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banjax451's review against another edition
3.5 stars. Not sure I loved it as much, though I did enjoy large parts of the novel. That said, large portions of it were sections I had to skim through and some of the advanced stuff was difficult to understand - I'm still not sure of all the physics/math behind some of what goes on. I also felt that it was a bit light on the worldbuilding in the future societies, but then again...that's never been KSR's strength.
jupiterjens666's review against another edition
4.0
A different one for KSR. Quite beautiful, helped me understand ten-dimensional physics a tiny bit.
jonmhansen's review against another edition
4.0
"The principle is very simple," Galileo began, always a bad sign.
cpikas's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like the whole conceit of 10 dimensions and time travel is sort of tacked on as if the author needed to justify historical fiction? With that said it a timely read as someone reported "discovering" an old letter in the Royal Society library this week.
falinter's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This book is very very slow. There are large swaths of 1600s bureaucracy and letter writing which you have to read to get to the very interesting ideas in the 24th century
luisterpaul's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
aszekely's review against another edition
3.0
In the end, I liked the idea of this book more than the book itself. Learning about Galileo was great, but the B story -- his interactions with the future -- seemed more like the author trying to express his thoughts on science vs. religion without much plot or interesting characters.
wynwicket's review against another edition
4.0
Blends a retelling of Galileo's later life (the invention of the telescope, discovery of Jupiter's moons, and, of course, the trial) with a science fiction twist, as he is whisked off on a mission to the moons of Jupiter by an alien rebel named Ganymede to ensure that science triumphs over religion.
The character of Galileo is mercurial, often ill-tempered, brilliant, ego-centric, and fascinating. And the descriptions of Jupiter and its moons are so vivid... I wish I had a telescope.
One of the most literary and scientific science fiction novels I've read.
The character of Galileo is mercurial, often ill-tempered, brilliant, ego-centric, and fascinating. And the descriptions of Jupiter and its moons are so vivid... I wish I had a telescope.
One of the most literary and scientific science fiction novels I've read.
jgolomb's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a huge fan of Kim Stanley Robinson's "The Years of Rice and Salt" which is a terrific blend of pseudo science fictional philosophy and religion, and fun and entertaining alternative history. It's deep and touching and provides a strong sense of activity (if not specifically action and adventure).
The concept behind "Galileo's Dream" drew me to the book the instant I read the description: Galileo is taken from Earth to the moons of Jupiter (which he discovered) in an attempt to modify the past to make for a better future. Unfortunately, while it's a fun concept, Robinson provides an uneven implementation.
The vast majority of the book follows Galileo over the course of 30 or 40 years through his major astronomical discoveries and inventions. His is, by far, the strongest character throughout the book that includes a mix of humans from the future, Galileo's daughters, and numerous other good and bad guys from 17th century Italy.
The first several times that Galileo is spirited away by "The Stranger" the table is set for a interesting view of human life in the future, living on a moons of Jupiter. I was settling in for a nice space/time travel ride but became disappointed and the increasingly shorter visits to space and the future, and the increasing focus on philosophies of time travel, it's impact on the past, and vagueness on the battles between science and religion.
These elements are interesting and good scifi fodder, however I found them to be bluntly addressed and not well balanced with the minute details of Galileo's daily travails and triumphs.
If you're interested in a solid period piece, with strong historical research and a decent story, then I'd recommend this book. But read with appropriately measured expectations.
The concept behind "Galileo's Dream" drew me to the book the instant I read the description: Galileo is taken from Earth to the moons of Jupiter (which he discovered) in an attempt to modify the past to make for a better future. Unfortunately, while it's a fun concept, Robinson provides an uneven implementation.
The vast majority of the book follows Galileo over the course of 30 or 40 years through his major astronomical discoveries and inventions. His is, by far, the strongest character throughout the book that includes a mix of humans from the future, Galileo's daughters, and numerous other good and bad guys from 17th century Italy.
The first several times that Galileo is spirited away by "The Stranger" the table is set for a interesting view of human life in the future, living on a moons of Jupiter. I was settling in for a nice space/time travel ride but became disappointed and the increasingly shorter visits to space and the future, and the increasing focus on philosophies of time travel, it's impact on the past, and vagueness on the battles between science and religion.
These elements are interesting and good scifi fodder, however I found them to be bluntly addressed and not well balanced with the minute details of Galileo's daily travails and triumphs.
If you're interested in a solid period piece, with strong historical research and a decent story, then I'd recommend this book. But read with appropriately measured expectations.