The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson
The book is an alternate history novel that explores a world in which the Black Death plague of the 14th century was far more lethal to Europeans, nearly wiping them out. As a result, world history is dramatically reshaped: Islamic and Buddhist societies emerge as the dominant global powers, leading to vastly different technological, cultural, and social developments. The narrative spans several centuries, following a group of characters who are reincarnated into various lives and roles, allowing the reader to experience the evolution of this alternate world through their interconnected stories. The novel delves into themes of history, religion, technology, and human nature, all while imagining a world both familiar and strange, shaped by different forces and ideas than those that have shaped our own history.
The 6907th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 2002
- Nationality
- American
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 656-784
- Original Language
- English
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- Alternate Titles
- None
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This book is on the following 2 lists:
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)
- Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (Locus Awards)