What do you think?
Rate this book
Saga of the Well World #6
The Sea is Full of Stars
This exciting, action-packed novel marks Jack Chalker's triumphant return to his celebrated multivolume saga: The Well World. The Sea Is Full of Stars explores an unknown interstellar civilization, stars an all-new cast of characters, and reveals fresh secrets. But of course, The Well remains . . .
After three passengers--Ming, Ari, and Angel--embark on an elite starship journey into the Realm, they unwittingly become ensnared in one man's bloodthirsty vendetta that will alter their very beings. That man is Jeremiah Wong Kincaid. He vows to destroy Josich Conqueror Hadun, the evil genius who has wreaked unspeakable havoc throughout the universe. It is an obsession that will take him to lands of demons and strange races--and into a deadly new cyberworld where humans are mere pawns of the godlike computers they have created.
But it is only after Kincaid and his unwitting fellow travelers enter Well World and discover the water hexes that he confronts the mad tyrant--and learns their universe is threatened by something far, far worse . . .
After three passengers--Ming, Ari, and Angel--embark on an elite starship journey into the Realm, they unwittingly become ensnared in one man's bloodthirsty vendetta that will alter their very beings. That man is Jeremiah Wong Kincaid. He vows to destroy Josich Conqueror Hadun, the evil genius who has wreaked unspeakable havoc throughout the universe. It is an obsession that will take him to lands of demons and strange races--and into a deadly new cyberworld where humans are mere pawns of the godlike computers they have created.
But it is only after Kincaid and his unwitting fellow travelers enter Well World and discover the water hexes that he confronts the mad tyrant--and learns their universe is threatened by something far, far worse . . .
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 7, 1999
36 people are currently reading
434 people want to read
About the author
Jack L. Chalker
132 books355 followersBesides being a science fiction author, Jack Laurence Chalker was a Baltimore City Schools history teacher in Maryland for a time, a member of the Washington Science Fiction Association, and was involved in the founding of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society. Some of his books said that he was born in Norfolk, Virginia although he later claimed that was a mistake.
He attended all but one of the World Science Fiction Conventions from 1965 until 2004. He published an amateur SF journal, Mirage, from 1960 to 1971 (a Hugo nominee in 1963 for Best Fanzine).
Chalker was married in 1978 and had two sons.
His stated hobbies included esoteric audio, travel, and working on science-fiction convention committees. He had a great interest in ferryboats, and, at his wife's suggestion, their marriage was performed on the Roaring Bull Ferry.
Chalker's awards included the Daedalus Award (1983), The Gold Medal of the West Coast Review of Books (1984), Skylark Award (1985), Hamilton-Brackett Memorial Award (1979), as well as others of varying prestige. He was a nominee for the John W. Campbell Award twice and for the Hugo Award twice. He was posthumously awarded the Phoenix Award by the Southern Fandom Confederation on April 9, 2005.
On September 18, 2003, during Hurricane Isabel, Chalker passed out and was rushed to the hospital with a diagnosis of a heart attack. He was later released, but was severely weakened. On December 6, 2004, he was again rushed to hospital with breathing problems and disorientation, and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and a collapsed lung. Chalker was hospitalized in critical condition, then upgraded to stable on December 9, though he didn't regain consciousness until December 15. After several more weeks in deteriorating condition and in a persistent vegetative state, with several transfers to different hospitals, he died on February 11, 2005 of kidney failure and sepsis in Bon Secours of Baltimore, Maryland.
Chalker is perhaps best known for his Well World series of novels, the first of which is Midnight at the Well of Souls (Well World, #1).
He attended all but one of the World Science Fiction Conventions from 1965 until 2004. He published an amateur SF journal, Mirage, from 1960 to 1971 (a Hugo nominee in 1963 for Best Fanzine).
Chalker was married in 1978 and had two sons.
His stated hobbies included esoteric audio, travel, and working on science-fiction convention committees. He had a great interest in ferryboats, and, at his wife's suggestion, their marriage was performed on the Roaring Bull Ferry.
Chalker's awards included the Daedalus Award (1983), The Gold Medal of the West Coast Review of Books (1984), Skylark Award (1985), Hamilton-Brackett Memorial Award (1979), as well as others of varying prestige. He was a nominee for the John W. Campbell Award twice and for the Hugo Award twice. He was posthumously awarded the Phoenix Award by the Southern Fandom Confederation on April 9, 2005.
On September 18, 2003, during Hurricane Isabel, Chalker passed out and was rushed to the hospital with a diagnosis of a heart attack. He was later released, but was severely weakened. On December 6, 2004, he was again rushed to hospital with breathing problems and disorientation, and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and a collapsed lung. Chalker was hospitalized in critical condition, then upgraded to stable on December 9, though he didn't regain consciousness until December 15. After several more weeks in deteriorating condition and in a persistent vegetative state, with several transfers to different hospitals, he died on February 11, 2005 of kidney failure and sepsis in Bon Secours of Baltimore, Maryland.
