Customer Reviews

Celestial Matters

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book may represent the ultimate example of high-concept fiction. The idea alone -- that the Greek understanding of the universe was accurate -- is enough to merit two stars all by itself. Garfinkle, however, was not content to stop there. Rather, he envisioned a world where the empire of Alexander did not collapse but, instead, grew to conquer half the world. Then, to matters even more interesting, he posited that the Chi-based theories of China were ALSO correct in as much as technology based on them was as effective as technology based upon the Greek sciences (a state remniscent of the great divide between quantum mechanics and Relativity). Then, to top it all off, he wove an interesting and engaging story about a Captain caught between his patriotic duty and his moral calling.

This is an absolutely fascinating novel. I don't know whether to classify it as alternate history, fantasy, alternative science, or what-not. It doesn't really matter because it's in a class by itself. Although it may be hard to find, being out of print, it is certainly worth the effort to track down a copy.

Many people attempt "alternate histories" and yet few, aside from Turtledove and now Garfinkle, have done enough of their homework to make it plausible. Set in an alternate world at an indeterminate time (I suppose you could work it out if you knew the Athenian dating system better), Greece and the Middle Kingdom have been locked in war for generations, nay centuries -- consider this the ultimate Western Logic versus Eastern Vision division to ever come along. Garfinkle understands Aristotlean physics and takes its implications to their greatest "logical" extreme, such as a gun that fires a bolt capable of halting forward motion, thus causing an airborne craft to seek its natural place amongst the elements (metal falls to earth). Due to friend's input, I learn that his knowledge of Taoist physics, while slighter, is also sound. The flight to and through the celestial spheres is exciting, well concieved, and plausible given the science base of the era. Even more important, however, is the development of the characters. Each is fully rounded, lovingly crafted, and a true joy to journey with. One can only hope that he writes more, not in the same world, but in the same vein. This is one of the best science fiction books I have ever read!

Every so often you come across an Alternate History book that kinda stretches the boundaries of what you consider A.H. One such is Celestial Matters, by Richard Garfinkle. The basic split point here is that Alexander went to study in Sparta, then formed an "alliance" as such with Aristotle, to create the weapons with which to run his campaigns.

The "Delian League" has lasted for a thousand years.

But while this is the historical split, there's a much greater physical one. For on this Earth, Aristotelian science really is true. Planets really do move in crystal spheres about an unmoving Earth beneath a vast shell of fixed stars, and they really are made out of different stuff from mere "Earthly" matter. Projectiles actually do travel in straight lines until they stop, and you really can cure someone by balancing his humors.

It's a very strange world. Interesting, but strange. Every so often the characters say/do something that is completely, utterly, weird - yet makes sense within the world of Aristotelian physics.

The basic story is interesting too. It's a good read, I reccommend it.

Garfinkle attempts a cosmological reinterpretation of the universe which can be read on several different levels. Garfinkle creates an alternate history of the planet Earth where Aristotle developed technology and empirical science, where Athens, Sparta, and the Han Chinese dominated the modern world. The story also works as a universal journey where crash and survival have reinvented the world.

Richard Garfinkle's novel Celestial Matters is set in a world which diverged from ours early on. It is set in the 900th year of the Delphic League (roughly AD 500). In this world, science, as envisioned by Aristotle, is the driving force behind the world. The Greeks' enemy for world empire are the Taoist inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom, whose science is based on Chinese understanding of the world. This concept is intriguing in and of itself.

The story is of the first ship, made of Moon Rock, to travel to the Sun to steal solar matter. The Greeks intend to use Sun Fire in their nine-hundred year long war against the Middlers.

Although Garfinkle's characterization may not be the strongest and his plot may not move particularly quickly, this book is high concept. The idea that Aristotelian science actually is the way the world works is extremely interesting and Garfinkle handles it extremely well. However, he also postulates that Chinese science works, never attempting to explain how two rival scientific ideologies can co-exist and work. On the other hand, both these forms of scientific thought co-existed in reality trying to explain natural phenomena, so there is no real reason why they can't complement each other in Garfinkle's world.

Set in a world where Alexander the Great's empire has lasted 1,000 years and Ptolemeic speculations are scientific fact, this is part alternate-history, part alternate-science. The story concerns a celestial ship (spaceship) of the Delian league (who control the world from India to halfway across the Americas) which is embarking on a mission to gather a piece of the sun in order to use it as a sort of atomic bomb against the capital of the Middle Kingdom (an oriental empire which they have been at constant war with). Written as the testimony of a co-captain of the ship, the story relates this adventure, complete with scheming, betrayals, setbacks, and crises of faith, while also presenting a vivid and interesting alternate world. Enjoyment would be aided by a solid understanding of the beliefs (scientific and otherwise) of the ancient Greeks, but should be enjoyable for anyone.

