The Memory of Whiteness - Kim Stanley Robinson Book Review

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"The Memory of Whiteness"
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Review Summaries

"THE MEMORY OF WHITENESS is a book written by Kim Stanley Robinson in 1985. It's a story about the relation between mathematical and physical laws and the music. Johannes Wright is the Ninth Master of the Orchestra. He became blind after having taken a powerful drug when still young but, thanks to his electronic eyes, has managed to master his instrument. The Orchestra has been built 200 years ago by Arthur Holywelkin, a physicist who devoted the 10 last years of his life to create this monumental instrument that can play symphonies under the direction of one single man : the Master. Wright and his crew have just begun touring throughout the solar system when strange incidents happen as if someone would like to endanger Johannes Wright's life. In fact, Ekern, the administrative head of the Orchestra and member of a secret society, tries to create a metadrama around Wright in order to replace him at the head of the Orchestra. He is manipulating Wright and his friends so that they are unconsciously part of a gigantic theatrical play written by Ekern. In the meantime, Johannes, persuaded that Holywelkin had discovered that the secret of the Universe can be revealed by playing music, does have a mystical illumination in the company of one of the Superiors of the Greys, a religious order adoring the Sun. Wright's bodyguards, his manager Margaret and his friend Dent Athos decide to protect Johannes and begin to investigate while crowds attend with anxiety the next concerts of the Orchestra. A superb book."
Daniel Staebler, Resident Kim Stanley Robinson Scholar

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Overall Review

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 40%

Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes
Plotlets: - exploring a wondrous planet or phenomena
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - musician
Age: - 20's-30's
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character: - can see into the future - can read emotions
Eccentric: Yes - obsessed
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - missing body parts/abilities

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an above average amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
Terrain - Desert - Planet surface, need spacesuit - Domed/Underground City - Asteroid
Which planet? - Mercury - Mars - Asteroids - Uranus/Neptune - Pluto
Earth setting: - distant future
Takes place on Earth? Yes
Not Earth, in Solar System? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - a lot of techical jargon
How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog

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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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