Rating: 
Summary: A pleasant surprise for a jaded reader
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed Celestial Matters. As a fan of philosophy (East and West) and speculative fiction, I loved Garfinkle's mind-boggling mixture of action, adventure and a ropping good time! Also, as an aspiring writer myself, I commend the author's easy style; I don't have a lot of time in a world measured by the Internet. But quality was not sacrificed for speed; I burst through the last third of the book on my own in breathless anticipation and was very happy at the ending. Can't wait to see future works by Garfinkle!
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Conceit
Review: Interesting concept, it's just that the writing doesn't quite keep up with the inventivness of the central idea. I expected a little more here than one is given here, and I have to say you might want to try another SF writer.
Rating: 
Summary: Speculative fiction at its best!
Review: Many people attempt "alternate histories" and yet few, aside from Turtledove and now Garfinkle, have done enough of their homework to make it plausible. Set in an alternate world at an indeterminate time (I suppose you could work it out if you knew the Athenian dating system better), Greece and the Middle Kingdom have been locked in war for generations, nay centuries -- consider this the ultimate Western Logic versus Eastern Vision division to ever come along. Garfinkle understands Aristotlean physics and takes its implications to their greatest "logical" extreme, such as a gun that fires a bolt capable of halting forward motion, thus causing an airborne craft to seek its natural place amongst the elements (metal falls to earth). Due to friend's input, I learn that his knowledge of Taoist physics, while slighter, is also sound. The flight to and through the celestial spheres is exciting, well concieved, and plausible given the science base of the era. Even more important, however, is the development of the characters. Each is fully rounded, lovingly crafted, and a true joy to journey with. One can only hope that he writes more, not in the same world, but in the same vein. This is one of the best science fiction books I have ever read!
Rating:
Summary: Speculative fiction at its best!
Review: Many people attempt "alternate histories" and yet few, aside from Turtledove and now Garfinkle, have done enough of their homework to make it plausible. Set in an alternate world at an indeterminate time (I suppose you could work it out if you knew the Athenian dating system better), Greece and the Middle Kingdom have been locked in war for generations, nay centuries -- consider this the ultimate Western Logic versus Eastern Vision division to ever come along. Garfinkle understands Aristotlean physics and takes its implications to their greatest "logical" extreme, such as a gun that fires a bolt capable of halting forward motion, thus causing an airborne craft to seek its natural place amongst the elements (metal falls to earth). Due to friend's input, I learn that his knowledge of Taoist physics, while slighter, is also sound. The flight to and through the celestial spheres is exciting, well concieved, and plausible given the science base of the era. Even more important, however, is the development of the characters. Each is fully rounded, lovingly crafted, and a true joy to journey with. One can only hope that he writes more, not in the same world, but in the same vein. This is one of the best science fiction books I have ever read!
Rating:
Summary: One Of The Best Alternative History Novels, Period
Review: Richard Garfinkle's "Celestial Matters" is a captivating, engrossing novel that is not only a spellbinding page-turner, but a thoughtful, often lyrical, look at two competing world views as expressed in Ptolomaic astronomy and Aristotelian physics and biology and Taoist science and medicine. Here he does the impossible by accepting both radically divergent views of the universe as correct; each the preferred means of knowledge acquistion by a latter day Greek empire that has conquered half of the globe and its arch enemy, the Middle Kingdom (Chinese Empire). These divergent views are the source of much of the fascinating philosophical speculation by several of the protagonists. Last, but not least, Garfinkle offers an impressive tale about a captain who must decide whether to obey his orders or follow his conscience. This is one lesser known splendid example of alternative history which deserves a broad readership.
