The Many-Colored LandThe Many-Colored Land
Score Classic
What it's about
In the 2030s, a French physicist discovers a one-way time portal leading six million years into the past, to the Pliocene era in what will become France. Misfits and dreamers of the future, people who don't fit in a peaceful galactic society, start going through to escape. A new group goes through and discovers the past is ruled by two warring alien races with mental powers, who enslave the humans who arrive.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for the Hugo and the Nebula. It's a big, inventive science-fantasy adventure that mixes Celtic myth, psychic powers and prehistory.
You'll love it if you liked
The Clan of the Cave Bear
Dune
MagicianGood to know
It's the first of a four-book series and ends with much unresolved. The first chapters introduce many characters.
By the numbers
- Readers58 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics43 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller16 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #127 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #195 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #396 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1343 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Thought-provoking
If you like this, read next
The Lord of the Rings
Foundation
Ficciones
Rendezvous with Rama
The Left Hand of Darkness
The Gods ThemselvesExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Many-Colored Land worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for the Hugo and the Nebula. It ranks #1,343 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 69.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Many-Colored Land about?
In the 2030s, a French physicist discovers a one-way time portal leading six million years into the past, to the Pliocene era in what will become France. Misfits and dreamers of the future, people who don't fit in a peaceful galactic society, start going through to escape. A new group goes through and discovers the past is ruled by two warring alien races with mental powers, who enslave the humans who arrive.
How long does it take to read The Many-Colored Land?
About 11 hours (452 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Many-Colored Land?
If you liked it, try The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel, Dune by Frank Herbert or Magician by Raymond E. Feist.