The Philosopher's Flight

Any book that is a whiff of Harry Potterism has my attention. So flying philosophers, bearing similarities to HP's wizards and witches riding brooms was promising.

Perhaps I wasn't fully attentive, but even after reading, I'm still a little unsure of the basic logistics of how one flies. Because a good bulk of the book takes place in the air or learning how to get in the air, I had a hard time following during the action scenes.

However the most intriguing aspect of Philosopher's Flight was the world Miller depicted, one that favors women to be the more-favored, more-talented, more-respected sex in the philosophy world, but still victim to the familiar, violent sexism in the real world. The main character, Tom, had no bitterness towards nor desire to change this societal norm, simply to be the exception. I can't decide if the author was intent on writing a coyly misogynistic tale in the current, feminism-heavy climate or if he simply and genuinely wanted to paint a world where heroines dominate.

Overall: eh.

4.5 out of 5 stars

My thanks to Edelweiss/NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

In the midst of World War I, society grapples with the proliferation of Empirical Philosophy or “sigilry”, an art form that allows users to summon wind, carve smoke, or fly through the sky. Opponents of the field denounce and demonize these practitioners, as they seek to eradicate their kind from the face of the earth. Robert Weekes, a teenager with a burgeoning gift for sigilry, attempts to succeed in the female-dominated field and find himself along the way. He must exert considerable effort to prove himself against the notion that men are not good enough to be skilled in Empirical Philosophy.

In today's current cultural climate, it seems ill-considered to center a book around a male character who must overcome gender discrimination...but at the same time, it's refreshing to read an alternate history where women are so revered and respected for their talents in the first place. It also helps that Robert is a virtuous and endearing lead character who is easy to root for and works hard for everything he earns.

Author Tom Miller displays an impressive aptitude for storytelling as he deftly spins this wholly engrossing yarn. His writing style and dialogue choices really do a great job situating the reader in the early 20th century setting. Additionally, the plot, characters, motivations, and worldbuilding are all nicely fleshed out and well developed.

The Philosopher's Flight is a wonderfully inventive historical fantasy that sinks its hooks into you and doesn't let go. I truly enjoyed Tom Miller's debut and hope a sequel is on the horizon. (The cover is great, too!)

See this review and others at The Speculative Shelf.