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Age of Unreason #1
Newton's Cannon
A dazzling quest whose outcome will raise humanity to unparalleled heights of glory--or ring down a curtain of endless night . . . - 1681: When Sir Isaac Newton turns his restless mind to the ancient art of alchemy, he unleashes Philosopher's Mercury, a primal source of matter and a key to manipulating the four elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Now, as France and England battle for its control, Louis XIV calls for a new weapon--a mysterious device known only as Newton's Cannon. Half a world away, a young apprentice named Benjamin Franklin stumbles across a dangerous secret. Pursued by a deadly enemy--half scientist, half sorcerer--Ben makes his fugitive way to England. Only Newton himself can help him now. But who will help Sir Isaac? For he was not the first to unleash the Philosopher's Mercury. Others were there before him. Creatures as scornful of science as they are of mankind. And burning to be rid of both
355 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
72 people are currently reading
1699 people want to read
About the author
Greg Keyes
84 books653 followersGregory Keyes is a writer of science fiction and fantasy who has written both original and media-related novels under both the names J. Gregory Keyes and "Greg Keyes".
Greg Keyes was born in to a large, diverse, storytelling family. He received degrees in anthropology from Mississippi State and the University of Georgia before becoming a fulltime writer.
He lives in Savannah, Georgia.
Greg Keyes was born in to a large, diverse, storytelling family. He received degrees in anthropology from Mississippi State and the University of Georgia before becoming a fulltime writer.
He lives in Savannah, Georgia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
October 1, 2013
I have fond memories of this trilogy from my youth. Or, more likely, of parts of this trilogy, both because in my rebellious heyday I read things out of sequence like it was nobody's business (because it wasn't) and because my library is very fond of buying books 2 and 3 but not book 1. So I can't recall if I ever read Newton”s Cannon, but it seemed like a good place to restart my journey through the Age of Unreason. Finding it for 30 p at a library sale was just icing on the cake—it even has that sweet transparent jacket cover for paperbacks that many UK libraries use!
But I digress.
As a mathematician, I am required to be fascinated by Isaac Newton. You should be too, even if you aren’t a mathematician. The man was incredible. In addition to his contributions to math, physics, and astronomy, he was also the head of the Royal Mint and of the Royal Society. He was also, by all reports, a bit of a dick towards his friends and peers. And don't you dare get in a priority dispute with him, because he will cut you, and then he’ll write the anonymous review congratulating the report (by a committee he heads up) that finds in his favour.
Still digressing.
It’s an open secret, though, that Newton had some strange ideas. He saw his contributions to astronomy and optics as interesting hobbies, but he was really keen on alchemy and mysticism. In this series, Greg Keyes seizes upon this as the jumping-off point for a creative alternate history: what if our universe actually worked in the alchemical, classical sense of Greek and Renaissance descriptions? Gravity is merely one of many “affinities” that matter displays; rather than vacuum, we really do have luminiferous aether, and electric lights are instead devices that separate aether and lux. In this world, philosopher-alchemists create cannonballs that turn the walls they hit into glass and pairs of machines (aetherscribers) that communicate instantaneously with each other across the world.
Newton’s Cannon follows two protagonists: a young Benjamin Franklin and Adrienne de Mornay de Montchevreuil. Yep, Benjamin Franklin. Only after he gets himself in trouble with a nefarious warlock-type dude, Benjamin flees Boston for London, hoping to apprentice himself to Isaac Newton, who at this late stage in his life has entered a rather deep episode of paranoia. Meanwhile, in France, Adrienne hides her “improper” (for a woman) interests in science, acting as the supposedly bored secretary to an overzealous mathematician who hopes to drop a comet on London. She catches the eye of an immortal Sun King, Louis XIV, who has plans to make her his wife. Before Adrienne can refuse, she becomes involved in a conspiracy to kill the king.
Keyes mixes the historical animosity between English and French with the pressures and changes brought about by Newton's discoveries. Louis’ lengthy reign has prompted rebellion, in addition to the war with England, resulting in a France strained to the limit. Newton's discoveries have attracted the attention of strange, inhuman entities—creatures we might call angels and demons—whose intentions towards humanity are far from good. Throughout the book, we get the sense that everyone (except maybe Newton) is messing with forces beyond their understanding.
Both storylines take a while to get going. Ben spends a great deal of time trying to work at his brother’s printing shop before plot conspires to ship him off to London. Likewise, Adrienne spends a lot of time orbiting movers and shakers before becoming one herself. It’s hard for me to say which one interested me more; I suppose what kept me going was just curiosity regarding the bigger picture. In that respect, Newton’s Cannon remains coy. Much changes, but very little is revealed about what is happening behind the scenes.
It’s worth sticking out. There’s plenty of action scenes to keep one’s interest going. But the payoff is less than what I expected, considering the very cool world Keyes has created here.
But I digress.