I'm writing to echo most of the other reviews of this matchless novel. The other reviews describe the basic story and "high concept" alternative science/history background.

I say "matchless" because I've never read anything quite like it!

This novel reflects the author's deep study of the world of ancient Greece, as well as other cultures, religions, and history ca. 400 BCE (e.g. China, India, Persia).

I'm also compelled to give balance to my previous negative review of Garfinkle's other novel ("All of An Instant") which I unfortunately read first. I found it tedious and confusing, but "Celestial Matters" has completely changed my opinion of Garfinkle's writing.

I look forward to his next novel -- a sequel, perhaps?

So many possibilities come to mind -- such as working out more details of the nexus between Greek and Taoist technology and medicine, and examining the other religions and cultures of 400 B.C. + 900 years. After all, the 'Ebreu people in Iudea exist in that world, worshipping their inscrutable God; and the Olmeks of Atlantea and Norsemen of Skandia must have had their own divergent worldviews.

Also, I'd like to learn more about the relationship between Aias and Yellow Hare (and their children?); whether Aias becomes an Archon of the Delian League; whether the persecution of the Xan Buddhists is ended; and whether there are other elements or life-forms on 'Elios or the planets (beyond their basic celestial matter).

And of course, I'd love to read the saga of the ultimate voyage to the Outermost Crystal Sphere of Fixed Stars, as hinted in one of Aias' theophanies.

The first-person narrative style of the story is extremely well done, and helps the reader gradually absorb a fantastic yet strangely (historically) familiar world. The main characters are well-developed. Although their actions may seem unrealistic at times, they are consistent with the heroic viewpoint of Aias, the protagonist who is touched by the Gods.

Give us more of this, Mr. Garfinkle!!

What I really love about this book isn't necessarily the characters, the plot, the writer's style -- all these things are satisfactory, but the reason recommend this book to all fans of science fiction is that it's an exemplary example of what science fiction really is: a literary work that explores the possibilities of science. In this case, however, the science isn't our own modern science, but the physics of Aristotle and the astronomy of Ptolemy. By attacking the genre from an unusual perspective, the author has produced a treat for fans of science fiction, as well as students of physics.

"Celestial Matters" is an interesting book. It is not really science fiction, but it is also not fantasy. I think of it as science fantasy.

The story is set in a world where the ancient Hellenic civilization never fell, and instead prospered to conquer the known world. Alexander was usurped, Roman remained a city state and the West as we know it never developed. This Hellenic empire expands until it is itself checked by an expanding ancient Chinese empire. The story is about Aias, a Greek scientist's efforts to develop a fusion bomb to use against the Chinese. It includes the technical challenges, intrigues, and moral implications concerning the health, care and feeding of atomic weapons.

All this is pretty standard stuff. Except, in addition to the historical twist the author redefines the laws of nature to operate according to ancient classical beliefs. There is no periodic table of the elements, there is only fire, water, earth, and air. The sun and planets revolve around the Earth. This universe does not operate according to Einstein, and Copernicus.

I found the story in "Celestial Matters" to be rather underwhelming. The author is competent. . One theme did he handle well was the divine inspiration characters regularly received from the pantheon of gods. However, he is not good enough to handle his "big idea" of a universe operating according to Aristotelian science. The scenery consistently upstaged the characters. In addition, I could have used a full appendix on Classical cosmology, including maps. How many planets did the ancient Greeks know of? In what order from the Earth did they orbit? What was the paper, scissors, rock relationship of the prime elements fire, water, earth and air? What is the modern name of the ancient Chinese capitol? Only very late in the story is a character introduced to explain some of these things.

"Celestial Matters" is an interesting book, but a strictly mediocre novel. In some ways, the book is like Robert Forward's novels. I only found it worth reading for the intellectual exercise of understanding the background physics.

I thoroughly enjoyed Celestial Matters. As a fan of philosophy (East and West) and speculative fiction, I loved Garfinkle's mind-boggling mixture of action, adventure and a ropping good time! Also, as an aspiring writer myself, I commend the author's easy style; I don't have a lot of time in a world measured by the Internet. But quality was not sacrificed for speed; I burst through the last third of the book on my own in breathless anticipation and was very happy at the ending. Can't wait to see future works by Garfinkle!

Garfinkle offers a great idea with adequate results. Celestial Matters is an insightful, learned analysis of Greek culture. However it doesn't have much to say about human culture in general. What I always look for in alternative histories is anthropological reasoning. Why are things this way? What human qualities caused these changes? Overall, Garfinkle presents too many characters without enough depth to make this a very memorable read.