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Rings of the Master #1
Lords of the Middle Dark
Long ago, the machines had rebelled, wiping out most of humanity and exiling the survivors in widely scattered reservations. Master System ruled unchallenged, the key to breaking its power -- five microchips disguised as gold rings, carefully hidden away. But then an Amerindian called Hawks stumbled across information about the five rings, and suddenly Master System developed an interest in seeing Hawks dead . . .
357 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 12, 1986
18 people are currently reading
829 people want to read
About the author
Jack L. Chalker
132 books354 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).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
April 27, 2015
This was an entertaining and fast paced pulp sci-fi. Not the best Jack L. Chalker book/series I've ever read, but a fun read none the less.
In the distant past humanity found itself at the risk of extinction by its own hands. Two super nations had arisen and war between the pair was inevitable. With the advanced weapons and super computers thrown into the mix it had the potential to destroy the world. In the hopes saving humanity from itself a crack group of scientists created a super AI called Master System and mandated it to take control and protect humanity from destroying itself. It did. Unfortunately it choose to do so in an unforeseen way. It de-populated Earth by moving moving most of the humans to other planets and genetically redesigned them to fit their new environments while keeping their minds mostly human! The remaining humans on Earth were relegated to ancient pre-technology lives. Most of them are completely ignorant that Master System even exists. The brightest humans from each region are gathered to help oversee the running of things. They are informed of the technology and trained in what they need to know by "mind printing" a method that sees knowledge printed directly into the brain. Just so these lucky humans in the know do not lose touch with their regional cultures they are forced to return and live among their people for 2 months every year.
While on one of these sojourns the historian Hawk, a Native American, discovers the dead body of a renegade. Curiosity gets the better of him and he rifles through the deceased's possessions. In the process he learns a secret Master System wishes to keep hidden. There was a fail safe built into the system. 5 master key rings that had the power to shut Master System down. Hawk is forced to flee in order to avoid being eliminated and along the way picks up a few companions to aid his quest to unite the rings and defeat Master System.
This is the first of a four book series and got things off to a decent start. The characters are a likable and diverse bunch while the world is a fascinating one. The technology is pretty cool and most of it has stood the test of time considering this book was wrote at the start of the 80s.
All in all this was a decent read and I'll definitely be moving on to the next book in the series.
Rating: 3 stars
Audio Note: Jamie Du Pont MacKenzie gave an acceptable performance.
In the distant past humanity found itself at the risk of extinction by its own hands. Two super nations had arisen and war between the pair was inevitable. With the advanced weapons and super computers thrown into the mix it had the potential to destroy the world. In the hopes saving humanity from itself a crack group of scientists created a super AI called Master System and mandated it to take control and protect humanity from destroying itself. It did. Unfortunately it choose to do so in an unforeseen way. It de-populated Earth by moving moving most of the humans to other planets and genetically redesigned them to fit their new environments while keeping their minds mostly human! The remaining humans on Earth were relegated to ancient pre-technology lives. Most of them are completely ignorant that Master System even exists. The brightest humans from each region are gathered to help oversee the running of things. They are informed of the technology and trained in what they need to know by "mind printing" a method that sees knowledge printed directly into the brain. Just so these lucky humans in the know do not lose touch with their regional cultures they are forced to return and live among their people for 2 months every year.
While on one of these sojourns the historian Hawk, a Native American, discovers the dead body of a renegade. Curiosity gets the better of him and he rifles through the deceased's possessions. In the process he learns a secret Master System wishes to keep hidden. There was a fail safe built into the system. 5 master key rings that had the power to shut Master System down. Hawk is forced to flee in order to avoid being eliminated and along the way picks up a few companions to aid his quest to unite the rings and defeat Master System.
This is the first of a four book series and got things off to a decent start. The characters are a likable and diverse bunch while the world is a fascinating one. The technology is pretty cool and most of it has stood the test of time considering this book was wrote at the start of the 80s.
All in all this was a decent read and I'll definitely be moving on to the next book in the series.
Rating: 3 stars
Audio Note: Jamie Du Pont MacKenzie gave an acceptable performance.
July 27, 2022
This book is the start of a very good series by Chalker, indeed one of my favorites of his. While set in a future about 1000 years from now, the story begins with the cold war (another persistent trope by Chalker) and scientists who built a 'master computer' and tied it into the defense network. The master computer was tasked with saving humanity from itself, and proceeded in a draconian way to do just that. Robotic scouts were sent into space looking for colony worlds and eventually, people by the billions were shipped to them (modified as needed for their new worlds). Earth's population of around 500 thousand were placed on reservations and reprogrammed via mindwipes/mindbuilds back to earlier periods. American Indians were reintroduced, as well as feudalism in Europe and the Han dynasty in China. A 'ruling class' still exists on Earth that knows the real story/history and effectively suppress forbidden knowledge from the masses.
The story has two main characters-- Hawks, an American Indian in the midwest and Song Ching, a brilliant Chinese teenager. Hawks discovers the existence of five rings that, when joined and used together, can control the master computer. He is ruthlessly hunted by the master computer as a result. Song Ching is condemned by her father to be reprogrammed to be a traditional Chinese housewife and struggles to escape. Lots of action, obviously some mind games given that this is Chalker, with issues of subjectivity and being considered in detail. Lots of fun! As always, Chalker could have used a better editor, but he can tell a great story.
Edit notes-- reread July 2022. Chalker is really a master of 80s space pulp, and continued to develop many of the tropes first introduced in Midnight at the Well of Souls, like mind transfers, editing and/or adding knowledge via 'mind printers', and radical physical body transformations. This, like most of his stories, is more plot than character driven, but the characters are interesting and unusual. Here, we have as mentioned our lead Hawks, a older plains Indian who is a lower member of the ruling 'council' of Earth and his two 'wives', both native americans. We also have a Caribe, a regal, albeit psychotic hunter who, along with Raven, a Crow, are tasked by the security council to track Hawks down after he stumbles on proscribed knowledge (he is actually a historian). 4 lordly stars!!
