O Voo Da Passarola

by Azhar Abidi, Manuel Frias Martins (Translator)

The fabulous debut novel by new international talent Azhar Abidi, Passarola Rising is a deftly written picaresque tale filled with evocative detail, adventure, and suspense. Set in eighteenth-century Europe, it tells the story of Bartolomeu and Alexandre Lourenço, who use their airship, the Passarola, to escape the strictures of the Church, the suspicion of the government, and the intellectually stultifying climate of Lisbon. As they venture from the salons and bordellos of ancien régime Paris to the desolate far reaches of the North Pole, the brothers Lourenço encounter some of the most colorful characters of the European Enlightenment, including the loquacious Voltaire and the irascible King Stanislaus of Poland.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Historical, Australia, 18th Century

179 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Azhar Abidi was born in Pakistan and lives in Melbourne, Australia. His work has been published in The Guardian Weekly, the Australian literary journal Meanjin, and in The Best Australian Essays 2004.

Reviews

[Joana]

Gostei. Algumas coisas são fantasiosas demais mas algumas partes emocionaram-me bastante.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a wonderful interview with the author at http://us.penguingroup.com/static/rgu... . His comments stretch my imagination.

Here is one quote from that interview: "I wanted to write about the limited ability of science to describe the richness of human experience. I set the plot during the Enlightenment—a time of struggle between religion and science—because we are reaping the fruits of the Enlightenment. We think of religion in terms of faith and dogma, and science in terms of reason, logic, and rationalism, but in my mind, science is as much about faith in empiricism and materialism as is religion about spiritualism. Science demands proof as evidence of truth. Anything that cannot be proven risks being dismissed. Surely whether something cannot be proven does not mean that it does not exist. The human experience is far too rich, mysterious and deep to be captured by scientific method. That question, I believe, is as unresolved today as it was then. And that is the gist of my book."

[Kristin]

I wanted to read this for a really long time; and I like it, but I'm abandoning it. As soon as I started reading it, I read it for as long as I could in one sitting because I knew as soon as I had waded into the shallows that I would have a hard time returning to it again once I closed it. Even though I like how it's written and everything, it just doesn't pull me in. I think it's because the writing is grand, but the plot is thin. It's like a beautiful dress on a mannequin instead of a person, or like an exquisite seashell, naturally hollow inside. It's all about atmosphere, and it captures that well, but it doesn't change. It's a snapshot of an atmosphere; that is how I would describe it. Light blue sky in the morning, still cool but you know it's going to be a really hot, sultry day. The sea; sand; the breeze; the silence of oncoming heat and expectation under a bright, white sun. I like that. But it feels like that's all there is to it. In conclusion, an odd book-- I like it while reading it, but can hardly bring myself to pick it up again. "Boring" is on the tip of my tongue, but I know that's not it. Strange indeed.

[Jillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book was fairly poorly written, with a non-gripping plot and Terrible Science. Still, it was pretty great to read an adventure about airships taking place in the 18th century. And the science couldn't be right anyways for that to happen. The airship conveniently doesn't need any fuel! Wouldn't that be neat.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book has an interesting premise: what if Bartolomeu Lourenço de Gusmão's flying machine had worked? This is an alternate history as told from the perspective of Bartolomeu's brother, and includes some very pretty passages, but the book suffers from "and then" syndrome, by which I mean the book never really ends up being more than a list of events. The characters change over time, but the writing doesn't invest you in them as characters in the first place, so their epiphanies don't really matter. It was a very fast read, and ultimately hollow.

[Rosanne Hawke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Azhar Abidi is one of my favourite writers: talented, thought provoking and writes beautiful prose. There's more to Passarola Rising than a romp in the sky. This is a gentle, literary and thought provoking historical fantasy set in the time of the inquisition in Europe -- the clash between science and religion. I met Azhar Abidi at Adelaide Writers Week one year and have read his creative essay about flying carpets. It too is very clever. I am waiting in hope for another Azhar Abidi novel.

[Janeka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Um relato imaginário, mas que parece tão real..
Apesar de algumas passagens mais aceleradas e fantasiosas, gostei de conhecer estas personagens, e li o livro "num pulinho".