As a mathematician, I am required to be fascinated by Isaac Newton. You should be too, even if you aren’t a mathematician. The man was incredible. In addition to his contributions to math, physics, and astronomy, he was also the head of the Royal Mint and of the Royal Society. He was also, by all reports, a bit of a dick towards his friends and peers. And don't you dare get in a priority dispute with him, because he will cut you, and then he’ll write the anonymous review congratulating the report (by a committee he heads up) that finds in his favour.
Still digressing.
It’s an open secret, though, that Newton had some strange ideas. He saw his contributions to astronomy and optics as interesting hobbies, but he was really keen on alchemy and mysticism. In this series, Greg Keyes seizes upon this as the jumping-off point for a creative alternate history: what if our universe actually worked in the alchemical, classical sense of Greek and Renaissance descriptions? Gravity is merely one of many “affinities” that matter displays; rather than vacuum, we really do have luminiferous aether, and electric lights are instead devices that separate aether and lux. In this world, philosopher-alchemists create cannonballs that turn the walls they hit into glass and pairs of machines (aetherscribers) that communicate instantaneously with each other across the world.
Newton’s Cannon follows two protagonists: a young Benjamin Franklin and Adrienne de Mornay de Montchevreuil. Yep, Benjamin Franklin. Only after he gets himself in trouble with a nefarious warlock-type dude, Benjamin flees Boston for London, hoping to apprentice himself to Isaac Newton, who at this late stage in his life has entered a rather deep episode of paranoia. Meanwhile, in France, Adrienne hides her “improper” (for a woman) interests in science, acting as the supposedly bored secretary to an overzealous mathematician who hopes to drop a comet on London. She catches the eye of an immortal Sun King, Louis XIV, who has plans to make her his wife. Before Adrienne can refuse, she becomes involved in a conspiracy to kill the king.
Keyes mixes the historical animosity between English and French with the pressures and changes brought about by Newton's discoveries. Louis’ lengthy reign has prompted rebellion, in addition to the war with England, resulting in a France strained to the limit. Newton's discoveries have attracted the attention of strange, inhuman entities—creatures we might call angels and demons—whose intentions towards humanity are far from good. Throughout the book, we get the sense that everyone (except maybe Newton) is messing with forces beyond their understanding.
Both storylines take a while to get going. Ben spends a great deal of time trying to work at his brother’s printing shop before plot conspires to ship him off to London. Likewise, Adrienne spends a lot of time orbiting movers and shakers before becoming one herself. It’s hard for me to say which one interested me more; I suppose what kept me going was just curiosity regarding the bigger picture. In that respect, Newton’s Cannon remains coy. Much changes, but very little is revealed about what is happening behind the scenes.
It’s worth sticking out. There’s plenty of action scenes to keep one’s interest going. But the payoff is less than what I expected, considering the very cool world Keyes has created here.
July 23, 2014
-Un Siglo de las Luces steampunk-fantástico.-
Género. Narrativa fantástica.
Lo que nos cuenta. Tras una breve introducción que nos presenta diferentes situaciones de la vida de los tres personajes principales en la trama, Newton, Luis XIV y Benjamin Franklin, que no estrictamente los tres protagonistas de la historia, el libro nos lleva a la segunda década del siglo XVII en un mundo muy parecido al nuestro pero en el que la “alquimia racional” es la ciencia que está transformando el mundo y que puede marcar la diferencia en la guerra entre Francia e Inglaterra. Primer libro de la serie La Era de la Sinrazón.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Narrativa fantástica.
Lo que nos cuenta. Tras una breve introducción que nos presenta diferentes situaciones de la vida de los tres personajes principales en la trama, Newton, Luis XIV y Benjamin Franklin, que no estrictamente los tres protagonistas de la historia, el libro nos lleva a la segunda década del siglo XVII en un mundo muy parecido al nuestro pero en el que la “alquimia racional” es la ciencia que está transformando el mundo y que puede marcar la diferencia en la guerra entre Francia e Inglaterra. Primer libro de la serie La Era de la Sinrazón.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
September 15, 2016
Otkriće Isaaca Newtona baca naš svijet u doba u kojem alkemija zamjenjuje znanost. Zanimljivo, kratko i napeto.
February 2, 2016
“A reasonable man … can always find a reason to justify what he wants to do.”
Think: The Three Musketeers meets The Da Vinci Code.
“Living amid corruption was no excuse for becoming corrupted.”
A fun alternate timeline story set in the early eighteenth century, but little like the time we learned in school. Keyes takes us into a world where ancient theories of matter and energy are true, resulting in “modern” contrivances which run on etheric power, looking like magic to us but governed by rules and formulae to them.
“Actually doing something almost always produced unexpected results.”
The protagonists, unknown to each other, dwell in colonial American, Georgian London, and Paris during the late (and extended) rule of the Sun King. One is drawn from the historical Benjamin Franklin starting with his tenth year. The other a female polymath drawn into the intrigues (personal and scientific) of Versailles. Other historical personages weave in and out of the plot.
“What they fight and kill over is power, Ben. Religion is just the clothes they dress it in whilst they do it. If they were all atheists, there’d still be war.”
Keyes gives the reader just enough history and dialectic to establish verisimilitude without masking his story under jargon and detail. The characters think, feel and act as we might suppose real people of that era might.