Chalker is perhaps best known for his Well World series of novels, the first of which is Midnight at the Well of Souls (Well World, #1).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 5, 2022
Many years ago I read and enjoyed the first five books in Jack L. Chalker's Well World series. The Well World (Hex World) is such a fascinating place. If you enter from the outside, your physiology is transformed depending what hex you land in. I loved the imagination of the series and the adventures. Later on Watchers at the Well trilogy. I don't remember enjoying it as much but it's probably because it had been a number of years since I'd enjoyed the first books. The Watcher books involved those that actually created the Well World(s). Recently I discovered that Chalker wrote two final books in the Well World series so I decided to finish the series off. The Sea is Full of Stars is the sixth and penultimate book in the series.
It does take about half the book to finally get to Well World. We start on a space voyage where a small group of people meet Jeremiah Wong Kincaid, a man hunting down a planetary mass murderer responsible for the murders of his family. The others get drawn into the hunt. The ship is taken over and Ming, Ari and Angel are kidnapped and find themselves on another planet where Ming and Angel become playthings for Ari's uncle, not a nice guy. The computer system on the planet incorporates itself into their very beings... At the halfway point roughly, the planet is invaded by interplanetary police forces and the group find themselves transported to the Well World, each with their own new bodies. This group is drawn into the schemes of Josich who wants to take over the Well World, destroying the peoples of the various hexes in the process.
It's a slow developing story and I found myself at times wanting to get to the Well World. But the initial character and story development is important as it sets up, I imagine, the finale of the 7th books. The action gets hot and heavy over the past quarter of the book as the endangered races of the Well World, especially the Ochoans, prepare for battle and maybe defeat by Josich's troops.
It was nice to get back to this series. The characters are definitely unique and the situations are well-crafted. I think it's worth being patient to see how everything is developed and worth waiting for everything to come out in the wash. Of course, now I do have to finish the final book and see if that ending will happily resolve itself. I'm looking forward to it with some trepidation. (3.5 stars)
It does take about half the book to finally get to Well World. We start on a space voyage where a small group of people meet Jeremiah Wong Kincaid, a man hunting down a planetary mass murderer responsible for the murders of his family. The others get drawn into the hunt. The ship is taken over and Ming, Ari and Angel are kidnapped and find themselves on another planet where Ming and Angel become playthings for Ari's uncle, not a nice guy. The computer system on the planet incorporates itself into their very beings... At the halfway point roughly, the planet is invaded by interplanetary police forces and the group find themselves transported to the Well World, each with their own new bodies. This group is drawn into the schemes of Josich who wants to take over the Well World, destroying the peoples of the various hexes in the process.
It's a slow developing story and I found myself at times wanting to get to the Well World. But the initial character and story development is important as it sets up, I imagine, the finale of the 7th books. The action gets hot and heavy over the past quarter of the book as the endangered races of the Well World, especially the Ochoans, prepare for battle and maybe defeat by Josich's troops.
It was nice to get back to this series. The characters are definitely unique and the situations are well-crafted. I think it's worth being patient to see how everything is developed and worth waiting for everything to come out in the wash. Of course, now I do have to finish the final book and see if that ending will happily resolve itself. I'm looking forward to it with some trepidation. (3.5 stars)
September 24, 2017
While this follows on the original Well World Series i found this book a little harder to get in to. I also had a few qualms where Chalker apparently slipped up and got a few things confused. The character Tann Nakitt is a Geldorian in the first part of the book but then talks about being a Ghoma after arriving in the Ochoa hex. That's just one of the slip ups I noticed and there were others. On the whole I liked this book and I'm enjoying the follow-on book as well - but it just doesn't feel quite the same without Mavra Chang and Nathan Brazil as characters in the story. It's kind of like a Doctor Who story - but without the Doctor.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2019
So the original 5 "Well of Souls" books are amongst my favorites, and some of my earliest sci-fi reads. Nathan Brazil (protagonist of most of them) is also my favorite central character.
That said, in this much later book 6 it feels like the author has forgotten some of his original story and character traits. It is fine, but just that. I wish I could rate it higher. If you do come across this book make sure you read the earlier ones first. It is not that connected to them, but they set up the world far better and are real page turners.
That said, in this much later book 6 it feels like the author has forgotten some of his original story and character traits. It is fine, but just that. I wish I could rate it higher. If you do come across this book make sure you read the earlier ones first. It is not that connected to them, but they set up the world far better and are real page turners.
