The Years of Rice and Salt

Publisher Marketing: It is the fourteenth 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." Review Citations: Publishers Weekly 01/07/2002 pg. 51 (EAN 9780553109207, Hardcover) - *Starred Review Kirkus Reviews 01/01/2002 pg. 23 (EAN 9780553109207, Hardcover) Booklist 01/01/2002 pg. 777 (EAN 9780553109207, Hardcover) Library Journal 02/15/2002 pg. 180 (EAN 9780553109207, Hardcover) - *Starred Review BookPage 03/01/2002 pg. 26 (EAN 9780553109207, Hardcover) Booksense '76 May/Jun 2002 05/01/2002 pg. 1 (EAN 9780553109207, Hardcover) New York Times 04/28/2002 pg. 20 (EAN 9780553109207, Hardcover) New York Times 06/02/2002 pg. 29 (EAN 9780553109207, Hardcover) School Library Journal 08/01/2002 pg. 222 (EAN 9780553109207, Hardcover) New York Times 12/08/2002 pg. 74 (EAN 9780553109207, Hardcover) School Library Journal 07/22/2002 (EAN 9780553109207, Hardcover) Wilson Fiction Catalog 01/01/2006 pg. 804 (EAN 9780553109207, Hardcover) Wilson Fiction Catalog 01/01/2010 pg. 780 (EAN 9780553109207, Hardcover) Contributor Bio:  Robinson, Kim Stanley Kim Stanley Robinson's Three Californias trilogy -- "The Gold Coast", "The Wild Shore" and "Pacific Edge -- "has been observed as "an intriguing work, one that will delight and entertain you, and, most importantly, cause you to stop and think" ("The Santa Ana Register"). His many other novels include "Escape from Kathmandu" and "Green Mars -- "which won the Hugo and Locus Award for Best Novel.