At the dawn of the 17th century, it was believed that the Sun revolved around the Earth. Yet some men knew that the Heavens did not move as they should and began to believe exactly the opposite - a heresy punishable by being burned alive. The Sky's Dark Labyrinth follows the stories of Johannes Kepler - a German Lutheran and the first man to distill how stars and planets moved according to mathematical laws - and Galileo Galilei. An Italian Catholic, Galileo tries to claim Kepler's success for his own Church, and finds himself enmeshed in a web of intrigue originating from within the Vatican itself. Both men and their families are trapped by human ignorance and terror in one of the darkest, yet also one of the most enlightening, periods of European history. The Sky's Dark Labyrinth is the first of a trilogy of novels inspired by the dramatic struggles, personal and professional, and key historical events in man's quest to understand the Universe.
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'This book is a moving and eye-opening story of brilliance and bravery, and the fight against bigotry and closed-mindedness' DAILY MAIL 'Stuart Clark follows a game of galactic hide-and-seek' NEW SCIENTIST 'Clark's account is superb ... a cracking good read' COOLSCIENCEBOOKS 'Well stocked with informative historical asides' SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY 'An intelligent book that neither romanticises the past, nor distorts it to suit modern Sensibilities' HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY
About the Author
Stuart Clark is a former editor of the UK's bestselling popular astronomy magazine Astronomy Now and a visiting fellow of the University of Hertfordshire. His book, The Sun Kings (Princeton University Press, 2007), established him as a popular science writer par excellence. Last year Stuart further honed his storytelling skills by working for the BBC to develop ten stories for a forthcoming science-based drama series, Stormshield, and writing the outline for the astronomy episode of a forthcoming BBC2 series on the history of science. Most recently, he has dramatised and read a portion of The Sun Kings for Radio 3. He lives in Hitchin.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Eyeh Asher
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The bodies being those of Galileo, Kepler, Tycho and Co. They all went close to being destroyed by their own exceptional theories, especially the Tuscan genius.
Galileo explores the skies in a way no one had done before and propounds a radical reorganisation of the cosmos in consequence, defends himself from the accusations by the Church that his view contravenes Scriptures but is condemned all the same, and forced to abjure, returning finally in old age to publish a work (Dialogues Concerning Two New Sciences; see also The Essential Galileo) that will not only set mechanics on a new path, but will transform the very way in which the deeper knowledge of nature is to be found.
This first installment in a trilogy of novels by astronomer Stuart Clark (the other two will concentrate on Newton and Einstein respectively), although simple in its narrative structure, brings to life the above characters in a vivid and dramatic way, focusing especially on Galileo and Kepler (for the latter, cf. Harmonies of the World), and their cosmic discoveries. These are fantastic stories, and the author makes full use of them, drawing on extensive research, relying on imagination to fill any gaps and, as he said himself in an interview, making "the colours a little bit brighter and the shadows a bit darker."
While not all readers will agree with Clark's approach, this first volume is certainly packed with colour and historical detail: there's intrigue, scandal, rivalry and back-stabbing, political and religious conflict, all of it true.
Funny (well, sort of) how the Church awaited 5 centuries before changing its position on Galileo: on 31 October 1992, Pope John Paul II expressed regret for how the Galileo affair was handled, and issued a declaration acknowledging the errors committed by the Catholic Church tribunal that judged the scientific positions of Galileo Galilei. Better late than never...
By the way, the book is stamped with the "approval" of the Science Museum/NMSI Enterprises: so, no scientific falsehoods there!
Galileo explores the skies in a way no one had done before and propounds a radical reorganisation of the cosmos in consequence, defends himself from the accusations by the Church that his view contravenes Scriptures but is condemned all the same, and forced to abjure, returning finally in old age to publish a work (Dialogues Concerning Two New Sciences; see also The Essential Galileo) that will not only set mechanics on a new path, but will transform the very way in which the deeper knowledge of nature is to be found.
This first installment in a trilogy of novels by astronomer Stuart Clark (the other two will concentrate on Newton and Einstein respectively), although simple in its narrative structure, brings to life the above characters in a vivid and dramatic way, focusing especially on Galileo and Kepler (for the latter, cf. Harmonies of the World), and their cosmic discoveries. These are fantastic stories, and the author makes full use of them, drawing on extensive research, relying on imagination to fill any gaps and, as he said himself in an interview, making "the colours a little bit brighter and the shadows a bit darker."
