Review - The Philosopher’s Flight

The Philosopher’s Flight (#1)

​​by Tom Miller

​​release date 2/13/2018

​​422 pages

​​4 out of 5 stars

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​​According to the publisher, “A thrilling debut from ER doctor turned novelist Tom Miller, The Philosopher’s Flight is an epic historical fantasy set in a World-War-I-era America where magic and science have blended into a single extraordinary art. 

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​​Eighteen-year-old Robert Weekes is a practitioner of empirical philosophy—an arcane, female-dominated branch of science used to summon the wind, shape clouds of smoke, heal the injured, and even fly. Though he dreams of fighting in the Great War as the first male in the elite US Sigilry Corps Rescue and Evacuation Service—a team of flying medics—Robert is resigned to mixing batches of philosophical chemicals and keeping the books for the family business in rural Montana, where his mother, a former soldier and vigilante, aids the locals.

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​​When a deadly accident puts his philosophical abilities to the test, Robert rises to the occasion and wins a scholarship to study at Radcliffe College, an all-women’s school. At Radcliffe, Robert hones his skills and strives to win the respect of his classmates, a host of formidable, unruly women. 

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​​Robert falls hard for Danielle Hardin, a disillusioned young war hero turned political radical. However, Danielle’s activism and Robert’s recklessness attract the attention of the same fanatical anti-philosophical group that Robert’s mother fought years before. With their lives in mounting danger, Robert and Danielle band together with a team of unlikely heroes to fight for Robert’s place among the next generation of empirical philosophers—and for philosophy’s very survival against the men who would destroy it.

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​​In the tradition of Lev Grossman and Deborah Harkness, Tom Miller writes with unrivaled imagination, ambition, and humor. The Philosopher’s Flight is both a fantastical re-imagining of American history and a beautifully composed coming-of-age tale for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider.”

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​​Like the summary states, The Philosopher’s Flight is a re-imagining of history, asking us to imagine what it would have been like had the U.S. Military employed soldiers with supernatural abilities.  This book is a unique mash-up of fantasy and historical fiction, which I really enjoyed.

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​​While you don’t need to have an extensive knowledge of history to enjoy this book, the author weaved quite a bit of detail about WWI and the culture in the United States into his story.  While I know that The Philosopher’s Flight is fantasy, it is done in such a realistic fashion, you can lose yourself in the book and almost feel as if you are reading a true story!  I enjoy historical fiction, but haven’t read too much fantasy;  for me, this was a great introduction to the genre because it was done in such a light-handed fashion.  While I was asked for some level of suspension of disbelief, it wasn’t so much that it took away enjoyment while reading.  

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​​There are quite a few characters in this book, and most of them are well-developed.  I really felt invested in Robert, and his journey from country-boy to city-slicker college student.  Another plot point included by the author is that empirical philosophy is practiced almost exclusively by women, leading to several very strong female characters, which is typically not what you find in books about WWI.  This was definitely a fun surprise!

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​​As I said, I generally don’t gravitate towards fantasy, so I’m not sure what I was expecting of this book, but I ended up really enjoying it!  Book #2, The Philosopher’s War, is coming out this July, so you have plenty of time to start this series before then!  

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