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The Nonborn King (Saga of the Pliocene Exile #3)
by
Julian May
On Earth, six million B.C., two species of alien ruled, the graceful humanoid Tanu and their twisted brethren, the Firvulag. Then men from twenty-second century Earth arrived through a one-way time tunnel � and soon the aliens were locked in a battle to the death, for the humans had upset the precarious balance of power that existed between them.
But when the tides of comba...more
But when the tides of comba...more
Paperback, 393 pages
Published
March 11th 1983
by Pan Books
(first published 1983)
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The scope of this saga spanning eight novels is staggering. A gate is opened to the past, specifically the Pliocene era. But it is a one-way trip. Adventurous souls travel back, and find a world unlike any they could imagine. Epic conflict rages between ancient races, and the future destiny of man is decided. The initial four books make up The Saga of Pliocene Exile.
* The Many-Coloured Land
* The Golden Torc
* The Nonborn King
* The Adversary
These can be read as a standalone series, but who wou...more
* The Many-Coloured Land
* The Golden Torc
* The Nonborn King
* The Adversary
These can be read as a standalone series, but who wou...more
On Earth, six million B.C., two species of alien ruled, the graceful humanoid Tanu and their twisted brethren, the Firvulag. Then men from twenty-second century Earth arrived through a one-way time tunnel � and soon the aliens were locked in a battle to the death, for the humans had upset the precarious balance of power that existed between them.
But when the tides of combat had receded, no one group held firm control, though Aiken Drum, man of no woman born, had declared himself the Nonborn King
Originally published on my blog here in September 1998.
The third of May's Saga of the Exiles follows on from the climactic events of Golden Torc, which ended with the Atlantic flooding in past Gibraltar to begin the creation of the modern Mediterranean. The three communities, Tanu, human and Firvulag, are all seeking to rebuild in various ways, the different factions among them trying to use the chaos - coming more from the deaths of a large proportion of the Tanu ruling class than from the othe...more
The third of May's Saga of the Exiles follows on from the climactic events of Golden Torc, which ended with the Atlantic flooding in past Gibraltar to begin the creation of the modern Mediterranean. The three communities, Tanu, human and Firvulag, are all seeking to rebuild in various ways, the different factions among them trying to use the chaos - coming more from the deaths of a large proportion of the Tanu ruling class than from the othe...more
Die Tetralogie wird schwächer
Verglichen mit den ersten beiden Bänden des vierteiligen Pliozänzyklus, steht hier der eindeutig schwächste Band zur Diskussion. Den Überblick über den gesamten Handlungsbogen des Zyklus habe ich beim ersten Band (Das vielfarbige Land) gegeben, um diese Rezension nicht weiter aufzublähen verweise ich hier nur auf dieses Werk.
Wiederum gibt es am Anfang des Buches eine sehr ausführliche Zusammenfassung der bisherigen Ereignisse, die es durchaus erlauben würde, erst hie...more
Verglichen mit den ersten beiden Bänden des vierteiligen Pliozänzyklus, steht hier der eindeutig schwächste Band zur Diskussion. Den Überblick über den gesamten Handlungsbogen des Zyklus habe ich beim ersten Band (Das vielfarbige Land) gegeben, um diese Rezension nicht weiter aufzublähen verweise ich hier nur auf dieses Werk.
Wiederum gibt es am Anfang des Buches eine sehr ausführliche Zusammenfassung der bisherigen Ereignisse, die es durchaus erlauben würde, erst hie...more
This was my least-favorite book of the series. It was bogged down in the accumulation by certain characters (mainly Aiken Drum but also others) accumulating and manifesting their telepathic powers and asserting them over others. The internal politics of the Tanu race overshadowed the relationships to the other races, but I found that mostly enjoyable. Although many of the characters engender some sympathy, I found it hard to identify with most of them - good or bad or as was often the case, in b...more
This is the third in the Saga of the Exiles. The whole story in Julian May's universe exists as a double set of four volumes each - Saga is the first four volumes, which are not standalones. The first volume is The Many-Coloured Land - please see my review of that book, it wouldn't make sense to review this separately
A great story expanding on the fortunes of the time travellers in the Pliocene era, in this volume you also get to meet some important key figures that are obviously going to impact on the later novels in the series. The story centres on the Nodonn / Aiken Drum power struggle for supremacy that leads to a climactic battle for the rule of the Many coloured land.
Powerful and rich in detail.
Powerful and rich in detail.
This series is amazing. The writer's canvas is huge - there are so many plots and so many characters, but I was never confused about who was doing what. Their plotting and machinations are as intricate as those at any royal court, and the double-crosses abound.
My favorite of the Pliocene Exile epic from Julian May. Perhaps the best 'readable story' in the series.
Re-read all these books every few years with great pleasure. Aiken Drum becomes king, fulfilling a prophecy, as he was grown in vitro and not born. He fights to win the loyalty of the people and defeats his enemies.
Not enjoying the series as much. Storyline dragging on. Characters becoming dull.
Nonborn King (Saga of Pliocene Exile) by Julian May (1987)
A thrilling penultimate episode, tying off a few loose ends and building the anticipation towards the closing of the story.
A GREAT READ!!!!!!!!!
read before June 1993
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Sep 26, 2012
Howard
added it
12
Loved it
Simply the best space opera, and the best series of novels I've ever read. This is the first of the nine, and while the last three show signs of fatigue, these novels capture a cast of characters, and one in Marc Remillard, that are truly memorable. From the worlds and milieu May imagines to her evocative themes, the novels capture humanity with all its foibles and promise, and if you stick around for #6, you'll get the best plot twist in all of bookdom.
The best of the Saga so far.
Onwards to part four...
Onwards to part four...
I believe I began identifying more with the tanu from the end of the manycolored land and find aiken drum to be a detestable little worm who brought an end to a noble grand beautiful culture with his guns and super powers now I think I know how the Iroquoise or the Aztec felt when the white man came to their lands they invited them in and showed them how to survive and the white man repaid them with destruction.
I read this years ago when it was first published. After that, I would wait avidly for the next to arrive at the local bookshop. These books made an impact somehow. I sold them at a garage sale in the '90's then re-bought the set recently. Fantasy + science fiction + metas + in depth character development = excellent read.
This trilogy was amazing. May's ability to blend such a wide range of characters into the story was flawless, and the overarching story was dramatic as well. Watching each character grow as the story continued was great too. I laughed, I cried, etc.;)
Third of the Pliocene saga.
One of the main characters builds up a successor regime with himself as King following on from the opening of the mediterranean basin to the Atlantic at the end of the previous novel.
Entertaining.
One of the main characters builds up a successor regime with himself as King following on from the opening of the mediterranean basin to the Atlantic at the end of the previous novel.
Entertaining.
This book introduced a new depth to the story, with the members of the Metaphysic Rebellion who entered exile taking a role. The book has some very interesting ideas.
Gave up on this one. Too many characters and 140pp in still waiting to see what the story will be. That's it for me on this series even though there is also a 4th
this one was harder to get through. The first two I read cover to cover in a two or three days.
Politics, magic, giants, prehistory, sci-fi, romance, all drawn together
Great book - now I have to go get the next one!
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14 giu. 17:05