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The Face of the Waters
“This is hard sci-fi done right.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review). “One of the enduring classics of science fiction.” —George R.R. Martin
Deep in the future, natives of the planet Hydros, an ocean planet whose inhabitants live on artificial floating islands, force the entire human population of the island of Sorve into exile, leaving the outcasts to ponder their fate, their past, and the true purpose of humanity.
After a human offense against the natives of Hydros, the human population of the island of Sorve are ordered to leave. Forbidden on all other islands, in a flotilla of ships they seek the semi-mythical island of the Face of the Waters. During their journey they are forced to learn more about themselves, leading to questions about both religion and the purpose of Man. At the end of the novel Robert Silverberg addresses what it means to be human, and explores what unites and divides humanity.
This new edition of THE FACE OF THE WATERS, published with the author's full support, brings Silverberg’s brilliant novel back into the must-read science-fiction canon, after decades of being out of print.
Deep in the future, natives of the planet Hydros, an ocean planet whose inhabitants live on artificial floating islands, force the entire human population of the island of Sorve into exile, leaving the outcasts to ponder their fate, their past, and the true purpose of humanity.
After a human offense against the natives of Hydros, the human population of the island of Sorve are ordered to leave. Forbidden on all other islands, in a flotilla of ships they seek the semi-mythical island of the Face of the Waters. During their journey they are forced to learn more about themselves, leading to questions about both religion and the purpose of Man. At the end of the novel Robert Silverberg addresses what it means to be human, and explores what unites and divides humanity.
This new edition of THE FACE OF THE WATERS, published with the author's full support, brings Silverberg’s brilliant novel back into the must-read science-fiction canon, after decades of being out of print.
386 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1991
22 people are currently reading
3459 people want to read
About the author
Robert Silverberg
2,342 books1,601 followersThere are many authors in the database with this name.
Robert Silverberg is a highly celebrated American science fiction author and editor known for his prolific output and literary range. Over a career spanning decades, he has won multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards and was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2004. Inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1999, Silverberg is recognized for both his immense productivity and his contributions to the genre's evolution.
Born in Brooklyn, he began writing in his teens and won his first Hugo Award in 1956 as the best new writer. Throughout the 1950s, he produced vast amounts of fiction, often under pseudonyms, and was known for writing up to a million words a year. When the market declined, he diversified into other genres, including historical nonfiction and erotica.
Silverberg’s return to science fiction in the 1960s marked a shift toward deeper psychological and literary themes, contributing significantly to the New Wave movement. Acclaimed works from this period include Downward to the Earth, Dying Inside, Nightwings, and The World Inside. In the 1980s, he launched the Majipoor series with Lord Valentine’s Castle, creating one of the most imaginative planetary settings in science fiction.
Though he announced his retirement from writing in the mid-1970s, Silverberg returned with renewed vigor and continued to publish acclaimed fiction into the 1990s. He received further recognition with the Nebula-winning Sailing to Byzantium and the Hugo-winning Gilgamesh in the Outback.
Silverberg has also played a significant role as an editor and anthologist, shaping science fiction literature through both his own work and his influence on others. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, author Karen Haber.
Robert Silverberg is a highly celebrated American science fiction author and editor known for his prolific output and literary range. Over a career spanning decades, he has won multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards and was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2004. Inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1999, Silverberg is recognized for both his immense productivity and his contributions to the genre's evolution.
Born in Brooklyn, he began writing in his teens and won his first Hugo Award in 1956 as the best new writer. Throughout the 1950s, he produced vast amounts of fiction, often under pseudonyms, and was known for writing up to a million words a year. When the market declined, he diversified into other genres, including historical nonfiction and erotica.
Silverberg’s return to science fiction in the 1960s marked a shift toward deeper psychological and literary themes, contributing significantly to the New Wave movement. Acclaimed works from this period include Downward to the Earth, Dying Inside, Nightwings, and The World Inside. In the 1980s, he launched the Majipoor series with Lord Valentine’s Castle, creating one of the most imaginative planetary settings in science fiction.
Though he announced his retirement from writing in the mid-1970s, Silverberg returned with renewed vigor and continued to publish acclaimed fiction into the 1990s. He received further recognition with the Nebula-winning Sailing to Byzantium and the Hugo-winning Gilgamesh in the Outback.
Silverberg has also played a significant role as an editor and anthologist, shaping science fiction literature through both his own work and his influence on others. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, author Karen Haber.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
May 10, 2013
the world is an ocean; humanity has come and cannot go. humanity lives on a chain of artificial islands and is perhaps now doomed, due to typical human stupidity & cupidity. where to flee? to an uncharted place on this uncharted planet, to The Face of the Waters. to find death or transcendence, or both?
our hero is a doctor, alienated from his tiny society and alienated from himself. he yearns for something, something more, something else... Earth? connection to his fellows? a deeper meaning for his life or something to explain the meaning of the life he has lived so far? he yearns and breaks himself upon the wheel of that yearning. broken and then remade? he is a classic Silverberg protagonist.
this is less of a science fantasy adventure and more of an extended & dreamlike existential crisis. mournful and hopeful in equal measures. with, truth be told, some monotony thrown in. but much melancholic beauty as well. the central character is multi-faceted and drawn with depth and clarity... the author's self-portrait?
some good monsters.
this review is a part of a longer article on Robert Silverberg posted on Shelf Inflicted.
our hero is a doctor, alienated from his tiny society and alienated from himself. he yearns for something, something more, something else... Earth? connection to his fellows? a deeper meaning for his life or something to explain the meaning of the life he has lived so far? he yearns and breaks himself upon the wheel of that yearning. broken and then remade? he is a classic Silverberg protagonist.
this is less of a science fantasy adventure and more of an extended & dreamlike existential crisis. mournful and hopeful in equal measures. with, truth be told, some monotony thrown in. but much melancholic beauty as well. the central character is multi-faceted and drawn with depth and clarity... the author's self-portrait?
some good monsters.
this review is a part of a longer article on Robert Silverberg posted on Shelf Inflicted.
