The Plot to Save Socrates

By: Paul Levinson

Narrated by: Mark Shanahan

Paul Levinson's astonishing new science fiction novel is a surprise and a delight.

In the year 2042, Sierra, a young graduate student in Classics is shown a new dialog of Socrates, recently discovered, in which a time traveler tries to argue that Socrates might escape death by travel to the future. Thomas, the elderly scholar who has shown her the document, disappears, and Sierra immediately begins to track down the provenance of the manuscript, with the help of her classical scholar boyfriend, Max. The trail leads her to a time machine in a gentlemen's club in London and in New York, and into the past, and to a time traveler from her future, posing as Heron of Alexandria in 150 AD.

Complications, mysteries, travels, and time loops proliferate as Sierra tries to discern who is planning to save the greatest philosopher in human history, or to do so herself. And she finds that time travel raises more questions than it answers. Fascinating historical characters from Alcibiades (of the honeyed thighs) and Thomas Appleton, the great 19th century American publisher, to Socrates himself, appear. With surprises in every chapter, Paul Levinson has outdone himself in The Plot to Save Socrates.

©2006 Listen & Live Audio, Inc. (P)2006 Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Light, engaging." (Publishers Weekly)
"A quick-to-read, entertaining treatment of the problems inherent in time travel with style and flair." (Booklist)

“A lively cast of historical figures populates this epoch-bending adventure, highly recommended especially for fans of alternate history novels.” ( Library Bookwatch)

Difficult to follow.

There was no real depth to any of the characters. I was unable to finish it and sent it back.

Not perfect, but enjoyable

I did really enjoy this book. It does jump around a lot, and I found myself confused from time to time. I could forgive that though; you just have to suspend disbelief and roll with it. I would also recommend reading Plato's Crito first if you can; I had read it for an Ethics class so the context gave the book extra interest for me. It's fairly short and can be found on the internet. I would recommend this book if you enjoy time travel science fiction, with an intelligent female lead character, and interesting and orginal historical connections.

Fun and Historic

This is a very good read, and very good look at history also. Not to mention fun at times. With some twists.

mediocre writing ruins it

Time travel as a plot device can be tired, but this idea has a bit of originality to it--tied with the history of Greek philosophy. But mediocre writing (not awful but not good) made me bored enough that I haven't even finished it.

Historical SF, loved it!

If you're not good at keeping up with movies that twist and turn, this book is not for you. A great fun read that keeps you moving through time and history and makes you constantly connect the dots, even as they circle back on themselves. Loved it!