The Return of Nathan Brazil (Well World) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jack L. Chalker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 29, 2005 | Series: Well World

The Dreel was a hive-mind, composed of trillions of virus-sized units, which infected intelligent beings like a disease and took over their minds. It was on its way to conquering the entire galaxy - until those whose minds were still free fought back, using a weapon so powerful that it wrought havoc with the Well World, the ancient planet-sized supercomputer that a vanished super-race called the Markovians built to maintain the form of the entire universe. If the Well World's control of time and space could not be restored, the universe could vanish like a blown-out candle flame. Only a Markovian could go to the Well World and repair the damage, but only one Markovian was still known to survive. He had last been seen in human form, going by the name of Nathan Brazil. No one knew where he was now, what name he was using, or even if he still appeared human. Finding him, somewhere in the immensity of the galaxy, seemed an impossible task. So the task fell to someone who had done the impossible over and over: Mavra Chang, one of the few beings ever to escape from the Well World, and owner of Obie, who just might be the second most powerful computer in the universe. With those two on his trail, Nathan Brazil could run-but could he hide?

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Baen (March 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743499018
• ISBN-13: 978-0743499019
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,259,252 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book four of the Saga of the Well World, June 3, 1998

By 

indanthrene (Salt Lake City, UT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Return of Nathan Brazil (Book 4 of the Well of Souls) (Mass Market Paperback)

As a general warning, this is the fourth book of a tightly knit series. While the book is written to stand on its own, greater enjoyment can be found be reading the previous three novels: Midnight at the Well of Soul, Exiles at the Well of Souls, and Quest for the Well of Souls; before reading this one.

This book begins back at the same interstellar community where the previous novels begin (it's know as the Comworlds, or the Com for short). An alien race has arrived from another galaxy and is bent on conquest of ours, and since they're more advanced than the Com, they're winning.

Mavra Chang, survivor of the War of the Well World, has just returned to the Comworlds.

The true reality of the situation is far grimmer than they realize, and when they do catch up with Brazil, they regret it.

Overall, the series really starts to pick up steam here, and that after admitting that the previous novels are already good to begin with.

Vol. 1: Midnight at the Well of Souls

Vol. 2: Exiles at the Well of Souls (Part 1: War of the Well World)

Vol. 3: Quest for the Well of Souls (Part 2: War of the Well World)

Vol. 4: The Return of Nathan Brazil

Vol. 5: Twilight at the Well of Souls

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it 25 years ago and still love it today, August 22, 2010

By 

KJNoble - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Return of Nathan Brazil (Well World) (Mass Market Paperback)

Jack L Chalker was one of my favorite authors growing up, and this was my favorite series. An interesting premise and a well written tale, The whole original 5 books series was and still is fun and thought provoking. The later books were not so much. Jack L Chalker said that they would have to pay him a great big heap of money to write anymore books in the Well World series after the first 5 books and they did, but as much as I loved the author, he laughed all the way to the bank. Stick with the first 5 and you will have a good read and a great adventure.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great pulp Sci-Fi., February 18, 2005

By 

T. Dewey (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Return of Nathan Brazil (Book 4 of the Well of Souls) (Mass Market Paperback)

Just to be clear, this is not Don Quixote. This is solid, fun, satisfying science-fiction/fantasy.

Also to be clear, do not read any of the "recent" Well World novels, they have little to redeem themselves. They are neither solid, fun or satisfying.

As noted by the other reviews this is the fourth of the original five part series. I say five part series, but really the series is a trilogy with both the second and third novels (Exiles/Quest) and this novel and the last novel (Twilight) counting as just one book each.

Of the series, the last part of the trilogy (this book and Twilight) remains my favorite.

I will not spoil any plot points, but I will say that if you like the genre, you will enjoy this book.