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The Archimedes Device
The Archimedes device.
Throughout history, the protectors of its secrets have sacrificed their fortunes, their happiness, and even their lives. And when the device comes unexpectedly into the life of Rebecca Sanders, its effect is no less profound.
Rebecca’s journey begins with the unsettling disappearance of her mother, a respected Princeton professor. The only hints to her whereabouts are a series of clues left by an unknown scribe more than 500 years ago.
To track down her mother, Rebecca has no choice but to rely on the help of Mark Whitmore, a professional treasure hunter with obscure motives. Joined by her mother’s quirky assistant, they soon discover why Rebecca’s mother has disappeared: she’s searching for an ancient document penned by Archimedes himself, a blueprint for a mysterious device that could rewrite history.
The search for Archimedes’ blueprint soon takes a dangerous turn. As Rebecca and her unlikely partners work to decipher the ancient clues, they must stay one step ahead of a ruthless antiquities dealer who’ll stop at nothing to acquire the priceless document, and elude a secret society that has spent two thousand years hiding the truth of the Archimedes device.
From ancient Alexandria to medieval Constantinople to the streets of modern-day Manhattan, The Archimedes Device is an epic journey of adventure, intrigue, and discovery.
Throughout history, the protectors of its secrets have sacrificed their fortunes, their happiness, and even their lives. And when the device comes unexpectedly into the life of Rebecca Sanders, its effect is no less profound.
Rebecca’s journey begins with the unsettling disappearance of her mother, a respected Princeton professor. The only hints to her whereabouts are a series of clues left by an unknown scribe more than 500 years ago.
To track down her mother, Rebecca has no choice but to rely on the help of Mark Whitmore, a professional treasure hunter with obscure motives. Joined by her mother’s quirky assistant, they soon discover why Rebecca’s mother has disappeared: she’s searching for an ancient document penned by Archimedes himself, a blueprint for a mysterious device that could rewrite history.
The search for Archimedes’ blueprint soon takes a dangerous turn. As Rebecca and her unlikely partners work to decipher the ancient clues, they must stay one step ahead of a ruthless antiquities dealer who’ll stop at nothing to acquire the priceless document, and elude a secret society that has spent two thousand years hiding the truth of the Archimedes device.
From ancient Alexandria to medieval Constantinople to the streets of modern-day Manhattan, The Archimedes Device is an epic journey of adventure, intrigue, and discovery.
676 pages, Paperback
Published August 26, 2016
3 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
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October 12, 2020
”The safest general characterization of the European scientific tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Archimedes.”
Reviel Netz
Archimedes
I do believe that Leonardo Da Vinci is better known to most people than Archimedes. Not to take anything away from the extraordinary mind of Da Vinci, but if we are making a list of the most brilliant minds throughout history, Archimedes should be talked about with the same hushed awe as Da Vinci. He was a mathematician who used math to design and create war machines (Da Vinci was employed to design war machines, as well.) to protect his native city of Syracuse, Sicily. War is always inconvenient to scholars. He also ”proved a range of geometrical theorems, including the area of a circle, the surface area and volume of a sphere, and the area under a parabola.” Moreover, he anticipated modern calculus and numerous other standards of mathematics upon which current science and math are built.
He lived from 287 BC to 212 BC. To think about what he accomplished living in that time period is simply stunning. Leonardo Da Vinci came along much later, during the Renaissance, living from 1452-1519. Now during the Renaissance, the great minds of that era showed an interest in Archimedes’ works. The problem was that much of what he wrote was lost during the Middle Ages, which brings us to our story.
This novel opens in Alexandria, Egypt, in 48 BC with the invasion of the Romans and the burning of the Great Library. A scholar, a member of the secret society of Pythagoreans, is having to make a choice of what to save from the library.
He has only his two hands.
Does he save great works of literature? Philosophy? No, he knows without a doubt what he must save. He must save Archimedes. Through the smoke and the falling timbers, he lays hands on what he was looking for and, against the odds, finds his way back out of the building and thus... begins the journey of a book. To call it a book is an overstatement. It is a piece of papyrus with the designs of an amazing machine etched by the hand of Archimedes. This astonishing piece of ingenuity has been ignored for almost 2000 years.
Society cannot be trusted with such a valuable object, so the Pythagoreans must protect it, along with numerous other important works throughout history, from those who can’t understand the importance of it.
The burning of the library of Alexandria, one of the most tragic blows of knowledge lost.
The authors take us on a tour of the historical world. One of my favorite stops is in Constantinople in 1204. Another invasion, this time Venetians, is putting books, art, and not to mention people at risk. We meet Halldorr, an oversized Varangian warrior, who is trying to stave off the attackers, and a nun named Simonis, who has a much different task...to once again save the Archimedes papyrus from destruction. Now she is no ordinary Nun, just as Halldorr is no ordinary man. She has been trained in the most deadly arts of self defense by the Pythagoreans. Needless to say, they are meeting for the first time, under the most perilous circumstances, and unfortunately, it will be a brief meeting. That is the fickleness of fate, to show you the missing half of yourself, but only long enough for you to recognize who you need just as you watch them slip away.
And then there is Joannes Scutariotes, a 15th century scribe who shows up in our story in Venice, then Spain, then Hispaniola, with the crew of Columbus and then Cuba. He is on the run. He is a rogue Pythagorean who has absconded with the Archimedes papyrus as a form of revenge against the Society for denying him the love of his life. A Pythagorean in love is a very dangerous thing. This is one of those cases where the authors took a real life person and fictionalized aspects of his life for the purposes of plot. They include a list in the back of the book of all the historical people who have a played a part in their story. They also list all the historical artifacts that are used in the story, as well. Very handy reference devices that proved very helpful.
I’ve given you a small taste of the time machine moments when the authors take the reader back in time, but woven in amongst those tasty treats is a modern day treasure hunt for the lost Archimedes papyrus. Joannes did a very good job of hiding it by making everyone believe he destroyed it, but of course at heart, he is a Pythagorean despite his rogue tendencies, and he could no more destroy such a work as he could put out his own eyes.