April 1, 2024
3,5 estrellas en realidad.
No me ha gustado. Su final es como el sueño húmedo de un socialista o un hippie. Pero aun así, aunque seas un acérrimo seguidor de estas ideologías no termina de ser un buen libro.
Conocemos al doctor Lawler que, junto a su comunidad, vive en el planeta Hydros, un planeta acuático en donde solo es posible vivir en unas gigantescas plataformas construidas por los gilles (los nativos). Todo se desmorona el día en que los gilles los echan, por lo que se ven forzados a lanzarse al mar en busca de un nuevo hogar.
Un libro más de aventura y fantasía que de ciencia ficción que, aunque presenta un mundo interesante y con criaturas muy variadas e imaginativas, falla en entregar una buena trama. Y es que su historia es demasiado simple, sin grandes sorpresas ni giros inesperados. Por lo demás le sobran páginas, no entiendo cuál era la idea de Silverberg de entregar una novela tan extensa con una trama tan simple.
El libro se divide en 3 partes y la primera de ellas perfectamente se pudo reducir a la mitad. La segunda a sólo dos o tres capítulos porque no hay nada realmente relevante más que encuentros con una u otra criatura que, aunque interesante, de quitarlos no altera en nada la historia. Y la tercera parte, perfectamente pudo contarse en cuatro o cinco capítulos (tiene nueve).
El final es anticlimático, ni siquiera exploran el lugar misterioso al que se dirigen. Sin mencionar que hay contradicciones directas como que esta "cosa misteriosa" siempre los había estado llamando, pero los llena de impedimentos en el recorrido.
Por otra parte, el personaje principal es patético, decadente, con su llama interna hace mucho tiempo apagada, dependiente de las drogas e incapaz de luchar por lo que quiere porque ni él mismo sabe lo que quiere. No tiene sueños o ambiciones, solo es y existe como la mayoría de los personajes, lo que resulta frustrante de leer. El triángulo amoroso presentado es indigesto, decadente, igual que su protagonista no tiene ni una pizca de amor o pasión pese a que al final se insisten en decir "te amo", pero no hay nada que nos lo demuestre.
Ahora, ¿por qué, pese a todo lo anteriormente mencionado, le doy 3,5 estrellas a esta novela? Sencillo, pese a todo el relleno Silverberg sabe enganchar al lector, mantener el misterio y hacerte pasar página, lo que habla muy bien de sus habilidades literarias. Segundo, lo mencioné antes, pero el mundo de Hydros es muy interesante y las criaturas son bastante originales y variadas. En este aspecto Silverberg hizo un gran trabajo al punto que si lo hubiera presentado desde distintos puntos de vista (como la del cura, el capitán o Sundria) la novela sería mucho más. De hecho, no notas el relleno hasta que terminas los capítulos y descubres que todo lo contado se pudo resumir, o quitar, y no hubiera cambiado en nada la historia.
Actualmente "La faz de las aguas" tiene una nota 3.59 aquí en "Goodreads" y no puedo estar más de acuerdo. Aunque no es una novela que me haya gustado al menos descubrir el mundo de Hydros y sus criaturas me entretuvo. La lectura también fue amena.
Si te gustan las aventuras marítimas, leer sobre sociedades ficticias y sus monstruos tal vez sea tu libro. De lo contrario déjalo pasar, no te perderás de mucho.
No me ha gustado. Su final es como el sueño húmedo de un socialista o un hippie. Pero aun así, aunque seas un acérrimo seguidor de estas ideologías no termina de ser un buen libro.
Conocemos al doctor Lawler que, junto a su comunidad, vive en el planeta Hydros, un planeta acuático en donde solo es posible vivir en unas gigantescas plataformas construidas por los gilles (los nativos). Todo se desmorona el día en que los gilles los echan, por lo que se ven forzados a lanzarse al mar en busca de un nuevo hogar.
Un libro más de aventura y fantasía que de ciencia ficción que, aunque presenta un mundo interesante y con criaturas muy variadas e imaginativas, falla en entregar una buena trama. Y es que su historia es demasiado simple, sin grandes sorpresas ni giros inesperados. Por lo demás le sobran páginas, no entiendo cuál era la idea de Silverberg de entregar una novela tan extensa con una trama tan simple.
El libro se divide en 3 partes y la primera de ellas perfectamente se pudo reducir a la mitad. La segunda a sólo dos o tres capítulos porque no hay nada realmente relevante más que encuentros con una u otra criatura que, aunque interesante, de quitarlos no altera en nada la historia. Y la tercera parte, perfectamente pudo contarse en cuatro o cinco capítulos (tiene nueve).
El final es anticlimático, ni siquiera exploran el lugar misterioso al que se dirigen. Sin mencionar que hay contradicciones directas como que esta "cosa misteriosa" siempre los había estado llamando, pero los llena de impedimentos en el recorrido.
