The Bush League Critic

There's a lot of nit-picky things I could say here about the second volume of Otherland, but the fact of the matter is -- I liked it... and I'm moving on to the third volume as we speak. So I'll keep it brief.

There was no River of Blue Fire in this novel. I don't think I could have missed it if it were, so I'm a little confused as to why such a meaningless title... but I'm over it already.

The prose definitely improved from the first volume, but the plot wasn't really advanced at all. This was a set-up novel. I know they have to happen sometimes in a series, but I prefer it when groundwork is disguised as action and forward progress. I'm going to give Williams a B- in this department.

I like the majority of the characters and I'm intrigued by the overall mystery but this book was basically about the "Fellowship" fragmenting... and finding certain members... and losing them again... and then finding them... and then losing different ones. The slight monotony made me a little complacent as a reader.

The virtual worlds that are being visited are interesting, for the most part, with the exception of the 'Kitchen.' If you read it... you know what I'm talking about. Talking Food, Icebox Pirates and Killer Salad Tongs just seemed too silly in a series that hasn't shown any other signs of being overly silly. I could have done without that bit.

But, I'm breaking my 'brief' promise and also starting to nit-pick. So I'll leave it at that for now. On to Volume 3 -- Mountain of Black Glass.