ê 《但丁俱樂部》作者馬修．珀爾（Matthew Pearl）和《Idle Hands》作者威廉．奧弗克（William O’Rourke）盛情推薦！

《The Philosopher’s Flight》是一部壯麗的歷史奇幻小說，背景設在第一次世界大戰的美國；那個時代，魔法和科學融為一門獨特的藝術，稱為經驗哲學。

十八歲的勞勃‧威克斯（ Robert Weekes）是經驗哲學的實踐者，那是一門以女性主導的神袐科學分支，有點像魔法，可以用來呼風喚雨、為煙霧塑形、療傷、甚至飛翔。

勞勃夢想著成為美國精英符咒軍團（會飛的軍醫小隊，以女性為主的經驗哲學家）的首位男性，加入救援與疏散的服務，可是事與願違，他認命地調配一批批的哲學化學製藥，為他在蒙大拿鄉村的家族事業管帳，而他那身為退役士兵、現任義警隊隊員的母親則在那裡幫助當地居民。

當一場致命意外發生時，勞勃剛好在現場，他臨危不亂，應用他所知的哲學能力減少了傷亡，並贏得拉德克里夫學院的注意，願意提供他獎學金入讀該校。拉德克里夫是一所女子學院，專門訓練經驗哲學家，勞勃以一位男性學員在學院磨練他的技能，同時努力贏得女同學們的尊敬，可是她們是一群難討好、難駕馭的女人。

在學院內，勞勃對丹妮兒一見傾心，她是個不抱幻想的年輕女戰士，後來成為了政治激進份子。然而，丹妮兒的激進與勞勃的魯莽吸引了一個狂熱的反哲學團體的注意和利用，而這團體正正是勞勃母親多年前對抗的邪惡組織。勞勃和丹妮兒命在旦夕，只好和一群意想不到的英雄結盟，捍衛經驗哲學家的地位，也為哲學的存亡，與這群誓言摧毀哲學的惡徒抗戰。

在這本處女作中，作者Tom Miller展現了《費洛瑞之書》和《魔法覺醒》的文風，流露無與倫比的想像力、抱負、與幽默。《The Philosopher’s Flight》以奇幻的角度重新構思世界歷史，也是文筆華美且醇熟，引人入勝的奇幻、愛情和冒險故事。

 

Tom Miller在威斯康辛州的沃瓦托薩長大。他畢業於哈佛大學，到聖母大學繼續攻讀創意寫作的創作碩士學位，並在匹茲堡大學取得醫學學位。在創作《哲學家的飛翔》的同時，他也擔任旅遊指南作家、緊急醫療技術員、大學英文講師、和急診室大夫。這是他的第一部小說。

 

“Debut novelist Miller offers a wealth of worldbuilding in this deft, nonconformist historical fantasy set during World War I…Miller offers a nuanced adventure story that mixes romance, gunplay, and social awareness into its steampunk-ish revelry. A fun, fast-paced coming-of-age story laced with magic.”—Kirkus Reviews

“The Philosopher’s Flight has all the right ingredients to launch an epic story, bringing us into a vivid world rich with both history and imagination. Its narrative of magic warriors and healers feels remarkably grounded and authentic. Like his characters, Tom Miller casts a spell.”—Matthew Pearl, New York Times bestselling author of The Dante Club and The Last Bookaneer

“In his first novel, Tom Miller creates a world that feels both fantastical and authentic, and he does it with a playful spirit and sharp wit. I’d follow his hero Robert Weekes anywhere. The Philosopher’s Flight is deeply original, utterly transporting, and absolutely fun.”—Janet McNally, author of Girls in the Moon

“Tom Miller is one of the rare literary geniuses I have read who possesses a sense of humor and The Philosopher's Flight displays both qualities in heady quantities. Go along for the ride and you will be stimulated, educated, as well as happily overcome by laughter.”—William O'Rourke, author of Idle Hands and Criminal Tendencies

“Tom Miller’s a sly wizard, reminiscent of L. Frank Baum on his best days, and The Philosopher’s Flight is a thrill-a-minute, genre-busting display of narrative spells and delights.”—Valerie Sayers, author of The Powers

“The Philosopher’s Flight is a romp of a tale... it will launch a hundred thousand glyphs and sigils in every reader’s imaginations.”—Sheheryar B. Sheikh, author of The Still Point of the Turning World