The academic Ruth Sanders has found something that makes her believe that she is on the trail of something spectacular. She draws the attention of the odious Edouard Raleigh (yeah, he changed his name and, man, does it sound cool). He is a man interested in antiquities and is willing to do anything to lay his hands on any and all artifacts that are sellable. He pays men to raid archaeological digs, and in the process, he steals history. Providence is lost when the artifact is taken from where it was found, and all it becomes is a piece of expensive decor for a collector or a one percenter.
Edouard makes a very good living.
He is also ruthless.
Ruth is joined by her daughter Rebecca, Mark Whitmore, a treasure hunter, and the mathematical savant Lucas. They are soon on their way to Italy to follow the convoluted clues left by Joannes while staying one step ahead of the Italian authorities and the unsavory Edouard Raleigh and his goons.
So what is the Archimedes Device? It is not for me to tell you, but I will tell you that a monk, much later than when Archimedes designed his device, Richard of Wallingford in 1327, rediscovered the concepts that Archimedes discovered 1,500+ years earlier. Knowledge that was lost for centuries. That is a new standard for being ahead of your time.
Richard of Wallingford, though brilliant, was late to the party by 1,500 years.
I don’t read much in the way of thrillers anymore, but I found the concept of going back and forth in time compelling. A mystery carried forward for centuries certainly held an appeal to this amateur historian. The authors have done their research and do a good job of placing the reader comfortably in the various eras, whether it be 48BC or 1492 or 2016. The paperback is 600+ pages, but don’t let that dissuade you because the pages will turn quickly. I enjoy those books that within a few pages you realize that you have to know the outcome.
Michael Perkins and C. M. Hanna just launched their awesome book trailer. Here is the link: Archimedes Device Book Trailer
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
Reviel Netz
Archimedes
I do believe that Leonardo Da Vinci is better known to most people than Archimedes. Not to take anything away from the extraordinary mind of Da Vinci, but if we are making a list of the most brilliant minds throughout history, Archimedes should be talked about with the same hushed awe as Da Vinci. He was a mathematician who used math to design and create war machines (Da Vinci was employed to design war machines, as well.) to protect his native city of Syracuse, Sicily. War is always inconvenient to scholars. He also ”proved a range of geometrical theorems, including the area of a circle, the surface area and volume of a sphere, and the area under a parabola.” Moreover, he anticipated modern calculus and numerous other standards of mathematics upon which current science and math are built.
He lived from 287 BC to 212 BC. To think about what he accomplished living in that time period is simply stunning. Leonardo Da Vinci came along much later, during the Renaissance, living from 1452-1519. Now during the Renaissance, the great minds of that era showed an interest in Archimedes’ works. The problem was that much of what he wrote was lost during the Middle Ages, which brings us to our story.
This novel opens in Alexandria, Egypt, in 48 BC with the invasion of the Romans and the burning of the Great Library. A scholar, a member of the secret society of Pythagoreans, is having to make a choice of what to save from the library.
He has only his two hands.
Does he save great works of literature? Philosophy? No, he knows without a doubt what he must save. He must save Archimedes. Through the smoke and the falling timbers, he lays hands on what he was looking for and, against the odds, finds his way back out of the building and thus... begins the journey of a book. To call it a book is an overstatement. It is a piece of papyrus with the designs of an amazing machine etched by the hand of Archimedes. This astonishing piece of ingenuity has been ignored for almost 2000 years.
Society cannot be trusted with such a valuable object, so the Pythagoreans must protect it, along with numerous other important works throughout history, from those who can’t understand the importance of it.
The burning of the library of Alexandria, one of the most tragic blows of knowledge lost.
The authors take us on a tour of the historical world. One of my favorite stops is in Constantinople in 1204. Another invasion, this time Venetians, is putting books, art, and not to mention people at risk. We meet Halldorr, an oversized Varangian warrior, who is trying to stave off the attackers, and a nun named Simonis, who has a much different task...to once again save the Archimedes papyrus from destruction. Now she is no ordinary Nun, just as Halldorr is no ordinary man. She has been trained in the most deadly arts of self defense by the Pythagoreans. Needless to say, they are meeting for the first time, under the most perilous circumstances, and unfortunately, it will be a brief meeting. That is the fickleness of fate, to show you the missing half of yourself, but only long enough for you to recognize who you need just as you watch them slip away.
And then there is Joannes Scutariotes, a 15th century scribe who shows up in our story in Venice, then Spain, then Hispaniola, with the crew of Columbus and then Cuba. He is on the run. He is a rogue Pythagorean who has absconded with the Archimedes papyrus as a form of revenge against the Society for denying him the love of his life. A Pythagorean in love is a very dangerous thing. This is one of those cases where the authors took a real life person and fictionalized aspects of his life for the purposes of plot. They include a list in the back of the book of all the historical people who have a played a part in their story. They also list all the historical artifacts that are used in the story, as well. Very handy reference devices that proved very helpful.
I’ve given you a small taste of the time machine moments when the authors take the reader back in time, but woven in amongst those tasty treats is a modern day treasure hunt for the lost Archimedes papyrus. Joannes did a very good job of hiding it by making everyone believe he destroyed it, but of course at heart, he is a Pythagorean despite his rogue tendencies, and he could no more destroy such a work as he could put out his own eyes.
The academic Ruth Sanders has found something that makes her believe that she is on the trail of something spectacular. She draws the attention of the odious Edouard Raleigh (yeah, he changed his name and, man, does it sound cool). He is a man interested in antiquities and is willing to do anything to lay his hands on any and all artifacts that are sellable. He pays men to raid archaeological digs, and in the process, he steals history. Providence is lost when the artifact is taken from where it was found, and all it becomes is a piece of expensive decor for a collector or a one percenter.
Edouard makes a very good living.
He is also ruthless.
Ruth is joined by her daughter Rebecca, Mark Whitmore, a treasure hunter, and the mathematical savant Lucas. They are soon on their way to Italy to follow the convoluted clues left by Joannes while staying one step ahead of the Italian authorities and the unsavory Edouard Raleigh and his goons.