“I thought a philosopher’s vocation is to explain all phenomena, rather than selecting only those most amenable to scientific explanation.”
Competent. Neither great literature nor great science fiction. Popcorn for the brain.
“For such a bright lad, the obvious has a way of eluding you.”
Think: The Three Musketeers meets The Da Vinci Code.
“Living amid corruption was no excuse for becoming corrupted.”
A fun alternate timeline story set in the early eighteenth century, but little like the time we learned in school. Keyes takes us into a world where ancient theories of matter and energy are true, resulting in “modern” contrivances which run on etheric power, looking like magic to us but governed by rules and formulae to them.
“Actually doing something almost always produced unexpected results.”
The protagonists, unknown to each other, dwell in colonial American, Georgian London, and Paris during the late (and extended) rule of the Sun King. One is drawn from the historical Benjamin Franklin starting with his tenth year. The other a female polymath drawn into the intrigues (personal and scientific) of Versailles. Other historical personages weave in and out of the plot.
“What they fight and kill over is power, Ben. Religion is just the clothes they dress it in whilst they do it. If they were all atheists, there’d still be war.”
Keyes gives the reader just enough history and dialectic to establish verisimilitude without masking his story under jargon and detail. The characters think, feel and act as we might suppose real people of that era might.
“I thought a philosopher’s vocation is to explain all phenomena, rather than selecting only those most amenable to scientific explanation.”
Competent. Neither great literature nor great science fiction. Popcorn for the brain.
“For such a bright lad, the obvious has a way of eluding you.”
July 19, 2009
I'll not say this is the most original novel ever written; after all, the what-if-the-alchemists-were-really-onto-something has been done before, in The Face in the Frost and elsewhere. But to include Benjamin Franklin in their ranks—that makes this stand out. Also, to anyone who's read Franklin's autobiography and knows something of his history, this novel will be interesting, I think.
It's odd, but I never thought of Franklin and Isaac Newton being contemporaries and, as they are of different generations, strictly speaking they are not. But what if Franklin had become a student of Newton (unlikely, as he would have been 16 when Newton died)?
It is a bit slow-moving at first, as others have observed, but things do pick up. The ending is a cliffhanger, but this is but volume one in a series, so that's hardly surprising.
I suppose I'll soon find out if slow to start, quick to finish is a trait of Keyes, as I have ordered a copy of A Calculus of Angels, the next in the series.
It's odd, but I never thought of Franklin and Isaac Newton being contemporaries and, as they are of different generations, strictly speaking they are not. But what if Franklin had become a student of Newton (unlikely, as he would have been 16 when Newton died)?
It is a bit slow-moving at first, as others have observed, but things do pick up. The ending is a cliffhanger, but this is but volume one in a series, so that's hardly surprising.
I suppose I'll soon find out if slow to start, quick to finish is a trait of Keyes, as I have ordered a copy of A Calculus of Angels, the next in the series.
Read
April 28, 2014I have no recollection of how this book came into my house, but it proved to be a fairly entertaining alternate-reality sort of fiction with Ben Franklin (as a child and teen) and Louis XIV (in old age) as two of the main characters. It's quite imaginative and uses actual history to create a completely different world. On the other hand, the narrative style made me wonder if it was written for bright 14-year-olds (like Ben in the book) rather than for adults. If it was really aimed at that age group, I have no complaint (although perhaps there is a little much sex and violence), but if the intended audience was one of adults, then the narration didn't quite work for me--the levels of sophistication were off.
January 24, 2023
Well, the concept was interesting -- alchemy (turns out to be real and useful and deadly) meets steampunk in late 1700's America and Europe -- with the brightest minds (Newton, Franklin, etc) making the Manhattan Projects of their day for their respective kings and governments. Too little progress with the story as it winds about (and maybe developing how the weapons are used to influence the course of history a little more would've been nice, it always seemed an afterthought). Maybe the story would mature, improve, or captivate in the following books, but I lost all my steam in book 1 on this storyline.
April 1, 2017
First of the four-part “Age of Unreason” series.
The book is set around 1720 and includes many of the similar characters (Franklin, Louis IV, Newton, Fatio) as Neal Stephenson's wonderful Baroque Cycle, but with the crucial difference that this series is based on the premise that Newton did manage to discover Philosopher’s Mercury and the world was then transformed by alchemy (particularly the world of warfare).
In the book the French develop the ability to harness a more specific form of attraction than gravity to forced a comet to crash land on London (in the event reaping for more destruction than they expected).
The two main protagonists are Franklin and a young French girl Adrienne in Louis IV court (who is also connected to some form of female society – the Korai). As the book progresses these rational mathematicians (with Newton having given alchemy a rational basis) are gradually forced to realise that there is another more complex reality of Malakim demons/angels.
Basically a well researched alternative history book but with two main faults.
The first is that the book is badly written – short chapters alternate between the two main protagonists with each ending on a Buck Rodgers/Da Vinci Code cliffhanger.
