World Famous Comics: The Return of Nathan Brazil (Well World)
The Return of Nathan Brazil (Well World)
By: Jack L. Chalker Publisher: Baen Average Rating: Binding: Mass Market Paperback Label: Baen Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 400 Publication Date: March 29, 2005
Product Description: The Dreel was a hive-mind, composed of trillions upon trillions of virus-sized units, which infected intelligent beings like a disease and took over the mind of an occupied being, utterly. It had occupied planets throughout the galaxy, making their entire population its mind-slaves, and was on its way to conquering the entire galaxy-until a cop on the frontier planet of Parkatin discovered the truth. Those whose minds were still free fought back, using a weapon so powerful that it wrought havoc with the control of the Well World, the ancient planet-sized supercomputer that a vanished super-race called the Markovians built to recreate the entire universe, and maintain it in its present form. If the Well World's control of time and space could not be restored, the universe could vanish like a blown-out candle flame. Only a Markovian could go to the Well World and repair the damage, but only one Markovian was still known to survive. He had last been seen in human form, going by the name of Nathan Brazil. No one knew where he was now, what name he was using, or even if he still appeared human. Finding him, somewhere in the immensity of the galaxy, seemed an impossible task. So the task fell to someone who had done the impossible over and over: Mavra Chang, one of the few beings ever to escape from the Well World. And on that occasion, she had brought back with her a computer named Obie, who just might be the second most powerful computer in the universe, after the Well World itself. With those two on his trail, Nathan Brazil could run-but could he hide?
Bad things are happening in the the universe. To stop in, they need the Well World. To get the Well World working, they need a Markovian. To get a Markovian your options are limited, given only Nathan Brazil is left. To get Nathan Brazil is very heard. Cue Mavra Chang and machine sidekick, and a fun chase and convince and hope to survive story.
Great pulp Sci-Fi. Just to be clear, this is not Don Quixote. This is solid, fun, satisfying science-fiction/fantasy.
Also to be clear, do not read any of the "recent" Well World novels, they have little to redeem themselves. They are neither solid, fun or satisfying.
As noted by the other reviews this is the fourth of the original five part series. I say five part series, but really the series is a trilogy with both the second and third novels (Exiles/Quest) and this novel and the last novel (Twilight) counting as just one book each.
Of the series, the last part of the trilogy (this book and Twilight) remains my favorite.
I will not spoil any plot points, but I will say that if you like the genre, you will enjoy this book.
Book four of the Saga of the Well World As a general warning, this is the fourth book of a tightly knit series. While the book is written to stand on its own, greater enjoyment can be found be reading the previous three novels: Midnight at the Well of Soul, Exiles at the Well of Souls, and Quest for the Well of Souls; before reading this one.
This book begins back at the same interstellar community where the previous novels begin (it's know as the Comworlds, or the Com for short). An alien race has arrived from another galaxy and is bent on conquest of ours, and since they're more advanced than the Com, they're winning.
Mavra Chang, survivor of the War of the Well World, has just returned to the Comworlds.
The true reality of the situation is far grimmer than they realize, and when they do catch up with Brazil, they regret it.
Overall, the series really starts to pick up steam here, and that after admitting that the previous novels are already good to begin with.
Vol. 1: Midnight at the Well of Souls Vol. 2: Exiles at the Well of Souls (Part 1: War of the Well World) Vol. 3: Quest for the Well of Souls (Part 2: War of the Well World) Vol. 4: The Return of Nathan Brazil Vol. 5: Twilight at the Well of Souls
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