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nwhyte's review
http://nhw.livejournal.com/702033.html[return][return]One of the famous astronomer's sf novels, a very short book (170 pages) featuring a contemporary 1966 world where suddenly large chunks of the Earth are sent back to different times - western and central Europe to 1917, the Balkans to classical times, other parts to who knows where. Our narrator is a musician, his friend a brilliant mathematician. Hoyle works in a lot of his own personal obsessions - mountains, classical music.
abetterjulie's review
2.0
Memorable, yes. Odd, yes.
The concept here is interesting. The bizarre music element keeps you riveted because you want to see where that unusual hook might take you, but the payoff let me down.
I kinda want someone to make a weird Sunday afternoon matinee movie using this book as the template. With cheesy wardrobes and bad mustaches.
The concept here is interesting. The bizarre music element keeps you riveted because you want to see where that unusual hook might take you, but the payoff let me down.
I kinda want someone to make a weird Sunday afternoon matinee movie using this book as the template. With cheesy wardrobes and bad mustaches.
lawrenceevalyn's review
2.0
More fun as a time machine to 1966 fiction than as a satisfying novel in itself... the premise ought to have been fascinating, but instead the most enjoyable parts of the book were the long discussions of the protagonist's work as a composer.
traveller1's review
4.0
I read this novel so long ago, most likely while I was in High School, not studying the boring stuff the teachers wanted me to, but reading what I wanted (it made me the man I am today!).
I don't believe Hoyle was a great SF author (maybe a good editor would have helped), but he was always entertaining. I only recall scenes from the novel. The pianist, the jumble of historical eras, references to WW1, and the debates. I would like to re-read, if I can find a copy.
I would recommend this book to those interested. An insight into the mind of a great man, and an example of writing from the 60s.
I don't believe Hoyle was a great SF author (maybe a good editor would have helped), but he was always entertaining. I only recall scenes from the novel. The pianist, the jumble of historical eras, references to WW1, and the debates. I would like to re-read, if I can find a copy.
I would recommend this book to those interested. An insight into the mind of a great man, and an example of writing from the 60s.
jaycatt7's review
3.0
Classic SF with big ideas
This wasn't the book I expected. It started slow and kept piling on the surprises. The ideas are the strongest aspect, with weaker plot and characters. I could see the ideas and broad strokes as the skeleton of a trilogy in alternate history, but this was not that story.
This wasn't the book I expected. It started slow and kept piling on the surprises. The ideas are the strongest aspect, with weaker plot and characters. I could see the ideas and broad strokes as the skeleton of a trilogy in alternate history, but this was not that story.
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