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The Face of the Waters

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( 828 ratings, 78 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In The Face of the Waters, Robert Silverberg weaves a captivating tale set on the ocean-covered world of Hydros, where human settlers struggle to coexist with the native sea-dwelling race. As tensions rise, a group of exiles embarks on a perilous journey to locate a new haven, confronting both the mysteries of their watery surroundings and the unpredictability of their own fate. With its intricate plot and rich world-building, this science fiction novel explores themes of survival and the search for belonging.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you love imaginative world-building and enjoy exploring themes of survival and adaptation in otherworldly settings. With its vibrant depiction of an alien ocean planet and the challenges faced by its human inhabitants, you'll find it intriguing if you're drawn to stories that blend science fiction with profound philosophical questions.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

"This is hard sci-fi done right." - Publishers Weekly (starred review).

"One of the enduring classics of science fiction." - George R.R. Martin

Deep in the future, natives of the planet Hydros, an ocean planet whose inhabitants live on artificial floating islands, force the entire human population of the island of Sorve into exile, leaving the outcasts to ponder their fate, their past, and the true purpose of humanity.

After a human offence against the natives of Hydros, the human population of the island of Sorve are ordered to leave. Forbidden on all other islands, in a flotilla of ships they seek the semi-mythical island known as the Face of the Waters. During their journey, they are forced to learn more about themselves, leading to questions about both religion and the purpose of Man. At the end of the novel, Robert Silverberg addresses what it means to be human and explores what unites and divides humanity.

This new edition of The Face of the Waters, published with the author's full support, brings Silverberg's brilliant novel back into the must-read science-fiction canon after decades of being out of print.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Face of the Waters by Robert Silverberg is highly regarded as a science fiction classic, distinguished by its imaginative storytelling and captivating character development. Reviewers praise Silverberg's skill in creating detailed worlds, describing the narrative as a compelling epic and a must-read for dedicated science fiction fans. The book is celebrated for its intellectual depth, stylistic elegance, and ability to evoke vivid, enduring images, securing Silverberg's place among the elite in the sci-fi genre.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781953103277

Publisher: Three Rooms Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 24 November 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: Three Rooms Press

Illustration: Illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 139.0mm

Height: 209.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 386

About the Author

ROBERT SILVERBERG is a giant in the science-fiction genre, with four Hugo Awards and six Nebula Awards to his name. He was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1999 and named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Guild in 2005. His short story "Needle in a Timestack" was adapted for the screen by Oscar-winning writer John Ridley (12 Years a Slave) in 2021, and additional projects are slated to finally bring more Silverberg writing to the screen. He lives in Oakland, California.

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