So what is the Archimedes Device? It is not for me to tell you, but I will tell you that a monk, much later than when Archimedes designed his device, Richard of Wallingford in 1327, rediscovered the concepts that Archimedes discovered 1,500+ years earlier. Knowledge that was lost for centuries. That is a new standard for being ahead of your time.
Richard of Wallingford, though brilliant, was late to the party by 1,500 years.
I don’t read much in the way of thrillers anymore, but I found the concept of going back and forth in time compelling. A mystery carried forward for centuries certainly held an appeal to this amateur historian. The authors have done their research and do a good job of placing the reader comfortably in the various eras, whether it be 48BC or 1492 or 2016. The paperback is 600+ pages, but don’t let that dissuade you because the pages will turn quickly. I enjoy those books that within a few pages you realize that you have to know the outcome.
Michael Perkins and C. M. Hanna just launched their awesome book trailer. Here is the link: Archimedes Device Book Trailer
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
August 20, 2022
A ‘doorstopper’ to enjoy!
I don’t think I’ve read a doorstopper since Colleen McCullough or Ken Follett.
‘The Archimedes Device’ sat on my shelf for a few months. It beckoned me: ‘Come on. You know you’re ready for a big book!’
So, I took the plunge.
And I’m so glad I did.
I was taken in by this wild ride between time frames, an array of present-day characters and very interesting people from the past - deep in the past, as the title would suggest.
A clever text. The book is peppered with fact and fiction, neatly blended to form an interesting narrative. The scientific details were not too far out of my league and the storyline included ‘cloak and dagger’ elements that kept me engaged and helped me forget it was doorstopper.
The depth of research is a testament to the knowledge and skills of the co-authors.
Recommended to anyone who likes… reading.
I don’t think I’ve read a doorstopper since Colleen McCullough or Ken Follett.
‘The Archimedes Device’ sat on my shelf for a few months. It beckoned me: ‘Come on. You know you’re ready for a big book!’
So, I took the plunge.
And I’m so glad I did.
I was taken in by this wild ride between time frames, an array of present-day characters and very interesting people from the past - deep in the past, as the title would suggest.
A clever text. The book is peppered with fact and fiction, neatly blended to form an interesting narrative. The scientific details were not too far out of my league and the storyline included ‘cloak and dagger’ elements that kept me engaged and helped me forget it was doorstopper.
The depth of research is a testament to the knowledge and skills of the co-authors.
Recommended to anyone who likes… reading.
July 5, 2023
The Archimedes Device is in the new Indiana Jones film, 'the dial of destiny'
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/histor...
==============
“All of Western science is but a series of footnotes to Archimedes”
― Reviel Netz
==========
The Archimedes device. Throughout history, the protectors of its secrets have sacrificed their fortunes, their happiness, and even their lives. And when the device comes unexpectedly into the life of Rebecca Sanders, its effect is no less profound. Rebecca’s journey begins with the unsettling disappearance of her mother, a respected Princeton professor. The only hints to her whereabouts are a series of clues left by an unknown scribe more than 500 years ago. To track down her mother, Rebecca has no choice but to rely on the help of Mark Whitmore, a professional treasure hunter with obscure motives. Joined by her mother’s quirky assistant, they soon discover why Rebecca’s mother has disappeared: she’s searching for an ancient document penned by Archimedes himself, a blueprint for a mysterious device that could rewrite history.
The search for Archimedes’ blueprint soon takes a dangerous turn. As Rebecca and her unlikely partners work to decipher the ancient clues, they must stay one step ahead of a ruthless antiquities dealer who’ll stop at nothing to acquire the priceless document, and elude a secret society that has spent two thousand years hiding the truth of the Archimedes device. From ancient Alexandria to medieval Constantinople to the streets of modern-day Manhattan, The Archimedes Device is an epic journey of adventure, intrigue, and discovery.
Now available in Kindle....
https://www.amazon.com/Archimedes-Dev...
======
The Archimedes Device---amazing computer from the Hellenistic era
https://www.goodreads.com/videos/1495...
=======
Presentation by Jo Marchant who wrote a book on the mechanism...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv-zW...
======
Her non-fiction book about it....
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
============
Scientists recently have been able to figure out the first big event that the mechanism was designed to predict.
"When the ancient manufacturer designed this unique and remarkable machine, he chose a specific initial calibration date, as a starting position for all of the pointers. The selection of this specific date defined the initial (starting) position for the Mechanism pointers and the specific sequence of the eclipse events was engraved on the Saros spiral cells.
The specific Metonic calendar starting date-Winter Solstice of December 23rd 178 BC, right after the Prominent Saros Cycle Apokatastasis is an ideal date for the initial calibration of the Mechanism pointers."
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2203.15045.pdf
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/histor...
==============
“All of Western science is but a series of footnotes to Archimedes”
― Reviel Netz
==========
The Archimedes device. Throughout history, the protectors of its secrets have sacrificed their fortunes, their happiness, and even their lives. And when the device comes unexpectedly into the life of Rebecca Sanders, its effect is no less profound. Rebecca’s journey begins with the unsettling disappearance of her mother, a respected Princeton professor. The only hints to her whereabouts are a series of clues left by an unknown scribe more than 500 years ago. To track down her mother, Rebecca has no choice but to rely on the help of Mark Whitmore, a professional treasure hunter with obscure motives. Joined by her mother’s quirky assistant, they soon discover why Rebecca’s mother has disappeared: she’s searching for an ancient document penned by Archimedes himself, a blueprint for a mysterious device that could rewrite history.
The search for Archimedes’ blueprint soon takes a dangerous turn. As Rebecca and her unlikely partners work to decipher the ancient clues, they must stay one step ahead of a ruthless antiquities dealer who’ll stop at nothing to acquire the priceless document, and elude a secret society that has spent two thousand years hiding the truth of the Archimedes device. From ancient Alexandria to medieval Constantinople to the streets of modern-day Manhattan, The Archimedes Device is an epic journey of adventure, intrigue, and discovery.
Now available in Kindle....
https://www.amazon.com/Archimedes-Dev...
======
The Archimedes Device---amazing computer from the Hellenistic era
https://www.goodreads.com/videos/1495...
