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Lift: The Rise of Mathe-Lingua-Musica
With Earth on the brink of total annihilation, can a new universal language unite the world enough to save it?
It’s 2489 and the world’s governing mathematicians have calculated that society’s struggles with rampant war and homicide have put humanity on a crash-course with extinction. With an estimated fifteen months left until humankind’s total annihilation, the World Council of Mathematicians (WCM) determine the only way out of the crisis is to create the optimum language for humans, creating common understanding across all cultures and allowing them to work together for their joint salvation.
The WCM and Charles De Costa, a brilliant mathematics student, must rely on LIFT, a scientific breakthrough that allows them to enlist the aid of the greatest minds in history, to create this new world language based on mathematics, linguistics, and music. Can the great minds of the past help lead humanity to a better future? Can this new language be created in time? Or will society’s continued evil and miscommunication lead the world to an inevitable end?
It’s 2489 and the world’s governing mathematicians have calculated that society’s struggles with rampant war and homicide have put humanity on a crash-course with extinction. With an estimated fifteen months left until humankind’s total annihilation, the World Council of Mathematicians (WCM) determine the only way out of the crisis is to create the optimum language for humans, creating common understanding across all cultures and allowing them to work together for their joint salvation.
The WCM and Charles De Costa, a brilliant mathematics student, must rely on LIFT, a scientific breakthrough that allows them to enlist the aid of the greatest minds in history, to create this new world language based on mathematics, linguistics, and music. Can the great minds of the past help lead humanity to a better future? Can this new language be created in time? Or will society’s continued evil and miscommunication lead the world to an inevitable end?
- GenresAudiobookScience Fiction
449 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2024
8 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Ray K. Anderson
5 books24 followersSo far, I've hiked the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, the Long Trail (VT), and parts of the Continental Divide Trail.
I developed an abiding interest in hiking when I began climbing the 67 four-thousand footers in New England. Completed that quest and will now begin hiking the four-thousand footers in the Adirondacks (NY).
I'm a graduate of Wentworth Institute and Boston University.
"THE TRAIL" (thriller) which is my debut novel was released by Turner Publishing in October 2015. "The Trail" is not just another walk in the woods!
The second novel in my Karl "Awol" Bergman hiking-thriller series is "SIERRA," (released in 2016) which takes place along the Pacific Crest Trail.
Book three of the "Awol" series, THE DIVIDE, an eco-terrorist novel, released 8/18/'20.
My next book is Sci-fi. Specifically, a dystopian fantasy - LIFT: The Rise of Mathe-Lingua-Musica. It releases in May of 2024 and concerns the creation of a new optimum language for humanity.
My novels are available in all bookstores.
Thank you, and happy trails to all!
I developed an abiding interest in hiking when I began climbing the 67 four-thousand footers in New England. Completed that quest and will now begin hiking the four-thousand footers in the Adirondacks (NY).
I'm a graduate of Wentworth Institute and Boston University.
"THE TRAIL" (thriller) which is my debut novel was released by Turner Publishing in October 2015. "The Trail" is not just another walk in the woods!
The second novel in my Karl "Awol" Bergman hiking-thriller series is "SIERRA," (released in 2016) which takes place along the Pacific Crest Trail.
Book three of the "Awol" series, THE DIVIDE, an eco-terrorist novel, released 8/18/'20.
My next book is Sci-fi. Specifically, a dystopian fantasy - LIFT: The Rise of Mathe-Lingua-Musica. It releases in May of 2024 and concerns the creation of a new optimum language for humanity.
My novels are available in all bookstores.
Thank you, and happy trails to all!
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 6, 2024
Narrated by Cindy Kay
Presented by Dreamscape Media
Rubbish from start to finish.
The whole premise revolves around saving the world by creating a new language based on maths, linguistics and music. Which intrigued me but was actually so ridiculous, and was discussed in excruciatingly mundane detail.
It takes famous historical figures, implants them in the future to help solve this problem, and then treats them poorly. Zero respect for the actual people who contributed to changing the world for the better in their various fields. Also it was a revolving door of plucking people from the past and sending them back, which seemed like overkill to me.