Por otra parte, el personaje principal es patético, decadente, con su llama interna hace mucho tiempo apagada, dependiente de las drogas e incapaz de luchar por lo que quiere porque ni él mismo sabe lo que quiere. No tiene sueños o ambiciones, solo es y existe como la mayoría de los personajes, lo que resulta frustrante de leer. El triángulo amoroso presentado es indigesto, decadente, igual que su protagonista no tiene ni una pizca de amor o pasión pese a que al final se insisten en decir "te amo", pero no hay nada que nos lo demuestre.
Ahora, ¿por qué, pese a todo lo anteriormente mencionado, le doy 3,5 estrellas a esta novela? Sencillo, pese a todo el relleno Silverberg sabe enganchar al lector, mantener el misterio y hacerte pasar página, lo que habla muy bien de sus habilidades literarias. Segundo, lo mencioné antes, pero el mundo de Hydros es muy interesante y las criaturas son bastante originales y variadas. En este aspecto Silverberg hizo un gran trabajo al punto que si lo hubiera presentado desde distintos puntos de vista (como la del cura, el capitán o Sundria) la novela sería mucho más. De hecho, no notas el relleno hasta que terminas los capítulos y descubres que todo lo contado se pudo resumir, o quitar, y no hubiera cambiado en nada la historia.
Actualmente "La faz de las aguas" tiene una nota 3.59 aquí en "Goodreads" y no puedo estar más de acuerdo. Aunque no es una novela que me haya gustado al menos descubrir el mundo de Hydros y sus criaturas me entretuvo. La lectura también fue amena.
Si te gustan las aventuras marítimas, leer sobre sociedades ficticias y sus monstruos tal vez sea tu libro. De lo contrario déjalo pasar, no te perderás de mucho.
August 16, 2018
Rating: 3.33
When Earth was destroyed by a catastrophe two hundred years ago earthlings went into exile, and one of the planets where they descended onto was known as Hydros, a world full of water and some pretty intelligent amphibious creatures in their own ways.
This novel deals with how humans negotiate with the natives, and shows how humans will always remain humans in the sense of power and control over everyone and everything else. Yet, there are things that human beings will not understand, being 'only human' as they think they are; and when the time comes to succumb to a greater force, they still can be so hesitant and be proud with their own reasoning, that some would still decide to rather be lonesome than be a part of the larger oneness! What the story also taught me was in line to the well-known proverb attributed to Saint Ambrose, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Only in this case it was: "When not on Earth, do-not as the Earthmen do." That we have to become a part of the others!! Of course this can also apply to us in the various regions of our own planet. :)
Although this novel did make me think about certain things by the end of it, I had to give it a lesser rating. It is a strong 3+ stars. The story was nice. I would say the imagination was extremely nice. The various amount of alien creatures described are rich and vivid in imagination. But somehow the story was not very gripping and catchy. It has its mystery, best withheld and the book kept reading without any expectations. The end, I felt, was a mix of something that I did not want to happen, yet there was something interesting to contemplate about.
The last two-third of the book was the moment in which the story was taking place within only one scene, although there were different situations, and some descriptions of backstory. It was becoming one-dimensional. This had started to bore me, and the bit of change would come only at the end.
The book could probably be very interesting for people who should be new to reading science-fiction. I like marine SF, and having not read much in that sub-genre. I had picked up this book despite its mediocre ratings. As an adventure, it is decent. The language is very easy, and once the setting is imagined well in the beginning, the book is a smooth-read. Nothing literary in the book regarding the style of writing though. Still, a good story to read, think, and probably then to let-go of the book. :)
When Earth was destroyed by a catastrophe two hundred years ago earthlings went into exile, and one of the planets where they descended onto was known as Hydros, a world full of water and some pretty intelligent amphibious creatures in their own ways.
This novel deals with how humans negotiate with the natives, and shows how humans will always remain humans in the sense of power and control over everyone and everything else. Yet, there are things that human beings will not understand, being 'only human' as they think they are; and when the time comes to succumb to a greater force, they still can be so hesitant and be proud with their own reasoning, that some would still decide to rather be lonesome than be a part of the larger oneness! What the story also taught me was in line to the well-known proverb attributed to Saint Ambrose, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Only in this case it was: "When not on Earth, do-not as the Earthmen do." That we have to become a part of the others!! Of course this can also apply to us in the various regions of our own planet. :)
Although this novel did make me think about certain things by the end of it, I had to give it a lesser rating. It is a strong 3+ stars. The story was nice. I would say the imagination was extremely nice. The various amount of alien creatures described are rich and vivid in imagination. But somehow the story was not very gripping and catchy. It has its mystery, best withheld and the book kept reading without any expectations. The end, I felt, was a mix of something that I did not want to happen, yet there was something interesting to contemplate about.
The last two-third of the book was the moment in which the story was taking place within only one scene, although there were different situations, and some descriptions of backstory. It was becoming one-dimensional. This had started to bore me, and the bit of change would come only at the end.
The book could probably be very interesting for people who should be new to reading science-fiction. I like marine SF, and having not read much in that sub-genre. I had picked up this book despite its mediocre ratings. As an adventure, it is decent. The language is very easy, and once the setting is imagined well in the beginning, the book is a smooth-read. Nothing literary in the book regarding the style of writing though. Still, a good story to read, think, and probably then to let-go of the book. :)
November 23, 2013
-Tibieza.-
Género. Ciencia-Ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. Un pequeño grupo de personas sufre viajando por el peligroso mar del planeta Hydros. Y es algo que no han tenido más remedio que hacer ya que se han visto obligados a dejar la isla artificial de Sorve debido a un conflicto con los habitantes nativos, los gillies, causado por uno de los humanos, todos ellos con diferentes historias y personalidades que no siempre son sanas.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Ciencia-Ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. Un pequeño grupo de personas sufre viajando por el peligroso mar del planeta Hydros. Y es algo que no han tenido más remedio que hacer ya que se han visto obligados a dejar la isla artificial de Sorve debido a un conflicto con los habitantes nativos, los gillies, causado por uno de los humanos, todos ellos con diferentes historias y personalidades que no siempre son sanas.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
October 5, 2022
The Face of the Waters by Robert Silverberg is a highly recommended. This review is for the re-release of the classic science fiction novel originally published 10/1/91.
