royalbach's review
5.0
When I supported the Kickstarter for this book, I had no idea what I was getting into. As someone who worked in an observatory and a proud history + mythology addict, the book seemed like it might be a bit fun. This book was far more than I could hope for, and has become my favorite book of all time. So much so, I just had to write my first ever review on Goodreads to counter-balance the one bad review it had gotten.
The plot is as described - Urania, the muse of philosophy and astronomy, looks for someone who can grasp the immensity of the universe without going mad. But its more than that - through the book we feel her loneliness and pain for being the only one who can enjoy the vast universe, while people believe the solar system is all there is and that the earth is in the center of everything. Even the Olympians know only a part of the truth.
Through her search for someone who can share the universe with her, the author takes us along the path of the great men who fought the forces of religion and the fear of the unknown. Through vivid descriptions, realistic scenarios and a touch of suspense, I felt like I was there with them on the journey - watching as humanity's understanding of the world changed forever, one astronomer at a time. And all the while, mythology, science and history blend together without contradicting, creating an ode to astronomy, science and, surprisingly, religion. This book truly made me see astronomy differently.
The main characters are complex and extremely well written, perhaps with an exception for the antagonist Julian Augustus. The great men along the journey - Copernicus, Tycho, Kepler, Galileo, and others - are just as complex, while also following their history in a way that makes the story feel like it could have happened in reality 500 years ago.
All-in-all, this book is a must read for all lovers of astronomy/mythology. I would also recommend it to people who are curious about the advancement of science, or the relationship between science and religion. Yeah, this book carries more weight than seems.
The plot is as described - Urania, the muse of philosophy and astronomy, looks for someone who can grasp the immensity of the universe without going mad. But its more than that - through the book we feel her loneliness and pain for being the only one who can enjoy the vast universe, while people believe the solar system is all there is and that the earth is in the center of everything. Even the Olympians know only a part of the truth.
Through her search for someone who can share the universe with her, the author takes us along the path of the great men who fought the forces of religion and the fear of the unknown. Through vivid descriptions, realistic scenarios and a touch of suspense, I felt like I was there with them on the journey - watching as humanity's understanding of the world changed forever, one astronomer at a time. And all the while, mythology, science and history blend together without contradicting, creating an ode to astronomy, science and, surprisingly, religion. This book truly made me see astronomy differently.
The main characters are complex and extremely well written, perhaps with an exception for the antagonist Julian Augustus. The great men along the journey - Copernicus, Tycho, Kepler, Galileo, and others - are just as complex, while also following their history in a way that makes the story feel like it could have happened in reality 500 years ago.
All-in-all, this book is a must read for all lovers of astronomy/mythology. I would also recommend it to people who are curious about the advancement of science, or the relationship between science and religion. Yeah, this book carries more weight than seems.
metawidget's review
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
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