The Years of Rice and Salt

By: Kim Stanley Robinson

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

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.

©2002 Kim Stanley Robinson (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Awesome.

History, religion, philosophy, science - all brilliantly woven into a stunning meditation in why our world is the way it is.

Engaging novel of alternate world history

Where does The Years of Rice and Salt rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Bronson Pinchot does a great job as narrator of this long novel. The characters re-encarnate: The "B" character is usually the peaceful, enlightened person and the "K" character is a fighter against what they feel are the wrongs of the world. B and K struggle in the world because "B" is enlightenment and "K" is destroying Evil. They meet between chapters in the afterlife to work through what they've learned and to exit into reincarnation again, perhaps this time, they'll "get it right."

A lot of history that many readers are not familiar with (Chinese, Arabic, medieval) is re-written here in an engaging way. However, if you are not familiar with these histories, you may not see the tongue-in-cheek or clever way the author has revised history to postulate what would have happened, had the world exited from the Plague Years in Europe in a different way.

Sometimes, the chapters ("books") get long and the inevitable end (they die) seems a bit confused, and the emergence again with enlightened knowledge doesn't always seem clear. Nor are the scenes in the afterworld that interesting--as pure flights of fancy, they are less successful than the re-imagined historical events in the world.

Still, I enjoyed this novel immensely and the narration with lightly done character voices by Pinchot is masterful.

Excellent alternate history

Robinson's imagination and deep knowledge of his subject are real assets for stories like this. Worth the listen, even if the reader's tone is off. Sometimes too whimsical and other times wheedling or whiny.

Sweeping scale, compelling details

An engaging trip through time following a knot of souls reincarnated together. Their lives and works, and their subtle impact on humanity are quite moving. Very interesting alternate history, and powerful commentary on “real world” history and current day. Robinson does it again.

Epic and wonderful

Thought provoking and enthralling. A great story with an immense breath, yet allowing the reader to get attached to its heroes.
The narrator also does an epic job. I'll be looking for his other readings.

Epic "what if" interpretation of history

Any additional comments?

I liked the continuity that the format created throughout the separate parts of the book. I also learned (accidentally!) about different aspects of eastern religions. It was a joyous read for me.

Good story, like realistic fiction

Book is enjoyable, but the premise can be a little confusing. Yes Europe is dessimated but the story after is more of a collection of stories of various people involved in the current events of each new age. The author does a good job of taking the existing world in (I think) ~1200s AD and caring it forward with the main powers being China and Islam (and Mongolia). The events follow seem to follow a pattern set by our own reality in terms of social, cultural and scientific achievements. It's cool to see modern concepts approached from distinctly Chinese premonitions, especially in medicine advancements.

The main struggle I have comes from the enlightenment equivalent. As a scientist myself, I've invested a great deal of time learning of the research and researchers that have built our world's foundation. While not outside the realm of possibility, I was really annoyed at what turned out to be one of the longest sections, where discoveries that took us decades and various thinker's were settled in single conversations.

I would add that this book is full of religion. I like how it gives the perspective of living in these highly theological societies, but it could be frustrating if you refuse to learn of other religions.

KSR is a good world builder, but his stories are sort of boring

As above, I’ve listened to 3 KSR books in the past few months, and they are all similar in that he does very nice world building, but they’re kind of boring. There isn’t much of a plot, just telling a story of a time.

This is one of those rare worlds that makes you want to live there

KSR does a fantastic job exploring everything known to man - science, philosophy, music, religion, the clashes of culture - all in a new way, in a new world that never existed, and yet it feels all so familiar. When listening to this story (with excellent voice performance by Mr. Pinchot), I realized that while I yearned for its reality, I also understood I was experiencing a romantic ideal of a world just as fractured as our own, and yet with the suggestion of the continuity of lives through reincarnation, I think I am able to understand that what I saw in the Years of Rice and Salt was viewed through the long telescope of time, but that if I look at this world in the same way, I understand that our condition is just as romantic, just as uniquely engaging. Bao says it better, of course, but it's there for me all the same.

A pleasant diversion

I needed a pleasant reading diversion after months of school texts. This was just the ticket- engaging story, interesting characters, and whimsical verisimilitude.