The Memory of Whiteness

The Memory of Whiteness is a science fiction novel by Kim Stanley Robinson, published in September 1985.^[1]

The Memory of Whiteness

First edition
Author	Kim Stanley Robinson
Cover artist	Joe Bergeron
Language	English
Genre	Science fiction novel
Publication date	September 1985
Publication place	United States
Pages	351
ISBN	9780312934675
OCLC	974243997

Theme

The novel shares with Robinson's Mars trilogy a focus on human colonization of the Solar System; it depicts a grand tour from the outer planets toward the Sun, visiting many human colonies along the way. The different human societies on the visited planets and planetoids are depicted in detail.

Plot summary

The purpose of the novel's interplanetary tour is to stage concerts by the Holywelkin Orchestra, a futuristic musical instrument played by a selected master.^[2] Readers follow the Orchestra and its entourage along with a journalist, who eventually detects a conspiracy apparently connected with a group of gray-clothed, sun-worshipping monks. The tour ends near the planet Mercury, in a solar station belonging to these "Grays", which controls the white-line energy source for the entire Solar System.

Reception

David Langford reviewed The Memory of Whiteness for White Dwarf magazine (issue #76), calling it "impressive for its scope and feel of connecting the two cultures: both music and multidimensional physics sound convincing."^[3]

Reviews

• Review by Faren Miller (1985) in Locus, #295 August 1985^[4]
• Review by Stuart Napier (1985) in Fantasy Review, October 1985
• Review by Don D'Ammassa (1985) in Science Fiction Chronicle, #75 December 1985
• Review by Doc Kennedy (1985) in Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone Magazine, December 1985
• Review by Tom Easton (1986) in Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, January 1986
• Review by Andrew Andrews (1986) in Science Fiction Review, Spring 1986
• Review by Algis Budrys (1986) in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, February 1986
• Review by Keith Soltys (1986) in Science Fiction Review, Summer 1986
• Review by Tom A. Jones (1986) in Vector 132
• Review by Pascal J. Thomas (1986) inThrust, #24, Summer 1986
• Review by Ken Lake (1987) in Paperback Inferno, #65
• Review by Paul Kincaid (1987) in Foundation, #38 Winter 1986/87
• Review [German] by Norbert Kupper (1988) in Science Fiction Times, April 1988
• Review by K. V. Bailey (1999) in Vector 206
• Review? [French] by Claude Ecken (2006) in Galaxies, #39