The story has two main characters-- Hawks, an American Indian in the midwest and Song Ching, a brilliant Chinese teenager. Hawks discovers the existence of five rings that, when joined and used together, can control the master computer. He is ruthlessly hunted by the master computer as a result. Song Ching is condemned by her father to be reprogrammed to be a traditional Chinese housewife and struggles to escape. Lots of action, obviously some mind games given that this is Chalker, with issues of subjectivity and being considered in detail. Lots of fun! As always, Chalker could have used a better editor, but he can tell a great story.
Edit notes-- reread July 2022. Chalker is really a master of 80s space pulp, and continued to develop many of the tropes first introduced in Midnight at the Well of Souls, like mind transfers, editing and/or adding knowledge via 'mind printers', and radical physical body transformations. This, like most of his stories, is more plot than character driven, but the characters are interesting and unusual. Here, we have as mentioned our lead Hawks, a older plains Indian who is a lower member of the ruling 'council' of Earth and his two 'wives', both native americans. We also have a Caribe, a regal, albeit psychotic hunter who, along with Raven, a Crow, are tasked by the security council to track Hawks down after he stumbles on proscribed knowledge (he is actually a historian). 4 lordly stars!!
June 24, 2020
Excellent, imaginative, sci-fi adventure.
September 3, 2019
People seem to love comparing this book to a mashup of various movies, so I will too! The Matrix meets The Lord of the Rings, coupled with an interesting meditation on the dangers of blindly accepting who you are told you should be and following your imposed culture (including superstitions and morals) without question. I liked this a lot more than I thought I would.
November 19, 2014
I haven't read this series in years but it's stuck with me and I absolutely love it. It's a big complicated sci fi treasure hunt in space--our small group of heroes have to find the five gold rings that will unlock Master System, the super computer that controls the destiny of humanity. In this book we meet the key players and they concoct a series of of daring plans that ultimately lead to them meeting up with each other and starting out on their search.
::edit:: Reread this in October 2014. Because it's awesome pulp sci fi and it never gets old.
::edit:: Reread this in October 2014. Because it's awesome pulp sci fi and it never gets old.
April 17, 2018
Sunkiai metu nebaigtą seriją. Dar sunkiau, nebaigtą knygą. Net nepamenu, kada esu labiau piktesnis nei smalsesnis. Juk net didžiausia nesąmonė vilioja sužinoti kaip baigsis. Bet šitas Harkos ir prieštvaninės sci fi derinys mane pribaigė. Buvo toks filmas fantastinis su Travolta, Battlefield Earth. Tai va šita knyga tokio pat tūpumo kaip tas filmas. Nea. #LEBooks #LordsOfTheMiddleDark #JackChalker #RingsOfTheMaster
April 4, 2025
Very interesting & inventive world building
February 21, 2024
Lords of the Middle Dark, part 1 of a four-part saga, is... ...well, it's INTERESTING. It is certainly interesting.
Let me take this step by step. (A WARNING, for sexual content!)
THE PREMISE
For a while I've been on a kick with short little pulp books, two Robert Howard collections included, so I'd decided that, finally, I might like to read a full book again. Enter 'Lords of the Middle Dark', a book with an intriguing premise: A mastercomputer has taken over the world in the post-apocalypse, and regressed humanity back to its pre-industrial state, for its own good. The only way to break the computer and allow humanity to once again evolve? To find five golden rings, into which were hidden the kill-commands that could shut the master-computer down. It's a quest by the story's character, a native american man named Hawks and a chinese woman named Song, to find those rings!
The premise sounded intriguing; sort of like if AM from 'I have no mouth and I must scream' was more (but only a little more) benevolent, and that this was going to be some sort of fantasy romp with 'magic explained as secret super science'.
The book very swiftly establishes that this is only peripherally the case; yes, most of humanity WOULD think of mastercomputer and its devices as sorcery, but this is never a perspective we the reader have for even a moment, going in upon the shoulders of characters who are part of the select, elite class who are privvy to the secrets of world, being humans chosen to work behind the scenes, managing technology. Think of it like if King Richard of medieval times secretly had a television rumpus room hidden under his castle, and took regular trips in a space-ship up to his real house, with air-conditioning, plumbing, and a microwave for heating up his tv dinners.
A little disappointing, but not a deal-breaker.
THE CHARACTERS
What is easily the weakest part of the book are the characters. But first, before I get into them, I think I needs must mention a few of the...
...WORLD CONCEPTS
What made me finish reading the book (but would also become one of its weaknesses) was the inventiveness of ideas. Chief among all of the super-science tech going on was the notion that technology for mind control was common. Need to learn a new language? Step into a mind-printer for a second or two and you'll be fluent in ancient latin! Need a crash-course in wilderness survival? Mind-print it on in! Does your boss want to make sure you weren't making personal calls on company time? He'll make an entire read-out of your mind and go over it all to see for himself. And if you've been very very naughty, the master-computer will send a killer robot after you that's been fitted with your own personality and memories, making it think just like you would think.
This was all interesting, but, keeping this in mind, let's go back to...
...THE CHARACTERS (CONTINUED).
The characters are dullsville. There is absolutely no voice or personality to any of them. They act like logic-bots with little in the way of any will of their own. Hawks and Song at least tend to drive the plot by going out and doing things, but every other protagonist (with one or two exceptions) is just a lovingly supportive aid, there to assist, and... ...well, let's put a pin in that (we'll return to that in a section I'll call 'WOMEN IN THIS BOOK')
The problem however, with a world where mind-control technology seems to be spilling out of every nook and cranny, is the concept of characters seemed to fade away. What's the point of any one person when every other chapter they're imprinted with a new personality? Sometimes this was presented as an interesting idea: Hawks, who spent most of his time in a technological environment, but would occasionally have to re-immerse himself in a primitive, tribal world, would receive personality tweaks to help him adjust. That's an interesting sci-fi-concept.
...less interesting was when a survival-guide mindprint seemed to turn him (and his two wives) into deadly survivalists, who were ready to abandon their quest because suddenly going off into the woods to have some fuck sounded more important to their new personalities. ...Followed by when a bad-guy decided to give them all ape-personalities for a little bit. ...and then Hawks two wives were given personality tweaks that made them more... ah, shall I say 'domestic'?
