Tad Williams' Mirror World: An Illustrated Novel

by Tad Williams (Editor)

Tad Williams' popular TechoComics series Mirror World introduced a fictional world so original and yet so compelling, so bizarre and yet so reminiscent of our own reality, that no reader who experienced it was ever quite the same again. Mirror World is a story of disaster and survival. Just before the millennium (1999), gigantic mirrors appear in the world's major cities, bisecting streets, parks, and buildings. They are as beautiful as they are mysterious, until their terrible purpose becomes clear. They are portals, through which predatory insectile aliens swarm, killing or carrying off everything in their path. Humankind's only chance is to attack the "bugs" at their source--in Mirror World. It is a one-way trip, and one which only flesh can make; everything inorganic--weapons, clothing, even dental fillings--disappear in the crossing. Six volunteers are bioengineered to become human weapons. Some of the biotroops pursue the Bugs through further portals--into the dark heart of the Universe. Others remain on MIrror World, setting up city states such as Shades and Looking Glass, creating a second Earth with new wonders and new evils all its own. An elite grouping of storytellers--also volunteers, hand-picked by Williams himself--has taken this audacious science fiction universe and filled it with colorful characters, unforgettable adventures, and thought-provoking new themes. The magic of their collective vision has limned a world as strange and wondrous as our own, only more a world in which illusion and reality are wedded inextricably. Uniting the power of modern science fiction and the magic of full-color art, Tad Williams' Mirror World is a unique publishing a popular comic book transformed into literature, with its creative energy not only preserved but enhanced. As the story unfolds, a different author escorts the reader through each part of this astonishingly beautiful illustrated tale. Tad Williams himself selected the writers and approved the artist chosen to make this unique multimedia foray into the shimmering vastness of his Mirror World. You are invited to go with them...if you dare.

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

176 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.