The whole idea of ripping these people from their past lives with zero moral contemplation was incredibly frustrating. There was no decent reflection on how these people might feel; there was no compassion, there was no consideration. It was just, 'they took a week or so to adjust' and then 'when you go back this will be like a dream'. What a cop out. Maybe if you're using this idea, think about the consequences a little more.
The whole thing just made me so MAD!
There are also weird relationship dynamics and dolphins and the whole thing was so DULL I tuned most of it out. I was so bored.
I thought it was a cool idea but listening to it was really painful.
Narration was okay but there were so many characters they inevitably started to sound the same, and some of the voices were ridiculous.
There was just nothing about this book that I liked.
It's incredibly long, reads like a lecture, and none of the characters had me invested.
Maybe if you're into dull lectures on dull subjects, or dull characters doing dull things, you'll get a kick out of it, but it was not for me at all.
With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC
Presented by Dreamscape Media
Rubbish from start to finish.
The whole premise revolves around saving the world by creating a new language based on maths, linguistics and music. Which intrigued me but was actually so ridiculous, and was discussed in excruciatingly mundane detail.
It takes famous historical figures, implants them in the future to help solve this problem, and then treats them poorly. Zero respect for the actual people who contributed to changing the world for the better in their various fields. Also it was a revolving door of plucking people from the past and sending them back, which seemed like overkill to me.
The whole idea of ripping these people from their past lives with zero moral contemplation was incredibly frustrating. There was no decent reflection on how these people might feel; there was no compassion, there was no consideration. It was just, 'they took a week or so to adjust' and then 'when you go back this will be like a dream'. What a cop out. Maybe if you're using this idea, think about the consequences a little more.
The whole thing just made me so MAD!
There are also weird relationship dynamics and dolphins and the whole thing was so DULL I tuned most of it out. I was so bored.
I thought it was a cool idea but listening to it was really painful.
Narration was okay but there were so many characters they inevitably started to sound the same, and some of the voices were ridiculous.
There was just nothing about this book that I liked.
It's incredibly long, reads like a lecture, and none of the characters had me invested.
Maybe if you're into dull lectures on dull subjects, or dull characters doing dull things, you'll get a kick out of it, but it was not for me at all.
With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC
May 10, 2024
[I received a free audiobook copy from Dreamscape Media and Netgalley. This review is done freely, honestly and without payment]
[Ich habe ein kostenloses Hörbuchexemplar von Dreamscape Media und Netgalley erhalten. Die Rezension erfolgt freiwillig, ehrlich und ohne Vergütung.]
Thank you! <3
(DEUTSCH WEITER UNTEN)
The book takes on an incredibly exciting topic, but couldn’t really hold my attention. The first 25 to 30 per cent were marked by too many small „paragraphs“ and time jumps.
Of course, I can understand that you have to bring the reader up to date first, but somehow it all happened too quickly for me and was like a time lapse that would have made me switch channels on TV.
I also wasn’t a big fan of the scientists from the past who made appearances. It all just felt very contrived to me because these real people interacted with each other (even though they lived at different times in history) and then also with the created characters. It was too much of a mess for me.
Although the „lifting“ concept itself is really exciting! But maybe I would have liked it better with fictional characters.
From about 30 per cent onwards, the book won me over (at least for a brief moment) because we got more into the action and also into scenes. The characters from the book were given more space and were allowed to interact with each other. At some point, however, the story became too overwhelming for me and then the book wanted so much that I became light-headed.
There was MLM (the language); humanity on the brink of extinction; wars and internal political entanglements; „aliens“ and then a plan B that only made things worse.
For my taste, the book could probably have been three times as long, because then the characters might have gained depth and the plot would have been allowed to unfold.
Yes, for my taste everything remained quite superficial because there simply wasn’t enough room.
