View source for The Memory of Whiteness

{{short description|1985 novel by Kim Stanley Robinson}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2010}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{infobox book | 
| name          = The Memory of Whiteness
| title_orig    = 
| translator    = 
| image         = The Memory of Whiteness (Kim Stanley Robinson novel) cover.jpg
| caption = First edition
| author        = [[Kim Stanley Robinson]]
| illustrator   = 
| cover_artist  = Joe Bergeron
| country       = United States
| language      = English
| series        = 
| genre         = [[Science fiction]] novel
| publisher     = 
| release_date  = September 1985
| english_release_date =
| media_type    =
| pages         = 351
| isbn          = 9780312934675
| oclc          = 974243997
| preceded_by   = 
| followed_by   = 
}}
'''''The Memory of Whiteness''''' is a [[science fiction]] novel by [[Kim Stanley Robinson]], published in September 1985.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=NZak7Hk5zTQC&q=The+Memory+of+Whiteness Google Books image of copyright page]. Retrieved 21 December 2010.</ref>

==Theme==
The novel shares with Robinson's [[Mars trilogy|''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 [[society|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.<ref>Heck, Peter J., [https://web.archive.org/web/20121104185508/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/99969463.html?dids=99969463:99969463&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+23,+1986&author=By+Peter+J.+Heck&pub=Newsday+(Combined+editions)&desc=SCIENCE+FICTION+%2F+Gazing+at+the+Stars+of+Tomorrow&pqatl=google "Science Fiction: Gazing at the Stars of Tomorrow]. ''[[Newsday]]'', 23 February 1986. Retrieved 21 December 2010.</ref> 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 (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)|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."<ref name="WD76">{{cite magazine  | last =Langford | first =Dave | author-link =David Langford | title =Critical Mass  | magazine =[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]]  | issue =76  | pages =9   | publisher =[[Games Workshop]]  | date = April 1986  }}</ref>

==Reviews==
*Review by Faren Miller (1985) in ''[[Locus (magazine)|Locus]]'', #295 August 1985<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?1539 | title=Title: The Memory of Whiteness }}</ref>
*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 (journal)|Vector]]'' 132
*Review by Pascal J. Thomas (1986) in''[[Thrust (science fiction magazine)|Thrust]]'', #24, Summer 1986
*Review by Ken Lake (1987) in ''Paperback Inferno'', #65
*Review by Paul Kincaid (1987) in ''[[Foundation (journal)|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 (journal)|Vector]]'' 206
*Review? [French] by Claude Ecken (2006) in ''Galaxies'', #39

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Kim Stanley Robinson}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Memory Of Whiteness, The}}
[[Category:1985 American novels]]
[[Category:American fantasy novels]]
[[Category:Novels set on Mercury (planet)]]
[[Category:Novels about music]]
[[Category:Novels by Kim Stanley Robinson]]


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