Review: A fascinating philosophical novel
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 24, 2013
The main characters in this novel are Ambrosia, her husband Simon, their adopted children Athena and Amadeus, and Ambrosia's parents who are referred to as Mama and Papa.Ambrosia is a beautiful woman and technical genius. She developed a Quantum Tunnelling device. Her father, Papa, is as a Greek tycoon and politician. In a world in which justice and the living standards of ordinary people are rapidly deteriorating, Papa is trying to help wherever possible. Mama is a person who would have to be called a master of Out of Body Experiences. Ambrosia and Simon's adopted children Athena and Amadeus possess mental capabilities of a magnitude that should make it easy for them to have completed their first PhD by the age of sixteen. Simon is the only one whom one could call a regular guy. All these characters have amazing mental capabilities, even Simon, although he is a little behind the rest of the family.The novel plays in the future, but I wouldn't place it in the genre of science fiction. The plot is largely about philosophical topics. If there were a genre called philosophical fiction, that's where it probably would fit in nicely.Stan I.S. Law, whose real name is Stanislaw Kapuscinski, is a deep thinker. As far as I'm aware, he has written thirty books, give or take a few. I have read some of them and they have all been fascinating. They are not necessarily easy books, just as "Pluto Effect" is not an easy book. Unless readers have an interest in philosophical and esoteric issues dealing with topics such as "what is reality?" and "what is consciousness?", this book may not be one of their favourite ones.As far as I'm concerned, this book is a page-turner. I enjoyed the philosophical and intellectual complexities and speculations that make up a big part of the book. "Pluto Effect" is a very serious novel about very good people. The only critical comment I have to make is this: I would have preferred it to be a bit less serious. There are passages in the book which would be more credible if the main characters weren't quite as perfect as they are. Humour and conflict are missing. As a consequence the plot appears a bit weak at times. Perhaps the author takes his philosophical speculations a bit too serious, I was wondering now and then. However, having said that, these are minor issues. I am happy to give this novel top marks and recommend it to people who are willing to step outside the square, so to say, and allow themselves to be fascinated by the "impossible possibilities" that may be hidden just beneath the surface of our existence.Reviewed by Fred Schäfer, author of "An Almighty Conspiracy".