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A review by billymac1962
The Many-Coloured Land by Julian May
4.0
A while ago I stopped into a used book store and was astounded to discover all four volumes of this series. I had had this recommended to me by a visitor to my site several years ago.
The story started off with a great premise: People who have become disenchanted with life in 2030 elect to start a new life in 6000 B.C., thanks to a newly discovered portal. Actually, the portal is built by
some scientist based on a newly discovered phenomenon of magnetic conduits through the earth's crust.
Or something like that.
So, you take a strange cross-section of characters from the near future, and throw them through a time portal (a one-way trip, that is), and to their surprise, Earth is inhabited and ruled by humaniod alien refugees.
Depending on the pioneers' characteristics, they are assigned to classes of life, be it slaves or concubines, or privileged members of society, of course under rule of the aliens.
Now as I write this, I'm wondering why I want to give up after the first book. But, I'm suspecting (by peeking at the outlines on the back covers) that the plot is going to stay where it is: a struggle
for the humans to free themselves from alien rule, with wars and battles, blah blah blah.
I don't know if three more books will hold my interest without more alien activity/developments or time paradoxes (I'm led to believe there are none). So for now, I don't think I'll continue.
Unless I get some serious prodding from you people out there.
The story started off with a great premise: People who have become disenchanted with life in 2030 elect to start a new life in 6000 B.C., thanks to a newly discovered portal. Actually, the portal is built by
some scientist based on a newly discovered phenomenon of magnetic conduits through the earth's crust.
Or something like that.
So, you take a strange cross-section of characters from the near future, and throw them through a time portal (a one-way trip, that is), and to their surprise, Earth is inhabited and ruled by humaniod alien refugees.
Depending on the pioneers' characteristics, they are assigned to classes of life, be it slaves or concubines, or privileged members of society, of course under rule of the aliens.
Now as I write this, I'm wondering why I want to give up after the first book. But, I'm suspecting (by peeking at the outlines on the back covers) that the plot is going to stay where it is: a struggle
for the humans to free themselves from alien rule, with wars and battles, blah blah blah.
I don't know if three more books will hold my interest without more alien activity/developments or time paradoxes (I'm led to believe there are none). So for now, I don't think I'll continue.
Unless I get some serious prodding from you people out there.