And then hoo boy, let's get into Song. Captured by her evil father who wanted to turn her from a spoiled brat into a docile good-girl, she escaped by chemically shutting off her emotions, turning herself into a logic-machine, THEN giving herself the personality of a boy-prisoner who she wanted to impersonate to escape. Following this she was assaulted (repeatedly, and extensively) by a badman who, through torture, broke her of the 'male' personality she'd adopted, turning her into his sex-slave, after which some scientists then quirked her personality to make her super horny to have babies, and to be maternally over-protective of any children she would have. (If you're feeling a little odd reading all that don't worry, I'll get to it!)
The result of all this personality-swapping and mind-alteration was that characters just seemed to fade away into a blur. No personality-trait seemed to matter, because a casual line of dialogue would explain how "Well sure, this bounty hunter WAS a bit of a crazy psychopath, but hey it's cool, the scientists decided to smooth out her rough edges". In better hands this could have been a truly brilliant point made upon the idea of "What is a person? Who are we? Are we our memories, our actions, our genetics?" But for the purposes of THIS story, where characters were wooden and bland to begin with, all characters started to become interchangeable, and I started wondering why anyone was significant when anyone could become anyone.
WOMEN IN THIS BOOK
Alright, here we go.
So we have, essentially, two story-lines in this book that only converge at the very end: One is about a native American man named Hawks who discovers the secret of the five gold rings, and is on the run from mastercomputer, going out to search for a way to find them. The second is about a chinese girl named Song who has to escape her father's machinations to make her into a servile pawn in his plan to breed genetically-engineered super-geniuses.
Hawks, in the course of his adventures, gets two wives: One of them a reliable and capable sort of woman, and the other a tortured mute, rescued from her enslavers. They tend to go around naked, eschewing clothing for various meticulously-explained reasons. Hawks' two wives are devoted and loyal to him, he being a technological genius, while they are but simple people of the primitive world. Yet, they are capable hunter/gatherers and killers.
Song, after turning herself into a boy (sort of) meets up with a pair of twin sisters, who were both sexually and physically abused. They become devoted and loyal to Song (who, I'll say again, was at this point in the book pretending to be a man so much that she herself thought she was a man), she/he being a technological genius, while they are but simple people of the primitive world. Yet, they are capable escape-artists and assistants.
"Huh." I said to myself, whilst in the middle of reading all of this. "So... ...both of our protagonists- one a man, and one who has sort of BECOME a man, each have a pair of emotionally/physically abused, yet willingly loyal and sexually available women. ...Huh."
By the end of the book Hawks wives AND the two chinese twins have both had medical alterations, giving them bigger boobs, bigger hips, and making them more horny, and have undergone mental conditioning to make them obsessed with babies and taking care of babies.
Poor, poor Song (who, by the end of the book has been renamed China), has likewise had medical alterations making her boobs and hips bigger, and making her 'go into heat' whenever she's not pregnant. ...and oh yeah, her lips are bigger and sexier too. Very important.
So... ...there's all of that.
Having just come off of a bunch of old pulpy stories from the '20's and '30's, the treatment of women in this book is, comparatively, interesting. On the one hand they're often very capable, possessed of genius and skills that make them invaluable, and often far more capable than their male c0-stars. Yet, at the same time, the book has ended with every single female character having been transformed into a bunch of nymphomaniac bombshells, INCLUDING the main character, Song, whose setup and motivation was to escape her father's plans to have her transformed into a nymphomaniac bombshell whose only purpose in life was to make babies.
PRISON FETISH
In a brilliant flash of insight, everything made sense to me about halfway through the book when it became apparent that Song/China's half of the novel consisted of lengthy, LENGTHY segments of detailed exposition about the various manners of imprisonment she was undergoing. Upon every stage of her journey, all the way from earth to the science-prison-asteroid (where she would eventually be transformed into a nymphomaniac bombshell who goes into heat whenever she's not pregnant, I shall repeat), every method of how she is restrained and imprisoned is meticulously described by prison guards.
"Ohhhhhhhh," I suddenly realized, in the middle of one of these scenes, "This is a fetish book. The author is into prison scenarios, multiple wives, mind-control, and turning women into nymphomaniac bombshells."
Maybe I would have realized it sooner, but by god if everything wasn't so dang CLINICAL, without a hint of passion or eroticism.
CONCLUSION
So there it is. Lords of the Middle Dark is a book about weird sci-fi concepts and fetishes disguised as weird sci-fi-concepts by the sheer dryness in which they're related to the reader.
And I just don't know how to feel about it.
On the one hand I'm intrigued by the bizarre ideas. The world is fascinating and thought-provoking in its premise, and throws a lot of strange ideas into my head. But on the other, those ideas are sometimes simply underutilized, and other times betrayed in favor of becoming fetish-fuel. So often it felt like characters were betrayed just to be transformed (literally) into fetish-fuel; but at the same time those character just kind of kept marching on. Sure Song/China, who wanted to be recognized for her brains and not her potential as a fertile mother DID end up changed into a literal baby-maker (also she was blinded by a booby-trapped mindprint machine, because why not), but at the same time she finishes as the biggest expert on star-ships, and has a new development in that she can link-up with the space-ship's AI and merge her mind into the ship, BECOMING the ship and transcending her violated body, so...? *shrug*.
I feel like there's a lot more I could talk about with this book. It FRUSTRATED me, but also INTRIGUED me. It often repulsed me, but also made me turn the page, hoping to find out that things would get better. The sheer dryness of the characters and the narrative was so boring, but also saved all the sexual torture from being so revolting I had to throw the book away.
I had books 2-4 bought along with this one, so, maybe I'll see how things fare for our strange, STRANGE cast of characters in the next one. Though I may take a break and read something more pleasant first. Digging into some sci fi by CJ Cherryh might feel light and joyful by comparison.
Let me take this step by step. (A WARNING, for sexual content!)
