Greg Bear

After three years of searching for a story that I could really get lost in, I very nearly decided that I had made a mistake in considering myself an 'avid reader of fiction'. However, I hadn't before considered American literature as something I'd enjoy (blame my English teachers). This was a mistake, and one I intend to learn from.

The Infinity Concerto, one of the best books I've read in quite a while, was written by Greg Bear back in the 1980's. Unfortunately I hadn't been born yet, so I certainly wasn't old enough to read about Michael and his adventure into the Realm, but I've made up for that now. The story takes place in the 80's focusing on a teenage boy, a poet, who becomes good friends with Arno Waltiri, a respected composer, who is quite a bit more mysterious than he seems. As the novel progresses a completely new world is discovered, it's inhabitants both charming and terrifying.

The sequel to The Infinity Concerto is The Serpent Mage, but rather than being a sequel in the traditional sense it is a direct continuation of the story. Obviously I want to avoid saying too much, but there is far more to explore and many questions are answered. Bear really seems to enjoy seeing how different situations change a character and he does a fair bit of experimenting in this second half.

Although the story is incomplete without the second book, I have to say that I enjoyed The Infinity Concerto a little bit more, however it seems that most other reviewers thing the alternate; either way if you like SF or fantasy I think that you'll enjoy giving Greg Bear a read.