Additionally, there was a sexual interaction between a minor (17) and an adult who I don’t even remember how old they were. (Or if it was ever brought up.) That was a moment for me - partly because of the scene it developed from - where I almost quit the book. The whole issue of sex and pregnancy made me sick to my stomach because it would have been extremely easy to at least give both characters their majority. In my opinion, this was completely out of place and inappropriate.
In general, the characters were unfortunately very flat for me and scenes/plotlines just happened so quickly that I didn’t care at all. So much just got lost somewhere between the pages ...
Sadly very disappointing in the end ...
English audiobook:
Cindy Kay definitely has a pleasant voice and also read at a great pace.
After a while I had the feeling that I was in a dream, as her tone was often so ...shallow and „breathy“.
Maybe that’s why it sounded very cool and matter-of-fact for the most part - which somehow also emphasised the narrative style.
However, I would have liked a little more play with the voice when it came to the characters and emotions, as everything was very calm and clinical.
The audio quality itself was excellent.
(DEUTSCH)
Das Buch nimmt sich einer unglaublich spannenden Thematik an, konnte meine Aufmerksamkeit aber nicht wirklich halten. Die ersten 25 bis 30 Prozent waren von zu vielen kleinen „Absätzen“ und Zeitsprüngen gezeichnet.
Natürlich kann ich verstehen, dass man die Leser*innen erst einmal auf den Stand der Dinge bringen muss, aber irgendwie ging mir das alles zu schnell und war damit wie so ein Zeitraffer, bei dem ich im TV umgeschaltet hätte.
Auch war ich kein großer Fan von den wissenschaftlichen Persönlichkeiten aus der Vergangenheit, die ihre Auftritte hatten. Für mich hat sich das einfach alles sehr gestellt angefühlt, weil diese realen Personen zum einen miteinander (obwohl sie ja geschichtlich zu verschiedenen Zeiten gelebt haben) und dann auch noch mit den erschaffen Figuren interagiert haben. Das war mir zu viel durcheinander.
Auch wenn das Sytem des „liftens“ an sich mega spannend ist! Vielleicht hätte es mir aber besser mit fiktiven Personen gefallen.
Ab ca 30 Prozent konnte mich das Buch für sich gewinnen (jedenfalls für einen kurzen Moment), weil wir mehr ins Tun und auch in Momentaufnahmen gekommen sind. Die Charaktere aus dem Buch haben mehr Raum bekommen und durften miteinander interagieren. Irgendwann aber hat sich die Geschichte dann für mich zu sehr überschlagen und dann wollte das Buch so unendlich viel, dass mir schwindlig geworden ist.
Da war MLM (die Sprache); die Menschheit, die kurz vor dem Aussterben stand; Kriege und innerpolitische Verstrickungen; „Aliens“ und dann ein Plan B, der das alles nur noch schlimmer gemacht hat.
Wahrscheinlich hätte das Buch für meinen Geschmack 3x so lang sein können, denn dann hätten die Charaktere vielleicht auch an Tiefe gewonnen und der Plot sich entfalten dürfen.
Ja, für meinen Geschmack ist alles recht oberflächlich geblieben, weil einfach nicht genug Raum da war.
Zusätzlich gab es eine sexuelle Interaktion zwischen einem Minderjährigen (17) und einer erwachsenen Person, von der ich nicht mal mehr weiß wie alt sie war. (Oder ob es jemals angesprochen wurde.) Das war für mich ein Moment – auch wegen der Szene, aus der es sich entwickelt hat – in dem ich das Buch beinahe beendet hätte. Die ganze Thematik rund um Sex und Schwangerschaft hat mir die Galle emporgetrieben, weil es extrem einfach gewesen wäre, wenigstens beiden Charakteren die Volljährigkeit zu schenken. Meiner Meinung nach absolut daneben und unangemessen.
Generell waren die Charaktere für mich leider sehr flach und Szenen/Handlungsstränge liefen einfach so schnell ab, dass mir das vollkommen egal war. Es hat sich einfach so viel irgendwo zwischen den Seiten verloren ...
Am Ende leider doch sehr enttäuschend ...
