I'm really enjoying the book, have recommended it to my friends for Christmas reading and they all seem really interested in it.
You've written a lot about writers and literature, would be great to read something on the art of writing itself from you as well if that's something you'd be happy to do.
I'm delighted by the first chapter, and we have a copy arriving this weekend to read out loud as a family. My son did immediately ask, however, part way into the first chapter, how there can be observation of stars going on with a telescope during daylight hours? Perhaps in this other world, some stars are visible by day? At any rate, it seemed a good question from my boy that I had not thought of on my first read. The chapter does seem to have the father working during the day, and his son joining him for his own peak at the new star before full night arrives (as it mentions "even in the falling dark" near the end of the first chapter). I even ended up looking into what is possible to see in our world with a telescope during daylight, and there do not seem to be any stars visible by day (just the moon and a couple of the planets).
Re-read it. Evening is falling, the star is just becoming visible (like Venus) in the darkening blue sky. None of the action occurs in full daylight, and when Michael looks through the telescope no other stars are visible. Only the celestial gear wheel, visible in the dusk as a pale green silhouette. He is not looking into the night sky. All this tells you that it is not really a star. In fact, it’s located just above the atmosphere.
Oh yes: “Michael pressed his forehead against the glass to follow its flight, but could see it for only a few seconds as it sank toward the trees below, like a falling star flashing over an evening sea.”
A little later: “Seen through the deepening blue of the rising twilight, it seemed a pallid, almost translucent green…. Even in the falling dark its plumage…”
My son was responding in part to the fact that the bird’s flight was visible out the window in the opening scene and then to the question, “Are you back from school already?”
But I see now the multiple references to falling light and to just some heavenly objects becoming visible.
Just read your reply to my son. We’re intrigued by the celestial gear wheel! Booked just arrived today and got wrapped for St Nicholas Day, so we’ll know more soon.
I grew up in Taiwan and know something of long school hours. I’m also a secondary teacher now and know a little of the dangers of indoctrinating students. 😔 Interested in the dubious teachers mentioned so far. Book arrives today or tomorrow!
To Jesse Hake and DBH: You both made a subsequently delightful (written) conversation, which can warm up one's heart, even in the coldest night. A writer must value a critical reader high in a falling night.
Powerful fiction! Thank you for sharing. I remain a great admirer of your thought and style, and I would love to translate your novels into Norwegian one day. Pray that I might get the opportunity to introduce your work to the Scandinavian reading public.
Do you know when this will be available on audiobook? I've decided to assign it to mostly 2nd and 3rd year non-theology college students for a 2000 level theology course I'll be teaching. It hits a lot of the same points that are brought up in Jordan Wood's book, your own academic work, and Bulgakov, but in ways that might resonate more with someone outside theology (I'm not officially done yet, but I admit, I've looked ahead). Not that I won't give them A LITTLE bit of the more heavy duty stuff, but only after a whole lot of explanation on my end first, which Kenogaia can help with.
Mr. Lucius and the director and staff of the the institution are depressingly similar to too many of the supervisors and management that I have encountered in child protective services. It is impressive and terrifying.
Well, that can still be the merchandising company name for the inevitable movie deal, and managing the Lego sets, cell phone covers, back packs and collectible figures
This seems as good a place as any to ask these questions:
As I read through your works, I keep wishing I had a specific late antiquity "recommended reading" list from you. (1) What books / surveys do you recommend to the lay reader to familiarize herself with Gnosticism in late antiquity? (2) What books / surveys do you recommend as overview of late antiquity in general?
I'm happy today....ordered Kenogaia and just witnessed the greatest chess player of all time and greatest endgame player of all time grind out an incredible win.... Magnus Carlsen
Okay… now I am debating if I should eat for the next three days or buy this extraordinary book. Thank you for sharing this. One of the beauties to have learned English was to find extraordinary authors like you. Thank you for directing me through paths I would have never been able to find myself. Dios te bendiga.
OK, I just bought it to read on my Mexico vacation, which begins December 16. I will let you know what I think. It's hard to imagine I won't like it, because I have loved everything I've read so far, which is why I joined this Substack.
I'm really enjoying the book, have recommended it to my friends for Christmas reading and they all seem really interested in it.
You've written a lot about writers and literature, would be great to read something on the art of writing itself from you as well if that's something you'd be happy to do.
Absorbing. I'm getting a faint hint of influence from Lilith on this chapter, but maybe that's presumptuous.
It's possible.
I'm delighted by the first chapter, and we have a copy arriving this weekend to read out loud as a family. My son did immediately ask, however, part way into the first chapter, how there can be observation of stars going on with a telescope during daylight hours? Perhaps in this other world, some stars are visible by day? At any rate, it seemed a good question from my boy that I had not thought of on my first read. The chapter does seem to have the father working during the day, and his son joining him for his own peak at the new star before full night arrives (as it mentions "even in the falling dark" near the end of the first chapter). I even ended up looking into what is possible to see in our world with a telescope during daylight, and there do not seem to be any stars visible by day (just the moon and a couple of the planets).
Re-read it. Evening is falling, the star is just becoming visible (like Venus) in the darkening blue sky. None of the action occurs in full daylight, and when Michael looks through the telescope no other stars are visible. Only the celestial gear wheel, visible in the dusk as a pale green silhouette. He is not looking into the night sky. All this tells you that it is not really a star. In fact, it’s located just above the atmosphere.