After the destruction of Earth, a surviving groups of humans are living are living on other planets. Hydros is a world covered in oceans and has a few artificial islands. When a human commits an offense against a group of intelligent aquatic mammals, the human population of the island Sorve are forced into exile. The group is on six ships and they are searching for new home while navigating oceans full of hostile intelligent creatures as well as bad weather.
Silverberg excels at creating worlds and this gift is in full display here. The world building is what makes The Face of the Waters worth reading and I'm sure it is why it is being re-released. The intelligent creatures he imagines and populate Hydro with is incredible, as are the artificial islands humans populate.
The epic is told through the point-of-view of Valben Lawler, the doctor, who is addicted to drugs trying to treat his own problems, but he is a moral character. Delegard, who is disagreeable as a character still portrays some redeeming human characteristics. The Face of the Waters clearly explores what it means to be human and in a community in contrast to what it is to be alien.
There are several plot elements that date the novel to be clearly written in 1991. There is a mystery embedded in the novel and the ending is satisfying, but, as a fan, Silverberg has written better. 3.5rounded up
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Three Rooms Press.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/1...
After the destruction of Earth, a surviving groups of humans are living are living on other planets. Hydros is a world covered in oceans and has a few artificial islands. When a human commits an offense against a group of intelligent aquatic mammals, the human population of the island Sorve are forced into exile. The group is on six ships and they are searching for new home while navigating oceans full of hostile intelligent creatures as well as bad weather.
Silverberg excels at creating worlds and this gift is in full display here. The world building is what makes The Face of the Waters worth reading and I'm sure it is why it is being re-released. The intelligent creatures he imagines and populate Hydro with is incredible, as are the artificial islands humans populate.
The epic is told through the point-of-view of Valben Lawler, the doctor, who is addicted to drugs trying to treat his own problems, but he is a moral character. Delegard, who is disagreeable as a character still portrays some redeeming human characteristics. The Face of the Waters clearly explores what it means to be human and in a community in contrast to what it is to be alien.
There are several plot elements that date the novel to be clearly written in 1991. There is a mystery embedded in the novel and the ending is satisfying, but, as a fan, Silverberg has written better. 3.5rounded up
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Three Rooms Press.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/1...
October 15, 2010
A hundred pages of story squeezed into a 436-page book. Like a movie made from a short story, it felt artificial and padded. The science is so soft, this better qualifies as fantasy.
Like most trip adventures, this includes many improbable creatures and challenges and a weeding out of the "fellowship" of adventures. But there's little growth--by the protagonist or others--just more improbable creatures/challenges.
The orbital dynamics of a double planet with three moons is improbable. Too much time spent on the back story. The flora and fauna of Hydros felt like stage props rather than a well-conceived world.
Silverberg ought to be ashamed of himself.
Like most trip adventures, this includes many improbable creatures and challenges and a weeding out of the "fellowship" of adventures. But there's little growth--by the protagonist or others--just more improbable creatures/challenges.
The orbital dynamics of a double planet with three moons is improbable. Too much time spent on the back story. The flora and fauna of Hydros felt like stage props rather than a well-conceived world.
Silverberg ought to be ashamed of himself.
May 1, 2013
This book has an interesting setting, and attempts to do some really deep philosophical stuff about god, the universe, and living planets, but I'm not quite happy with it.
For quite a long time during the voyage, nothing really happens apart from random encounters with all kinds of aquatic beasties, which are very diverse and all, but a bit random, and weather phenomena. These only serve to thin out the cast, but don't really have much of an impact on the remaining characters, for example in terms of personal development.
Another issue I'm not terribly happy about is the main character. He's pretty juvenile for a 50-ish guy. Somehow, it seems as if the author couldn't decide where to go with him, as, at the beginning, he's so attached to his island that he gets withdrawal symptoms within half an hour of visiting a neighbouring island, and finds everything horrible and unfamiliar there. He also adamantly demands that all the exiles from Sorve stay together and find a new island that will take all of them, because he can't bear losing the community. I wonder if the others actually got asked?
And then, suddenly, he goes: oh, woe is me, my family has been on this island for over 100 years, but I've never felt at home here, and I miss Earth sooo much...it just doesn't really fit, and he often comes across as a mopey teenager.
The whole thing might have been more interesting if told from somebody else's p-o-v.
Another thing: the exile is caused by the divers getting the bends. Which is actually impossible. Human divers get the bends because they breathe compressed air from a tank, which marine mammals don't. So, better research would have avoided all that misery...
For quite a long time during the voyage, nothing really happens apart from random encounters with all kinds of aquatic beasties, which are very diverse and all, but a bit random, and weather phenomena. These only serve to thin out the cast, but don't really have much of an impact on the remaining characters, for example in terms of personal development.
Another issue I'm not terribly happy about is the main character. He's pretty juvenile for a 50-ish guy. Somehow, it seems as if the author couldn't decide where to go with him, as, at the beginning, he's so attached to his island that he gets withdrawal symptoms within half an hour of visiting a neighbouring island, and finds everything horrible and unfamiliar there. He also adamantly demands that all the exiles from Sorve stay together and find a new island that will take all of them, because he can't bear losing the community. I wonder if the others actually got asked?