=======
Presentation by Jo Marchant who wrote a book on the mechanism...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv-zW...
======
Her non-fiction book about it....
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
============
Scientists recently have been able to figure out the first big event that the mechanism was designed to predict.
"When the ancient manufacturer designed this unique and remarkable machine, he chose a specific initial calibration date, as a starting position for all of the pointers. The selection of this specific date defined the initial (starting) position for the Mechanism pointers and the specific sequence of the eclipse events was engraved on the Saros spiral cells.
The specific Metonic calendar starting date-Winter Solstice of December 23rd 178 BC, right after the Prominent Saros Cycle Apokatastasis is an ideal date for the initial calibration of the Mechanism pointers."
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2203.15045.pdf
September 1, 2017
The Archimedes Device is a great vacation read in the vein of Ken Follett and Dan Brown. The authors takes the reader on an intelligent, although slightly unbelievable, treasure hunt in which they weave in lots of historical information and effectively switch things up between historical and present narratives.
The story is based on one with which we are all familiar: Think Indiana Jones or Lara Croft in Tomb Raider. A hidden historical object makes a slight, but nevertheless intriguing appearance, followed by the obligatory global treasure hunt in which the main characters somehow always manage to find themselves in peril and encounter a variety of cerebral and physical difficulties.
I believe the strengths of the novel is in the meticulously researched historical background and the interweaving chapters of the ‘present’ hunt with the flashbacks on the document's history. I found that literary strategy to be working very effectively indeed. The authors have obviously done their research and they generally do a great job of placing the reader comfortably in the various eras, whether it be in 1492 or 2016.
Although there’s no question about the underlying attention to detail, the ‘present’ era plot seemed a little too implausible to me and I definitely enjoyed the past era narrative a lot more, perhaps due to the fact that those sequences felt more serene and a little less forced.
My major complaints are almost always the same when I read these types of novels: Unbelievability and/ or convenience of the many outlandish occurrences. Also the many conversations in which the characters tell each other at lengths what they feel and think, I often thought superfluous.
With that said; the novel is a page turner, and one that will undoubtedly teach you a thing or two about Archimedes, his incredible production and his position as one of the all time great minds in history.
In the end I found The Archimedes Device to be an entertaining and rewarding reading experience overall.
The story is based on one with which we are all familiar: Think Indiana Jones or Lara Croft in Tomb Raider. A hidden historical object makes a slight, but nevertheless intriguing appearance, followed by the obligatory global treasure hunt in which the main characters somehow always manage to find themselves in peril and encounter a variety of cerebral and physical difficulties.
I believe the strengths of the novel is in the meticulously researched historical background and the interweaving chapters of the ‘present’ hunt with the flashbacks on the document's history. I found that literary strategy to be working very effectively indeed. The authors have obviously done their research and they generally do a great job of placing the reader comfortably in the various eras, whether it be in 1492 or 2016.
Although there’s no question about the underlying attention to detail, the ‘present’ era plot seemed a little too implausible to me and I definitely enjoyed the past era narrative a lot more, perhaps due to the fact that those sequences felt more serene and a little less forced.
My major complaints are almost always the same when I read these types of novels: Unbelievability and/ or convenience of the many outlandish occurrences. Also the many conversations in which the characters tell each other at lengths what they feel and think, I often thought superfluous.
With that said; the novel is a page turner, and one that will undoubtedly teach you a thing or two about Archimedes, his incredible production and his position as one of the all time great minds in history.
In the end I found The Archimedes Device to be an entertaining and rewarding reading experience overall.
August 25, 2021
I hadn't read historical thrillers in a while, and I had forgotten how entertaining a well-written one can be. When I was in middle school, I used to love Dan Brown's books, and not only because Robert Langdon was cool and his adventures thrilling. What fascinated me was the history interwoven with the action. Although I was aware that I could not trust Brown completely, his descriptions of European art, history, and architecture nourished my interest in Renaissance art (I was lucky to attend a school in which Art classes were not looked down on) and prompted me to read about it outside the classroom. That is why even after I switched to non-fiction for good, I still respect historical fiction, especially if it is as meticulously researched as The Archimedes Device.
Rebecca Sanders's punctual mother, Ruth, doesn't show up for her daughter's performance in the American Ballet Theater, and it all goes downhill from there. Although it immediately becomes obvious that the two of them are not on best terms, Rebecca rushes to Princeton – her mother is a professor at Princeton University – only to discover that Ruth, the same person who once gave her a precise itinerary of her planned vacation to Hawaii three months before the vacation, has disappeared without a trace. When a burglar breaks first into Ruth's house and then into her Princeton office, Rebecca decides that enough is enough and enrolls the help of "treasure hunter" Mark Whitmore and "walking encyclopedia" Lucas McIntire to find her mother. At first, the three of them look like the most unlikely allies ever – Rebecca is stubborn; Mark is arrogant and not exactly trust-inspiring, and Lucas... sees the world in his own, special way. I have always enjoyed stories in which gangs of misfits accomplish something great together (or rob a bank...) because the reader gets the opportunity to explore human emotions through the characters' interactions, so for me the trio's banter turned out to be the most amusing part of the whole book.
As they reach the confusing conclusion that Ruth, a professor of Spanish Literature, has for some reason embarked on a hunt for an ancient document written by Archimedes himself, Rebecca, Mark, and Lucas can't waste time arguing with each other. Their search leads them to Florence, where the main events of the plot play out. The odd trio is faced with the uneasy task to outpace Edward Raleigh, a vicious art thief, in the hunt for the Archimedes document, while also evading the much too observant Aldo Novelli from the local art theft squad and solving the challenging riddles of a 15th-century scribe that are supposed to lead them to the document. I don't want to spoil any key details, so I am not going to reveal whether and how they managed (or did not manage) to succeed. What I am revealing, however, is that from the team's arrival in Florence to the very end of the book, the action never wanes. I could not stop turning the pages. And I did not see the final twist coming.