Englisches Hörbuch:
Cindy Kay hat definitiv eine angenehme Stimme und hat auch in einem tollen Tempo vorgelesen. Mit der Zeit hatte ich das Gefühl, als würde ich mich in einem Traum befinden, war ihre Tonlage doch oft so ... seicht und auch „gehaucht“.
Vielleicht hat es sich deshalb auch großteilig sehr kühl und sachlich angehört – was aber irgendwie auch den Erzählstil sehr unterstrichen hat.
Bei den Charakteren und Emotionen hätte ich mir aber ein wenig mehr Spiel mit der Stimme gewünscht, da doch alles sehr ruhig und klinisch war.
Die Audioqualität an sich war hervorragend.
[Ich habe ein kostenloses Hörbuchexemplar von Dreamscape Media und Netgalley erhalten. Die Rezension erfolgt freiwillig, ehrlich und ohne Vergütung.]
Thank you! <3
(DEUTSCH WEITER UNTEN)
The book takes on an incredibly exciting topic, but couldn’t really hold my attention. The first 25 to 30 per cent were marked by too many small „paragraphs“ and time jumps.
Of course, I can understand that you have to bring the reader up to date first, but somehow it all happened too quickly for me and was like a time lapse that would have made me switch channels on TV.
I also wasn’t a big fan of the scientists from the past who made appearances. It all just felt very contrived to me because these real people interacted with each other (even though they lived at different times in history) and then also with the created characters. It was too much of a mess for me.
Although the „lifting“ concept itself is really exciting! But maybe I would have liked it better with fictional characters.
From about 30 per cent onwards, the book won me over (at least for a brief moment) because we got more into the action and also into scenes. The characters from the book were given more space and were allowed to interact with each other. At some point, however, the story became too overwhelming for me and then the book wanted so much that I became light-headed.
There was MLM (the language); humanity on the brink of extinction; wars and internal political entanglements; „aliens“ and then a plan B that only made things worse.
For my taste, the book could probably have been three times as long, because then the characters might have gained depth and the plot would have been allowed to unfold.
Yes, for my taste everything remained quite superficial because there simply wasn’t enough room.
Additionally, there was a sexual interaction between a minor (17) and an adult who I don’t even remember how old they were. (Or if it was ever brought up.) That was a moment for me - partly because of the scene it developed from - where I almost quit the book. The whole issue of sex and pregnancy made me sick to my stomach because it would have been extremely easy to at least give both characters their majority. In my opinion, this was completely out of place and inappropriate.
In general, the characters were unfortunately very flat for me and scenes/plotlines just happened so quickly that I didn’t care at all. So much just got lost somewhere between the pages ...
Sadly very disappointing in the end ...
English audiobook:
Cindy Kay definitely has a pleasant voice and also read at a great pace.
After a while I had the feeling that I was in a dream, as her tone was often so ...shallow and „breathy“.
Maybe that’s why it sounded very cool and matter-of-fact for the most part - which somehow also emphasised the narrative style.
However, I would have liked a little more play with the voice when it came to the characters and emotions, as everything was very calm and clinical.
The audio quality itself was excellent.
(DEUTSCH)
Das Buch nimmt sich einer unglaublich spannenden Thematik an, konnte meine Aufmerksamkeit aber nicht wirklich halten. Die ersten 25 bis 30 Prozent waren von zu vielen kleinen „Absätzen“ und Zeitsprüngen gezeichnet.
Natürlich kann ich verstehen, dass man die Leser*innen erst einmal auf den Stand der Dinge bringen muss, aber irgendwie ging mir das alles zu schnell und war damit wie so ein Zeitraffer, bei dem ich im TV umgeschaltet hätte.
Auch war ich kein großer Fan von den wissenschaftlichen Persönlichkeiten aus der Vergangenheit, die ihre Auftritte hatten. Für mich hat sich das einfach alles sehr gestellt angefühlt, weil diese realen Personen zum einen miteinander (obwohl sie ja geschichtlich zu verschiedenen Zeiten gelebt haben) und dann auch noch mit den erschaffen Figuren interagiert haben. Das war mir zu viel durcheinander.
