Galileo's Dream

November 30, 2009
The creative imagination of Hugo, Nebula, and Locus–winner Robinson (The Years of Rice and Salt
) is on display in this offbeat novel of scientific discovery. In 1609, a stranger tells Galileo Galilei about a recent Dutch device that magnifies distant objects. The Italian scientist develops his own version, and the success of his telescope brings him recognition and acclaim. Forty pages in, the book changes genres abruptly as the stranger brings Galileo to Europa, the second moon of Jupiter, in a far future where various factions quarrel over plans to colonize the distant sphere. During the course of several trips through time and space, Galileo becomes something of a pawn in the political conflicts while gaining treasured glimpses of the future of science. Readers will eagerly share Galileo's curiosity and astonishment at the wonders of both the past and the future.

Starred review from November 15, 2009
In the far future, colonists of Jupiter's moons make a startling discovery that divides them into warring factions and sends one side into the past to consult Galileo Galilei. Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author Robinson ("Mars Trilogy"; "The Years of Rice and Salt") blends epic sf with alternate history as he uses the life of Galileo as a mirror for human scientific endeavors amid powerful opposition. A master storyteller with a highly attuned sense of dramatic narrative, Robinson creates a masterwork with this robust portrayal of a man whose discoveries echo through the ages. VERDICT Expanding the potential of the genre to reach out to a broad audience, Robinson's latest is highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 9/1/09.]

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.