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Stuart Clark

The Sky's Dark Labyrinth (The Sky's Dark Labyrinth Trilogy) Hardcover – April 18, 2011

by Stuart Clark (Author)

4.3 135 ratings

Book 1 of 3: Sky's Dark Labyrinth Trilogy

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At the dawn of the seventeenth century everyone believed that the sun revolved around the earth. Yet some men knew that the heavens did not move as they should. And some men began to suspect that this heresy was in fact the truth. As Europe convulsed in conflict between Catholic and Protestant, these men prepared to die for that truth. This is the story of Kepler and Galileo, two men whose struggle with themselves, with the forces of reaction and with the evidence that changed not simply themselves but our world. The Sky's Dark Labyrinth is the first of a trilogy of novels inspired by the dramatic struggles, personal and professional, and key historical events in man's quest to understand the Universe.

Book 1 of 3

Sky's Dark Labyrinth Trilogy
Print length

272 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Polygon
Publication date

April 18, 2011
Dimensions

5.71 x 1.42 x 8.07 inches
ISBN-10

1846971748
ISBN-13

978-1846971747
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Editorial Reviews

Review

'Clark's account is superb ... a cracking good read'
Cool Science Books

'Stuart Clark follows a game of galactic hide-and-seek'
New Scientist

An intelligent book that neither romanticises the past, nor distorts it to suit modern Sensibilities'
Historical Novel Society

This book is a moving and eye-opening story of brilliance and bravery, and the fight against bigotry and closed-mindedness'
Daily Mail

Well stocked with informative historical asides'
Scotland on Sunday

About the Author

Stuart Clark is a former editor of the UK's bestselling popular astronomy magazine Astronomy Now and a visiting fellow of the University of Hertfordshire. His book, The Sun Kings (Princeton University Press, 2007), established him as a popular science writer par excellence. Last year Stuart further honed his storytelling skills by working for the BBC to develop ten stories for a forthcoming science-based drama series, Stormshield, and writing the outline for the astronomy episode of a forthcoming BBC2 series on the history of science. Most recently, he has dramatised and read a portion of The Sun Kings for Radio 3. He lives in Hitchin.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Polygon (April 18, 2011)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1846971748
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1846971747
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.01 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.71 x 1.42 x 8.07 inches

Customer Reviews:
4.3 135 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

135 global ratings

5 star		49%
4 star		37%
3 star		9%
2 star		3%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Amazon Customer

A good worthwhile read

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 4, 2013

Verified Purchase

I was surprised at the binary response that this novel as received from the customer reviews. I am a retired scientist and for the last few years I have been reading history of science and biographies of scientists. I have read several on Kepler, Tycho Brae, and Galileo, the "characters" in this novel, and don't see any distortion of fact as little as they are known. This book was intended to entertain as well as to educate. It does this well, but it clearly was intensely researched. Set during the social turmoil of the Protestant reformation, the Catholic inquisition, and the 30 years war the author convincingly develops the personalities in a manner consistent with more scholarly treatises, but in a much more interesting way. I will remember more about the lives of these three giants of science history because of this book, and I do not believe that the fictionalization significantly distorts reality. While there were a few nicely done expositions of the observations and the science, it was too little for me. Indeed, Clark did more than others authors I have read to bring out the observations and logic that led to such heretical conclusions, but it wasn't a 5 star effort, and I have yet to see one from any author except possibly Dava Sobel. Never-the-less I will buy the second book in this trilogy - thank you Stuart Clark.

4 people found this helpful

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Michael A. Grayson

Important scientific figures come to life

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 12, 2011

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This book creates flesh and blood characters of the persons responsible for the scientific revolution that took place in the early 17th century in Western Europe. While focusing on Kepler and Galileo primarily, important individuals in their lives are also brought to life. The author is also able to create a sense of the world view held by the power structure of that era and the various forces that came into play trying to suppress the knew knowledge that Copernicus, Brahe, Kepler and Galileo discovered and disseminated. Clark tells us that this is the first in a trilogy, the second book focusing on Newton and the third on Einstein. I look forward eagerly to the next book in the series.

Anyone interested in the beginnings of modern astronomy and the accompanying scientific revolution that it brought about would enjoy reading this account about the events and people involved.

8 people found this helpful

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CollectedReader

A most fortuitous discovery

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 3, 2012

This is a book that takes the reader through the journey of the adventures of Kepler and Galileo. I was astounded to learn that the facts of the book were all true; even events that were rather strange had their markings in history and not in fiction. Without any need for a love of astronomy, or a background therein, the reader is explained in easy detail the basic principles around the discoveries of Kepler and Galileo. But make no mistake, this book is about the people, politics and religion of the times.

I just gobbled this book up within a few days. I'm glad to have learned that this is one of a series of books. I am anxiously waiting for the next in the series having to do with Newton.

I highly recommend this book for history/historical fiction lovers.

