The Golden Torc

None of the Tanu are operant metapsychially, they all use the Golden Torc to utilise their powers, or even communicate if they have no powers. They realise they are becoming more and more reliant on human technologists, as their own offspring are becoming very hedonistic. The Tanu king commissions Bryan, the anthropologist of Group Green to do a study on the long term ramifications. Meanwhile, Claude, Stein, Felice, Amerie and Richard are aligned with the human rebels and alien sympathisers. Elizabeth Orme, an operant, comes to the attention of Brede, a mystical figure, and Aiken Drum sees opportunity for advancement through the upcoming Grand Combat, where the Tanu and their Firvulag alien opponents get to ritually slaughter each other at an annual sporting contest. The rebels see this as an opportune time to strike.

I first read this series many years ago after a friend recommended it. Ever since, I've been searching in vain for more science fiction fantasy that captures me the way this one did. The four Pliocene books are, in my opinion, May's best. The others in the Galactic Milieu series run a close second. Her other stuff is so-so, readable but not exceptional. I was struck initially by the story, and also by the quality of the writing. It's so different, and much better, than anything else I've read in the genre, and manages to largely avoid the usual time travel anachronistic and self-referential cliches.I've recently finished reading the whole thing (including the other Milieu books) yet again, and I'm still amazed and moved by the experience, from the initial familiarity with the need of the misfits to leave, to the ultimate understanding of Atoning Unifex. Tremendous stuff.

Julian May's series are phenomenal, and this book is no exception. The Golden Torc neatly concludes the first half of the Pliocene Exile series, but will leave you wanting more. The characters are fleshed out, the plotlines are advanced.This series is rich in content, incredibly so. It's delightfully complex, with hundreds of plot threads and references woven together into a compelling tapestry. It's emotionally powerful without being sappy. It's rich in philosophical, historical, cultural, and etymological allusions, and it's meticulously researched. You'll need to flex your brain muscles, but you'll be happy to do it. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll stretch your vocabulary.

Loved this whole series of books. There are lots of interesting personalities that are well-developed. One of the few series that don't have the black/white definitions of good/evil.

Following the fascinating first volume of the Saga of Pliocene Exile was probably a difficult affair, but May pulls it off with almost impossible ease. Somehow she manages to continue the story started in the first book while still having The Golden Torc stand mostly on its own as a separate novel. Of course, reading the first is required, but the continuity is not so dense that new readers can't figure out what's going on. May keeps the action moving by shuffling all her plots around, and keeping tight rein on the huge cast of characters. Occassionally there are so many that you lose sight of some, but never enough so you lose the story. Julian May shows that none of her characters are safe, killing off some of the original cast, adding some more, and basically keeping the reader guessing to the end. Better than a sequel, it's a continuation that leaves the reader satisified and at the same time wanting more. Good thing there's a volume three. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I hear it calling my name . . .