Scooter Chronicles

I recently finished listening to the audio rendition, narrated by Anthony Heald, of the novel “Eifelheim” by Michael Flynn.

When this novel was first published, I was rather interested in reading it. However, given time to think about it, and my recent disinterest of science fiction novels, I passed on it. About a month ago or so, I found out about a site where you can download music and audiobooks. They were making trial memberships available where you could download many songs for free, and also get an audiobook for free. I figured with my iPod, it would be a good thing to do during my drive back and forth from work.

Here is a rundown on the description, from Booklist, written by Regina Schroeder, found on Amazon.Com:

In the fourteenth century, the Black Death ravaged Europe. Most towns decimated by it were eventually resettled, except for Eifelheim, despite its ideal location. Mathematical historian Tom discovers this anomaly and an unexpected connection to his domestic partner Sharon’s research in theoretical physics, which seems to be leading to a method of interdimensional travel. In fact, as Eifelheim’s priest back then, Father Dietrich, relates, before the plague’s arrival, an interstellar ship crashed nearby. The encounters between its passengers and the people of Oberhochwald, as Eifelheim was first called, reflect the panoply of attitudes of the time, from fear of the foreign to love and charity for one’s neighbors to the ideas of nascent natural philosophy (science), and the aliens’ reactions are equally fascinating.

There is a huge cast of characters in this book that continually show up, which included the Krenken. Considering how many there are, the characterization is pretty well done. The Krenken especially. Given the very Christian nature of life back then, even they are effected by the religion, in a way that I felt was very plausible. The parts with Tom and Sharon however, the depth of character is lacking.

Michael Flynn

Science fiction was the first genre that I really read for enjoyment, and have to be honest that I enjoyed a lot of it while understanding very little of the actual science behind it. Sometimes those scientific explanations can get too bogged down in their own weight. I came to find out that I mostly enjoyed space opera, which “Star Wars” is a prime example. Even though some space opera can have a lot of science in them (like Alastair Reynolds work), it gives more of a story.

Most of this book however concentrates on a story. And given the time of that story, it doesn’t feel like a science fiction novel. Sure, there are aliens, and they do discuss some science, but it wasn’t very complicated. Mostly this is due to the lack of knowledge, or very different (and wrong) ideas those educated in science had back at that time (like the sun revolving around the earth). Father Dietrich is a very well educated man of the cloth in the sciences of the time. I don’t know how plausible that could have been back in the 14th century, but it is a key to the story, which Flynn made very believable.

Anthony Heald

Heald’s narration is very good. I think he breathed some life into this story as well. Especially with Tom and Sharon’s parts. If just reading those sections, they would have been lost and sometimes boring having it hold 90% science and 10% character development. Throughout Heald gives a very good voice to each character, making sure there is a difference between those conversing, while keeping their character traits. The only time it was different was when the Krenken were talking through their translation devise. It was described, and portrayed by Heald, as a monotone voice. Heald did a great job in projecting that, but if two of the Krenken were in a conversation, at first it was hard to figure out who was who. Still Heald did a great job in doing what he could.

The ending of the two story lines both were well done, though that of Tom and Sharon’s is a bit of coincidence. Tom and Sharon are both working on different things that happen to end up related to those of Eifelheim in the 14th century. Though they go further beyond that to do some exploring. Meanwhile the ending of those in Eifelheim was expected, but still very acceptable and satisfying.

Overall, both book and narration were very good. In the end I was glad I didn’t pass on this in audio format, since it turned out to be a very well done narration.