Recomendo :)

[Matt Sautman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Passarola Rising is a fine book. It’s the kind of book that is well written and fast-paced but is not necessarily insightful, filled with endearing characters, or super artistic. While the book touches on the genre of picaresque and offers some commentary on science, religion, and war, this is a pleasure read more than anything particularly deep.

[Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written historic fantasy with wonderful attention to historical detail. It reminds me of Italo Calvino just as adventurous while also being thoroughly literary and intellectual. A wonderful read, despite the farfetched preface the suspension of disbelief will take you along on the adventure.

[Kenyon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Realistically, I would give this 3.5.

The middle really drags, but it ends nicely. Check it out if you like historical fiction, specifically if you're also interested in the emergence of science in the 18th century.

[Grady Hughes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Might not be fair for me to rate this one, since I only made it about 5 pages in. This one felt too contrived, right off the bat.

[Mike Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't read much historical fiction other than Patrick O'Brian's wonderful naval series but the cover of "Passarola Rising," depicting a sailing ship floating in the sky, looked too interesting pass up. The book is the story of the airship Passarola, its travels and its creator Bartolomeu Lourenco (who did actually exist) as told by his brother Alexandre.

The brothers have several adventures aboard Passarola and meet many notable characters from history in their travels including Voltaire and King Stanislaus. Their travels begin in Spain but they are soon forced to flee to France when their airship attracts the attention of a Cardinal who deems the concept of air travel heretical. The king of France sends them on several missions, the final one nearly making both brothers insane as they ascend to the limits of human endurance.

The ship itself could never have actually flown of course, but once the reader moves beyond the far-fetched physics, this book is an enjoyable tale of adventure with authentic period detail.

[Kurdstan Planetarium · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently researched about the story of Bartolomeu de Gusamo, he was a great character and might have invented Hot Air Balloon before the Montgolfier brothers, yet no sooner he tested a small test flight in the court of Portuguese King John V, the inquisition start making trouble for him and trying to charge him with heresy. Bartolomeu had no choice but to escape from Portugal to Spain where he died in 1724.

Now this novel claiming the year of his experiment in the court of the king, it was 1709, yet the novel assuming Passarola flew 1731, 7 years after his death.

I read the book, found a copy on Open Library, and the author making that Barolomeus death was just to silence the Inquisition authorities who were chasing him.

The story of the flying machine is somehow mixed with that of the flying machine of Franseco Lana de Terzi known as Prodromo. though historical Passarola was portrayed as a flying bird.

A very interesting book, worth reading it.

[Lesley Truffle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel is set in 1731. Two Portuguese brothers take to the sky in their flying machine which resembles a galleon of the era. Bartolomeu Lourenco has built the Passarola and he takes his brother Alexandre along as his flight assistant.

Ideally the Passarola needs two to steer the ship: one person to man the tiller and the other the boom. But Alexandre chances fate one night, when he flies the ship solo – while inebriated – in order to impress a girl he’s madly in love with.

This sets off a chain of events that leads them to leaving Lisbon and beginning their adventures. The brothers then fly across Europe meeting several historical figures including Voltaire and Louis XV.

‘Passarola Rising’ is a picaresque tale of war, disasters, scientific exploration and great success. It also explores the unique bond between brothers.

[Matt Kurjanowicz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found that Passarola Rising was a nice, simple adventure story. The book is about two brothers who were sailing the Earth in a flying ship. While it looks like the book attempts to touch on some more serious subjects - mainly what truth is and the struggle between satisfaction, ambition, and family - I feel like the book failed to satisfactorily address them. It seems like the author treated these subjects with aphorisms, rather than rallying the entire book around them.

The writing was also fairly simple, and left me wanting more - either more flower to describe what's going on or less to get at the mental state of the characters more.

Finally, I didn't feel attached to any of the characters. This was not a book I was sad to finish.

[Carla H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my "through the alphabet at the library" books. Not a book I would have selected, but an easy read. One of my criteria for whether a book has been worth my time is if it has piqued my curiousity and caused me to learn/think/wonder about something new. The protagonists in the story are historical characters (Bartolomeu and Alexander Lourenco) about whom I knew nothing. I am interested in learning the fact behind the fiction. Also, reflections on "enlightenment and religious authority, research and totalitarianism, gravity and ideas" (T. Keneally) and how society forms and shapes our lives.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

What if the first flying machine had been build in the 18th century instead of in the 20th? A Pakistani author living in Australia penned this Vernesque fable set in imperial Portugal about a lesser-known Da Vinci who defies the Church in an airship set for the heavens. It's a bit of an odd subject to tackle and at the same time appropriate as globalized society hurtles us through the gap between science and fiction.

