Ancients of Days ( the Second Book of Confluence ) [Import] [Paperback]

Paul J. Mcauley (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Avon Books; aFirst Edition First Printing edition (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0575601698
• ISBN-13: 978-0575601697
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Paul McAuley's first novel won the Philip K. Dick Award, and he has gone on to win almost all of the major awards in the field. For many years a research biologist, he now writes full-time. McAuley's novel The Quiet War made several "best of the year" lists, including SF Site's Reader's Choice Top 10 SF and Fantasy Books of 2009. He lives in London. Visit him online at unlikelyworlds.blogspot.com .

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A worthy sequel to Child of the River., August 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ancients of Days: The Second Book of Confluence (Hardcover)

Part of the magic of "Child of the River" was the gradual unfolding of the complexity of the planet Confluence: the sentient machines, the extraordinarily complex caste system of the society, the huge sweep of time across the culture. That there is a rollicking good tale running through the first two books now, makes McAuley's creation quite an accomplishment. Although these books are written as a trilogy, the typical beginning-middle-end of that form doesn't seem to be the prevailing idea here. This story is both expanding and contracting in unexpected and thoroughly enjoyable ways. The "Angel" character is a little preachy with her history, but McAuley is building a whole cosmology full of intrigue and creative, almost footloose ideas. In other words, it succeeds in doing what good science fiction can do, it takes us out of our own cultural and technological limits so that we can look back at them in a whole new way. "Ancients of Days" has me looking forward to the third book . . . .

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous, literal, "world-building", August 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ancients of Days: The Second Book of Confluence (Hardcover)

Reminiscent of Silverberg's Valentine series, this superb novel takes place on a long, narrow artificial world. The world is completely innundated with sophisticated machines, ranging in size from smaller than cells to large as whales. The planet itself is a machine, and the young protagonist, Yama, is a unique being who has the ability to control the machines. His powers make him a puppet in an on-going struggle for power. The action is fast and very exciting--at one point, I was yelling out loud! Great series, imaginative and beautifully written.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read. Better than the first (Child of the River)., August 10, 1999

By 

"dulcimert" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ancients of Days: The Second Book of Confluence (Hardcover)

I enjoyed this book more than his first. McAuley got around to explaining how all came into being and now a lot of it makes more sense. I recommend this series for those who are waiting for the next Jordan (Wheel of Time) book. Yama reminds me of Rand (e.g. people want to kill/serve him and people are afraid of his powers and some want to use him).