catbooking's review against another edition
4.0
The book would go off on tangents in places, spending a lot of time explaining who got to work what strip of land and why. Or who got to own this or that property and title and why. I understand it was done to communicate the way society was structured at the time, but I kept finding my eyes glossed over and none of the text read actually comprehended.
The other part that I found distracting was how progressive the priest was. I am not talking about trying to follow the scriptures and helping a fellow 'man' but more of technological understanding and quotes that may as well have come from 1700s.
>“That a man possesses a natural right to his own life means only that his defense of that life is legitimate, not that his defense will be successful.” He spread his hands. “As for other natural rights, I number the right to freedom against tyranny, and the right to property. That last he may forego, when in so doing he pursues his own happiness.” Ockham cut into a sausage set before him by a page. “As the Spirituals do in imitation of the poverty of the Lord and His Apostles.”
Does it not feel a bit like lip service to American readers?
Then again, I might be too dismissive of people living in the 1400s. They were certainly as smart as we are today, so maybe a priest in the middle of nowhere could comprehend an idea of a microphone and a computer. And maybe similarly the discussion on “Life liberty and the pursuit of happiness” was already a well formed idea that just wasn't yet widely disseminated. I just found it very jarring while reading.
That said, the book as a whole is just wonderful. The reaction of the local village residents is realistic and varied. The struggle for power, both on the side of the visitors and on the side of hosts, makes sense. Equally the process of solving the mystery in the 'now' takes logical steps and develops as one would expect from a mystery. So even keeping my lengthy complaint in mind, I do like to complain about books, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to others.
The other part that I found distracting was how progressive the priest was. I am not talking about trying to follow the scriptures and helping a fellow 'man' but more of technological understanding and quotes that may as well have come from 1700s.
>“That a man possesses a natural right to his own life means only that his defense of that life is legitimate, not that his defense will be successful.” He spread his hands. “As for other natural rights, I number the right to freedom against tyranny, and the right to property. That last he may forego, when in so doing he pursues his own happiness.” Ockham cut into a sausage set before him by a page. “As the Spirituals do in imitation of the poverty of the Lord and His Apostles.”
Does it not feel a bit like lip service to American readers?
Then again, I might be too dismissive of people living in the 1400s. They were certainly as smart as we are today, so maybe a priest in the middle of nowhere could comprehend an idea of a microphone and a computer. And maybe similarly the discussion on “Life liberty and the pursuit of happiness” was already a well formed idea that just wasn't yet widely disseminated. I just found it very jarring while reading.
That said, the book as a whole is just wonderful. The reaction of the local village residents is realistic and varied. The struggle for power, both on the side of the visitors and on the side of hosts, makes sense. Equally the process of solving the mystery in the 'now' takes logical steps and develops as one would expect from a mystery. So even keeping my lengthy complaint in mind, I do like to complain about books, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to others.
megmcardle's review against another edition
4.0
This is a truly interesting blend of Historical Fiction and Science Fiction (one of the rarest of all combos)that works despite some very real flaws. In 14th century Germany, an alien ship has crashed in the forested outskirts of the village of Oberhochwald. The local villagers include a remarkable man serving as their parish priest. Father Dietrich is a student of philosophy, history, science and religion who studied in Paris and kept company with the great minds of his age. He retreated to the remote village of Oberhochwald to escape his past (hinted at but never really explained), and proves to be the ideal ambassador to the stranded aliens. As he gets to know the grasshopper-like creatures he calls "Krenken" and help them in their efforts to repair their ship, his inate curiosity and openess to new ideas prompts him to welcome the aliens and try and gain acceptance for them with his flock - to the point of offering baptism. If Dietrich sometimes strains the credulity of the reader in his sheer unflappability, his views are not shared by some in the village, nor with the powers of the Inquisition. The fear of some is in many ways more understandable than Dietrich's constant rolling with the punches when exposed to alien technology far beyond anything in existence in medieval times. His reading has made him open to all possibilities, apparently, and at each new wonder, he just slaps a greek name on it and moves on. Still, he is a genuinely likeable character who wants to apply both his love of learning and his vocation to give charity to all in need to the stranded aliens. There's quite a lot of plot to gloss over, including politics both Krenken and feudal. If Flynn fails the narrative, it might be in trying to cram in a little too much of the obviously HUGE amount of research he did on the time. This is a common misstep in historical fiction, and one I can forgive as the details of daily life that he includes make the setting and the people feel completely real. The other big flaw is the inclusion of a modern day plot, that seemed superfluous and frankly...dull. The present day historian trying to discover why the village of Oberhochwald (which became known as Eifelheim) disappeared from maps and his annoying physicist girlfriend bring nothing to the plot. The extensive discussion of polyverse physics might appeal to some hard SF fans, but I had to fight the urge to skim. But the medieval villagers dealing with something so far beyond their experience was a great, great story and so I forgive.
kappafrog's review against another edition
Thoroughly misogynistic with an overwrought writing style. Really disappointed as I loved the premise.
rlse's review against another edition
4.0
This book was profoundly weird and weirdly profound. Still sorting through all my thoughts and feelings. I Suspect Father Dietrich and and his pal Hans the giant grasshopper will be with me for awhile.
soleadohmbt's review against another edition
4.0
If you're a fan of cosmology, quantum physics, 14th century European history, mystery novels, and/or science fiction, there's a good chance you'll love this book.
goffstown's review against another edition
3.0
A little slow and didn't really capture my attention. Although I didn't finish it, I still think it was pretty good book. Maybe I'll try to reread it later.
jackyobrien6's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at 5 and of 17 hrs of the audiobook. The premise sounded awesome. Historical fiction, pandemic, and aliens are all subjects that I enjoy reading about, but this book was straight up boring. While I know people in the 1300s were devotely religious and spoke in many metaphors, trying to trek through Dietrich's talking was boring. You would think when aliens arrived it would get more exciting, but then they just talk to them in the same metaphors and devotedness. And the "Now" sections were so small that they were essentially pointless. Disappointing.
daemonad's review against another edition
4.0
At last, a book where the author isn't snide about Middle Ages, and where no character is a mere caricature of good or evil. Instead, the people of Oberhochwald come across as real individuals with strengths and weaknesses appropriate to the time and place they occupy. Despite the mind-blowing premise of the book, the story plateaus as reality often does.