Even more exciting for me were the historical chapters that alternated with the modern-day ones and focused on the history of the Archimedes document and the Pythagorean Society, the "guardians of civilization." Just as Dan Brown's thrillers once prompted me to learn quite a lot about Renaissance art, The Archimedes Device taught me much I did not know about ancient and Renaissance history. I got the opportunity to visit the Florence of Lorenzo Medici, to learn about Leo the Geometer, and to discover new, intriguing information about Archimedes. While reading, I often consulted Wikipedia and other sites, and now I can positively say that this novel expanded my general knowledge significantly.
The only reason I am not giving The Archimedes Device five stars is the main characters. Apart from Lucas, whom I liked very much and found easy to sympathize with, they are all rather cardboard. Rebecca, Mark, and Ruth lack the depth that would have made me care for them. At times, their dialogue borders on the unrealistic, which, unfortunately, is a huge drawback for me.
Overall, The Archimedes Device was a refreshing and very entertaining read. It offered me a welcome break from the academic literature I have been devouring the last three years. If you are looking for a well-researched historical thriller interspersed with humor and interesting thoughts instead of with violence and sex, you will surely enjoy this one.
Rebecca Sanders's punctual mother, Ruth, doesn't show up for her daughter's performance in the American Ballet Theater, and it all goes downhill from there. Although it immediately becomes obvious that the two of them are not on best terms, Rebecca rushes to Princeton – her mother is a professor at Princeton University – only to discover that Ruth, the same person who once gave her a precise itinerary of her planned vacation to Hawaii three months before the vacation, has disappeared without a trace. When a burglar breaks first into Ruth's house and then into her Princeton office, Rebecca decides that enough is enough and enrolls the help of "treasure hunter" Mark Whitmore and "walking encyclopedia" Lucas McIntire to find her mother. At first, the three of them look like the most unlikely allies ever – Rebecca is stubborn; Mark is arrogant and not exactly trust-inspiring, and Lucas... sees the world in his own, special way. I have always enjoyed stories in which gangs of misfits accomplish something great together (or rob a bank...) because the reader gets the opportunity to explore human emotions through the characters' interactions, so for me the trio's banter turned out to be the most amusing part of the whole book.
As they reach the confusing conclusion that Ruth, a professor of Spanish Literature, has for some reason embarked on a hunt for an ancient document written by Archimedes himself, Rebecca, Mark, and Lucas can't waste time arguing with each other. Their search leads them to Florence, where the main events of the plot play out. The odd trio is faced with the uneasy task to outpace Edward Raleigh, a vicious art thief, in the hunt for the Archimedes document, while also evading the much too observant Aldo Novelli from the local art theft squad and solving the challenging riddles of a 15th-century scribe that are supposed to lead them to the document. I don't want to spoil any key details, so I am not going to reveal whether and how they managed (or did not manage) to succeed. What I am revealing, however, is that from the team's arrival in Florence to the very end of the book, the action never wanes. I could not stop turning the pages. And I did not see the final twist coming.
Even more exciting for me were the historical chapters that alternated with the modern-day ones and focused on the history of the Archimedes document and the Pythagorean Society, the "guardians of civilization." Just as Dan Brown's thrillers once prompted me to learn quite a lot about Renaissance art, The Archimedes Device taught me much I did not know about ancient and Renaissance history. I got the opportunity to visit the Florence of Lorenzo Medici, to learn about Leo the Geometer, and to discover new, intriguing information about Archimedes. While reading, I often consulted Wikipedia and other sites, and now I can positively say that this novel expanded my general knowledge significantly.
The only reason I am not giving The Archimedes Device five stars is the main characters. Apart from Lucas, whom I liked very much and found easy to sympathize with, they are all rather cardboard. Rebecca, Mark, and Ruth lack the depth that would have made me care for them. At times, their dialogue borders on the unrealistic, which, unfortunately, is a huge drawback for me.
Overall, The Archimedes Device was a refreshing and very entertaining read. It offered me a welcome break from the academic literature I have been devouring the last three years. If you are looking for a well-researched historical thriller interspersed with humor and interesting thoughts instead of with violence and sex, you will surely enjoy this one.
December 14, 2021
The familiar ingredients of a historical thriller are all here. There is a secret society with ancient roots, an intriguing and priceless document from the hand of Archimedes, a sophisticated cypher concealing riddles written in ancient Greek and providing directions to the Archimedes document which has been hidden for 500 years. An underground labyrinth invites claustrophobic confusion, and a race against a greedy and antiquities dealer has life and death consequences. However, these elements are combined in unexpected ways and touch on some thought-provoking issues.
The novel opens in 48 BC. As the Library of Alexandria is going up in flames, a youthful member of the secretive Pythagorean cult resolves to risk his life to save what he has recently found by accident, a cryptic document written by Archimedes himself. That conflagation is a watershed moment for the Pythagoreans. Their world is being destroyed. What had been a band of scholars and mystic philosophers becomes a highly organized cult dedicated to a single mission: the preservation of civilization.
Centuries pass and that idealistic resolution ossifies. To protect the Archimedes artifact it is imperative that the Pythagorean cult itself remain invisible. Rules and oaths are insufficient without enforcement. Each member must be willing to do whatever is necessary to keep the secret. By the 16th century an errant Pythagorean will finally confront the “guardians of civilization” who have at last cornered him: “has it never occurred to you that perhaps civilization isn't worth protecting?” He has witnessed the “civilizing” of the Taino by Spanish fortune hunters and their enslavement through the institution of the encomienda since 1492.
The contemporary narrative is a typical treasure hunt that furnishes the book's momentum. A professor of Spanish culture and language, a free-wheeling paleographer and antiquities expert, an Asperger’s spectrum mathematical savant with a mastery of ancient Greek, and the professor's daughter form an improbable combination aided by improbable luck. The historical journey of the document and the contemporary narrative interlock and fittingly converge in Syracuse, Archimedes' birthplace. The entire novel is structured like a maze with two starting points. The reader is challenged to figure out how the two lines will intersect, and like that 16th century Pythagorean, the contemporary characters will question if the document is worth the sacrifice of a life.
