PERCIVAL'S PLANET

PERCIVAL’S PLANET is a creaky, gentle, old-fashioned literary escapade—a winding, amusing, contemplative historical novel. Like the work of E.L. Doctorow, this novel paints a portrait of an era—pre- and post-Depression—by focusing on a single event: the discovery of the planet Pluto by Clyde Tombaugh, a DIY astronomer. There are plenty of eccentric characters—including one who believes she’s growing a horn out of her head. There’s no tension, suspense, or real drama. This is one big literary soufflé of language, ideas, and emotions. Narrator William Dufris manages to navigate his way through the 17 hours of this novel with unflagging enthusiasm and energy. The result is a thoughtful window on history told in a warm and witty narrative style. R.W.S. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2011]