Auch wenn das Sytem des „liftens“ an sich mega spannend ist! Vielleicht hätte es mir aber besser mit fiktiven Personen gefallen.
Ab ca 30 Prozent konnte mich das Buch für sich gewinnen (jedenfalls für einen kurzen Moment), weil wir mehr ins Tun und auch in Momentaufnahmen gekommen sind. Die Charaktere aus dem Buch haben mehr Raum bekommen und durften miteinander interagieren. Irgendwann aber hat sich die Geschichte dann für mich zu sehr überschlagen und dann wollte das Buch so unendlich viel, dass mir schwindlig geworden ist.
Da war MLM (die Sprache); die Menschheit, die kurz vor dem Aussterben stand; Kriege und innerpolitische Verstrickungen; „Aliens“ und dann ein Plan B, der das alles nur noch schlimmer gemacht hat.
Wahrscheinlich hätte das Buch für meinen Geschmack 3x so lang sein können, denn dann hätten die Charaktere vielleicht auch an Tiefe gewonnen und der Plot sich entfalten dürfen.
Ja, für meinen Geschmack ist alles recht oberflächlich geblieben, weil einfach nicht genug Raum da war.
Zusätzlich gab es eine sexuelle Interaktion zwischen einem Minderjährigen (17) und einer erwachsenen Person, von der ich nicht mal mehr weiß wie alt sie war. (Oder ob es jemals angesprochen wurde.) Das war für mich ein Moment – auch wegen der Szene, aus der es sich entwickelt hat – in dem ich das Buch beinahe beendet hätte. Die ganze Thematik rund um Sex und Schwangerschaft hat mir die Galle emporgetrieben, weil es extrem einfach gewesen wäre, wenigstens beiden Charakteren die Volljährigkeit zu schenken. Meiner Meinung nach absolut daneben und unangemessen.
Generell waren die Charaktere für mich leider sehr flach und Szenen/Handlungsstränge liefen einfach so schnell ab, dass mir das vollkommen egal war. Es hat sich einfach so viel irgendwo zwischen den Seiten verloren ...
Am Ende leider doch sehr enttäuschend ...
Englisches Hörbuch:
Cindy Kay hat definitiv eine angenehme Stimme und hat auch in einem tollen Tempo vorgelesen. Mit der Zeit hatte ich das Gefühl, als würde ich mich in einem Traum befinden, war ihre Tonlage doch oft so ... seicht und auch „gehaucht“.
Vielleicht hat es sich deshalb auch großteilig sehr kühl und sachlich angehört – was aber irgendwie auch den Erzählstil sehr unterstrichen hat.
Bei den Charakteren und Emotionen hätte ich mir aber ein wenig mehr Spiel mit der Stimme gewünscht, da doch alles sehr ruhig und klinisch war.
Die Audioqualität an sich war hervorragend.
May 21, 2024
"Lift: The Rise of Mathe-Lingua-Musica" by Ray Anderson is a sci-fi future thriller novel. Overall, I liked the creative ideas and the problem solving efforts in this novel.
"Lift" is set in 2489. The problem is that the Earth is nearing 100% chance of annihilation within a year due to violence. The planet is ruled by math, which has solved many of the Earth's problems, but they still have trouble with violence and with countries warring. The World Council of Mathematics (WCM) thinks that the way to fix this is to come up with a universal language that will promote peace. They know it will involve math and music.
To help them along, the WCM brings back famous geniuses of the past - in math and in other fields they think will help. They use a process called "Lifting" to time travel these people to their present time and ask them to help solve the problem. Some of the liftees are Bach, Euclid, DaVinci, Kant, Marie Curie, and Jonas Salk.
This book is very interesting, but there are sections that are quite long-winded. The audiobook is 12 hrs 40 min. Two of the main characters are Charles DeCosta and Andrica, who are both young adults (about 18 years old) and math geniuses. There are many other characters, and it's a bit hard to keep track of them all.
