Listen free for 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Years of Rice and Salt cover art

The Years of Rice and Salt

Written by: Kim Stanley Robinson
Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
Try for $0.00

$14.95 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $30.25

Buy Now for $30.25

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

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.

What listeners say about The Years of Rice and Salt

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    14
  • 4 Stars
    10
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    16
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    12
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Story and solid performance

This book really lived up to the alternate history hype. Give you a lot of world building and detail. Performance was good but not 5 star good. Overall worth the book token.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Unique plot, interesting characters

I loved it but I thought the middle of the book dragged a bit. otherwise, the narration was fantastic and it had a nice ending.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of my new favorite fantasy books

Beautifully written, extraordinarily well researched, and broad in scope of themes, ideas, and scenery - The Years of Rice and Salt deserve all the praise they can get. If you like alternative history, speculations about the meaning of life and how to deal with the absurdity and burden of existence, this book is for you.

Bronson Pinchot's voice and performance may take a little getting used to, especially if you are a fan of Charlton Griffin's work, but in the end, I think his approach is absolutely wonderful and he is now one of my favorite readers.

It left me craving for more, but the ending is both too soon and very satisfying.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Great for a long road trip

The beginning of this book draws you in and the stories thereafter are very well thought out and well done. I really loved the ideas presented in this novel as the concept is really cool, what would happen if Europe had died off. The only thing is that if you don't know a lot about history some things might drown you because the writer doesn't give you a history life raft. It's great listening with someone well versed in the history of asia because there's easter eggs throughout this novel. Although, highly recommend, gives you a lot to talk about.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sublime

This book is the closest I've ever come to a religious experience. Read it, cannot recommend enough

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

a nice alternative history story

told through the multiple narratives of different characters. very enjoyable exploration of Asia and the middle East as major powers in the world

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!