When I began this book I found the alternating storylines frustrating. Since the historical events leap in both time and place, the book felt choppy. I really didn't begin to engage in the story until we meet the 16th century Pythagorean scribe. Perhaps the dark undercurrent I have outlined was not even the authors’ intent. However, it provided weight to what had seemed a standard although inventive historical thriller. From that point on I was totally immersed and did not question the unusual length of the book.
I read this novel for some escapist relief after finishing an emotionally wrenching book club read. Despite initial doubts, I found that relief in the ARCHIMEDES DEVICE.
NOTES: The links to the map and the research sources in the kindle edition do not work. However, the list of characters and historical artifacts at the end of the book are useful references.
Background on the vargueño: https://www.ats.amherst.edu/meadcolle...
Key historical dates:
570 BC-495 BC Pythagoras
287 BC-212 BC Archimedes
48 BC Destruction of Library of Alexandria
408 AD Sack of Rome
1054 AD Great Schism creates Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches
1204 AD Sack of Constantinople
1265-1268 Papacy of Pope Clement centered in Viterbo
1271-1276 Papacy of Pope Gregory X
1492 Death of Lorenzo d'Medici; expulsion of the Jews from Spain
1474-1566 Father Bartolomé de las Casas
1552 A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies
The novel opens in 48 BC. As the Library of Alexandria is going up in flames, a youthful member of the secretive Pythagorean cult resolves to risk his life to save what he has recently found by accident, a cryptic document written by Archimedes himself. That conflagation is a watershed moment for the Pythagoreans. Their world is being destroyed. What had been a band of scholars and mystic philosophers becomes a highly organized cult dedicated to a single mission: the preservation of civilization.
Centuries pass and that idealistic resolution ossifies. To protect the Archimedes artifact it is imperative that the Pythagorean cult itself remain invisible. Rules and oaths are insufficient without enforcement. Each member must be willing to do whatever is necessary to keep the secret. By the 16th century an errant Pythagorean will finally confront the “guardians of civilization” who have at last cornered him: “has it never occurred to you that perhaps civilization isn't worth protecting?” He has witnessed the “civilizing” of the Taino by Spanish fortune hunters and their enslavement through the institution of the encomienda since 1492.
The contemporary narrative is a typical treasure hunt that furnishes the book's momentum. A professor of Spanish culture and language, a free-wheeling paleographer and antiquities expert, an Asperger’s spectrum mathematical savant with a mastery of ancient Greek, and the professor's daughter form an improbable combination aided by improbable luck. The historical journey of the document and the contemporary narrative interlock and fittingly converge in Syracuse, Archimedes' birthplace. The entire novel is structured like a maze with two starting points. The reader is challenged to figure out how the two lines will intersect, and like that 16th century Pythagorean, the contemporary characters will question if the document is worth the sacrifice of a life.
When I began this book I found the alternating storylines frustrating. Since the historical events leap in both time and place, the book felt choppy. I really didn't begin to engage in the story until we meet the 16th century Pythagorean scribe. Perhaps the dark undercurrent I have outlined was not even the authors’ intent. However, it provided weight to what had seemed a standard although inventive historical thriller. From that point on I was totally immersed and did not question the unusual length of the book.
I read this novel for some escapist relief after finishing an emotionally wrenching book club read. Despite initial doubts, I found that relief in the ARCHIMEDES DEVICE.
NOTES: The links to the map and the research sources in the kindle edition do not work. However, the list of characters and historical artifacts at the end of the book are useful references.
Background on the vargueño: https://www.ats.amherst.edu/meadcolle...
Key historical dates:
570 BC-495 BC Pythagoras
287 BC-212 BC Archimedes
48 BC Destruction of Library of Alexandria
408 AD Sack of Rome
1054 AD Great Schism creates Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches
1204 AD Sack of Constantinople
1265-1268 Papacy of Pope Clement centered in Viterbo
1271-1276 Papacy of Pope Gregory X
1492 Death of Lorenzo d'Medici; expulsion of the Jews from Spain
1474-1566 Father Bartolomé de las Casas
1552 A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies
May 3, 2017
A big thanks goes to C.M. Hanna and Michael C. Perkins for the free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Let's start by saying that Hanna and Perkins must obviously be history and math buffs who pulled off some serious research for this book. Kudos, authors, for a job well done in that department!
As for the characters I had a love/hate relationship. I LOVED Lucas! I hated Rebecca . Lucas' condition is one I am familiar with and reading about it made him so special to me. His quirkiness only added to his flair. Rebecca, on the other hand, just caused issues and was annoying. She whined too much and expected too much attention. And by the end of the book I did not even care that what happened, happened.
The current era plot just seemed implausible to me. But if I take away my skepticism and just go with the flow, the adventures were keen. It didn't hurt that they all took place at such thrilling spots.
But I enjoyed the past era plot more. Reading about the Pythagoreans quest to keep their sacred books safe was so interesting to me. They stop at nothing. I'm sure it was really like that, too. Makes one wonder...
All in all I enjoyed reading this book. It was a breath of fresh air, not something one reads often. Good job, authors!
Let's start by saying that Hanna and Perkins must obviously be history and math buffs who pulled off some serious research for this book. Kudos, authors, for a job well done in that department!
As for the characters I had a love/hate relationship. I LOVED Lucas! I hated Rebecca . Lucas' condition is one I am familiar with and reading about it made him so special to me. His quirkiness only added to his flair. Rebecca, on the other hand, just caused issues and was annoying. She whined too much and expected too much attention. And by the end of the book I did not even care that what happened, happened.
The current era plot just seemed implausible to me. But if I take away my skepticism and just go with the flow, the adventures were keen. It didn't hurt that they all took place at such thrilling spots.
But I enjoyed the past era plot more. Reading about the Pythagoreans quest to keep their sacred books safe was so interesting to me. They stop at nothing. I'm sure it was really like that, too. Makes one wonder...
All in all I enjoyed reading this book. It was a breath of fresh air, not something one reads often. Good job, authors!
March 22, 2017
An enjoyable quick read.
The novel has a fair amount of twists and turns but is still quite easy to follow. If forced to compare the book to something, I'd say it was most like Davinci Code. Others have compared the book to National Treasure or Raiders of the Los Ark, but those were not novels, but novelizations of movies, if I'm correct.