And then, suddenly, he goes: oh, woe is me, my family has been on this island for over 100 years, but I've never felt at home here, and I miss Earth sooo much...it just doesn't really fit, and he often comes across as a mopey teenager.
The whole thing might have been more interesting if told from somebody else's p-o-v.
Another thing: the exile is caused by the divers getting the bends. Which is actually impossible. Human divers get the bends because they breathe compressed air from a tank, which marine mammals don't. So, better research would have avoided all that misery...
May 11, 2017
Поизмъчи ме тази книга... Далеч не е най-доброто на Силвърбърг. Според мен около една трета от обема може да се намали, без да се изгуби кой знае какво... Много добра идея, иначе... Но не съвсем добре реализирана. Три броя звезди.
May 29, 2016
Ce roman de Silverberg nous raconte comment, sur une planète-océan perdue au fin fond de l’espace, les habitants humains d’une île ont été chassés pour partir dans la quête d’une île légendaire qui pourrait les accueillir. Pour partir à la recherche de cette île, ils feront bien sûr un grand voyage nautique. Et c’est évidement ce qui m’a fait choisir ce bouquin parmi tous les Silverberg que ma bibliothèque peut m’offrir. Bon, bien sûr, c’est là qu’arrive la première déception. Parce qu’après tout, pourquoi les auteurs s’obstinent-ils autant à nous décrire des bateaux imaginaires qui ressemblent aussi furieusement à des voiliers "classiques" avec des vergues imposant des membres d’équipage dans la mature ? Vous me répondrez évidement que ça permet de se colleter plus étroitement à la nature, que c’est indispensable pour faire sentir au lecteur le vent de l’aventure. Ce à quoi je ne peux contre-argumenter qu’une chose : foutaises. C’est juste dû à la méconnaissance du milieu marin de la part des auteurs de SF. Et ça commence à devenir lassant de voir sans arrêt ressortir les mêmes poncifs nautiques définitivement périmés. Bref, je m’énerve, je m’énerve, mais d’autres points sont à mentionner. Comme par exemple le nombre de passagers … 13 … que l’auteur ne peut pas avoir choisi par hasard. Il me semble, mais ça n’est qu’un avis, que grâce à ce procédé, il distingue l’un des personnages comme le "messie" métaphorique de l’aventure, celui par lequel le lecteur accèdera à la compréhension de ce qu’il veut dire. Dans le cas présent, ce personnage central est évidement le narrateur, qui résiste de toutes ses forces dans la fin du roman à l’inévitable, nous permettant de mieux comprendre les tenants et aboutissants de ce phénomène, très difficilement compréhensible. Ces passagers nous convient en fait dans ce qu’il faut bien voir comme la découverte du monde et de ses merveilles par l’"intellectuel" local. Sans aucun doute, Silverberg a voulu jouer avec ces idées, et avec d’autres que je n’ai pas aussi bien vues. Malheureusement, il a échoué, et pas seulement à cause de cette histoire de bateau. Il a échoué parce qu’il ne connaît (d’après ce qu’on voit dans ce bouquin) que très mal la mer. Dans le genre réinterprétation du roman de mer (ce qu’essaye à l’évidence d’être ce roman), je préfère largement La baleine des sables. Ca n’en fait pas un mauvais roman, juste une oeuvre assez mineure dans ce genrte particulier de roman de voyage et pour cet auteur particulier.
May 16, 2008
I’m a huge fan of Silverberg and this book is just one reason why. His world’s are always fantastic and exciting and yet familiar and believable. In this story a human crashes on a planet covered in water. He then sets out across the sea in an alien boat on a journey in search of land. The story is exciting and thoughtful and aside from a few long descriptions and strange sex scenes; a nice read for pretty much anyone.
P.S. I have often wondered if this great book was a bit of inspiration for that disaster of a film, "Waterworld".
P.S. I have often wondered if this great book was a bit of inspiration for that disaster of a film, "Waterworld".
January 25, 2013
I picked this up in a used bookstore in Hawi, Hawaii. It had a promising start. Interesting world, imaginative monsters. Then wait, why? it drifts (ha!) into long, cliché passages debating faith and the existence of god which at first I only gave two shits about and then after another hundred pages began to actively hate. Keep your doubts about god out of my sea-monster novel, especially if they are always so sincere! Who do you think you are, buddy, Dostoevsky? And then I'm pretty sure the ending advocates joining a cult. WTF?
Want to read
December 16, 2022I won this in a giveaway on goodreads. I am waiting for it to arrive in about 8-10 weeks.
January 30, 2024
What an imaginative tour-de-force. Astounding descriptions of life on Hydra.
June 29, 2021
The story wanders all over the place. The lead character, a doctor, is well established. I find the other characters rather amorphous. The antagonist is the planet. Frankly it is well-written garbage. You get little direction until the undramatic ending and I could do without it. For those with teens, this is not a book for your average teen. Let's just say Waterworld, the movie was better than this.
January 6, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. Quite an adventure into another world. I read it in 3 days, a real page turner. Bon Voyage!
November 3, 2022
Though sci-fi, it reads more like a fantasy book of traveling. Long periods of boat travel. Mutiny. Monsters. Much of the travel is dull, and the main characters is dull himself, bemoaning his life, questioning his world but never really seeming to get anywhere. The start is promising, but huge swaths of the middle really drag.
The ending finally starts to do...something. But even then it feels anti-climatic.
The ending finally starts to do...something. But even then it feels anti-climatic.