The second is that the departure from reality is too sudden and too complete to have any real subtlety so that the book is really a fantasy/science fiction novel using historical names and places
The book is set around 1720 and includes many of the similar characters (Franklin, Louis IV, Newton, Fatio) as Neal Stephenson's wonderful Baroque Cycle, but with the crucial difference that this series is based on the premise that Newton did manage to discover Philosopher’s Mercury and the world was then transformed by alchemy (particularly the world of warfare).
In the book the French develop the ability to harness a more specific form of attraction than gravity to forced a comet to crash land on London (in the event reaping for more destruction than they expected).
The two main protagonists are Franklin and a young French girl Adrienne in Louis IV court (who is also connected to some form of female society – the Korai). As the book progresses these rational mathematicians (with Newton having given alchemy a rational basis) are gradually forced to realise that there is another more complex reality of Malakim demons/angels.
Basically a well researched alternative history book but with two main faults.
The first is that the book is badly written – short chapters alternate between the two main protagonists with each ending on a Buck Rodgers/Da Vinci Code cliffhanger.
The second is that the departure from reality is too sudden and too complete to have any real subtlety so that the book is really a fantasy/science fiction novel using historical names and places
August 27, 2018
I’ve long been a fan of Keyes’ work, having first acquainted myself with his books during the interminable intervals between the newest installment of Robert Jordan and George R.R. Martin. What’s this? An author who can actually complete a series of epic fantasy novels in a reasonable time?
Far from Jordan or Martin light, Keyes swiftly proved himself a master of creating exotic and absorbing landscapes and unique metaphysical concepts, and The Age of Unreason is one of his best. An alternative history following the life of Ben Franklin and others of his time, Keyes paints a world where Isaac Newton’s discovery of the Philosopher’s Stone makes magic work, and the inventiveness of the time promptly harnesses that power in endlessly ingenuitive ways, even as the crowned heads of Europe and Russia and others, suddenly gifted with godlike power of magitek, wage their wars with weapons of death and destruction on a scale never before dreamed of.
All the while, dark forces from another plane of existence discern a way to empower themselves once again, enslaving or destroying humanity in the process.
An incredible adventure, a love letter to the period and all it’s hopes, dreams, faults, achievements and philosophies, a rumination of the passage of one world and the birth of another.
Perhaps Keyes’ greatest accomplishment is his characterization of Ben Franklin: as suitable a figure as any in history to have been a real Harry Potter or Sparrowhawk if empowered by magical forces, and he comes alive in every scene, with witticisms pithy and profound.
A gem to be treasured. Pick up the books, read and wonder why you haven’t seen these events played out on a screen.
Far from Jordan or Martin light, Keyes swiftly proved himself a master of creating exotic and absorbing landscapes and unique metaphysical concepts, and The Age of Unreason is one of his best. An alternative history following the life of Ben Franklin and others of his time, Keyes paints a world where Isaac Newton’s discovery of the Philosopher’s Stone makes magic work, and the inventiveness of the time promptly harnesses that power in endlessly ingenuitive ways, even as the crowned heads of Europe and Russia and others, suddenly gifted with godlike power of magitek, wage their wars with weapons of death and destruction on a scale never before dreamed of.
All the while, dark forces from another plane of existence discern a way to empower themselves once again, enslaving or destroying humanity in the process.
An incredible adventure, a love letter to the period and all it’s hopes, dreams, faults, achievements and philosophies, a rumination of the passage of one world and the birth of another.
Perhaps Keyes’ greatest accomplishment is his characterization of Ben Franklin: as suitable a figure as any in history to have been a real Harry Potter or Sparrowhawk if empowered by magical forces, and he comes alive in every scene, with witticisms pithy and profound.
A gem to be treasured. Pick up the books, read and wonder why you haven’t seen these events played out on a screen.
September 5, 2023
Just did not engage me but I don't know much about the age of reason and not too keen on alchemy. I thought it would be more "charming" in a Terry Pratchett sort of style.
February 22, 2017
I was skeptical about this book as I began reading it. I wasn't sure that an alternate history that would diverge so radically and quickly from actual history would be able to hold my attention. But this turned out to be a compelling story that sets up its own world and plot in a way that stands alone without needing the familiar names of history to prop it up. I hope the series continues to be as strong as this first book.
March 9, 2011
I got about 3/4 of the way through this one and just ran out of patience with this book. all the elements are here. alternate history, magic in a semi modern era, American history. but that was not enough for me. The story just kind of fell flat and I was just bored after a while. even after the big calamity I was just wondering why I was here and I was 3/4 of the way through, at 3/4 I should know whats up and I didn't so I had to step away or I was just gonna get angry.
A real interesting start to what promises to be a good series. I wish I could have had a little more patience with it but as hard as I tried to like this book near the end I just stopped caring about the characters as I felt like I was just along for the ride and good thing I bought book one so that I know who is in book two because that's where I should have started reading so that I know what the actual plot is maybe. I did have fun with the main characters, watching stuff happen to them but if I could have a why it would have made all the difference.
A real interesting start to what promises to be a good series. I wish I could have had a little more patience with it but as hard as I tried to like this book near the end I just stopped caring about the characters as I felt like I was just along for the ride and good thing I bought book one so that I know who is in book two because that's where I should have started reading so that I know what the actual plot is maybe. I did have fun with the main characters, watching stuff happen to them but if I could have a why it would have made all the difference.
April 16, 2010
Greg Keyes is one of my favorite fantasy authors. I love his style. Nearly every chapter ends in a cliff hanger of some sort. It forces you to read like a machine, which is very sad when you reach the end, but very fun while you're reading.
Keyes magic is based on physical harmonies. Tune into the right frequency, and channel the powers of the Divine. Oooh! Did I mention there's a war in Heaven? (I know!!!)
This fantasy world is earth, placed in the 18th century, and follows some historical as well as fictional characters. Warring angels, flying ships, great weapons, cool science (magic), fun battles, great adventure, some romance.
Great, great stuff. Enjoy!
Keyes magic is based on physical harmonies. Tune into the right frequency, and channel the powers of the Divine. Oooh! Did I mention there's a war in Heaven? (I know!!!)
This fantasy world is earth, placed in the 18th century, and follows some historical as well as fictional characters. Warring angels, flying ships, great weapons, cool science (magic), fun battles, great adventure, some romance.
Great, great stuff. Enjoy!
October 21, 2019
I'm having a hard time getting into this alternative universe series but I bought the whole series so I'll persevere. I don't think my difficulty arises from seeing familiar historical figures like Ben Franklin & Isaac Newton in unfamiliar roles, because I've read a number of similar books and enjoyed them. It might be that the alternate "science" of this world is not only unexplained & seemingly esoteric but the possible "magic" behind the "science" goes largely unnoticed or unremarked through the majority of the first book. The action does pick up a bit about half way through in both narrative threads of England & France, which helps. Time, and further reading, will tell.
June 29, 2009
This one started a bit slow but got better and better as it went along. About a quarter of the way through it suddenly became a real page-turner. I've read a number of reviews complaining about the ending. I didn't have a problem with it, as I knew this was the first in a series. And I'll now be on the look out for volume two.
November 11, 2013
Hard to rate this one. I like the alternative universe where people like Louis XIV and Ben Franklin exist. Very cleverly done including known and fictitious characters. I thought the character development was pretty good, and the science interlaced with alchemy and magic was fun. This is a series, and while I will read book 2, I do not like that the book does not really stand alone.
December 6, 2007
Outstanding; first book in a (4-book!) trilogy. Don't ask, read them all.
March 14, 2016
Confusing and slow.
March 21, 2025
Всегда воспринимал Киза как ремесленника, штампующего новеллизации киношных блокбастеров и видеоигр для непритязательной публики. Тем удивительнее было обнаружить в его библиографии «Пушку Ньютона», полноценную альтернативно-историческую НФ.
Мировая история свернула с известного нам пути в 1685 году, когда сэр Исаак Ньютон превратил алхимию в точную науку, сформулировал теорию эфира, вывел законы трансмутации элементов, формулу беспламенного света, рецепты получения философской ртути и адамантия...
За следующие десятилетия алхимическая революция преобразила Европу: эфирографы мгновенно обмениваются сообщениями на любом расстоянии, зеркала показывают происходящее на другом краю Земли, гигантские локомотивы приводятся в движение алхимическими двигателями. Ну и разумеется, вооружения на любой вкус: пистолеты, стреляющие молниями, кипятящие кровь ружья, и наконец, оружие судного дня, загадочная «пушка Ньютона», которую французы разрабатывают в строжайшей тайне, но которая якобы способна сравнять с землей весь Лондон.
Людовик XIV не умирает от гангрены, а обретает вечную молодость благодаря тайному «персидскому эликсиру». Герцог Мальборо ведет британские войска на Версаль. Юный Бенджамин Франклин бежит из Бостона в Европу, преследуемый таинственными заговорщиками и совсем уж странными существами, напоминающими ветхозаветных демонов. Вольтер покидает Париж и становится учеником Ньютона. Эдвард Тич, более известный как «Черная борода», ураганит у американских берегов. Адриана де Морней де Моншеврёй — кажется, единственный полностью выдуманный персонаж в романе — тайно изучает математику, крутит роман с внуком д'Артаньяна при французском дворе, становится объектом амурных мечтаний окончательно выжившего из ума Людовика.
Все это переплетение сюжетных линий, тайн, интриг, заговоров настолько ловко сплетено в единый узор, что можно сравнить с первыми томами «Песни льда и пламени», когда Мартин не скатился еще в бесконечные самоповторы. Добавить в этот котел немного оккультизма, щепотку филип-диковской паранойи, приправить криптоисторией в стиле Лазарчука — и получается настолько вкусно, что я проглотил объемистую книгу буквально за несколько вечеров. Можно было бы и быстрее, но постоянно возникали вопросы и приходилось отвлекаться на википедию — а правда, что у маркизы де Ментенон, фаворитки Короля-Солнце, был открытый роман с Нинон де Ланкло? А Фатио де Дюилье существовал ли в реальности, и если да, то был ли учеником Ньютона? А Гюйгенс и Гарвей реально интересовались алхимией, или это авторская вольность? А кто такие «черные мушкетеры» и чем они отличались от «серых»? В общем, пока читал, заодно чуток подтянул познания по истории Европы начала XVIII века.
А финал у романа настолько мощный и, скажем даже, апокалиптический, что немедленно не взяться за второй том — выше человеческих сил!
8.5/10. Высоко рекомендую всем ценителям хорошей умной альтернативки.
P.S. Пока читал, был уверен, что Киз сплагиатил идею у Стивенсона. Типа, прочел «Ртуть» и сразу такой, о, хочу написать про эту же эпоху и этих людей, только попроще, без многостраничных умствований и с приключениями. А оказалось ровно наоборот — «Барочный цикл» был написан позже кизовской тетралогии. То есть получается, это Стивенсон прочитал «Пушку Ньютона» и сразу такой, о, хочу написать про эту эпоху и людей, только посложнее, без приключений и с многостраничными умствованиями :)
Мировая история свернула с известного нам пути в 1685 году, когда сэр Исаак Ньютон превратил алхимию в точную науку, сформулировал теорию эфира, вывел законы трансмутации элементов, формулу беспламенного света, рецепты получения философской ртути и адамантия...
За следующие десятилетия алхимическая революция преобразила Европу: эфирографы мгновенно обмениваются сообщениями на любом расстоянии, зеркала показывают происходящее на другом краю Земли, гигантские локомотивы приводятся в движение алхимическими двигателями. Ну и разумеется, вооружения на любой вкус: пистолеты, стреляющие молниями, кипятящие кровь ружья, и наконец, оружие судного дня, загадочная «пушка Ньютона», которую французы разрабатывают в строжайшей тайне, но которая якобы способна сравнять с землей весь Лондон.
Людовик XIV не умирает от гангрены, а обретает вечную молодость благодаря тайному «персидскому эликсиру». Герцог Мальборо ведет британские войска на Версаль. Юный Бенджамин Франклин бежит из Бостона в Европу, преследуемый таинственными заговорщиками и совсем уж странными существами, напоминающими ветхозаветных демонов. Вольтер покидает Париж и становится учеником Ньютона. Эдвард Тич, более известный как «Черная борода», ураганит у американских берегов. Адриана де Морней де Моншеврёй — кажется, единственный полностью выдуманный персонаж в романе — тайно изучает математику, крутит роман с внуком д'Артаньяна при французском дворе, становится объектом амурных мечтаний окончательно выжившего из ума Людовика.
Все это переплетение сюжетных линий, тайн, интриг, заговоров настолько ловко сплетено в единый узор, что можно сравнить с первыми томами «Песни льда и пламени», когда Мартин не скатился еще в бесконечные самоповторы. Добавить в этот котел немного оккультизма, щепотку филип-диковской паранойи, приправить криптоисторией в стиле Лазарчука — и получается настолько вкусно, что я проглотил объемистую книгу буквально за несколько вечеров. Можно было бы и быстрее, но постоянно возникали вопросы и приходилось отвлекаться на википедию — а правда, что у маркизы де Ментенон, фаворитки Короля-Солнце, был открытый роман с Нинон де Ланкло? А Фатио де Дюилье существовал ли в реальности, и если да, то был ли учеником Ньютона? А Гюйгенс и Гарвей реально интересовались алхимией, или это авторская вольность? А кто такие «черные мушкетеры» и чем они отличались от «серых»? В общем, пока читал, заодно чуток подтянул познания по истории Европы начала XVIII века.
А финал у романа настолько мощный и, скажем даже, апокалиптический, что немедленно не взяться за второй том — выше человеческих сил!
8.5/10. Высоко рекомендую всем ценителям хорошей умной альтернативки.
P.S. Пока читал, был уверен, что Киз сплагиатил идею у Стивенсона. Типа, прочел «Ртуть» и сразу такой, о, хочу написать про эту же эпоху и этих людей, только попроще, без многостраничных умствований и с приключениями. А оказалось ровно наоборот — «Барочный цикл» был написан позже кизовской тетралогии. То есть получается, это Стивенсон прочитал «Пушку Ньютона» и сразу такой, о, хочу написать про эту эпоху и людей, только посложнее, без приключений и с многостраничными умствованиями :)
March 13, 2022
Picked this up on a whim at a library book sale, and I wasn’t immediately taken by it, but I have to admit that it grew on me quite a bit the further I got into it. I think in the beginning the use of actual historical figures bugged me a little. Normally I enjoy this aspect of historical fantasies, but I guess I prefer that they be secondary characters rather than having such prominent roles - to the point of being a primary protagonist, in the case of 14-year-old Ben Franklin - as they do here. But then, this is really an alternate history rather than a historical fantasy, and as the story proceeded, I was able to see that Keyes uses the real history, including the well-known figures, as a jumping off point rather than an attempt to convey those characters as they really were. And having accepted that, I really enjoyed the creative vision he presented.
The writing itself is also fairly impeccable, including the dialogue and internal thoughts of the characters, and it turned out to have a truly engaging plot. The multiple storylines are well-crafted, the pacing is good, and it’s nicely structured to hold the reader’s interest throughout.
There are a few threads that seem less than fully formed, but given that this is the first in a series, it seems reasonable that more detail is forthcoming - so I’ll probably track down the subsequent books at some point.
The writing itself is also fairly impeccable, including the dialogue and internal thoughts of the characters, and it turned out to have a truly engaging plot. The multiple storylines are well-crafted, the pacing is good, and it’s nicely structured to hold the reader’s interest throughout.
There are a few threads that seem less than fully formed, but given that this is the first in a series, it seems reasonable that more detail is forthcoming - so I’ll probably track down the subsequent books at some point.
August 1, 2019
This was an interesting read. It's an alternative history story combined with high concept science fiction infused with religion and other worldly beings. So that was a mouthful. I liked the concept of the story as it focuses on Ben Franklin and Sir Isaac Newton, a woman in the French Court and King Louis XIV. The story and plot was a bit slow; the pacing could have been better. I find anything about alchemy to be interesting and this whole centers around it and it's relationship to real science. The point being anything can look like magic if you don't have to tools to understand and explain it. I liked that the author included the character of Adrienne (the woman in the French court), because she was a woman of science and math in an era if women being told they couldn't do such things. She had the most fascinating plot thread through the whole book. I wish I had gotten more of her story. I was sorely disappointed when her story ended with not being able to stop the "Newton's cannon". Her story ultimately culminated in her being pregnant and a pawn of "Angels." There wasn't much explanation about the angels, so I assume to find out i must read the next book in the series, A Calculus of Angels.
September 6, 2018
I originally posted this review in 2007 on Librarything. I can honestly say that I don’t remember a single thing about this book, now, but it looks as though I liked it!
“I found this book to be a splendid blend of Alternative History and Science Fiction. Set in the early 1700's, we follow a young Ben Franklin through his early scientific dreaming to his head-first stumbling into a political plot of stunning scope: the destruction of London by a 'comet-tomical' bomb, enginered by King Louis XIV and his band of alchemists and scientists. Young Franklin has unwittingly aided these men, and now must try to stop them.
I always hate summarizing plots...it never does a dynamic story-line any justice. The book is good. The main characters are well-crafted (most particularly Ben), the science is quite precise, and the storyline is compelling. The author tells the tale well, and with great care.
Is it life-changing fiction? Not so much.
Is it worth the read? Without doubt it will entertain you if you are at all a fan of either of the two genres. ”
“I found this book to be a splendid blend of Alternative History and Science Fiction. Set in the early 1700's, we follow a young Ben Franklin through his early scientific dreaming to his head-first stumbling into a political plot of stunning scope: the destruction of London by a 'comet-tomical' bomb, enginered by King Louis XIV and his band of alchemists and scientists. Young Franklin has unwittingly aided these men, and now must try to stop them.
I always hate summarizing plots...it never does a dynamic story-line any justice. The book is good. The main characters are well-crafted (most particularly Ben), the science is quite precise, and the storyline is compelling. The author tells the tale well, and with great care.
Is it life-changing fiction? Not so much.
Is it worth the read? Without doubt it will entertain you if you are at all a fan of either of the two genres. ”
December 7, 2024
The underlying concept of this book was "what if Isaac Newton had discovered alchemy?" The author has some really interesting thoughts on some technologies that might result (flameless lanterns, 17th-century fax machines, etc.), and the characters all feel realistic and flawed in ways sometimes unique to their time period. There are some fun cameos by famous figures like Sir Edmund Halley and Benjamin Franklin. That being said, it felt as though the Keyes sort of bailed on the end of the book. A vast amount of potential had been built up in the first 350 pages that felt somewhat squandered by the resolution. Also, I had a lot of fun with this world, but there were some real deficiencies in the resolution that don't make me feel like I want to return any time soon.
January 22, 2017
In “Star Trek: The Next Generation”, a mysterious and virtually omnipotent being called Q occasionally appears to disrupt the crew’s travels with results that prove entertaining and thought provoking. Perhaps this was the basis for J. Gregory Keyes’ angels in “Newton’s Cannon”, but in the book’s application, they fail miserably. These creatures’ magically awkward appearances and purpose remain questionable throughout the book and occur at inane moments.
Moreover, the plot’s jumbled combination of sorcery, sci-fi, and alternate history features a young-and annoyingly whiny- Ben Franklin in Boston while his counterpart, Adrienne de Montchevreuil, a poorly developed noblewoman in Louis XIV’s court, wrestle with a variety of badly described weapons and gizmos.
It proved a real chore to focus on the rambling and confusing twists of the plot which was further hindered by the cheesy attempts to insert figurative language and imagery.
Moreover, the plot’s jumbled combination of sorcery, sci-fi, and alternate history features a young-and annoyingly whiny- Ben Franklin in Boston while his counterpart, Adrienne de Montchevreuil, a poorly developed noblewoman in Louis XIV’s court, wrestle with a variety of badly described weapons and gizmos.
It proved a real chore to focus on the rambling and confusing twists of the plot which was further hindered by the cheesy attempts to insert figurative language and imagery.
September 29, 2023
I bought this book many, many years ago based on the description from SFBC. I bought the sequel and the other two in the series just because I'm a completist. I've been avoiding starting to read it thinking that it would be some kind of dry alternate history.
Not so. The plot was fast-paced following two young people on different sides of the 1720 war between France and England. Their stories are intertwined early on, unbeknownst to them. A third side uses the discoveries of the two to bring about a catastrophic finale.
There is a mix of history, fiction, alchemy, and magic (or at least unexplainable science) throughout the story. I am now wishing that I had read this years ago. I hope the three sequels are up to the same level of excitement and story-telling that this initial volume was.
Not so. The plot was fast-paced following two young people on different sides of the 1720 war between France and England. Their stories are intertwined early on, unbeknownst to them. A third side uses the discoveries of the two to bring about a catastrophic finale.
There is a mix of history, fiction, alchemy, and magic (or at least unexplainable science) throughout the story. I am now wishing that I had read this years ago. I hope the three sequels are up to the same level of excitement and story-telling that this initial volume was.
February 18, 2025
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the alternate history and especially the fact that half of the book was from Benjamin Franklin's POV. There were two major parts of the book I didn't like. One, Benjamin Franklin gets drunk and sleeps with a seemingly grown woman when he is only fourteen. This is presented as something totally normal, which maybe it was for the time, but still disturbing.
Secondly, although the plot literally ends with a bang, I felt disappointed that they were unable to stop the meteor. I don't really know where the story can go from here. We were introduced to the fact that there are "angels" but they are evil and somehow inhibit rulers bodies. They don't seem to be possessing their mind though, so I didn't see the point?!
I still am left with a lot of questions.
Secondly, although the plot literally ends with a bang, I felt disappointed that they were unable to stop the meteor. I don't really know where the story can go from here. We were introduced to the fact that there are "angels" but they are evil and somehow inhibit rulers bodies. They don't seem to be possessing their mind though, so I didn't see the point?!
I still am left with a lot of questions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2019
Ich habe die ersten paar dutzend Seiten gegrübelt, ob die Naturgesetze die selben wie in unserer Welt sind (und die »Alchemie« nur eine andere Deutung ist), oder ob andere Gesetze gelten. Das war wahrscheinlich nicht Ziel des Autors. Jedenfalls gefiel mir das nicht. Ich glaube, es war letzteres, will aber nicht nochmal 50 Seiten lesen, um es herauszufinden. Selbst Stelar-Astrophysiker·innen wissen, das es mehr als vier Elemente gibt. H, He, C, N, O sind fünf. (Kosmolog·innen reichen zur Not zwei, H, He.)
Gestört hat mich auch, das Ludwig 14 ( « L’état, c'est moi » ) als PoV-Charakter auftritt, und dann auch noch nicht plangemäß 1715 ins Gras beißt. Hätte mensch nicht die Revolution und Guillotine vorverlegen können?
Gestört hat mich auch, das Ludwig 14 ( « L’état, c'est moi » ) als PoV-Charakter auftritt, und dann auch noch nicht plangemäß 1715 ins Gras beißt. Hätte mensch nicht die Revolution und Guillotine vorverlegen können?
August 24, 2018
I wanted to try something in a steampunk sort of genre, and man was this series weird. I ended up getting a few books in before I had to quit, but it was a crazy mashup of alternative history, magic, and superscience. Years later I still don't know what to think, but it did at least hold my attention.
I think some books are good but not all that worth reading. This book is one that I'm not sure is good, but I think is worth reading? Maybe it's the train wreck effect, or maybe it's actually better than I think. I don't know. It's super weird, I'm at least sure of that much.
I think some books are good but not all that worth reading. This book is one that I'm not sure is good, but I think is worth reading? Maybe it's the train wreck effect, or maybe it's actually better than I think. I don't know. It's super weird, I'm at least sure of that much.
June 18, 2020
Extremely fun Enlightenment romp with science, alchemy, Versailles, Ben Franklin, Issac Newton and others probing the limits of their scientific understanding while London stands on the edge of meteorite disaster. The mix of court intrigue and fantasy science with the historic personalities makes this very entertaining. I was reminded of Stephenson's Baroque Cycle series, though he stuck more to scientific realities, while stretching the historical angles. Keyes is also a much more disciplined writer. There are three more to the series, so off I go...
May 11, 2022
This book is a 3.5 for me. I enjoyed it better before Ben made it to England: while still in America, characters were more fleshed out. Once we got to England, almost everyone he met blurred together and I couldn't remember who was who (nor did it really matter).
The world-building was interesting. There were lots of unanswered questions and instead of making me eager to continue the series, it left me a bit annoyed. Though I suspect if I had enjoyed the last section better, that might not have been the case.
The world-building was interesting. There were lots of unanswered questions and instead of making me eager to continue the series, it left me a bit annoyed. Though I suspect if I had enjoyed the last section better, that might not have been the case.
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