The two authors do a good job of keeping the reader guessing. The novel is contrapuntal, with two separate story lines woven together to help ascertain the answer to the mystery of the Archimedes Device. I found the story set in present day more compelling. We stayed with the same characters throughout that period so got a bit better sense of who they were.
The novel has a fair amount of twists and turns but is still quite easy to follow. If forced to compare the book to something, I'd say it was most like Davinci Code. Others have compared the book to National Treasure or Raiders of the Los Ark, but those were not novels, but novelizations of movies, if I'm correct.
The two authors do a good job of keeping the reader guessing. The novel is contrapuntal, with two separate story lines woven together to help ascertain the answer to the mystery of the Archimedes Device. I found the story set in present day more compelling. We stayed with the same characters throughout that period so got a bit better sense of who they were.
October 16, 2016
In all fairness, I must disclose that the author is a goodreads friend of mine and asked me to read and review this. I was on the fence between a 3 and 4 star rating, but the fact that I whizzed through 600+ pages in 48 hours along with the free book copy pushed me over the edge to the 4 star.
This is a great airplane/beach read (now of course I wish I had saved it for vacation). In the vein of Ken Follett's stuff or the Da Vinci Code, Hanna and Perkins take the reader on an educated person's treasure hunt. They weave in lots of historical information and switch things up every 3 pages (per Follett). It is a super easy read, definitely a page turner and yet I feel like I learned a few things.
The story is one with which we are all vaguely familiar (hidden historical object makes slight appearance and leads to treasure hunt around Europe), but Hanna and Perkins make it their own by interweaving chapters of the hunt with flashbacks on the document's history.
My biggest complaints were the same that I usually have with novels of this type: convenience and unbelievability of the dialogue/relationships. Hanna and Perkins attempt to "show not tell" through their dialogue and so we get lots of silly conversations in which the characters say exactly what they think or exposit at length (even though in real life we rarely do this). I especially thought the way they interacted with Lucas to be ridiculous (I did find him believable and have known folks like this, but typically people will not feel comfortable discussing someone IN FRONT OF THEM). I was also very annoyed that Rebecca never danced (she is a professional dancer and not once practiced in their 2 week jaunt, nor did she have to check in with her company about the time off) AND she was only slightly bothered by a BROKEN LEG. Seriously, it felt like the authors lost sight of the characters' real lives while they were on the adventure.
The double kidnapping was also just too much. I was enjoying myself and even though it is long the book did not feel too long (in that I was still turning pages quickly), BUT when Raleigh showed up again to grab Rebecca (AGAIN) that just felt like we went in a circle and they were just trying to stretch things out. Seriously, something else needed to happen to force Mark and Ruth back into the catacombs. It would have been a better plot distraction if Raleigh had gotten caught up with Novelli and/or the Pythagoreans as a side note and something else triggered the midnight visit to the catacombs (maybe Lucas...with his picture perfect memory...at dinner sees another snake, which triggers his thoughts on the sarcophagus and leads to a discussion in which the others discuss the beauty of the sculpture and realize it is a bible and then they decide they have to go back).
Overall this was interesting, entertaining and slightly educational. Definitely above average, but nothing profound.
This is a great airplane/beach read (now of course I wish I had saved it for vacation). In the vein of Ken Follett's stuff or the Da Vinci Code, Hanna and Perkins take the reader on an educated person's treasure hunt. They weave in lots of historical information and switch things up every 3 pages (per Follett). It is a super easy read, definitely a page turner and yet I feel like I learned a few things.
The story is one with which we are all vaguely familiar (hidden historical object makes slight appearance and leads to treasure hunt around Europe), but Hanna and Perkins make it their own by interweaving chapters of the hunt with flashbacks on the document's history.
My biggest complaints were the same that I usually have with novels of this type: convenience and unbelievability of the dialogue/relationships. Hanna and Perkins attempt to "show not tell" through their dialogue and so we get lots of silly conversations in which the characters say exactly what they think or exposit at length (even though in real life we rarely do this). I especially thought the way they interacted with Lucas to be ridiculous (I did find him believable and have known folks like this, but typically people will not feel comfortable discussing someone IN FRONT OF THEM). I was also very annoyed that Rebecca never danced (she is a professional dancer and not once practiced in their 2 week jaunt, nor did she have to check in with her company about the time off) AND she was only slightly bothered by a BROKEN LEG. Seriously, it felt like the authors lost sight of the characters' real lives while they were on the adventure.
The double kidnapping was also just too much. I was enjoying myself and even though it is long the book did not feel too long (in that I was still turning pages quickly), BUT when Raleigh showed up again to grab Rebecca (AGAIN) that just felt like we went in a circle and they were just trying to stretch things out. Seriously, something else needed to happen to force Mark and Ruth back into the catacombs. It would have been a better plot distraction if Raleigh had gotten caught up with Novelli and/or the Pythagoreans as a side note and something else triggered the midnight visit to the catacombs (maybe Lucas...with his picture perfect memory...at dinner sees another snake, which triggers his thoughts on the sarcophagus and leads to a discussion in which the others discuss the beauty of the sculpture and realize it is a bible and then they decide they have to go back).
Overall this was interesting, entertaining and slightly educational. Definitely above average, but nothing profound.
February 18, 2021
I bought this book several months back because I've had some contact with Michael Perkins, and found him to be very knowledgeable about many common interests. He never mentioned the book, but I saw it in his profile, and decided it looked interesting; it was.
I knew nothing about Archimedes before reading it. The name was familiar, but that was it. I'm glad I learned a little about him, and I hope to learn more now, as he's a pretty interesting person. But it's not necessary to know anything to enjoy the story.
I liked the way the story moved around through history, bringing the far, far, past together with the present and the 15th century. I enjoyed all of the characters, except perhaps for Eduard, the villain. But he did a good job being the villain, I'll give him that.
Toward the end, I was pretty sure how it would go, but it's nice to have a happy ending for a change, what with all the craziness we've been going through.