THE PREMISE
For a while I've been on a kick with short little pulp books, two Robert Howard collections included, so I'd decided that, finally, I might like to read a full book again. Enter 'Lords of the Middle Dark', a book with an intriguing premise: A mastercomputer has taken over the world in the post-apocalypse, and regressed humanity back to its pre-industrial state, for its own good. The only way to break the computer and allow humanity to once again evolve? To find five golden rings, into which were hidden the kill-commands that could shut the master-computer down. It's a quest by the story's character, a native american man named Hawks and a chinese woman named Song, to find those rings!
The premise sounded intriguing; sort of like if AM from 'I have no mouth and I must scream' was more (but only a little more) benevolent, and that this was going to be some sort of fantasy romp with 'magic explained as secret super science'.
The book very swiftly establishes that this is only peripherally the case; yes, most of humanity WOULD think of mastercomputer and its devices as sorcery, but this is never a perspective we the reader have for even a moment, going in upon the shoulders of characters who are part of the select, elite class who are privvy to the secrets of world, being humans chosen to work behind the scenes, managing technology. Think of it like if King Richard of medieval times secretly had a television rumpus room hidden under his castle, and took regular trips in a space-ship up to his real house, with air-conditioning, plumbing, and a microwave for heating up his tv dinners.
A little disappointing, but not a deal-breaker.
THE CHARACTERS
What is easily the weakest part of the book are the characters. But first, before I get into them, I think I needs must mention a few of the...
...WORLD CONCEPTS
What made me finish reading the book (but would also become one of its weaknesses) was the inventiveness of ideas. Chief among all of the super-science tech going on was the notion that technology for mind control was common. Need to learn a new language? Step into a mind-printer for a second or two and you'll be fluent in ancient latin! Need a crash-course in wilderness survival? Mind-print it on in! Does your boss want to make sure you weren't making personal calls on company time? He'll make an entire read-out of your mind and go over it all to see for himself. And if you've been very very naughty, the master-computer will send a killer robot after you that's been fitted with your own personality and memories, making it think just like you would think.
This was all interesting, but, keeping this in mind, let's go back to...
...THE CHARACTERS (CONTINUED).
The characters are dullsville. There is absolutely no voice or personality to any of them. They act like logic-bots with little in the way of any will of their own. Hawks and Song at least tend to drive the plot by going out and doing things, but every other protagonist (with one or two exceptions) is just a lovingly supportive aid, there to assist, and... ...well, let's put a pin in that (we'll return to that in a section I'll call 'WOMEN IN THIS BOOK')
The problem however, with a world where mind-control technology seems to be spilling out of every nook and cranny, is the concept of characters seemed to fade away. What's the point of any one person when every other chapter they're imprinted with a new personality? Sometimes this was presented as an interesting idea: Hawks, who spent most of his time in a technological environment, but would occasionally have to re-immerse himself in a primitive, tribal world, would receive personality tweaks to help him adjust. That's an interesting sci-fi-concept.
...less interesting was when a survival-guide mindprint seemed to turn him (and his two wives) into deadly survivalists, who were ready to abandon their quest because suddenly going off into the woods to have some fuck sounded more important to their new personalities. ...Followed by when a bad-guy decided to give them all ape-personalities for a little bit. ...and then Hawks two wives were given personality tweaks that made them more... ah, shall I say 'domestic'?
And then hoo boy, let's get into Song. Captured by her evil father who wanted to turn her from a spoiled brat into a docile good-girl, she escaped by chemically shutting off her emotions, turning herself into a logic-machine, THEN giving herself the personality of a boy-prisoner who she wanted to impersonate to escape. Following this she was assaulted (repeatedly, and extensively) by a badman who, through torture, broke her of the 'male' personality she'd adopted, turning her into his sex-slave, after which some scientists then quirked her personality to make her super horny to have babies, and to be maternally over-protective of any children she would have. (If you're feeling a little odd reading all that don't worry, I'll get to it!)
The result of all this personality-swapping and mind-alteration was that characters just seemed to fade away into a blur. No personality-trait seemed to matter, because a casual line of dialogue would explain how "Well sure, this bounty hunter WAS a bit of a crazy psychopath, but hey it's cool, the scientists decided to smooth out her rough edges". In better hands this could have been a truly brilliant point made upon the idea of "What is a person? Who are we? Are we our memories, our actions, our genetics?" But for the purposes of THIS story, where characters were wooden and bland to begin with, all characters started to become interchangeable, and I started wondering why anyone was significant when anyone could become anyone.
WOMEN IN THIS BOOK
Alright, here we go.
So we have, essentially, two story-lines in this book that only converge at the very end: One is about a native American man named Hawks who discovers the secret of the five gold rings, and is on the run from mastercomputer, going out to search for a way to find them. The second is about a chinese girl named Song who has to escape her father's machinations to make her into a servile pawn in his plan to breed genetically-engineered super-geniuses.
Hawks, in the course of his adventures, gets two wives: One of them a reliable and capable sort of woman, and the other a tortured mute, rescued from her enslavers. They tend to go around naked, eschewing clothing for various meticulously-explained reasons. Hawks' two wives are devoted and loyal to him, he being a technological genius, while they are but simple people of the primitive world. Yet, they are capable hunter/gatherers and killers.
Song, after turning herself into a boy (sort of) meets up with a pair of twin sisters, who were both sexually and physically abused. They become devoted and loyal to Song (who, I'll say again, was at this point in the book pretending to be a man so much that she herself thought she was a man), she/he being a technological genius, while they are but simple people of the primitive world. Yet, they are capable escape-artists and assistants.
"Huh." I said to myself, whilst in the middle of reading all of this. "So... ...both of our protagonists- one a man, and one who has sort of BECOME a man, each have a pair of emotionally/physically abused, yet willingly loyal and sexually available women. ...Huh."
By the end of the book Hawks wives AND the two chinese twins have both had medical alterations, giving them bigger boobs, bigger hips, and making them more horny, and have undergone mental conditioning to make them obsessed with babies and taking care of babies.
Poor, poor Song (who, by the end of the book has been renamed China), has likewise had medical alterations making her boobs and hips bigger, and making her 'go into heat' whenever she's not pregnant. ...and oh yeah, her lips are bigger and sexier too. Very important.
So... ...there's all of that.
