The Measure of the Universe [Paperback]

Ellen Larson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2002

A wide-eyed archeologist from Aldebaran lands in Greece to study with a sharp-tongued professor of paleography. They discover love among the runes, and a plot spelling disaster for both their worlds. Fire up your universal translators, it?s Prometheus, Bloodied but Unbound!

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

It is 2099, and Earth has been coping fairly well with the discovery of an intelligent species on Aldebaran. That species, the Negami, has set up a small outpost in the U.S and requested that larger research teams be allowed to visit. The UN, reluctant and suspicious, decides to honor the seemingly least important request, for a lone linguist to study ancient temples and inscriptions in Greece. A canny UN consultant convinces Aisha--a sharp-tongued, blind, female expert on ancient writing under whom he studied--to partner the amiable male Negami, Titek. Aisha rambles the Greek islands with the delighted Titek, and gradually, an unlikely but appealing romance develops. Unfortunately, Aisha discovers her underhanded former student's secret motivation at the same time that Titek reveals the grave importance of his mission, and the fate of the lovers is cast in doubt. Only by combining their talents can they achieve a reasonably happy ending. Studded with clever double entendres and puns, this makes an engaging weekend read for language lovers. Roberta Johnson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 108 pages
• Publisher: Saga SF (August 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966987748
• ISBN-13: 978-0966987744
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,592,923 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Has language finished evolving? What will language be in the future?, June 11, 2009

By 

Maida Tilchen "Author, "Land Beyond Maps&... (Boston, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Measure of the Universe (Paperback)

When's the last time you typed in words to tell a computer what to do? Back in the DOS era? Or maybe you are young enough to never have used DOS and you're not sure what it is. That's the dilemma of a very technologically advanced planet in a future time that has completely forgotten the history of written language. They have to send a scholar to try to find out how written language developed on Earth.

"The Measure of the Universe" foresees a time when human communication has moved beyond words to something like images or brainwaves. If you want to know more, and to think about what this will mean for inter-planetary species communication, read Ellen Larson's extremely entertaining and provocative novel. In addition to a fascinating story, it is set is a beautiful and romantic Greek island that is only changed from our present day by some unobstrusive technology. Larson's lush descriptions and charming characters make this a fast-moving yet very smart read.

If you are a teacher of the history of language or of communication, you might consider assigning "Measure of the Universe." It will get your students thinking and talking about the history of communication, communication in the future, and the vulnerability of free speech across all times and governments. It reminds me somewhat of the writings of Ursula LeGuin, but due to the very amusing dialogue, not so deadly serious.

This book gives the best argument I've ever seen for the value of science fiction in just one great line (p. 35): "I've never looked to the future for the answers...only to the past"

5.0 out of 5 stars An original, wild, and fun-loving romp, October 6, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Measure of the Universe (Paperback)

The Measure Of The Universe by Ellen Larson is the story of an archeologist from Aldebaran who arrives in the Greek isles for the purpose of studying ancient inscriptions. He meets a sharp-tongued professor of paleography and the alien teams up with the human, joined by a mutual love of exploring ancient ruins and writings, only to discover a hidden plot against both their worlds. The Measure Of The Universe is enthusiastically recommended to science fiction enthusiasts as an original, wild, and fun-loving romp touching on limits between and beyond human and nonhuman cultures alike.