[Marvin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A peculiar book, it seems to be some kind of fable, though I'm not quite sure of the moral. An old man who's lived a life of respectability as a family man, citizen, & man of business, recalls youthful adventures with his older brother, who invents a flying machine in Portugal in 1730, is pursued by the Inquisition, but never gives up his eternal quest for truth by valiantly facing the unknown. It's charming, but beyond me despite its apparent simplicity.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the pace and loved the adventure. I wish more had been written about the brother's further adventures, or his life after the separation. The ending seemed weak, especially after all the tension in the first half; it just kind of petered out. A quick read - good for passing the time. Easy to pick up, easy to put down, no great emotion attached. Good for traveling under stressful circumstances or reading while distracted.

[Russ · Rating 2 out of 5]

A light read, it didn't really inspire me, I finished it only because I didn't want to let it beat me.
I hate it when authors stuff around mixing up history and fiction, lending personalities to historical people is a doubtful practise to me, why not just invent a character. It is not as if using history adds any authenticity to the subject of the book....
It finished poorly and was generally disappointing.

[Donna R · Rating 2 out of 5]

Azhar has woven a fine tale around the brothers de Gusmao, Bartolomeu and Alexandre. Much derring-do and adventure follows the pair in their sailing ship 'Passarola' as it traverses Europe; conversing with Voltaire, forming an alliance with King Louis VX, rescuing the King of Poland Stanislaus Leszczynski.
The framework of an enthralling novel is here and I look forward to further work from Azhar Abidi.

[Chanel Earl]

This book feels older than it is. It is fast paced, meaning that the events move quickly and the reading goes fast, but it is certainly not suspenseful or fast paced in the modern way. I never had trouble putting the book down for a while, I never wondered what was going to happen next. In fact, I never really cared what happened to the characters. It was fun to read, though. I enjoyed the last 20 pages especially.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although portions of the story are a bit bland, there are definitely moments the author was able to strike chords with basic questions and struggles of human nature; in several instances it was if he were able to read my thoughts and pinpoint major conflicts within my own soul with his words.

Not likely that I would read this book twice, but definitely glad that I gave it a once-through.

[Valky Salinas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not much of a fan of Historical Fiction, but when I saw the cover of this book I just had to buy and I'm glad I did because I loved it.

Now, it's a very light read and the story is rather simple, but was enjoyable enough for me to read it to the end non stop. The far-fetched physics might be a problem for some but, once you get over it, you won't regret picking this book up.

[Katie Bethell · Rating 3 out of 5]

although I only gave this book 3 stars, I have read it twice now. The story is clean and whimsical. The book store recommendation that got me to buy it called it a "palette cleanser" and I see what they mean. It broke me from a long chain of either bad or unfinishable books

[Leif Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not particularly deep, but engrossing pre-steam punk (sort of) counter-history. A kind of romance that is often butchered (see Wine, Black)but Abidi realizes that less is more in this type of story. More of a novella.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Passarola Rising is seriously good fun, with intellectually stimulating ideas for discussion seamlessly woven into the adventure. Here's my review: http://anzlitlovers.wordpress.com/200...

[Shaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book certainly does not make me feel any better about aging. Regardless, it's an interesting tale. The account of a man and his older brother who makes a flying machine during the enlightenment. Historical figures are thrown, and it is decent enough but it just fails to be fully satisfying.

[Álvaro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gostei bastante do livro que nos apresenta uma história bem estruturada com um ritmo capaz para o que nos narra. O ideal seria 3.5 estrelas mas como não dá vamos ficar aqui pelas três. De destacar que mais uma vez quem fala dos nossos são os de fora.

[Basil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the genre is not usually my bag of tea, I constantly found myself picking it back up and telling myself I'd just read one more paragraph--no, just one more page, no, just one more chapter. Fantastical historical interpretation and brilliant.