Years of rice and salt

The Years of Rice and Salt (en. The Years of Rice and Salt) is a novel in the alternative story genre of American science fiction writer Kim Stanley Robinson, published in 2002. The book simulates the situation, as if the world would have changed if the Black Death destroyed not a third of the European population, but 99%. The plot divided into ten parts covers several centuries and various geographical locations, the connecting link is a group of characters reincarnating in each time period (the reader can determine them by the first letter of the name repeating each time).

The novel reveals the themes of history, religion and social movements. The historical basis is more oriented towards social history than military and political. Literary critics noted the reasonableness and realism of a work rich in details. Prior to this, Robison published several science fiction novels and short stories that received several Locus , Nebula, and Hugo awards. In 2003, the Years of Rice and Salt received the Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel and became nominated for the Arthur Clark Prize, Hugo Award for Best Novel, and the British Science Fiction Association Award .