Having just come off of a bunch of old pulpy stories from the '20's and '30's, the treatment of women in this book is, comparatively, interesting. On the one hand they're often very capable, possessed of genius and skills that make them invaluable, and often far more capable than their male c0-stars. Yet, at the same time, the book has ended with every single female character having been transformed into a bunch of nymphomaniac bombshells, INCLUDING the main character, Song, whose setup and motivation was to escape her father's plans to have her transformed into a nymphomaniac bombshell whose only purpose in life was to make babies.
PRISON FETISH
In a brilliant flash of insight, everything made sense to me about halfway through the book when it became apparent that Song/China's half of the novel consisted of lengthy, LENGTHY segments of detailed exposition about the various manners of imprisonment she was undergoing. Upon every stage of her journey, all the way from earth to the science-prison-asteroid (where she would eventually be transformed into a nymphomaniac bombshell who goes into heat whenever she's not pregnant, I shall repeat), every method of how she is restrained and imprisoned is meticulously described by prison guards.
"Ohhhhhhhh," I suddenly realized, in the middle of one of these scenes, "This is a fetish book. The author is into prison scenarios, multiple wives, mind-control, and turning women into nymphomaniac bombshells."
Maybe I would have realized it sooner, but by god if everything wasn't so dang CLINICAL, without a hint of passion or eroticism.
CONCLUSION
So there it is. Lords of the Middle Dark is a book about weird sci-fi concepts and fetishes disguised as weird sci-fi-concepts by the sheer dryness in which they're related to the reader.
And I just don't know how to feel about it.
On the one hand I'm intrigued by the bizarre ideas. The world is fascinating and thought-provoking in its premise, and throws a lot of strange ideas into my head. But on the other, those ideas are sometimes simply underutilized, and other times betrayed in favor of becoming fetish-fuel. So often it felt like characters were betrayed just to be transformed (literally) into fetish-fuel; but at the same time those character just kind of kept marching on. Sure Song/China, who wanted to be recognized for her brains and not her potential as a fertile mother DID end up changed into a literal baby-maker (also she was blinded by a booby-trapped mindprint machine, because why not), but at the same time she finishes as the biggest expert on star-ships, and has a new development in that she can link-up with the space-ship's AI and merge her mind into the ship, BECOMING the ship and transcending her violated body, so...? *shrug*.
I feel like there's a lot more I could talk about with this book. It FRUSTRATED me, but also INTRIGUED me. It often repulsed me, but also made me turn the page, hoping to find out that things would get better. The sheer dryness of the characters and the narrative was so boring, but also saved all the sexual torture from being so revolting I had to throw the book away.
I had books 2-4 bought along with this one, so, maybe I'll see how things fare for our strange, STRANGE cast of characters in the next one. Though I may take a break and read something more pleasant first. Digging into some sci fi by CJ Cherryh might feel light and joyful by comparison.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2021
Recommendation: a must-read, particularly for fans of British science fiction television.
Review: Although I'm a big fan of Chalker's "Well of Souls" science fiction series, this book sat on my shelf for close to 20 years before I finally got around to reading it last week. For some reason, it just never grabbed me; I'm embarrassed to admit it was probably the cover art, since I never actually tried to read it before last week.
Once I started, though, I was quickly hooked. The book is set in a far future Earth where the populace is kept in a state of extreme ignorance, blissfully unaware of any sort of electronics technology by an elite few who control things. One of the protagonists is approached by a renegade with important information, who dies in the attempt, leaving our hero with questions that can only be asked if he goes outside the system. What follows is a long chase sequence and effort to escape the controlled environments on Earth for the freedom of space. Instead, he ends up being deported to a penal colony in space. There, he manages to meet a team of other talented individuals (a pair of lock-pickers, a computer expert, a pilot, a killer, a brute, a mastermind, etc.) and contrive an unlikely escape plan which actually succeeds in their all boarding a special ship and befriending the sympathetic and all too self-aware A.I. that runs it. They then fly off, in search of the mechanism that will destroy the computer controls of the system and the status quo along with it. But they vow that one day they will return to Earth and set things right.
This was very well-done and an engaging read...but if you thought the plot sounded familiar, you're not alone. For the first 300 pages, I was plagued with a sense that I'd read this before, even though I clearly hadn't. When they escaped to the ship and convinced the A.I. to help them, suddenly I burst out laughing and continued for several minutes. This book seems familiar because what I've just outlined, above, is the exact plot of the first two episodes of the classic TV show "Blake's 7." It's uncanny, actually: every single element I've described, above, exists in both "Blake's 7" and "Lords of the Middle Dark." There are differences, of course, but the similarities are so numerous that one wonders if Chalker was watching "Blake's 7" when he started writing his new series. It makes me wonder what the next book is like, whether it continues to follow the "Blake's 7" storyline.
Review: Although I'm a big fan of Chalker's "Well of Souls" science fiction series, this book sat on my shelf for close to 20 years before I finally got around to reading it last week. For some reason, it just never grabbed me; I'm embarrassed to admit it was probably the cover art, since I never actually tried to read it before last week.
Once I started, though, I was quickly hooked. The book is set in a far future Earth where the populace is kept in a state of extreme ignorance, blissfully unaware of any sort of electronics technology by an elite few who control things. One of the protagonists is approached by a renegade with important information, who dies in the attempt, leaving our hero with questions that can only be asked if he goes outside the system. What follows is a long chase sequence and effort to escape the controlled environments on Earth for the freedom of space. Instead, he ends up being deported to a penal colony in space. There, he manages to meet a team of other talented individuals (a pair of lock-pickers, a computer expert, a pilot, a killer, a brute, a mastermind, etc.) and contrive an unlikely escape plan which actually succeeds in their all boarding a special ship and befriending the sympathetic and all too self-aware A.I. that runs it. They then fly off, in search of the mechanism that will destroy the computer controls of the system and the status quo along with it. But they vow that one day they will return to Earth and set things right.