Rating:
Summary: One Of The Best Alternative History Novels, Period
Review: Richard Garfinkle's "Celestial Matters" is a captivating, engrossing novel that is not only a spellbinding page-turner, but a thoughtful, often lyrical, look at two competing world views as expressed in Ptolomaic astronomy and Aristotelian physics and biology and Taoist science and medicine. Here he does the impossible by accepting both radically divergent views of the universe as correct; each the preferred means of knowledge acquistion by a latter day Greek empire that has conquered half of the globe and its arch enemy, the Middle Kingdom (Chinese Empire). These divergent views are the source of much of the fascinating philosophical speculation by several of the protagonists. Last, but not least, Garfinkle offers an impressive tale about a captain who must decide whether to obey his orders or follow his conscience. This is one lesser known splendid example of alternative history which deserves a broad readership.
Rating:
Summary: Science Fantasy with Intrigue & Action
Review: Set in a world where Alexander the Great's empire has lasted 1,000 years and Ptolemeic speculations are scientific fact, this is part alternate-history, part alternate-science. The story concerns a celestial ship (spaceship) of the Delian league (who control the world from India to halfway across the Americas) which is embarking on a mission to gather a piece of the sun in order to use it as a sort of atomic bomb against the capital of the Middle Kingdom (an oriental empire which they have been at constant war with). Written as the testimony of a co-captain of the ship, the story relates this adventure, complete with scheming, betrayals, setbacks, and crises of faith, while also presenting a vivid and interesting alternate world. Enjoyment would be aided by a solid understanding of the beliefs (scientific and otherwise) of the ancient Greeks, but should be enjoyable for anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Science Fantasy with Intrigue & Action
Review: Set in a world where Alexander the Great's empire has lasted 1,000 years and Ptolemeic speculations are scientific fact, this is part alternate-history, part alternate-science. The story concerns a celestial ship (spaceship) of the Delian league (who control the world from India to halfway across the Americas) which is embarking on a mission to gather a piece of the sun in order to use it as a sort of atomic bomb against the capital of the Middle Kingdom (an oriental empire which they have been at constant war with). Written as the testimony of a co-captain of the ship, the story relates this adventure, complete with scheming, betrayals, setbacks, and crises of faith, while also presenting a vivid and interesting alternate world. Enjoyment would be aided by a solid understanding of the beliefs (scientific and otherwise) of the ancient Greeks, but should be enjoyable for anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Strikingly creative and ambitious
Review: This book may represent the ultimate example of high-concept fiction. The idea alone -- that the Greek understanding of the universe was accurate -- is enough to merit two stars all by itself. Garfinkle, however, was not content to stop there. Rather, he envisioned a world where the empire of Alexander did not collapse but, instead, grew to conquer half the world. Then, to matters even more interesting, he posited that the Chi-based theories of China were ALSO correct in as much as technology based on them was as effective as technology based upon the Greek sciences (a state remniscent of the great divide between quantum mechanics and Relativity). Then, to top it all off, he wove an interesting and engaging story about a Captain caught between his patriotic duty and his moral calling.This is an absolutely fascinating novel. I don't know whether to classify it as alternate history, fantasy, alternative science, or what-not. It doesn't really matter because it's in a class by itself. Although it may be hard to find, being out of print, it is certainly worth the effort to track down a copy.
Rating:
Summary: Strikingly creative and ambitious
Review: This book may represent the ultimate example of high-concept fiction. The idea alone -- that the Greek understanding of the universe was accurate -- is enough to merit two stars all by itself. Garfinkle, however, was not content to stop there. Rather, he envisioned a world where the empire of Alexander did not collapse but, instead, grew to conquer half the world. Then, to matters even more interesting, he posited that the Chi-based theories of China were ALSO correct in as much as technology based on them was as effective as technology based upon the Greek sciences (a state remniscent of the great divide between quantum mechanics and Relativity). Then, to top it all off, he wove an interesting and engaging story about a Captain caught between his patriotic duty and his moral calling. This is an absolutely fascinating novel. I don't know whether to classify it as alternate history, fantasy, alternative science, or what-not. It doesn't really matter because it's in a class by itself. Although it may be hard to find, being out of print, it is certainly worth the effort to track down a copy.
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