July 15, 2022
Being re-released in 2021, still holds up well.
September 25, 2015
Like any other Robert Silverberg book, The Face Of The Waters follows a somewhat original idea in a plot that seems to be too many stories shoved into one book. Oh, and a whole lot of sex.
On an alien planet called Hydros, a small community of humans are forced to set sail for new land by the native 'Gillies'. We follow the tale of Lawler, a sexually frustrated doctor who spends his time fucking, abusing drugs and fantasizing over some hot chic he saw swimming naked once who clearly has no romantic interest with him, and occasionally doctor-ing.
While the small group of friends and family sail towards a new haven for themselves Lawler is met with multiple obstacles and trials. A few personal favourites of mine are; fucking the hot chic, the hot chic fucking someone else, a strange fish that makes everyone wanna fuck and, of course, his most hated person on the ship fucking the girl he's fucking.
Looking past all the hot sex and nudity, the entire book seems to be just a questioning of the existence of God or gods thrown into a fantasy book. Many interesting attributes to the book, like The Sisters, and many of the creatures they find on their journey, are shoved in our face but go no where, until, eventually, they disappear and are forgotten about for the rest of the book. The pace-changing book still somehow managed to keep me enthralled until the end, where it became so anticlimactic I moved on to another book and only finished it a day later.
Somehow it continues to be one of my favourite books I own. The language, the ideas and the story are all fantastic enough that, despite it'smany flaws, I can't hate it. Silverberg's world always comes to life in his books and this is no exception, all of the world's mysteries and beauty's described are so original and so strange that it would take a man with a heart of stone to say that this book was terrible. Although I wouldn't read it again, I would definitely recommend it to some of my friends.
TL;DR
yeah, is ghud
On an alien planet called Hydros, a small community of humans are forced to set sail for new land by the native 'Gillies'. We follow the tale of Lawler, a sexually frustrated doctor who spends his time fucking, abusing drugs and fantasizing over some hot chic he saw swimming naked once who clearly has no romantic interest with him, and occasionally doctor-ing.
While the small group of friends and family sail towards a new haven for themselves Lawler is met with multiple obstacles and trials. A few personal favourites of mine are; fucking the hot chic, the hot chic fucking someone else, a strange fish that makes everyone wanna fuck and, of course, his most hated person on the ship fucking the girl he's fucking.
Looking past all the hot sex and nudity, the entire book seems to be just a questioning of the existence of God or gods thrown into a fantasy book. Many interesting attributes to the book, like The Sisters, and many of the creatures they find on their journey, are shoved in our face but go no where, until, eventually, they disappear and are forgotten about for the rest of the book. The pace-changing book still somehow managed to keep me enthralled until the end, where it became so anticlimactic I moved on to another book and only finished it a day later.
Somehow it continues to be one of my favourite books I own. The language, the ideas and the story are all fantastic enough that, despite it's
TL;DR
yeah, is ghud
April 15, 2011
При писатели с толкова дълга кариера като тази на Робърт Силвърбърг хората говорят за „периоди на творчеството.” По отношение на самия Силвърбърг тази фраза не е безмислен термин на критиците, с който да трупат обем в ревютата си. Разликата между „Време на промени” и „Замъкът на лорд Валантайн” я схваща всеки, който си направи труда прочете и сравни тези два романа. Първото произведение представлява социален експеримент, но и толкова гола и уязвима самота, че боли. Емблематичен роман за втория период на Силвърбърг. А Маджипурският му цикъл разкрива талантливия създател на чудни светове и бележи началото на третия му период. Не веднъж съм изказвала предпочитанията си към седемдесетарските романи на автора. Те са много по-интензивни и впечатляващи от по-късните му творби...Още..
February 20, 2023
glad my local public library had a copy of this! silverberg has written SO MANY STORIES OVER THE YEARS that i can't remember what, and when, i read something by him (*) which "informed me" right away that this book was a good one to read.
and it was. i enjoyed it, swept up along in/on the adventure (or should i say "mis"adventure"?) -- i was engaged with the story (& fortunately could 'bookmark' the page where the specific ship's passengers were listed) -- but as the book reconciled/summarized itself -- it was (just a tad) "too hokey". granted, all is right with the whirled, and we can coast along with the sentiment that there is hope for the future ...
THIS IS A BIT QUITE "ALONG THE END-OF-STORY" RESULT ALIGNMENT With Arthur C Clarke's CHILDHOOD'S END -- i'm sure anybody else who might be bored enuff to read my so-called review should remember C. E. yeah; the planetary mind coalesces to bond/suffuse/imbed/combine with whatever the 'higher power" is. well, then, the result of this story is but a(nother) step in that dye-(e)wrexion ~
and it was. i enjoyed it, swept up along in/on the adventure (or should i say "mis"adventure"?) -- i was engaged with the story (& fortunately could 'bookmark' the page where the specific ship's passengers were listed) -- but as the book reconciled/summarized itself -- it was (just a tad) "too hokey". granted, all is right with the whirled, and we can coast along with the sentiment that there is hope for the future ...
THIS IS A BIT QUITE "ALONG THE END-OF-STORY" RESULT ALIGNMENT With Arthur C Clarke's CHILDHOOD'S END -- i'm sure anybody else who might be bored enuff to read my so-called review should remember C. E. yeah; the planetary mind coalesces to bond/suffuse/imbed/combine with whatever the 'higher power" is. well, then, the result of this story is but a(nother) step in that dye-(e)wrexion ~
January 14, 2014
A remnant human colony survives on the ocean world of Hydros. Humans live on artificial islands built by creatures called Gillies. On one such island, one of the humans offends the Gillies. Humans are ordered to leave. They begin an odyssey on the planet-spanning ocean to find the mythical “Face of the Waters”, a patch of land where they can be safe. But once they reach it, the nature of this land is revealed to be an enigma in itself.
