| Author: | Dan Simmons |
| Copyright: | 1989 |
| Date Reviewed: | 5/1/92 |
| Rating: | 6.0 |
Though listed as a science fiction, as the author clearly states in the afterward, "Phases of Gravity" is simply a novel with no elements of science fiction. Dan Simmons is an excellent writer and page by page the novel was interesting but in the final analysis something was lacking. There is a lot of talk and little action. The story is not very original. The theme of Apollo astronauts walking on the moon and coming back to Earth to only wonder "How do I top that" has been done before. It was probably made popular by Buzz Aldren's problems when he returned. The problem is, there are only a dozen people in the world this relates to.
There are five separate subplots as Richard Baedecker travels across the county trying to find some meaning to his life. There is a weak plot filled in by philosophical discussions on why we are here.
The story begins in India where Baedecker tracks down his son who has joined an Indian guru. He doesn't spend time with his son but meets his son's friend, Maggie, and they travel together beginning to fall in love. Back home, Baedecker goes to the small town of Glenn Oak where he is honored for his triumphs. He had lived there for a few years as a boy. Most of the characters in Glenn Oak are stereotypical small town/small minded people. From here Baedecker meets up with one of the crew on his mission, Tom Gavin, now a born again Christian. With Maggie, a surprise guest, Tom, his wife and their also unruly son, Baedecker hikes up Uncompahgre and at the last moment, takes a hang glider off the mountain. This was the most interesting part of the book for me as I enjoyed the born again double talk.
Next on the agenda, Baedecker meets up with the other member of the crew, Dave Muldorff. Dave, a funny and likable man, very much in contrast to Tom Gavin, is killed at the beginning of the story in a plane crash. Through flashbacks and flashforwards, Tom and Richard try to discover what its all about. Finally, his life now in order and his son returned to the sane, Baedecker climbs Bear Butte and in his dreams learns to fly unaided by mechanical devices.