Oh yes: “Michael pressed his forehead against the glass to follow its flight, but could see it for only a few seconds as it sank toward the trees below, like a falling star flashing over an evening sea.”
A little later: “Seen through the deepening blue of the rising twilight, it seemed a pallid, almost translucent green…. Even in the falling dark its plumage…”
My son was responding in part to the fact that the bird’s flight was visible out the window in the opening scene and then to the question, “Are you back from school already?”
But I see now the multiple references to falling light and to just some heavenly objects becoming visible.
Yes. The school question is meant to imply either that Mr Ambrosius is very distracted or that school in Kenogaia lasts very late into the day.
Just read your reply to my son. We’re intrigued by the celestial gear wheel! Booked just arrived today and got wrapped for St Nicholas Day, so we’ll know more soon.
Remember, if you don’t like it, you should buy another copy to see whether you like it any better.
Tally ho.
I grew up in Taiwan and know something of long school hours. I’m also a secondary teacher now and know a little of the dangers of indoctrinating students. 😔 Interested in the dubious teachers mentioned so far. Book arrives today or tomorrow!
To Jesse Hake and DBH: You both made a subsequently delightful (written) conversation, which can warm up one's heart, even in the coldest night. A writer must value a critical reader high in a falling night.
Well, I'm hooked. So far, beautiful in every way.
Powerful fiction! Thank you for sharing. I remain a great admirer of your thought and style, and I would love to translate your novels into Norwegian one day. Pray that I might get the opportunity to introduce your work to the Scandinavian reading public.
Do you know when this will be available on audiobook? I've decided to assign it to mostly 2nd and 3rd year non-theology college students for a 2000 level theology course I'll be teaching. It hits a lot of the same points that are brought up in Jordan Wood's book, your own academic work, and Bulgakov, but in ways that might resonate more with someone outside theology (I'm not officially done yet, but I admit, I've looked ahead). Not that I won't give them A LITTLE bit of the more heavy duty stuff, but only after a whole lot of explanation on my end first, which Kenogaia can help with.
As yet, as far as I know, the publisher has no plans for an audiobook; but I think I may start pushing for one (today, in fact).
Can you help with a question circulating? How is one to pronounce Paichnidia? One theory:
“Assuming this the Greek for ‘toys’: pe-HNEE-thia, where the e is pronounced like the one in ‘chef’, and the h is strong, like in ‘horror’.”
That would be the demotic pronunciation, yes. But I assume most readers will Anglicize the name: Paikh-nee-dia.
Mr. Lucius and the director and staff of the the institution are depressingly similar to too many of the supervisors and management that I have encountered in child protective services. It is impressive and terrifying.
And to think I nearly entitled the novel “Glumgum Agonistes.”
Did "Knight of Cups" have any influence on Kenogaia?
No. I still haven’t seen Knight of Cups, and I wrote the first 80% of the book in 2014, before the film even appeared.
Thank you
I really need to see TM’s three most recent films.
I just saw A Hidden Life two evenings ago, which got me thinking about Knight of Cups. It is certainly worth the three hours.
Well, that can still be the merchandising company name for the inevitable movie deal, and managing the Lego sets, cell phone covers, back packs and collectible figures
Hooked. Can't put it down, and I dare not, "under penalty of detention and punitive orthodonture."
That line is probably the effect of repressed memories from my years in Britain.
This seems as good a place as any to ask these questions:
As I read through your works, I keep wishing I had a specific late antiquity "recommended reading" list from you. (1) What books / surveys do you recommend to the lay reader to familiarize herself with Gnosticism in late antiquity? (2) What books / surveys do you recommend as overview of late antiquity in general?
Thank you for all you do!
Peace be with you.
That’s actually one of the questions I answer in my first Q&A article on this site.
Thank you, sir!
O Joyous Light!
I'll save the chapter for when the book arrives next week, so all I can comment on is the front cover which is fantastic
I'm happy today....ordered Kenogaia and just witnessed the greatest chess player of all time and greatest endgame player of all time grind out an incredible win.... Magnus Carlsen
i'm ecstatic
Against whom?
Ian Nepomniachtchi, the world chess championship is going on now https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Chess_Championship_2021
your brother lives in Norway so to Norwegians, Magnus is probably their biggest "sports" star at the moment
Optime. Liber meus est in transitu.
You know, not to be captious, but you write Latin with a very English syntax.
Barbarus sum, sane.
I'm a better reader than composer, but I try my best.
Hey, of all readers who comment in Latin, you are by far the most elegant stylist.
Gratias maximas tibi ago.
Anyway, I'll probably review the book once it lands on my doorstep and I have a chance to read it.
Will the review be in English?
Well, if you think my Latin composition is horrible, you'd certainly be offended by my middling abilities in the Noble Tongue.
Okay… now I am debating if I should eat for the next three days or buy this extraordinary book. Thank you for sharing this. One of the beauties to have learned English was to find extraordinary authors like you. Thank you for directing me through paths I would have never been able to find myself. Dios te bendiga.
Eat. The book will still be available later.
Too late. I have just ordered it - can tuna was on sale too. It’s a win win situation
Well, as long as it’s albacore.
OK, I just bought it to read on my Mexico vacation, which begins December 16. I will let you know what I think. It's hard to imagine I won't like it, because I have loved everything I've read so far, which is why I joined this Substack.