This was very well-done and an engaging read...but if you thought the plot sounded familiar, you're not alone. For the first 300 pages, I was plagued with a sense that I'd read this before, even though I clearly hadn't. When they escaped to the ship and convinced the A.I. to help them, suddenly I burst out laughing and continued for several minutes. This book seems familiar because what I've just outlined, above, is the exact plot of the first two episodes of the classic TV show "Blake's 7." It's uncanny, actually: every single element I've described, above, exists in both "Blake's 7" and "Lords of the Middle Dark." There are differences, of course, but the similarities are so numerous that one wonders if Chalker was watching "Blake's 7" when he started writing his new series. It makes me wonder what the next book is like, whether it continues to follow the "Blake's 7" storyline.
May 2, 2020
Of all the books I've read when I was younger, this one definitely stands out the most I was 19 when it first came out and just happened to stumble into it as it was being stocked at my local bookstore. I remember this first Rings of the Master book was absolutely fantastic. You end up with a clear vision of the characters in your head and it's definitely a page turner. When it originally came out, it was slated as a 5 book series and I was SO EXCITED to get book 2 of the Rings of the Master series. I had to wait 8 months to get The second book, "Pirates of the Thunder" and probably got the first one out of the box over at the "Books a Million" store! It was equally as good as Lords of the Middle Dark, an incredible page turner and from what I remember I think I read this one in a single 36 hour session! LOL!!! I only had to wait 5 months to get book 3, Warriors of the Storm and this one almost felt like Mr. Chalker was starting to lose interest in the series. The descriptions of the scenes didn't feel as robust, it was still good, but not quite to the standards of the first two. 7 months later when I got Masks of the Martyrs, I was a bit saddened and disappointed, it turned out that this would be the last of the Rings of the Master Series. He decided to scrap the 5th book in the series. It's been a long time, but I don't remember the 4th one being quite the page turner that #1 and #2 were, it was basically about as good as #3, maybe a little bit better. I've since lost these books and will probably try to get them again but from what I've seen, especially the 4th book is hard to find. Too bad Jack never released digital editions of these.
April 23, 2021
I highly recommend this entire series of books. I have read, and re-read the series, worn out a half-dozen paperback copies, and have my current paperback copies inside of shrink-wrapped bags. Now I enjoy the series on Kindle and Audible.
This series, along with many others, is part of the literature that shapes my own writing, world building, and character generation. Mr. Chalker, thank you for creating such a wonderful series of books.
This series, along with many others, is part of the literature that shapes my own writing, world building, and character generation. Mr. Chalker, thank you for creating such a wonderful series of books.
August 5, 2018
An interesting story, though the female roles now seem quite dated, and obviously written by a man who sees them as sexual objects primarily. The writing is okay, the dialogue a little stiff.
October 12, 2021
This book really surprised me. It's not often that you can dig through a stack of old fantasy books that no one talks about and come out with a real gem. I wasn't sure about it at first, because the prologue seemed to have nothing to do with the rest of the novel, and I was waiting for it to come back around and be explained. This is truly a story in two parts- one about a Native American named Hawks and his two women escaping with knowledge they shouldn't have, and the other a Chinese girl name Song Ching from a prominent family who is being sent to be essentially re-programmed to become a breeder. This is post-apocalyptic Earth, one after AI has taken over and sent half of humanity into the stars, and regressed the other half to primitive times in their respective countries' pasts. The Master System knows all, and it rules all, and keeps humanity from progressing technologically, with the exception of a few watchers who travel back and forth from "council" (read: the mother ship, basically) to keep an eye on things. Each area of Earth is run by a Lord of the Middle Dark (middle management, for all intents and purposes).
I have never seen anything like this done before- a marriage of Native American historical fiction and The Matrix, and it was just fascinating and so well done. Chalker kept the action moving and never stopped to over-explain anything. I loved the mind-printing idea, the asteroid prison, the body modification, and the personable AI as the pilot who can join and become one with a person. I've got to hand it to Chalker as well in terms of representation. He did a fabulous job of not calling attention to any of it (polygamy, same sex attraction and sex, and a person changing sexes multiple times, as well as many different races of people who are completely capable and brilliant in their own ways), but weaving it seamlessly into the story. Take notes, folks. This is how it's done. Final score 4.5/5 and can't wait to read the next.
I have never seen anything like this done before- a marriage of Native American historical fiction and The Matrix, and it was just fascinating and so well done. Chalker kept the action moving and never stopped to over-explain anything. I loved the mind-printing idea, the asteroid prison, the body modification, and the personable AI as the pilot who can join and become one with a person. I've got to hand it to Chalker as well in terms of representation. He did a fabulous job of not calling attention to any of it (polygamy, same sex attraction and sex, and a person changing sexes multiple times, as well as many different races of people who are completely capable and brilliant in their own ways), but weaving it seamlessly into the story. Take notes, folks. This is how it's done. Final score 4.5/5 and can't wait to read the next.
June 24, 2018
Finally finding time to re-read stuff that I read years ago, with the premise that if it's still on my shelves I must have enjoyed it enough first time around to not get rid.
This was first published in the UK thirty years ago, and it's probably around that time that I read it. Thirty years! That's almost historical now. Three stars this time, but I suspect I enjoyed it more back then. Time, and probably (maybe?) maturity may have coloured my perceptions.
It's basically the start of a fantasy quest but in an SFnal setting - all the tropes are there: "magic" rings; a group of quest-ers thrown together, some with secrets of their own; an evil over-lord that must be defeated...
The book and the science is very much of it's time - writing and concepts have moved on in those thirty years and some of it feels very dated (not as dated as that of the Golden Age of SF - is there a series of SF "ages" now, like there is for comics? If not, should there be?) But it is, perhaps, Chalker's treatment of women which would most get him criticized by today's audience. I've read that most of his books involved bodily change (I've only read two of his series and can't remember much of the other) but it is the women in this series that undergo that most hardships - two scarred, one blinded and turned into, basically, a baby-factory, one muted by having her tongue removed, another genetically altered to have a tail. It may be that in the current "Me too" age, this book would never have been published as is, and it's probably best to treat it as the thing from the past that it is.
This was first published in the UK thirty years ago, and it's probably around that time that I read it. Thirty years! That's almost historical now. Three stars this time, but I suspect I enjoyed it more back then. Time, and probably (maybe?) maturity may have coloured my perceptions.
