1610: A Sundial In A Grave (Gollancz S.F.) [Paperback]

The writing is strong and sensuous throughout, but is let down by a central lack of substance. "Ash" managed to convince me that quantum mechanics can rewrite the past, but I didn't for a moment believe "1610"s premise that mathematical calculations can reveal the future. The story is therefore stranded at a supposedly pivotal but in fact hugely unexciting moment in history, requiring the characters to spend ages wandering around Somerset and take a completely unnecessary voyage to Japan in order to sustain the plot for 700 pages.

It all redeems itself magnificently over the last 100 pages, and the conclusion is genuinely moving; but if I hadn't taken the book on holiday, I doubt I'd have got that far. Beautifully crafted, but much too long, "1610" is a triumph of writing over storytelling, and that's a Pyrrhic victory at best.

It also has to be mentioned that the book also pulls of a major shock that simply leaves you gasping and relieved.

Gentle is fast becoming one of my favourite novelists.

1610 is a year of change. Edward Fludd has perfected the mathematics of telling the future. However, he doesn't like what he sees, so he determines to change it. This is the year where that change becomes possible. Valentin Rochefort, a duellist and down on his luck aristocrat, as well as servant to the French spymaster Sully, is having his own problems. He is supposed to set up the assassination of his monarch, Henry IV, but it's designed to be a fake. Too bad for him that it happens to succeed. Disgraced and forced to run, he encounters his nemesis, Dariole, who revels in humiliating him, especially by being 16 years old and able to beat him at swordplay. Dariole ends up running with him, and they both find themselves trapped in Fludd's web. Fludd intends to use Rochefort in an assassination of his own, one that will change the future the way he wants it to be. With the addition of a shipwrecked Japanese samurai, agendas clash, different honor systems conflict, and secrets are revealed. The story goes all over the world, from France to England to Portugal and then to Japan before returning for an intriguing finish. There's even time for a little romance as well.

1610 is written as if it were a computer-generated reconstructed translation of a fire-damaged manuscript written by Rochefort. This allows the "translator" to include other documents as well, so each part (the book is separated into five) begins with something other than his memoirs. Sometimes it's a translator's note or a partially reconstructed entry from Saburo to his Japanese liege-lord. These give us a little bit more background information that Rochefort wouldn't necessarily be privy to, enabling the reader to have a more well-rounded story. It's an effective way to write, and Rochefort makes a wonderful narrator. He's witty and he's not afraid to admit his own mistakes (and there are many). The only thing that's not completely realistic about this is that there is no white-washing whatsoever. There's no effort to make Rochefort look good, which is what would probably happen with anybody else's memoirs. Rochefort's honesty is refreshing, however.

With the book being told in first person, it would have been very easy to make the other characters wooden. Thankfully, Gentle avoids this, with both Dariole and Saburo being superb. The relationship between Dariole and Rochefort is riveting, especially when Dariole's secret is revealed and Rochefort has to adjust. Saburo is fascinating because Japan is an unknown entity at this point, with just a few western explorers having been there. The culture clash between Saburo and Rochefort, and even Dariole to an extent (though Dariole seems a lot more willing to learn from Saburo, being only 16 and impressionable) makes a good subplot to the main action. It gets even more interesting when Saburo has to choose between duty to his leader and duty to the man who saved his life. Gentle handles all of these differing cultures admirably, showing again how detailed her research is.

The only bad thing I have to say about the book is that the beginning is horribly slow. I almost gave up on it after 60 pages, especially when a bizarre sexual encounter took place. I was beginning to wonder if this is the type of book that I'm not interested in reading. I persevered, though, and discovered a rich, yet clearly adult, novel with wonderful prose and fascinating characters. Once Rochefort and Dariole leave Paris, the book takes off at a frenetic yet leisurely pace. I know that doesn't appear to make sense, but the story seems to be moving even when Gentle is pausing for breath. 1610 is a book that's hard to put down, even during these breaks. When there's no action, there are still plenty of ideas being put forward, or beautiful character interaction to keep the reader entertained.

I have to reiterate that this is definitely an adult novel. There are some sexual situations in it, as well as some adult concepts. As long as that doesn't bother you, 1610 is a wonderful book.

David Roy