4 people found this helpful

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RFOG

A poor story about Kepler and Galileo

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 8, 2012

Verified Purchase

It is a poor story about Kepler and Galileo and their historic context. Very poor because it only gives some little touches of each theme.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Jose A Carrasco

A pleasing way to learn the history of science

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 4, 2012

It is a book for leisure reading and get acquainted with the day to day matters of known great persons that where human after all and had to deal with mundane matters. It contains data not usually mention in formal Science History books.
I'm looking forward to reading the second part ....

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Pen Name

Scientific revolution imagined

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 8, 2013

Captivating imagery how life was in the renaissance for Kepler, Tycho Brahe, and Galileo Galilei with emphasis on religious tensions. Read it on my smartphone.
However, reading a few Wikipedia articles gave much more accurate and detailed information in much shorter time.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Mondoro

The start of an intriguing trilogy

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 9, 2015

Verified Purchase

An unusual historical novel in a series focusing on the major figures in the development of the modern science of astronomy. The first major protagonist, Galileo, and his confrontation with the Vatican establishment, is much better known than his contemporary Johannes Kepler, who is presented as here as the greater of the two, both in terms of achievement and sheer courage as a baptised Lutheran living in a Catholic environment. The author successfully conveys the hardships Kepler encountered in a country rapidly entering a period of disruption which became the Thirty Years War and laid waste to much of Central Europe. It is thus remarkable how much he was able to achieve, despite much personal tragedy and situations that often forced him to move on to escape imprisonment or even execution for religious heresy.

A scientist himself, Clark explains the quite complicated mathematics of Kepler's research into planetary orbits in a way that non-scientists can understand. This has been supplemented by a wealth of historical information about the conditions of life at this time: there has been a little bit of leeway in the chronology, but events like the trial of Kepler's mother for witchcraft are based on fact, and give a chilling picture of the superstition that still gripped Europe at this time, despite the many advances in science that were taking place. The complicated religious background perhaps needed a little more explanation: for instance the 'Utraquists' referred to in various places were followers of Jan Hus, the Bohemian reformer advocated the administration of communion in both kinds, bread and wine, against the Vatican instruction that the laity should receive the bread only.

I greatly enjoyed reading this book, filled with some fascinating characters, from the dissolute Rudolph II to Kepler's second wife, who provided much solace after the tragic death of his first epileptic wife, Barbara.

2 people found this helpful

Luther08

Fascinating mix of history and science - a great read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 4, 2022

Verified Purchase

He’s a clever fella, that Mr Clark!
This was a very enjoyable read. He tells the story with great skill, the history draws you in, and the science is understandable because the storyteller writes with such great choice of words - excuse me for not having the same skill in a review! He is exceptionally good at this, Mr Clark, read it and you’ll see what I mean!

BinAstro

If only all Historical Fiction was this good!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 14, 2012

Verified Purchase

This is an historical novel, in which Stuart Clark does a superb job of bringing to life the characters (primarily Kepler and Galileo) and their work, set against the turbulence of the religious conflicts that ravaged parts of Europe in the early 17th Century. It is this historical background that enables the reader to develop a deep understanding of the people involved and the resistance to their ideas.

Clark has the combined gifts of being a very good story-teller and having a thorough understanding of the astrophysical relevance of the work (and follies) of the protagonists of this tale, and uses both to good effect. If you ever imagined that a novel about the history of science would be dull, think again: this book has the compulsion of a good adventure novel; it would make an excellent film.

4 people found this helpful

SCM

Pleasant surprise for a random selection

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 11, 2014

Verified Purchase

This was a random pick for me something to read while on holiday. Turns out to be something of a page turner full of intrigue who can Kepler trust? The story unveils at a good pace and captures well the culture of the Papal court not to mention the conflict between politics and religion. In the back ground there is a web of Jesuit, Catholic and Lutheran characters each with their own agenda conspiring to ensure that any new discovery about the Solar system does not oppose the established view as set out in the Bible. This makes for dangerous times for the astrologer and his life is not without risk. I enjoyed this so much I have bought the second in the trilogy Sensorium of God - as Galileo dies so Isaac Newton is born. Worth a read for those interested in history and the development of knowledge in science.

One person found this helpful

Kindle Customer

A very good read about some of the history of astronomy

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 2, 2015

Verified Purchase

A very good fast-paced novel mainly about Johannes Kepler and Galileo Galileo.
It brings in Tycho Brave and other people who Kepler and Galileo were involved with in their careers. The book is delivers in an episodic format dealing largely separately with Kepler and Galileo and their trials and tribulations with their respective churches as they try to get their ideas published.
A good read for the layman with some interest in the history of science.
Stuart Clarke has an enjoyable and entertaining writing style and clearly knows his science. I am looking forward to reading the next instalment "The Sensorium of God" which is about Newton and Halley.

One person found this helpful

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