It's basically the start of a fantasy quest but in an SFnal setting - all the tropes are there: "magic" rings; a group of quest-ers thrown together, some with secrets of their own; an evil over-lord that must be defeated...
The book and the science is very much of it's time - writing and concepts have moved on in those thirty years and some of it feels very dated (not as dated as that of the Golden Age of SF - is there a series of SF "ages" now, like there is for comics? If not, should there be?) But it is, perhaps, Chalker's treatment of women which would most get him criticized by today's audience. I've read that most of his books involved bodily change (I've only read two of his series and can't remember much of the other) but it is the women in this series that undergo that most hardships - two scarred, one blinded and turned into, basically, a baby-factory, one muted by having her tongue removed, another genetically altered to have a tail. It may be that in the current "Me too" age, this book would never have been published as is, and it's probably best to treat it as the thing from the past that it is.
October 27, 2020
This book was most intriguing. The Matrix is one of my all-time favourite movies, and in many ways, this book and that film are similar. Machines can plug into your mind, and completely rewrite who you are, or implant new skills and languages, all to serve someone else's purpose. At the same time, I was reminded of The Expanse, as a rag-tag group of misfits have acquired a ship by questionable means, and are off to explore the far reaches of space in an attempt to save humanity.
On the short list of fascinating things, Master System (think of the Architect in The Matrix meets Skynet) has maintained control by reverting mankind back to its more "primitive" origins. What's interesting is how "primitive" is decided. Much of this is based on stereotype- a romanticized vision of indigenous peoples, for example. But these (supposedly) simple people are the true geniuses who just may be able to beat the Master System.
The downsides with this book were few. The main one was trying to keep track of some of the names. For example, Raven and Crow are used synonymously, and another character goes through three name changes before the book is done. Trying to keep them straight can be a challenge. Also, there are many aspects of this book that simply would not bode well if it were written today, such as character names and stereotyping. Remember that this book's over 30 years old, and probably a product of its time. If you can put that aside, you'll be privy to a story with a pretty cool premise.
On the short list of fascinating things, Master System (think of the Architect in The Matrix meets Skynet) has maintained control by reverting mankind back to its more "primitive" origins. What's interesting is how "primitive" is decided. Much of this is based on stereotype- a romanticized vision of indigenous peoples, for example. But these (supposedly) simple people are the true geniuses who just may be able to beat the Master System.
The downsides with this book were few. The main one was trying to keep track of some of the names. For example, Raven and Crow are used synonymously, and another character goes through three name changes before the book is done. Trying to keep them straight can be a challenge. Also, there are many aspects of this book that simply would not bode well if it were written today, such as character names and stereotyping. Remember that this book's over 30 years old, and probably a product of its time. If you can put that aside, you'll be privy to a story with a pretty cool premise.
September 12, 2023
There’s so much of this book that has not stood the test of time. Which is unfortunate because I really enjoyed the premise and the adventure.
They had to change the name of the Chinese character because “computers don’t speak Mandarin, they only speak English”…okay. So her new name is China Nightingale.
The same character is first described as “the sort of woman men fantasised about.” It goes on, and then ends the paragraph letting us know she’s only 17.
The rape is really raping all throughout. There’s a whole chapter really delving into sex slaves. And don’t get me wrong I’m not of the belief that you can’t include rape/SA in your stories, but some of these scene are including underaged teens and lean towards fetish.
Lots of telling not showing, I guess that’s a style of writing at the time - but the chapter where they’re escaping the prison and it’s said Hawk has the respect of prison leader because they wrestled and he’d won once or twice? I really would have rather seen that instead of just been told that had happened. Don’t believe that little historian Hawks could have thrown down with hardened prisoners, and definitely not without seeing it.
They had to change the name of the Chinese character because “computers don’t speak Mandarin, they only speak English”…okay. So her new name is China Nightingale.
The same character is first described as “the sort of woman men fantasised about.” It goes on, and then ends the paragraph letting us know she’s only 17.
The rape is really raping all throughout. There’s a whole chapter really delving into sex slaves. And don’t get me wrong I’m not of the belief that you can’t include rape/SA in your stories, but some of these scene are including underaged teens and lean towards fetish.
Lots of telling not showing, I guess that’s a style of writing at the time - but the chapter where they’re escaping the prison and it’s said Hawk has the respect of prison leader because they wrestled and he’d won once or twice? I really would have rather seen that instead of just been told that had happened. Don’t believe that little historian Hawks could have thrown down with hardened prisoners, and definitely not without seeing it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2017
This is the series I was thinking of when I read the Well World series last year.
Although still clunky in several ways, the writing in this book is smoother than the earlier series. It can still be choppy-- dialogue is either curt and modern or overly romanticized. There is an insane amount of information to set up the universe and it's often clumsily handled, one character lecturing another. But for a series launch, there is quite a bit of action.
I'm pretty sure I discovered this author on the Friends book sale self at the Silverdale branch of the Kitsap Regional Library. I tended to pick up romances and sci-fi/fantasy because mass-market paperback's were half the price of hard covers. Many of the things I brought home, certainly including the autjor, are not wonderful examples of literature. The author tends to include scenes or opinions of his female characters that are not at all flattering. I'm never sure if they represent a personal fantasy, simply the thinking at the time, or evidence something a little broken about him.
Although still clunky in several ways, the writing in this book is smoother than the earlier series. It can still be choppy-- dialogue is either curt and modern or overly romanticized. There is an insane amount of information to set up the universe and it's often clumsily handled, one character lecturing another. But for a series launch, there is quite a bit of action.
I'm pretty sure I discovered this author on the Friends book sale self at the Silverdale branch of the Kitsap Regional Library. I tended to pick up romances and sci-fi/fantasy because mass-market paperback's were half the price of hard covers. Many of the things I brought home, certainly including the autjor, are not wonderful examples of literature. The author tends to include scenes or opinions of his female characters that are not at all flattering. I'm never sure if they represent a personal fantasy, simply the thinking at the time, or evidence something a little broken about him.
