Tad Williams: Otherland an information age dystopia
Tad Williams’ Otherland series is a unique combination of science fiction, mythology and fantasy. It sounds like a hodgepodge of genres and yet, it is one of the finest collection of books that I’ve read. Williams presents us with a dystopia, south africa still licking it’s wounds from overthrowing apartheid. A lot of the focus is on the virtual reality-online service that is offered in almost every home. Allowing people to browse, research, play with an interface who’s sophistication is only limited by money. The virtual reality is able to provide audio, tactile, scent and video input directly to the user. The most basic equipment limiting user to video and audio input. I’d like to explain why I find these books frightening. The virtual reality service, designed to offer a place where each person can subvert and ignore the rules that govern our every day lives. A world of your own that you can design to ignore the laws of physics, or social rules, even morality. A free for