I don't really care if Sheri S. Tepper wrote a note to the mail carrier to let him/her know where to leave her mail, I would read it. Her grocery lists I know would fascinate me and I'm sure would provide access to her thought processes. So, this wasn't her best book, who cares? I enjoyed the idea and the characters. The first 400 pages seemed to drag and go into more detail than usual. Most times it feels like the world that Sheri creates is so real it is already in motion and you better catch up with it. There is usually no spoon feeding in her books. I have started a book, stopped it, reread it, stopped it again, restarted it and then finally got what was going on in the story. She is an incredibly complex writer. I want badly to blame the editor for this book! The last 100-200 pages seemed to go too quickly and wrapped everything up like the deadline was due yesterday. The climax was disappointing for me. But, it was a Sheri S. Tepper book and I don't even care! If you tried this one and didn't like it, I would strongly suggest "Beauty" and "The Family Tree." They are fantastic and I still say she is the best writer ever. ( )

Oh, Sheri Tepper. Basically comfort food. I remember reading "Gate to Women's Country" when I was in high school, and it seemed so so smart and creative. Problematic in a few places, but smart and creative. Perhaps I've grown out of what I needed from her books; perhaps her ideas keep getting rehashed and are running out of energy on their own. Still delightful to read, but made me miss "Raising the Stones."

Also, and this is a quibble: if the oceans are turning into freshwater, wouldn't that make it hard for many of the important sea creatures to live in the fresh water rather than salt water? Huh? Oh well, suspension of disbelief, there's a talking horse. ( )

I jumped into this trilogy right in the middle -- and having read this, I don't think I'll necessarily go back or forward. It works perfectly well as a standalone novel.

I was recently complaining about a different sci-fi book not being "alien enough" -- you rarely have to worry about that with Tepper's work. I would definitely categorize her works in the science fiction branch of Mieville-esque "weird fiction."

( )

Couldn't get into it. ( )

This book was strange, but wondrous strange. But then all Tepper books I have read have been like that, she takes in things and turns into something utterly amazing and weird.

First, yes it is book two, but book 1 does not have to be read to understand this book. The only person from book 1 around is the hero Abasio. But here is he is all new and a bit different. I do not know how much time has gone by, and it takes place in a new land. It is a new book and it was published almost 20 years after book 1.

I thought book 1 gave me answers what might have happened to our earth, but here I finally found out what The Big Kill, and the Time when no one moved around was. This our earth, which we destroyed and in its wake technology was no more. Which makes this a futuristic sci-fi book in a fantasy world. She explains it well at one time, how people when they do not understand something makes it into magic. There are a few things left over from the old times, and some do know things. Like when the baddie, Alicia curses someone. Some say it is magic, some know better. She took the pattern of that person and sent a cloud. Yes DNA and virus. The mix works so well, because what would happen if 99% died out? If machines were destroyed?

And like that was not enough, now the waters are rising and even the highest mountain will be under water. Can humankind be saved? And do we deserve to be saved?

It's a book to read slowly because now and then something new comes along and everything slowly dawns on me. It's a good book, it is a strange story and I can't believe that this used to be earth. There are talking animals, the Kraken, a lovestory, and wicked witches. There is also a child's journey and the question why she is so important?

Conclusion:
Tepper needs to be read to be understand. I do not think I can make her world justice. But when you step in to her world you will be enchanted with it.
( )