The Memory of Whiteness: A Scientific Romance

By Kim Stanley Robinson

Book Overview

An early novel from Science Fiction legend Kim Stanley Robinson, The Memory of Whiteness is now available for the first time in decades.

In 3229 A.D., human civilization is scattered among the planets, moons, and asteroids of the solar system. Billions of lives depend on the technology derived from the breakthroughs of the greatest physicist of the age, Arthur Holywelkin. But in the last years of his life, Holywelkin devoted himself to building a strange, beautiful, and complex musical instrument that he called The Orchestra.

Johannes Wright has earned the honor of becoming the Ninth Master of Holywelkin's Orchestra. Follow him on his Grand Tour of the Solar System, as he journeys down the gravity well toward the sun, impelled by a destiny he can scarcely understand, and is pursued by mysterious foes who will tell him anything except the reason for their enmity.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312861435
• ISBN13: 9780312861438
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Memory of Whiteness

The astonishing concatenation of physics, philosophy and music with an engaging set of characters and fast-moving plot enthralled this lifelong, passionate enthusiast of speculative fiction. In my opinion, the finest work of this very talented author.

A far-futuristic symphony of ideas

Calling Robinson a stream-of-consciousness author may be unkind, thanks to the label's attachments... let's rather peg KSR as a stream-of-ideas craftsman. Those that made their way thru the Mars trilogy and called the journey pleasant will testify that what kept them entranced was not any certain traditional literary technique, but instead a technique possibly unique to KSR himself. KSR builds rich gardens, scenes built on pure thought and ideas, realistic enough and utterly fascinating, and then allows his characters to wander within for awhile. We never are fully guided through any of these idea gardens, but as we close the book, we realize that he has left a meta-map of 5 or 6 of these for our minds to explore later. Asimov may have created 1 or 2 of these idea gardens (psychohistory, as one), but KSR does it repeatedly. It is a totally unique experience in literature. Speaking to The Memory of Whiteness itself, it is set in the year 3229... that alone speaks volumes, and KSR builds the finest 4th milennium stage I've yet read. You will be guided on a tour of worlds and cultures (KSR also being a fine 'culture creator', another of his distinct footprints), and the entire idea of 'music' will transform before your eyes. The story moves along with good pace, with enough complexity to entice you to read it again, and builds to an ending that will haunt your waking days. So this one certainly deserves an A+.

Amazing

Robinson is the only human who could possibly write a novel about a recovering drug addict on a mission from God to accurately represent 10th dimensional physics through music. Music lovers will love it, Physics lovers will love it. Simply grand.

A great book that attests the power of music!

The concept of creating different mini-worlds around the solar system was ingenious. There were recreations of the Serengeti, the Zagros mountains, among others. The common thread that binds them all is music. If only our world esteemed music in this way!

Symphonic Solar-System Thriller

This is an enchanting book whose simple premise leads to an intricate who-dunnit across the solar system. Robinson's attention to detail foreshadows his later Mars trilogy and engenders confidence in the basics for the reader so as to allow the soaring scope of the work to be sustained. A plaesure to read and re-read