The Second Book of Confluence assumes you have read the first volume, Child of the River, and I shall assume likewise. (If you haven't, no doubt you will be very confused by Ancients of Days.)

Yama's adventures continue. Relationships forged in the first volume also develop, and new and equally interesting characters -- both friends and enemies -- are introduced. Yama is growing into maturity on two levels: by growing into his psychological adulthood; and by increasing the mastery of his unique ability to manipulate the machines left behind by the Preservers. His quest remains constant: to find out who he really is and to discover his own people, if indeed they still exist. The route to this goal, however, is as convoluted as the River is straight.

Throughout both books, I occasionally found myself wondering what the purpose might be for some of Yama's tangential adventures. Because even more than being a writer of vivid images and fantastic imagination, McAuley is an intelligent writer. He offers insightful comment -- both direct and indirect -- on such basic human issues as books, reading and learning; evolution and stagnation; tradition and innovation; growing old; and, of course, the cornerstone of civilization, bureaucracy. And, whether he actually is, he always at least gives the impression that he is writing with a purpose.

Sometimes Yama's adventures seem to be mere diversions, serving no purpose other than to show us yet more wonders in the artificial world of Confluence. Sometimes during the course of my reading I began to wonder if the author had lost himself in the maze of his own creativity. However, I can't say that I didn't enjoy any of the tangents or that I didn't appreciate any of the wonders, and occasionally the images from an earlier adventure reappear later on with new meaning.

And, after all, it would have been a completely different -- and rather more dull -- story if Odysseus had sailed directly home after the Trojan War, or if Frodo had taken the ring straight to Mordor without incident.

Many questions are finally answered in this second volume of the trilogy. Although a picture begins to form in the reader's mind, during the course of Yama's story, of what kind of a world Confluence actually is, some of that speculation is confirmed in Ancients of Days. And some surprises are revealed. To say more would be to risk spoiling the enjoyment of anyone who has not yet joined this adventure...

Ancients of Days is as colourful, exciting, adventurous and introspective as Child of the River. It offers everything you could wish for in a grand "science fantasy" epic -- except a resolution. For that, we'll have to wait for the third and final volume.