Oly Ralfe

I thought this was rather self-regarding, what with the portentous title, the meant-to-be-wonderful-but-in-fact-quite-dreadful illustrations and the how impressive really, if we're honest, tour d'horizon of philosophy from ancient Greece to modern Oxford with which the ?novel begins (for the trope of the continuity of static space over changing time, see Iain Pears' infinitely better The Dream Of Scipio).

The plot concerns the protagonist's search for a lost book, the last work of a magus-like philosopher genius who has bequeathed it to her in his will (to the chagrin of the cyphers who are his academic colleagues). As she embarks upon and continues her quest for clues to the whereabouts of the mysterious Field Guide To Reality, her story (naturally) contrives to produce in the reader's hands the very book she is meant to be looking for. Yawn.… (mehr)