the look of Amazon's listings this is out of print right now but easily acquired from the Used section - it won't cost you much to try this book and you could possibly be stunned by what you find here.
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Posted: Feb 10 2008
It appears this book may be out of print, which is a damned shame. Julian May is one of my favorite authors, and The Saga of Pliocene Exile is a brilliant, refreshingly different piece of epic SF/fantasy. You can find the first two books in hardcover as a book club omnibus cleverly entitled "The Many-Colored Land & The Golden Torc." The books continue into at least two more complete series (the Intervention and then the Galactic Mileu stuff). I read this in the early 90's and blew through the first four books, then was excited to see her continue with two more series based in the same universe. For those of you looking for something to compare it to, I'd say it can be somewhat reminiscent of Joan Vinge's excellent Snow Queen books (please read all 3 of those, and while you're at it, ex-hubby Vernor Vinge's Fire Upon the Deep and sequel) but it really is quite original. May is excellent with character development and plotting, and I believe has some science training or background, as the research she has done to write the books is clearly significant. There are stunning plot twists and plenty of characters in the gray. And the way her villians play their parts can be truly terrifying in a deep psychological way. The first book does start off with a lot of character background, but once the time machine comes into play, you're off to the races. The first sequel is called The Golden Torc. Have fun.
