Review: The Philosopher's War

The Philosopher's War by Tom Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tom Miller's The Philosopher's Flight was one of the most refreshing books I read in 2018. He has followed that debut with a triumphant second novel that continues the bildungsroman account of Robert Canderelli Weekes, a nineteen-year-old sigilrist and rare male practitioner of the magical art called philosophy. Robert's Radcliffe dreams have come to fruition and he's become the first male member of the US Sigilry Rescue and Evacuation Corps. Let me assure you, it is his worst possible nightmare. 

Thrust into an environment in which he must deal with the prejudice against a male practitioner of sigilry (sexism) and the prejudice against practitioners of sigilry period (a sort of racism, but also sexism, in this alt-history of WWI, where Black Jack Pershing is not a sigilry fan), Robert finds himself in the midst of a great ethical crisis. It puts him at odds with his flame, Danielle, with half the corps, and facing a huge dilemma as the first man to be allowed in the corps. You will recall that in the Great War, warfare was waged with terrible weapons. And so it is with Miller's war, where not only chemical weapons but biological weapons are readied by both the Americans and Germans. The American plan to use a smoke laden with plague on the city of Berlin has Weekes' commander, General Blandings, planning mutiny at best and treason at worst. What side will Robert stand on? And how much will that stand cost him? And let's not forget that while all this is playing out, he is flying rescue missions against sometimes crazy odds. War, in all its heartbreaking dreadfulness, is on full display here.

Introducing a number of delightful new characters, The Philosopher's War offers a rousing sequel to readers who loved the first book. I was also glad of the illustrations, which provide a better understanding of a philosopher's equipment and their fearful weaponry. I'm hoping, (not a spoiler, since we see this early on from the prologue) that we will enjoy a third and possibly fourth novel about the man who will eventually become a Brigadier General and, as of May 1941, be living in exile? Give us more, Dr. Miller, give us more!

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