Characters - 5/5
Writing - 5/5
Plot - 4/5
Pacing - 2/5
Unputdownability - 2/5
Enjoyment - 3/5
Narration - 5/5 by Cindy Kay
Cover - 4/5
Overall - 3.75 rounded up to 4 stars
I recommend this for the sci-fi ideas about the future and getting to meet many geniuses from the past. There is also a romance and other thriller type sections that are entertaining.
Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media/Dreamscape Lore, and Ray Anderson for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
"Lift" is set in 2489. The problem is that the Earth is nearing 100% chance of annihilation within a year due to violence. The planet is ruled by math, which has solved many of the Earth's problems, but they still have trouble with violence and with countries warring. The World Council of Mathematics (WCM) thinks that the way to fix this is to come up with a universal language that will promote peace. They know it will involve math and music.
To help them along, the WCM brings back famous geniuses of the past - in math and in other fields they think will help. They use a process called "Lifting" to time travel these people to their present time and ask them to help solve the problem. Some of the liftees are Bach, Euclid, DaVinci, Kant, Marie Curie, and Jonas Salk.
This book is very interesting, but there are sections that are quite long-winded. The audiobook is 12 hrs 40 min. Two of the main characters are Charles DeCosta and Andrica, who are both young adults (about 18 years old) and math geniuses. There are many other characters, and it's a bit hard to keep track of them all.
Characters - 5/5
Writing - 5/5
Plot - 4/5
Pacing - 2/5
Unputdownability - 2/5
Enjoyment - 3/5
Narration - 5/5 by Cindy Kay
Cover - 4/5
Overall - 3.75 rounded up to 4 stars
I recommend this for the sci-fi ideas about the future and getting to meet many geniuses from the past. There is also a romance and other thriller type sections that are entertaining.
Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media/Dreamscape Lore, and Ray Anderson for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
May 11, 2024
Lift - The Rise of Mathe-Lingua-Musica written by Ray Anderson and narrated by Cindy Kay is speculative/ Science Fiction at its finest. A new common language is needed to save humanity from hurtling toward extinction at a screaming pace. It is 2489 and things are a little precarious to say the least. The clock is ticking before soceity implodes and the World Mathematics Council turn to LIFT to save humankind.
(LIFT - developed b the most famous minds from the past can come into the future - but people from the present cannot go into the past.)
What is the one type of language that can be understood despite geographical differences? Mathemetics. As such, the World Council of Mathematicians and a mathematics genius Charles De Costa use LIFT to consult with the greatest minds in history to develop this new common language before time, and humanity expires. The beauty of the book, is that it draws in linguistics and music, a la Close Encounters of the Third Kind, but takes a sharp right tangent, a loop de loop and creates a while new concept
Cindy Kay is a fantastic narrator and did a great job with some highly creative and closely scientific concepts. The audiobook was entertaining and the cadence complemented the storyline
A fascinating book but I think I will need to readalong so I can read back to be sure I have twigged on the concepts and not missed anything. Brilliant
Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media | Dreamscape Lore, the author Ray Anderson and narrator Cindy Kay for this intriguing ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
(LIFT - developed b the most famous minds from the past can come into the future - but people from the present cannot go into the past.)
What is the one type of language that can be understood despite geographical differences? Mathemetics. As such, the World Council of Mathematicians and a mathematics genius Charles De Costa use LIFT to consult with the greatest minds in history to develop this new common language before time, and humanity expires. The beauty of the book, is that it draws in linguistics and music, a la Close Encounters of the Third Kind, but takes a sharp right tangent, a loop de loop and creates a while new concept
Cindy Kay is a fantastic narrator and did a great job with some highly creative and closely scientific concepts. The audiobook was entertaining and the cadence complemented the storyline
A fascinating book but I think I will need to readalong so I can read back to be sure I have twigged on the concepts and not missed anything. Brilliant
Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media | Dreamscape Lore, the author Ray Anderson and narrator Cindy Kay for this intriguing ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
December 20, 2025
Lift: The Rise of Mathe-Lingua-Musica by Ray K. Anderson is an ambitious and intellectually stimulating novel that blends science fiction, philosophy, and human emotion into a compelling narrative about survival and unity. From the outset, the premise is strikingly original: a world on the brink of extinction not because of natural disaster, but because of humanity’s inability to understand one another. This alone makes the story feel both futuristic and deeply relevant.
