The Memory of Whiteness - Kim Stanley Robinson
Written at around the same time as his novella Green Mars, this is an early version of his future Solar System. It's set later than his other books and has advances such as artificial gravity, which I'm fairly sure hasn't been in his books since.
A strange plot, as the new, ninth, Master of a revered one man orcherstra machine known as the Holywelkin Orchestra takes his strange artifact on a tour of the solar system's homan colonies, starting with the outermost, where he's based.
Mysterious happenings and possible sabotage persist and a strange secretive sect called the Greys may be responsible. But contact with their leaders may also throw light on the background of the Orchestra.
A slow read, as the plot is teased out over the course of the long, multi-planet tour, reaching even closer to the sun than Mercury, where great, advanced technologies power civilisation.
Somewhat opaque at times but a worthwhile read.
He signed my copy some years ago, describing the book as 'my strange child'.
And it has tapirs in it!
The Memory of Whiteness - Kim Stanley Robinson
Written at around the same time as his novella Green Mars, this is an early version of his future Solar System. It's set later than his other books and has advances such as artificial gravity, which I'm fairly sure hasn't been in his books since.
A strange plot, as the new, ninth, Master of a revered one man orcherstra machine known as the Holywelkin Orchestra takes his strange artifact on a tour of the solar system's homan colonies, starting with the outermost, where he's based.
Mysterious happenings and possible sabotage persist and a strange secretive sect called the Greys may be responsible. But contact with their leaders may also throw light on the background of the Orchestra.
A slow read, as the plot is teased out over the course of the long, multi-planet tour, reaching even closer to the sun than Mercury, where great, advanced technologies power civilisation.
Somewhat opaque at times but a worthwhile read.
He signed my copy some years ago, describing the book as 'my strange child'.
And it has tapirs in it!