During family trips to Blockbuster, Dad D. always hoped for two things:
(1) Laser blasters and/or (2) Space battles
Dad D. would not enjoy Ken Follet’s lengthy novel The Pillars of the Earth.
Instead of giant spaceships smashing into other giant spaceships, The Pillars of the Earth describes the building of a cathedral and the frustrating struggle for power within the church and the royalty in England.
In the beginning I loathed the book. There was so much going on in so few pages that it seemed like the author may have been grossly over caffeinated during his writing sessions.
But Follet calmed down a bit once the cathedral building began and the characters came into their own. The villains were easy to hate and the heroes easy to love. The one problem with epic novels like these is that the villains grow into such epic horribleness that there is no death gruesome enough to act as justification for the horrific acts that they commit.
Over all, I greatly enjoyed the read. Despite the lack of space battles, I recommend this book – especially if you’re going on a few plane trips. Nothing makes travel easier than a long captivating book as a travel companion.
I disagree Mike. Having a beautiful women sit and talk to you during your travels, beats a book any day of the week.
You forgot one:
1. Laser Blasters
2. Space Battles
3. Happy Ending
#3 trumps nos. 1 and 2.
Up there with my favorites. Yes, it was a long read, but I personally never felt like I was reading it to finish it, and was a little sad when I did.
After 18 years (two years ago), he finally published a sequel; “World Without End”. I have yet to pick it up because I’m afraid of how much time it will suck out of my life.