The World of Tiers, Volume 2

World of Tiers #3-5

by Philip José Farmer

This is the second of two volumes issued together by The Science Fiction Book Club in 1981, and again in 1993. Contains the third, fourth and fifth "World of Tiers" series A Private Cosmos (1968); Behind the Walls of Terra (1970); The Lavalite World (1977). Introduction by Roger Zelazny.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

532 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Philip José Farmer was an American author, principally known for his science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories. He was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, but spent much of his life in Peoria, Illinois.

Farmer is best known for his Riverworld series and the earlier World of Tiers series. He is noted for his use of sexual and religious themes in his work, his fascination for and reworking of the lore of legendary pulp heroes, and occasional tongue-in-cheek pseudonymous works written as if by fictional characters.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Behind the Walls of Terra: Kickaha and Anana go to Earth to find Wolff and Chryseis, running into the middle of a power struggle between Red Orc and his brother Urthona over the fate of two Earth's. Earth's origin is revealed, as are hints about Kickaha's true parentage. The ending leads nicely into the next book.

Behind the Walls of Terra was pretty good. It had all the things that made the previous three volumes great. It was interesting reading about Kickaha and Anana adjusting to life on Earth.

The Lavalite World: Kickaha, Anana, Urthona, Red Orc, and a human named McKay are transported to an ever-morphing planet, called the Lavalite World by Urthona, its creator. After being separated and re-united, Kickaha and Anana, with McKay in tow, go on a quest for Urthona's floating palace, their ticket off the Lavalite World.

I have to admit the title didn't wow me but the intrigue between Urthona, Red Orc, and the duo of Kickaha and Anana was great. Farmer does a good job of making Kickaha competent and resourceful without making him seem like a super hero. Some of the denizens of the Lavalite world were like something out of a Lovecraft novel.

More Than Fire: The story starts with Kickaha and Anana on a world populated by tripod people after someone trapped the portal to Earth in Jadawin's palace. Without giving too much away, they meet an Englishman named Clifton, a pre-Thoan creature named Khruuz, an Amazonian Lord named Manathu, and Red Orc establishes himself as quite a bastard. Kickaha and friends go through the wringer and the ending is a pretty brutal fight. All in all, a pretty satisfying conclusion to the second volume of the World of Tiers.

[Wyatt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Volume 1 of this series was a fun, wild romp through a variety of interesting worlds. Unfortunately, Volume 2 is mostly a slog, just nonstop obstacles and setbacks, through a handful of worlds that quickly wore out their welcome. The second trilogy is also, somehow, more dated than the first. The characterization is flat and filled with cringy stereotypes, for one, and the protagonist's love interest is repeatedly fridged. Oof.

[Chris Gager · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've already read the first two parts in separate editions. Just started The Lavalite World... More cover art by Boris...

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13055486

[Julian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, imaginative, epically silly!