Far-Seer

There are so few books out there that when you read them you never want to put it down. Robert Sawywer's Far-Seer is one such book, The story is highly emotional, exciting and riviting of the clash of science and religion. I highly recommend this trilogy. Robert Sawyer does a perfect job wiriting of Afsan an aspiring astromer his discoveries and his ultimate dilemma he faces when he must convince and help his people.

To borrow a phrase from an earlier review of Far-Seer, Robert Sawyer is the "master of biological speculation." After reading five of this author's books, I'll add my spin on that statement by saying he is the sci fi master, period. Far-Seer is a parable without equal. Afsan is a simple country saurian, chosen as apprentice to Master Astrologer Tak-Saleed. Afsan enjoys the tranquility and peace of the night sky, entertains solitary thoughts of mysteries, and faces life with gentle humor despite his hunter's instincts. Afsan's world is one of landquakes and erupting volcanoes. His species is Quintaglio - meat eating dinosaurs. Afsan's destiny is set long before his birth. If you believe it's impossible to sympathize with a dinosaur, think again. You'll be drawn into Afsan's life as I was, experiencing each rite of Quintaglio passage: the thrill of the hunt; his first ocean voyage to see the Face of God; his first encounter with a female. And you'll share his wonder while examining the heavens through a far-seer (telescope); his joy at proving the earth round; his horror when all signs point to the destruction of the world Quintaglios call home. Robert Sawyer makes it all so real. This is a touching story, personable and intimate and thrilling. The saurian characters are believable as they struggle with the hypocrisies and territorial instincts of civilization. I can scarcely wait to read Books Two and Three.

Great book, told entirely from the point of view of a world of intelligent dinosaurs. No human beings in it at all (heck, no MAMMALS at all!). But the characters Sawyer draws are as real as any you've ever read, and the book is loads of fun. Should appeal to adults and to the YA crowd as well. Enjoy!

This is quite simply one of my all-time favorite books. A parable of the conflict between science and religion, Sawyer managed to create a world of such startling believabilty (and familiarity) that there is no need for the suspension-of-belief that most SF/Fantasy novels require a reader to make. You simply step into this world of sentient dinosaurs as naturally as you step out of your door each morning. Within the pages of this book I found myself reliving many of the struggles I have gone through as I sought to understand the world around me. The process of discovery that leads Afsan to conclude that much of what he was taught about the world is wrong (even dangerously so) unfolds over the course of a rip-roaring, high adventure tale. How many other books take you on a thrilling Sauropod hunt and then a few pages later force you to ponder gripping questions of existence, faith and ultimate meaning? The first and easily the best of the "Quintaglio Trilogy," no one interested in dinosaurs, evolution, philosophy and religion should miss this. Do what it takes to get it!At the risk of overstatment I have to conclude by saying that "Far-Seer" is in my opinion one of the finest dino-themed adventures EVER! May it be back in print soon!

Back in the 1600s, we knew nothing of the heavens and how they truly worked. The Ptolemaic model - that of an earth-centered universe - and the concept that God created everything and maintained an active role in the universe - were accepted unconditionally as the truth. Then Galileo observed for himself the planets, their shapes and phases, and their motions. He challenged the teachings of the Catholic Church, resulting in his trial before the Inquisition and subsequent house arrest for refusing to recant. "Far Seer" is a Galilean allegory. And Newtonian, and Copernican, and Keplerian. It uses an intriguing blend of fiction and fact to draw the reader in. Retold here, in painstakingly accurate detail, is the process by which Galileo first turned telescope to the heavens and developed his own model of a heliocentric - sun-centered - solar system. Here we read of the wonder of the Renaissance scientist and his struggle against the church of his day. The story's fictional protagonist struggles against the incumbent religion of his world to the point of threat of death. He is able to bring around a shift in world-view only after suffering personal injury , valuing the truth above his own life. We realize the suffering the real Galileo must have endured. But here, too, is the unwavering logic that is modern astronomy. The shifting phases of the planets; the rings of Saturn; the tidal forces that give rise to those rings; the earth-shattering (pun intended) consequences for moons of large planets. It's all here, explained in a way that the layperson can understand. After reading this book, I gained a new insight into the lives of astronomy's pioneering minds. My lifetime interest in the topic, due to the nature of available materials, rarely ventures into the scientist's private life. This is a book I can recommend not just to the dedicated SF fan or dinosaur lover, but to those who want to know how astronomy developed from its astrologic beginnings to the inexact but beautiful science it is today.