Books Authors
1610: A Sundial in a Grave

1610: A Sundial in a Grave

by
Mary Gentle

Synopsis of 1610: A Sundial in a Grave

Valhentin Rochefort, professional duellist and down at heels aristocrat, arranges the assassination of Henri IV, King of France. Fleeing from the consequences, he makes for England, on the way picking up two companions a young boy, Dariole, also a duellist, with whom Rochefort is sexually obsessed; and a ship wrecked 'demon'.

As the complex story unfolds, Rochefort's dreams of the future grow increasingly stranger and more contradictory. He realises he must act but, how? What is the right choice? And how much of the future will depend on what he does?

Reviews of 1610: A Sundial in a Grave

83%

A highlight of the year? I think so. -- Iain Emsley, SFRevu

...this is a very fine novel with excellent characterisation, complex plotting and a suburb grasp, not only of history but also of human motivation. -- Pauline Morgan

The characters are memorable, the romantic plot heart-breaking, the writing gritty and crisp, the plot is clever and well-executed, with good pacing, and if they ever do make that Jolie/Crowe film version, there are enough set-pieces to let them sweep the board at the Oscars. -- David Kennedy, dkennedy.org

...we do not quite forgive 1610, because so much of it is hoohaw, so much of it could have been skipped if Gentle had only trusted her readers to get the point a little earlier. -- John Clute, Scifi.com

This is my favorite Book of the year so far, period. And with only one month to go I shall be very surprised (if utterly delighted) to find anything to touch it. -- Cheryl Morgan, Emerald City

An Arthur C Clarke-award nominee in waiting. -- Jon Courtenay Grimwood, The Guardian