The Years Of Rice And Salt

Ever wondered what the world would have been like if the Black Death killed 99% of Europe's population instead of a third? No? Really? Okay. I must admit I hadn't either, but Robinson writes an intelligent and engaging story, written in vibrant detail, evoking a realism that other speculative novels lack. The story spans approximately 700 years, from the army of the Muslim conqueror Timur, to the 21st century. China and Dar-al-Islam (the conglomeration of Muslim nations) are the main global powers, with a progressive Indian League and a confederation of the Hodenosaunee (Native Americans) fighting against Chinese and Muslim invaders, causing a 67 year long war. The novel is made up of ten parts that take place in different times and places, but are connected by characters who are reincarnated into each time. After their deaths, the characters meet in a sort of limbo world called "bardo". This is a really snazzy way of tying the plot streams together, without doing a George R Martin and dwelling on Every. Single. Point. (Hello, Book One of Game of Thrones). Why does this novel get second place on this list? Aside from its deft exploration of historical, religious and social themes, it was nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and it won the Locus, Hugo, and British Science Fiction Awards in 2003. That's quite the swag (and I mean that in the real sense of swag, not that daft Gen-Y terminology that makes me want to stab my eyeballs out every time I read it)!