Tad Williams' Mirror World: An Illustrated Novel

by Tad Williams (Editor), Michelle Sagara West, John Helfers

It is June of 1999 and a strange phenomenon has suddenly appeared throughout the world's major giant mirrors which split the cities in half. Dividing natural parkways and cutting buildings in two, these mirrors, are as dangerous as they are beautiful. For soon after it is discovered that people can step through them and enter foreign worlds, it becomes clear that a trip through the Earth's Mirrors is a one-way journey. The mirrors work in only one direction. What started out as a curious odyssey becomes a permanent exile. Yet despite the imminent threat of banishment, people still cross over the bridge of Mirrors - some to find loved ones stranded on the other side, some to challenge new frontiers, and some to reverse the horrors of what is swarming through the Mirrors to challenge the course of civilization. For, back on Earth, huge predatory insects are pouring through the Mirrors, killing or carrying away anything living in their path. The Bugs, as they become known, are a deadly plague with which the world I forced to reckon. A plague which both challenges and fuels the Earth's relationship with the Mirrors, as organizations such as the United Nations become involved, symbolizing the harmonious response of the world's nations and many peoples. The story of the mirrors is revealed through the eyes of Dancer, hero of Mirror World . Thoughtful and brave, Dancer passionately explores the fantastic worlds of the unknown. As he travels through newly established territories such as the city states of Shades and Looking Glass and the downtrodden land of Darklea, we see that the mirrors have created not only an alien civilization but also a new world built upon a the future of hope, love, and a prism of dreams.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction

170 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Tad Williams is a California-based fantasy superstar. His genre-creating (and genre-busting) books have sold tens of millions worldwide, in twenty-five languages. His considerable output of epic fantasy and science fiction book-series, stories of all kinds, urban fantasy novels, comics, scripts, etc., have strongly influenced a generation of writers: the ‘Otherland’ epic relaunches June 2018 as an MMO on steam.com. Tad is currently immersed in the creation of ‘The Last King of Osten Ard’, planned as a trilogy with two intermediary novels. He, his family and his animals live in the Santa Cruz mountains in a suitably strange and beautiful house. @tadwilliams @mrstad

Reviews

[Mattimaxo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great concept and idea. The artwork and presentation was great too. I actually finished the first story before I realized Tad Williams wasn't the author. The writing did seem different from that of Williams from the first page. The first story was great, second and third pretty good. I think this Mirror World would be perfect for a series but there doesn't seem to be any other literature on the subject (involving Tad Williams' idea, since there is another series with the same name).

[The Bookish Panda]

This was a really strange read. I enjoyed the concept, I really want to find the comic it is based on and see if I can get a better understanding of the world Tad Williams created. The writers chosen for this are good, I think I enjoyed the last two stories more than the first one. While I enjoyed the scenery, the last half of the first story left me feeling really confused.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok i am sure there has been a lot said about this book but generally its a decent read just you can tell it was intended as being part of something bigger. The back ground story is hardly touched on and really for the sake of the 3 tales here are little more than devices to explain the situation the characters are in right now. What does not help is that the book is presented as Tad Williams Mirror World and no real reference is made to the fact he is the editor rather than contributing to any of the stories in its pages. So sadly this book is really a reference to something that could have been but never quite was

[J.M. Brister · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a really neat concept, both in the story and the way it was constructed (with both pictures and text). However, I wasn't a fan of the writing. Tad Williams should have wrote this himself, instead of just editing it. Regardless, though, I can't knock it too much because it was an enjoyable read.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only read the first story and didn't finish it, just skimmed the end. It was very convoluted and the writing did not seem equal to what it was attempting to accomplish. This was a frustrating read.

[Nannalys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the writing and the exuberant artwork, but not sure I want this to become the standard of printwork (pun intended) for novels.

[Devyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book would be on the weird freaky side because of the illustrations but its not that bad.