The plot is quite dull and ponderous. The ideas aren’t very original. Mostly I was bored.
http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=1298
The plot is quite dull and ponderous. The ideas aren’t very original. Mostly I was bored.
http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=1298
July 24, 2017
Dr Lawler is a fifth-generation resident of the water world Hydros. He and his neighbours live on a floating island on the world-girdling ocean at the sufferance of the bipedal natives, the Gillies. But one of the humans upset the Gillies and they have evicted all of the humans from their island. So the humans set out on an ocean voyage to find another place to live. What follows is a series of adventures involving various creatures, the elements, and conflict between the voyagers. I found this story a little uneven and too long but am prepared to give it 3 stars out of 5.
October 5, 2011
Muito interessante.Gostei bastante desta história de FC passada num planeta coberto de oceanos com apenas um continente desconhecido. Silverberg reflecte aqui sobre a maior descoberta de todas que é a descoberta de si próprio, dos limites que normalmente nos auto impomos e da beleza encerrada no acto de arriscar e de se atirar ao desconhecido. Alo longo, mas deveras interessante!
June 22, 2016
An inexcusably derivative ending arrives at the end of a chain of episodic action sequences involving characters that feel too much like educated Americans for the setting. Silverberg is a great craftsman, which makes all of his work worth reading, but here the parts don't add up to a satisfying journey.
January 4, 2019
Чудесен роман. С интригуващ фантастичен свят, който служи за фон на добре познати в жанра теми. Чете се леко и е увлекателен, което не е нещо нечувано за творбите на Силвърбърг. Определено препоръчвам.
May 4, 2013
Silverburg's a great writer, but this isn't one of his best pols at all.
May 16, 2016
I am still not sure did I like it or not. Imaginative, sensitive language, that involves you deep into the human emotions. But ... man fights the ocean and ocean wins! Really?
May 8, 2022
I always like his books because they make you think. You can visualise the aliens and the environment. It is not the type of book to speed read.
December 3, 2020
4.5/5 stars if I had my druthers..
This is my fourth Silverberg. I discovered this extremely prolific and relevant author relatively recently, and am beginning to think of him truly as one of the great sci-fi authors. This novel was written in the 90s, whereas the previous novels I read were from the late 60s-early 70s, which seem to be from a different era than this one.
I won't spoil it in any way, but I found this ending very good. I am generally not a fan of endings of any kind, whether they wrap up the story seemingly perfectly or leave you lost or underwhelmed. The ending made sense in that it was a resolution of sorts, but a progression at the same time.
There are many notable things about this story. Silverberg really shows off his world-building talent, giving us the mysterious water-world of Hydros, which is full of an endless array of strange, wonderful, and deadly creatures, many of them possessing at least a rudimentary sentience. Humans have been flung onto the world as an afterthought, somehow managing to piggyback on the infrastructure of a native intelligent amphibious race (co-existing with them, but never managing to synergize). The idea of artificial, continuously drifting islands, along with the lack of necessary raw materials at hand make a great platform for a unique adventure story.
The characters Silverberg creates are also worth mentioning. I feel like they are somewhat archetypal in nature, but possibly in a more contemporary way. Almost all of the characters demonstrate at least one common human flaw. Even the lead character Lawler, as morally-solid and unwavering as he is, struggles throughout the story with a drug addiction. The relationships between the characters are very true-to-life, resulting in a constant flow of ups-and-downs (although it never seems to overwhelm). Even Delegard, who seems to be pinned almost immediately as the antagonist, has some redeeming moments of humanity. The characters are complex trade-offs of romanticism and practicality, stoicism and squeamishness, caring and aloof. A great example is the big, tough fisherman Kinverson, who seems to be a very competent, careless drifter until the end, where we discover his toughness was just a shell, hiding countless vulnerabilities.
All in all, it's an epic voyage fraught with upheaval due to characteristic human flaws. The mystery of the planet, coupled with the rich range of characters and the impossible task with which the characters find themselves makes for an epic voyage tale almost on the level of Homer's The Odyssey or Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (both referenced by characters in the story). This is truly an underacknowledged classic.
This is my fourth Silverberg. I discovered this extremely prolific and relevant author relatively recently, and am beginning to think of him truly as one of the great sci-fi authors. This novel was written in the 90s, whereas the previous novels I read were from the late 60s-early 70s, which seem to be from a different era than this one.
I won't spoil it in any way, but I found this ending very good. I am generally not a fan of endings of any kind, whether they wrap up the story seemingly perfectly or leave you lost or underwhelmed. The ending made sense in that it was a resolution of sorts, but a progression at the same time.
There are many notable things about this story. Silverberg really shows off his world-building talent, giving us the mysterious water-world of Hydros, which is full of an endless array of strange, wonderful, and deadly creatures, many of them possessing at least a rudimentary sentience. Humans have been flung onto the world as an afterthought, somehow managing to piggyback on the infrastructure of a native intelligent amphibious race (co-existing with them, but never managing to synergize). The idea of artificial, continuously drifting islands, along with the lack of necessary raw materials at hand make a great platform for a unique adventure story.