While not all readers will agree with Clark's approach, this first volume is certainly packed with colour and historical detail: there's intrigue, scandal, rivalry and back-stabbing, political and religious conflict, all of it true.
Funny (well, sort of) how the Church awaited 5 centuries before changing its position on Galileo: on 31 October 1992, Pope John Paul II expressed regret for how the Galileo affair was handled, and issued a declaration acknowledging the errors committed by the Catholic Church tribunal that judged the scientific positions of Galileo Galilei. Better late than never...
By the way, the book is stamped with the "approval" of the Science Museum/NMSI Enterprises: so, no scientific falsehoods there!
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Even though I'm revising hard for an Astronomy exam., I found it hard to put this book down. You can really imagine being back there in the 17th century, getting involved with the characters. Copernicus, Galileo and Kepler would have been thrilled to know that their names are being used in the Space explorations.
Stuart's style reminds me of C J Sansom's series of historical novels, which I also enjoyed.
Looking forward to Stuart Clark's next one in the Autumn.
Shirley
Stuart's style reminds me of C J Sansom's series of historical novels, which I also enjoyed.
Looking forward to Stuart Clark's next one in the Autumn.
Shirley
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When I saw this book on the shelf in a book store I knew I had to read it. While being a fiction book it revolves around a time when physics was changing the world, featuring both the characters of Kepler (who first put the idea of elliptical orbits, as proof that the Earth rotated the Sun) and Galileo (who first invents the telescope). It shows their struggles to keep their ideas in line with church (Lutheran and Roman Catholic respectively) while still pushing the boundaries of the limits of human knowledge.
This isn't your heaving bosoms type of historical fiction, this is the sort of fiction written about real characters in a hugely important time period. This is both highly entertaining, I couldn't put it down, and genuinely interesting.
This book would be a great present for those with a passing interest in physics (or it's history), but don't worry there are no complicated concepts or physics equations here. No knowledge of physics is necessary to get enjoyment from this book :)
The next book in the series, I believe, looks at Newton and his later discoveries. I can't wait for it!
This isn't your heaving bosoms type of historical fiction, this is the sort of fiction written about real characters in a hugely important time period. This is both highly entertaining, I couldn't put it down, and genuinely interesting.
This book would be a great present for those with a passing interest in physics (or it's history), but don't worry there are no complicated concepts or physics equations here. No knowledge of physics is necessary to get enjoyment from this book :)
The next book in the series, I believe, looks at Newton and his later discoveries. I can't wait for it!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Readable and credible
This is a great read as the author brings these characters, and the obstacles they faced, to life. I learnt a lot about the two men and their struggle searching for truth in a... Read more
Published 21 days ago by John
5.0 out of 5 stars
The sky's dark labyrinth
An excellent story fast paced and historically accurate. Provided a clear understanding of the lives of two great but troubled men, hounded for their beliefs. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Effenbee
5.0 out of 5 stars
Informative and entertaining
For me this book satisfies every criterion that I have when reading historical fiction. It gives a portrait of the times and events in the lives of several characters whose genius... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Cora C
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Brilliant Read!
I make no secret of the fact that I am obsessed by the universe and all the science that goes with it. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Spice
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stuart Clark Trilogy
An excellent book, well written, I would recommend this book for anyone who may have an interest in history and astronomy.
It goes well with the follow up book.
It goes well with the follow up book.
Published 3 months ago by Don Walker
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating subject
Although I knew the names of Kepler and Galileo I knew nothing of their lives. Reading this book gave me an insight into what the early scientists went through. Read more
Published 4 months ago by jena
4.0 out of 5 stars
A worthwhile read
Fact-based novel, which moves at a good pace and interweaves the stories of Kepler and Galileo and their struggles to establish their astronomical findings in a turbulent world of... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Heather Tee
5.0 out of 5 stars
If only all Historical Fiction was this good!
This is an historical novel, in which Stuart Clark does a superb job of bringing to life the characters (primarily Kepler and Galileo) and their work, set against the turbulence of... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Coticbane
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great way to learn history.
Well written, intriguing more than it is gripping, but an excellent introduction for the non-academic, into the history of astronomy and it's struggle with religious... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. Martin G. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
What lies beyond the stars?
This is a most intriguing book - the author has written many non-fiction books on astrophysics and astronomy, and here presents the stories of Johannes Kepler and Galileo Galilei... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Keen Reader
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