October 27, 2024
I read Chalker in high school and loved The Midnight at the Well of Soul’s series and thought I would try another one of his books. This series was a slow start and never caught fire for me. The master computer ruling Earth was dull dull dull. The character’s were vapid and uninteresting. The whole Indian (feather not dot) backdrop was just silly. An educated Indian (sure) finds out how to retake control from the Master Computer and goes on a quest to find five keys scattered across the galaxy. Sound dumb enough yet? Just wait it gets dumber. The Indian gets a couple of wives and simultaneously an Asian female rebel escapes being a breeder and switches sexes into some chick dude thing and manages to take over a space ship but gets caught. . . .I will not continue as I have supplied a sufficient picture of how dumb this story is. Trust me it gets worse. In modern parlance smash or pass you should choose:
PASS
PASS
February 5, 2020
I love this series. I don't often reread books, but this one I read with Tyler when we were first married and now I'm reading it out loud to June. This means it will take us forever to finish, but it is still worth the experience with her. Also, I can edit things while I read. It isn't terrible, but the mother in me still deletes unnecessary evils. :)
The story is so fun, although probably over done throughout science fiction. Super computer takes over the world. Only a handful of people can stop it. But what a handful. So different and with skills in many areas. I'm already looking forward to their search for the rings and the dilemmas they will have to solve. It is like coming home to old friends. Hawks, Cloud Dancer, China, and many more. I feel this story has so much interesting stuff going on. What an imagination some people have.
The story is so fun, although probably over done throughout science fiction. Super computer takes over the world. Only a handful of people can stop it. But what a handful. So different and with skills in many areas. I'm already looking forward to their search for the rings and the dilemmas they will have to solve. It is like coming home to old friends. Hawks, Cloud Dancer, China, and many more. I feel this story has so much interesting stuff going on. What an imagination some people have.
April 29, 2024
This series has a big personal meaning for me. In late 90's, I ended up owning the second book in this series -- English-language books were pretty difficult to obtain still, and expensive. As a SF/fantasy nerd, I read and re-read Pirates of the Thunder countless times but never finished the series. I have read the first book sometime after that and before I started logging in Goodreads, but I don't think I got to books 3 or 4.
Heck, I recall even doing a book report on book 2 in English class on this splendid space pulp tale of a mash-up of cultures, bodily transformations and mind programming. It's probably less weird today but has aged well. Looking forward to finally completing the circle I started as a teen.
Heck, I recall even doing a book report on book 2 in English class on this splendid space pulp tale of a mash-up of cultures, bodily transformations and mind programming. It's probably less weird today but has aged well. Looking forward to finally completing the circle I started as a teen.
October 22, 2025
This one was interesting for me. At the start I couldn’t put this book down and was loving the action and pace, characters were strong and overall the feel was amazing. It. Just. Didn’t. Slow. Down. The thing is that I’m not super used to reading sci fi from the pulp subgenera and found the pace crazy. Just when things feel one way we’re off to the next thing. Feel good and established with the characters? SIKE THERES 3 MORE NOW. Typically I havnt liked anything pulp in the past but this series is serving as a good foray into it. I’m trusting the genre and enjoying it so far, just have to leave expectation at the air lock door. Onto number 2.
December 31, 2018
This book features the not-quite original premise of computer decides it knows what's best for humanity and enslaves them. The semi-interesting twist, is that Earth humans are reduced to their primitive states while the rest are shipped off to distant worlds and modified to fit. Chalker has such a thing for body modification and transexualism; somebody should write a book on his hang ups.
The characters are pretty one-dimensional who do a lot of giving speeches to explain their reasoning and motivations. It's still a decent read that falls pretty short of the level of classic.
The characters are pretty one-dimensional who do a lot of giving speeches to explain their reasoning and motivations. It's still a decent read that falls pretty short of the level of classic.
February 2, 2021
it's one of the books that makes an impression that you might not be able to recapture ever again. First time I read it I was in between that awkward phase between adolescent and teen and I though it was the bees knees. But you get on reading different books, exploring genres, even mediums. You grow. And this books stayed the same. And maybe it didn't age too well. Still I like to remember reading it as a good experience, even though reading it now maybe doesn't carry the same feeling.
October 7, 2021
Chalker was a good writer. I enjoyed his River of Dancing Gods series as a preteen / teen and will probably go back and reread them. I found this book a lot harder to swallow. It seems that all of his books revolve around the concept of transformation and identity. But in this one, while important to the plot, the concept was forced. There's a little too much degradation for my taste as well.
Read
October 23, 2025Long ago, the machines had rebelled, wiping out most of humanity and exiling the survivors in widely scattered reservations. Master System ruled unchallenged, the key to breaking its power -- five microchips disguised as gold rings, carefully hidden away. But then an Amerindian called Hawks stumbled across information about the five rings, and suddenly Master System developed an interest in seeing Hawks dead . . .
January 10, 2017
I didn't expect to love it. Definitely in the sci-fi genre. The Matrix and Total Recall plus The 5th Element combined. The fact it was published in 1986 makes me wish I had read it younger and owned the paperbacks. Reading it now only made me see it as a movie. An R rated movie that would give Starwars a run for it's money... Nah! Looking forward to the rest of the series.
May 26, 2017
Very different premise for a sci-fi novel. Unique story, not at all what I expected. After reading the whole series now, it's hard to rate this first one, because the groundwork is so different from the other stories. He blends primitive cultures with an all powerful computer overlord, and a totally new governmental system. Like nothing I've read before. Well worth the read.
January 31, 2023
This is a vast dystopian world. A good what if tech got to much power. It's a slow paced read, your not in a hurry to get where your going. Things really didn't pick up till toward the end. I found things done to some of the females disturbing, as well as people getting reprogrammed. It's a chilling world. I highly recommend a good palette of something lighter after reading this.
July 2, 2021
I have read the Rings of the Master series twice already and I really have enjoyed it each time. I find something new about it with each readthrough. I have recently started reading the series again, which is why I find myself here giving it a rating.
June 4, 2017
Super readable science fiction. Interesting concepts, protagonists to root for. If - as I read in other reviews - this is one of the lesser Chalkers, I'm curious for his other work.
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