The characters Silverberg creates are also worth mentioning. I feel like they are somewhat archetypal in nature, but possibly in a more contemporary way. Almost all of the characters demonstrate at least one common human flaw. Even the lead character Lawler, as morally-solid and unwavering as he is, struggles throughout the story with a drug addiction. The relationships between the characters are very true-to-life, resulting in a constant flow of ups-and-downs (although it never seems to overwhelm). Even Delegard, who seems to be pinned almost immediately as the antagonist, has some redeeming moments of humanity. The characters are complex trade-offs of romanticism and practicality, stoicism and squeamishness, caring and aloof. A great example is the big, tough fisherman Kinverson, who seems to be a very competent, careless drifter until the end, where we discover his toughness was just a shell, hiding countless vulnerabilities.
All in all, it's an epic voyage fraught with upheaval due to characteristic human flaws. The mystery of the planet, coupled with the rich range of characters and the impossible task with which the characters find themselves makes for an epic voyage tale almost on the level of Homer's The Odyssey or Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (both referenced by characters in the story). This is truly an underacknowledged classic.
June 11, 2021
Kniha má 400 stran a prvních 200 je čistá nuda. Druhá polovina je ale skvělá. Děj se odehrává na vodní planetě, kde není žádná pevnina, jen uměle vyrobené plovoucí ostrovy z chaluh a dřeva. Oceán je obývaný všemožnými živočichy, z nichž spousta je životu nebezpečná. A nekolika inteligentními mimozemskými druhy podobnými delfínům. Lidé žijí na ostrovech se svolením inteligentních "žábratých", kteří jsou nejvyšším inteligentním druhem na planetě. Nemají ale velké technologické možnosti. Lidé ale žijí jako úplní divoši. Země byla totiž zničena sluneční erupcí a ti, kteří přežili, se rozprchli po galaxii. Kniha popisuje události na jednom z ostrovů, kde žije takováto skupinka asi 70ti lidí. Hlavní postava je místní vesnický doktor Val, který žije sám a kromě léčení a občasného braní drog nemá žádný zájem. Jen vzpomíná na Zemi, kterou ale nikdy neviděl.
Velká část knihy popisuje životy jednotlivých postav na ostrově. Změna přijde ve chvíli, kdy jsou všichni lidé z ostrova vykázáni za to, že kapitán Delager způsobil nedbalostí smrt několika polointeligentních mimozemšťanů, kteří mu pomáhali s podvodními pracemi. Žádný jiný ostrov je nechce všechny přijmout a tak se nalodí na 6 lodí po třinácti a vypraví se na cestu k "Tváři vod". To je mythický ostrov kdesi v prázdném moři, který podle popisů má být obrovský a zázračný. Vyhýbají se mu z nějakého důvodu i žábratí. Pro kapitána Delagera se tato cesta stává posedlostí. Postupně na ní zahynou všichni lidé a potopí se všechny lodě kromě jedné. Tak přežíje asi 11 z nich - Delager, doktor, jeho milenka a pád dalších. Několika z nich se podaří doplout až k Tváři vod. Není jasné, jestli je skutečná, nebo jen iluze. Někdo ji má za ráj a jiní za peklo. Její povrch se stále mění, vznikají a umírají tam podivné formy života, všichni mají sluchové i světelné halucinace. I kapitán vidí, že tady se žít nedá a rozhodnou se vrátit. Postupně se ale většina z nich sama na ostrov vypraví. Tam ztratí vlastní osobnost a jsou "přepsáni" kolektivní myslí vodní planety. Pochopějí, že všechny organizmy na planetě vznikly tady a jsou součástí jedné entity. Teď se s ní spojila i většina z nich. Jako jediný odolá vábení po spojení doktor, ale musí přijmout jako posádku své změněné kolegy, protože sám loď řídit nemůže. Nakonec se opět sblíží i se svou změněnou milou a sám se rozhodne zanechat vzpomínek na Zemi a také se spojit s planetární myslí, protože nyní žijí zde.
Velká část knihy popisuje životy jednotlivých postav na ostrově. Změna přijde ve chvíli, kdy jsou všichni lidé z ostrova vykázáni za to, že kapitán Delager způsobil nedbalostí smrt několika polointeligentních mimozemšťanů, kteří mu pomáhali s podvodními pracemi. Žádný jiný ostrov je nechce všechny přijmout a tak se nalodí na 6 lodí po třinácti a vypraví se na cestu k "Tváři vod". To je mythický ostrov kdesi v prázdném moři, který podle popisů má být obrovský a zázračný. Vyhýbají se mu z nějakého důvodu i žábratí. Pro kapitána Delagera se tato cesta stává posedlostí. Postupně na ní zahynou všichni lidé a potopí se všechny lodě kromě jedné. Tak přežíje asi 11 z nich - Delager, doktor, jeho milenka a pád dalších. Několika z nich se podaří doplout až k Tváři vod. Není jasné, jestli je skutečná, nebo jen iluze. Někdo ji má za ráj a jiní za peklo. Její povrch se stále mění, vznikají a umírají tam podivné formy života, všichni mají sluchové i světelné halucinace. I kapitán vidí, že tady se žít nedá a rozhodnou se vrátit. Postupně se ale většina z nich sama na ostrov vypraví. Tam ztratí vlastní osobnost a jsou "přepsáni" kolektivní myslí vodní planety. Pochopějí, že všechny organizmy na planetě vznikly tady a jsou součástí jedné entity. Teď se s ní spojila i většina z nich. Jako jediný odolá vábení po spojení doktor, ale musí přijmout jako posádku své změněné kolegy, protože sám loď řídit nemůže. Nakonec se opět sblíží i se svou změněnou milou a sám se rozhodne zanechat vzpomínek na Zemi a také se spojit s planetární myslí, protože nyní žijí zde.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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