Anderson excels at weaving complex ideas mathematics, linguistics, and music into a cohesive and accessible concept that never feels dry or overly academic. The idea of LIFT as a bridge to history’s greatest minds is particularly captivating, offering a creative way to explore timeless wisdom while raising urgent questions about progress, communication, and moral responsibility. Charles De Costa’s role as a brilliant yet human protagonist grounds the story, making the high-concept science feel personal and emotionally resonant.
What truly sets this book apart is its optimism. Despite the looming threat of annihilation, the narrative is fueled by hope the belief that collaboration, creativity, and shared understanding can still redeem humanity. The universal language at the heart of the story becomes a powerful metaphor for empathy and cooperation, reminding readers that our greatest strength lies in unity rather than division.
Engaging, thought-provoking, and refreshingly original, Lift: The Rise of Mathe-Lingua-Musica is a rewarding read for fans of intelligent science fiction who enjoy big ideas paired with genuine heart. It leaves a lasting impression and invites readers to reflect on how we communicate, connect, and ultimately coexist.
Anderson excels at weaving complex ideas mathematics, linguistics, and music into a cohesive and accessible concept that never feels dry or overly academic. The idea of LIFT as a bridge to history’s greatest minds is particularly captivating, offering a creative way to explore timeless wisdom while raising urgent questions about progress, communication, and moral responsibility. Charles De Costa’s role as a brilliant yet human protagonist grounds the story, making the high-concept science feel personal and emotionally resonant.
What truly sets this book apart is its optimism. Despite the looming threat of annihilation, the narrative is fueled by hope the belief that collaboration, creativity, and shared understanding can still redeem humanity. The universal language at the heart of the story becomes a powerful metaphor for empathy and cooperation, reminding readers that our greatest strength lies in unity rather than division.
Engaging, thought-provoking, and refreshingly original, Lift: The Rise of Mathe-Lingua-Musica is a rewarding read for fans of intelligent science fiction who enjoy big ideas paired with genuine heart. It leaves a lasting impression and invites readers to reflect on how we communicate, connect, and ultimately coexist.
May 1, 2024
**Arriving May 7, 2024**
What a wild ride! This book envisions a future where global society is so fragmented that the best and brightest solution is to create a universal language. We join the story with that process underway, headed by the World Council of Mathematicians (WCM). The new language being created combines elements of math and music. Yet the minds that come together to work on the language are not all those of our future human race. Instead, key individuals from the past are being "lifted" into the future to assist temporarily. DaVinci, Curie, and many other great thinkers are plucked from history and put to work on the problem.
I quite enjoyed the imagined personalities of the historical figures and how uniquely each approached both the language challenge and the future society. The WCM functioned like any bureaucracy with its internecine politics, enjoyable from this distance (some things will never change).
While I am generally well-educated, I am not a polymath of music or mathematics. Some detailed discussions were over my head but would likely engage someone more adept in these subjects. I've already recommended the book to someone like that!
There's a story here, but I can't help feeling that it was developed as a scaffolding for promoting the Mathe-Lingua-Musica language. In other words, it's less of a sci-fi novel than a thought experiment for an interesting idea about a universal language.
Bottom line, if you have a penchant for math, music, historical figures, or problem solving, there's stuff here to dig your teeth into. Even though I didn't know all the historical figures referenced, those I looked up added to my knowledge base (and I like to learn new things). I plan to read or listen to more books by Ray K. Anderson.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for an advance copy of the audiobook for review purposes.
What a wild ride! This book envisions a future where global society is so fragmented that the best and brightest solution is to create a universal language. We join the story with that process underway, headed by the World Council of Mathematicians (WCM). The new language being created combines elements of math and music. Yet the minds that come together to work on the language are not all those of our future human race. Instead, key individuals from the past are being "lifted" into the future to assist temporarily. DaVinci, Curie, and many other great thinkers are plucked from history and put to work on the problem.