July 10, 2023
The growth in writing style is evident here, with nearly two decades between the previous book in the 80s and this book. A darker tone and less of an adventure romp than the last books, but entertaining nonetheless and it's nice to see a different part of the Well World.
March 7, 2018
more guilty pleasure SF. bring it on!
Chalker knows how to write a page turner.
Chalker knows how to write a page turner.
Read
February 5, 2020MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE NEXT ONE BEFORE YOU START THIS ONE. IT LEAVES YOU HANGING
December 3, 2023
This book is the first Well World book without Nathan Brazil. It introduces new characters for the artificial planet, and their stories continue to the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2024
AN enjoyable return to the Well World. Except.... Haven't we always been told a large scale war is not possible here? Hmm...
March 1, 2025
This exciting, action-packed novel marks Jack Chalker's triumphant return to his celebrated multivolume saga: The Well World. The Sea Is Full of Stars explores an unknown interstellar civilization, stars an all-new cast of characters, and reveals fresh secrets. But of course, The Well remains . . .
After three passengers--Ming, Ari, and Angel--embark on an elite starship journey into the Realm, they unwittingly become ensnared in one man's bloodthirsty vendetta that will alter their very beings. That man is Jeremiah Wong Kincaid. He vows to destroy Josich Conqueror Hadun, the evil genius who has wreaked unspeakable havoc throughout the universe. It is an obsession that will take him to lands of demons and strange races--and into a deadly new cyberworld where humans are mere pawns of the godlike computers they have created.
But it is only after Kincaid and his unwitting fellow travelers enter Well World and discover the water hexes that he confronts the mad tyrant--and learns their universe is threatened by something far, far worse . . .
After three passengers--Ming, Ari, and Angel--embark on an elite starship journey into the Realm, they unwittingly become ensnared in one man's bloodthirsty vendetta that will alter their very beings. That man is Jeremiah Wong Kincaid. He vows to destroy Josich Conqueror Hadun, the evil genius who has wreaked unspeakable havoc throughout the universe. It is an obsession that will take him to lands of demons and strange races--and into a deadly new cyberworld where humans are mere pawns of the godlike computers they have created.
But it is only after Kincaid and his unwitting fellow travelers enter Well World and discover the water hexes that he confronts the mad tyrant--and learns their universe is threatened by something far, far worse . . .
July 26, 2020
[2020] So... I still have a Stephen Pinker book to finish and a few more heavies queued up, but I took time out for this one while on a short vacation. Long build up, yet another character in the vein of Antor Trelig, and something I never called attention to before, but when the cast finally gets to the Well World, an ambassador says something about there being 785 races in the Southern hemisphere...1560/2 is not 785. Could have been a typo except that it was mentioned again a few pages later. Anyway, the big stuff is yet to come in the conclusion. And yes, I skipped the trilogy for this one...I can reread Mavra and Nathan later.
[2013] Better the second time around. I found the very long (half the book) pre-Well World piece more interesting than when the characters got there. And like most Chalker multiple-volume stories, the set ups (pre- and in this case post-transition) overly long. Still, it's a good read.
[2013] Better the second time around. I found the very long (half the book) pre-Well World piece more interesting than when the characters got there. And like most Chalker multiple-volume stories, the set ups (pre- and in this case post-transition) overly long. Still, it's a good read.
February 28, 2009
All of the well of souls books explores the strong social problems of our own world in a tale of science fiction. Social injustice, prejudice, close-mindedness - all are some of the common problems that plauge the inhabitants of the strange worlds and cause their problems and lead to the wars between species. Its just like our own world, except instead of different species we have different races or nationalites. Chaulker, like Clarke, explores terrestrial human issues thru extrterrestrial worlds.
August 24, 2016
The is actually book 9 in the Well World series. It was written several year later, and lacks Nathan Brazil for the first time. To me it has less overall human engagement than the earlier ones, possibly because master criminals are so important in it, but the avenging Jeremiah Kincaid steals the show every time. Be sure to have GHOST OF THE WELL WORLD available to finish the story.
August 2, 2013
I have read most of the Well World books. I enjoyed this one a lot because it explores issues of survival. What happened to the two females is reprehensible. I would recommend this to anyone but it helps if you know the Well World.
September 6, 2008
Since I had ravenously read the previous Well World series of books, I thought I would be just as riveted by this one. It was alright, but did not hold my interest like the others.
July 21, 2013
IMO: The point where The Well World Series, jumps the metaphorical shark.
October 10, 2013
This is the setup book in a two book series. It has similarities with earlier books hence the lower rating. I'm waiting until I finish the next book before giving my full review.
Read
October 19, 2011very good but different then the rest of the well world saga. I love this author.
June 22, 2017
Different from the rest of the Well World, and somewhat disappointing.
March 17, 2015
Easy to read, but not really much of a plot.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews