Author: Greg Keyes
Cover Artist: Dominic Harman
Publisher: Tor
Binding: Paperback
Publication Date: 2004
This story begins in the year 1681, with Isaac Newton, through a spectacular experiment discovering Philosopher’s Mercury. Then a few years later a dying French King takes the Persian Elixir of life so that he may continue to protect France from English invaders and soon after the child Benjamin Franklin witness’s a new science that puts him onto the path of learning. These important incidents focus the storyline as each character’s life unfolds after these major events change their lives. To eventually their actions bring them together either in person or through their actions to a dynamic conclusion to this first book in the series.
Benjamin grows up in Boston, apprentice to his brother as a printer. But he secretly reads the books of alchemy and science and creates strange devices that confound those around him. However, his efforts bring him to the attention of Bracewell, a strange unearthly man who threatens not only Benjamin’s life but his family and friends. He creates a communication device that inadvertently drags him into the war between England and France. And a terrible mistake gives France a weapon of mass destruction.
In France, King Louis is no longer the man he was before taking the Elixir. He’s possessed by a strange angel that communicates with him and protects him from injury. A young woman, Adrienne secretly loves science and mathematics, though it is forbidden for woman to learn these skills. She draws the attention of King Louis and gets drawn into his plot to destroy London. With the help of others who think the King possessed by demon’s, she plots to stop his war.
Benjamin flees to England in the hopes to finding Isaac Newton, the one man who can understand and possible stop the weapon Benjamin thinks the France holds. But will he reach the scientist in time.
Personal Thoughts – this story is vaguely based on the conflict in the 1700 between England and France. Characters in the story, Isaac Newton, Kind Louis, Benjamin Franklin and others give this story a familiar feel. However, the science of the world is both familiar and yet very different. Alchemy is utilised to create strange weapons and devices that are fantastical. Bracewell represents a strange race that remains shrouded throughout the story and appears only to thwart Benjamin in his efforts to discover and prevent the French weapon. The weapon’s created use nature as their source, so they are unusual. I expected guns using gun powder, whereas it’s some energy source pulled from atoms which fuel some weapons. This brings strangeness to the story that gives it a fantasy feel. I did find the ideas of Alchemy a little difficult to understand and this did distract me from the more interesting storylines of the characters. There is a dramatic ending to this first book, which left me wondering what more could be achieved. However, it left many unanswered questions too.