I quite enjoyed the imagined personalities of the historical figures and how uniquely each approached both the language challenge and the future society. The WCM functioned like any bureaucracy with its internecine politics, enjoyable from this distance (some things will never change).
While I am generally well-educated, I am not a polymath of music or mathematics. Some detailed discussions were over my head but would likely engage someone more adept in these subjects. I've already recommended the book to someone like that!
There's a story here, but I can't help feeling that it was developed as a scaffolding for promoting the Mathe-Lingua-Musica language. In other words, it's less of a sci-fi novel than a thought experiment for an interesting idea about a universal language.
Bottom line, if you have a penchant for math, music, historical figures, or problem solving, there's stuff here to dig your teeth into. Even though I didn't know all the historical figures referenced, those I looked up added to my knowledge base (and I like to learn new things). I plan to read or listen to more books by Ray K. Anderson.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for an advance copy of the audiobook for review purposes.
May 9, 2024
The story is set 400 years in the future and is about an attempt to ward off the impending destruction of the world. There is a world government of sorts but the nations of the world are paying less and less attention to its laws, and it looks like a nuclear holocaust is close to happening.
Against this deadline the mathematicians that govern the world are trying to develop a universal language that combines mathematics, linguistics and music - MLM..
To aid in this, they are ‘lifting’, i.e. resurrecting, long-dead geniuses. When the ‘liftees’ have made whatever contribution they can, they are returned to their own time, remembering their adventure as a dream.
Humans know that there is someone or something aware of what they are doing but it isn’t until MLM has advanced far enough that it becomes clearer who they are.
All in all, a complex but enjoyable read.
Against this deadline the mathematicians that govern the world are trying to develop a universal language that combines mathematics, linguistics and music - MLM..
To aid in this, they are ‘lifting’, i.e. resurrecting, long-dead geniuses. When the ‘liftees’ have made whatever contribution they can, they are returned to their own time, remembering their adventure as a dream.
Humans know that there is someone or something aware of what they are doing but it isn’t until MLM has advanced far enough that it becomes clearer who they are.
All in all, a complex but enjoyable read.
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September 26, 2024My friend Susan gave me this book, because she knows the writer from a writing group.
It's about a future where the population is so dense that folks are killing each other. A group of educated people, who live in giant towers, decide they need to create a language that has no words for violence. Using mathematics--carefully described and making no sense to me--and music, they work on the language with "Lifted" people--geniuses of the past, from Immanuel Kant to Jonas Salk. They are then returned to their previous lives and deaths.
So I'm wading thru the math, and then some women try to sabotage the work. As the last one is about to be shot, even though she's wearing armor, he shooter is advist ed to "shoot her in the twat."
After all that confusing math and confusing number of main characters, that one sentence redeemed the whole thing for me
It's about a future where the population is so dense that folks are killing each other. A group of educated people, who live in giant towers, decide they need to create a language that has no words for violence. Using mathematics--carefully described and making no sense to me--and music, they work on the language with "Lifted" people--geniuses of the past, from Immanuel Kant to Jonas Salk. They are then returned to their previous lives and deaths.
So I'm wading thru the math, and then some women try to sabotage the work. As the last one is about to be shot, even though she's wearing armor, he shooter is advist ed to "shoot her in the twat."
After all that confusing math and confusing number of main characters, that one sentence redeemed the whole thing for me
July 16, 2025
I found the premise of this book, that we might bring historical persons back from the past through time to save the world, fascinating. The author must have done a lot of research in order to bring these personages to life, and succeeds. Occasional controversial tidbits about famous people (I knew that DaVinci guy couldn't be that smart!) are fun and surprising. His creation of a complete future dystopian world is impressive. Relatively short chapters keep the action moving. Of course, humanity being what it is, there's no lack of bad actors to endure. Can humanity survive, a question I think is asked more and more every day. Ray Anderson offers a pathway and an answer.
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