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The Years of Rice and Salt
- Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
- Length: 25 hrs and 56 mins
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The Years of Rice and Salt
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Publisher's Summary
It is the 14th century, and one of the most apocalyptic events in human history is set to occur - the coming of the Black Death. History teaches us that a third of Europe's population was destroyed. But what if the plague had killed 99 percent of the population instead? How would the world have changed? This is a look at the history that could have been - a history that stretches across centuries, a history that sees dynasties and nations rise and crumble, a history that spans horrible famine and magnificent innovation. These are the years of rice and salt.
This is a universe where the first ship to reach the New World travels across the Pacific Ocean from China and colonization spreads from west to east. This is a universe where the Industrial Revolution is triggered by the world's greatest scientific minds - in India. This is a universe where Buddhism and Islam are the most influential and practiced religions, and Christianity is merely a historical footnote.
Through the eyes of soldiers and kings, explorers and philosophers, slaves and scholars, Robinson renders an immensely rich tapestry. Rewriting history and probing the most profound questions as only he can, Robinson shines his extraordinary light on the place of religion, culture, power, and even love on such an Earth. From the steppes of Asia to the shores of the Western Hemisphere, from the age of Akbar to the present and beyond, here is the stunning story of the creation of a new world.
What listeners say about The Years of Rice and Salt
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Adam
- 16-08-2016
Great story, good narrator
Loved it. It was really fascinating and quite a unique read. Will definitely have to read more of Robinson's work.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lachlan
- 20-10-2016
My favourite book
Bronson Pinchot skilfully narrates this pionent, beautiful, intelligent book. I highly recomend this alternate world.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Freddie Muleman
- 12-06-2021
Something different from K.S.R.
I am a big fan of Kim Stanley Robinson’s work and this didn’t disappoint.
Usually, I am a sci-fi fan and although this book took turns into the world of theology, it still delivered on the thoughtful social inspection I have come to love in Robinson’s other works.
If you are looking for a strong narrative with gripping characters, this won’t be for you. But, if you enjoy the slow, meditative tones of the Mars trilogy, you will enjoy this.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 04-08-2020
Promises a lot but lacks substance
I chose this book as the premise seemed so attractive, imagine a world where Islam were to replace Christianity as the dominant religion and the East replacing the West as the conquerors of the New World. In the end it became a real struggle as the author can spend several pages explaining the colour of the sky or the sound of a sparrows fart.
Promised much but never really delivers. A shame.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Stephen Collins
- 05-04-2023
KSR is always a worthwhile effort
I've followed the work of KSR for nearly 30 years and reading it is always a reward containing depths and revelations. So too, The Years of Rice and Salt - what an astonishing alternate history it is!
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Cameron Reid
- 13-03-2019
This is getting abandoned
17 hours in and this one is getting abandoned. I'm finding myself tuning out for 5/10 minutes at a time and I can't even be bothered to rewind to catch up. I was getting so doubtful of my own taste until I logged onto goodreads and found many people articulating exactly what I was feeling.
Please note that the premise is very misleading. The plot line revolves heavily around reincarnation and has huge, unbroken and incredibly boring religious theory dialogues. Yes, there is some element of alternate history here, but this is a book that spends about 1/5th of it's time in a post-death pre-reincarnation judgement realm, and is about 1/5th punishing dialogue on religious theory and self-satisfying social commentary.
Actually, the alternate history is just about as unimaginative as the religious theory is boring. There is actually more of a parallel history occurring, as the timeline of technological development and world events follows a very similar arc as our own reality.
The novel is incredibly well researched and very intelligent, but I'm sorry Kim, it falls so far short of its premise's potential.
Also, Bronson Pinchot... man you are one mind numbing bloke. I honestly feel bad writing that because you obviously tried so hard on this, but I just couldn't connect with you.
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2 people found this helpful