I knew nothing about Archimedes before reading it. The name was familiar, but that was it. I'm glad I learned a little about him, and I hope to learn more now, as he's a pretty interesting person. But it's not necessary to know anything to enjoy the story.
I liked the way the story moved around through history, bringing the far, far, past together with the present and the 15th century. I enjoyed all of the characters, except perhaps for Eduard, the villain. But he did a good job being the villain, I'll give him that.
Toward the end, I was pretty sure how it would go, but it's nice to have a happy ending for a change, what with all the craziness we've been going through.
November 17, 2017
Blend of contemporary and historical fiction of a daughter’s search for her missing mother combined with a hunt for an ancient document authored by Archimedes. The story of the document begins with the burning of the library at Alexandria and continues through the ages, including what are basically short stories of various eras and how a secret society protected the document. The current day storyline contains an interesting set of characters, such as a pillager of antiquities with thugs at his disposal, a museum curator, a paleographer, a Princeton professor, a dancer, and a mathematical savant. Although the book is lengthy, the chapters are short, and the pages turn quickly. It is obvious the authors engaged in a great deal of research, and I thought they did an excellent job of infusing reality with fiction. Recommended to fans of historical fiction with a scientific or mathematical component, readers who enjoy complex brain-teasers, and those interested in fast-paced mysteries who don’t mind the occasional stretching of plausibility.
August 16, 2021
Overall, a fun read! It's what I look for in historical fiction, facts mixed in with a bit of a personal story/drama. The authors point out at the beginning that much of the book is factual, which made it more interesting to read.
The story was good, bouncing back and forth between the present time and centuries of events leading up to the present day. I rarely enjoy novels that go back and forth in time, but this was done well.
I needed a tad bit more personal history and introspection from the main present day characters as this book was mainly focused on the chase and historical facts and documents. Not a bad thing, just wanted a bit more (on Lucas in particular) to make it feel more novel and less history book.
Entertaining, easy to read, and fast paced. Definitely recommend for historical fiction buffs.
The story was good, bouncing back and forth between the present time and centuries of events leading up to the present day. I rarely enjoy novels that go back and forth in time, but this was done well.
I needed a tad bit more personal history and introspection from the main present day characters as this book was mainly focused on the chase and historical facts and documents. Not a bad thing, just wanted a bit more (on Lucas in particular) to make it feel more novel and less history book.
Entertaining, easy to read, and fast paced. Definitely recommend for historical fiction buffs.
December 15, 2015
I had the pleasure of being a Beta Reader for The Archimedes Device. It's a fabulous read! The characters lure you into the book, and the plot carries you away from there - there's no return. It's one of those books you don't want to put down! I read it in three days flat.
It's an art to navigate time as seamlessly as this book does. Though the plot is anchored in the present - it begins and ends in modern times - it weaves through history artfully. We travel from Ancient Alexandria through the Crusades of the Middle Ages right up to the modern age. Each character we meet on the trip is three-dimensional, and a good custodian of the period he or she represents until we are passed to the next period. The book is researched meticulously, yet the history stays in the background, served forth to the reader subtly, propelling the plot, the characters and the reader alike. The dramatic tension sustains beautifully. You identify with every character, always aware that there are modern repercussions to the plot with each layer of the past you touch. There is deceit, romance, a secret society, danger, and an ending where every loose end is gratifyingly sewn up, cleverly, plausibly and very satisfactorily.
The book is a pleasure. Buy it for yourself - give it to a friend
It's an art to navigate time as seamlessly as this book does. Though the plot is anchored in the present - it begins and ends in modern times - it weaves through history artfully. We travel from Ancient Alexandria through the Crusades of the Middle Ages right up to the modern age. Each character we meet on the trip is three-dimensional, and a good custodian of the period he or she represents until we are passed to the next period. The book is researched meticulously, yet the history stays in the background, served forth to the reader subtly, propelling the plot, the characters and the reader alike. The dramatic tension sustains beautifully. You identify with every character, always aware that there are modern repercussions to the plot with each layer of the past you touch. There is deceit, romance, a secret society, danger, and an ending where every loose end is gratifyingly sewn up, cleverly, plausibly and very satisfactorily.
The book is a pleasure. Buy it for yourself - give it to a friend
August 10, 2016
I love a good treasure hunt and this book delivered it. The scholarship and historic background included make it far more valuable than just a great story--I learned a lot! Can't wait for the movie.
October 21, 2016
The Archimedes Device is a an historical thriller in the style of Dan Brown, but believable. The Greek mathematician Archimedes invented a device -- think of it as the first analogue computer -- and left behind some schematics. In the present day, an unusual team of sleuths and one really bad guy stumble upon evidence that the schematics still exist, setting off a wild race to find them. The plot grabbed me in the first chapter and did not let go. The story goes back in time to track the schematics as motivated mathematicians save it from destruction each time the power structure changes in Europe. The characters are compelling -- and not typical of the genre -- and I was particularly drawn to some of the historical characters, especially Simonis, a nun who plays a pivotal role in saving the schematics in the middle ages.
The fit and finish of the novel are way above average. The authors tied up every loose ending, creating a particularly satisfying denouement.
The Archimedes Device
The fit and finish of the novel are way above average. The authors tied up every loose ending, creating a particularly satisfying denouement.
The Archimedes Device
February 15, 2018
The plot of this mystery was very entertaining. The switches between present day and past were seamlessly done. The presentation of little known historic figures was fascinating.
What was not so good was character development - although the inclusion of a main character on the autism spectrum was refreshing. The romance between the modern day couple was clunky. How did the autistic person get swept away to Europe when he had never travelled before? How did he get a passport? I'm nit-picking - this is fiction and readers are supposed to suspend such reality checks and go with the story but it bothered me.
What was not so good was character development - although the inclusion of a main character on the autism spectrum was refreshing. The romance between the modern day couple was clunky. How did the autistic person get swept away to Europe when he had never travelled before? How did he get a passport? I'm nit-picking - this is fiction and readers are supposed to suspend such reality checks and go with the story but it bothered me.
July 17, 2021
Not at all about the device.. mostly fiction and a romantic tale, this was not what I expected of the book. Silly nonsense.
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