Many thanks to Tom Miller, Simon and Schuster, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. Philosophy is not magic the saying at the beginning of the book tells the reader. Some thought it was straight devilry; others that it was science. Regardless it helped women to fly. During battles. And rescue missions. And they could go to school for this. Until one year there was a young man with skills, untrained skills, who could perform as well as if not better than they could. And that didn't go over well. This is his story. I liked the imagination put into this. I think he took ideas from several areas (the military, runes, Girl Scouts, etc.) and jumbled them all together to create a satisfying story. As a first novel it shows great promise. I'd like to see what he come up with next.

The Philosopher's Flight

by Tom Miller

Ok, I admit, I look for opportunities to relive the excitement of reading that first Harry Potter book, and I was already a grownup when I read it. This title seems deliberately designed to evoke that image, so yes, I wanted to love it before I read the first page. And, I did love it, for the most part. The premise is terrific, especially since, unlike Potter's world, even I could master Sigilry if I just put enough effort into it. Yay, I can fly, finally! Miller gives us an alternative history, one where magic (empirical philosophy) is used to fight wars, and to get us places in a hurry. I enjoyed most of the characters, but because there was so much groundwork to cover, I didn't feel like they were developed thoroughly enough. Many were described in broad strokes and Miller left you to fill in their stereotypical traits. I remember when Harry Potter came out and some people disparaged it, saying that Rowling just described English boarding school in clever terms for people who knew nothing about it; I felt a little like that reading this book, as Miller tries to parallel US history and current events, rather than create an entirely new world. I will say that I am wary these days when a "women can do anything" idea is taken to such an extreme that it seems incredible (note the genre, fantasy), and even heavy-handed. Trying not to end the year on a cynical note, but all of this reverse engineering of reality seems a bit like pandering to me. There are some very clever concepts here, so I wouldn't count this series out. I'll be interested to see what's planned for the next installment.


For Goodreads:

Why I picked it — Because I love Harry Potter, and books about witches
Reminded me of… Harry Potter, and also, The Rules of Magic
For my full review — click here

What a unique and terrific novel! This is an alternate history/fantasy novel, set in the World War I era in a world much like our own, but where there is a type of magic called Empirical Philosophy. This magic is commonly known, but almost all the people who are good at it are women. The hero of the book, Robert, is the rare exception, a young man taught by his mother and older sisters who is unusually talented at it for a man, and goes to study it further at Radcliffe (yes, as in Harvard and Radcliffe). Just terrific world-building, dropping you into this familiar and yet unfamiliar world and describing empirical philosophy in a matter of fact and yet magical way. While it is a different kind of book, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Lev Grossman's "The Magicians." I really enjoyed it and will be looking forward to the sequel.

The Philosopher’s Flight drops readers right into it, beginning with a terrifying attack on a philosopher family and a daring rescue. In this alternate history, the philosophy of magic runs parallel to science and is studied as carefully and rigorously. Ability is gendered, though, with women being better able to master the craft of creating sigils. Philosophers specialize in many areas, increasing the size and speed of harvests, transporting, and hovering (flying) are just a few of the most popular. Traditionalists see all this magic as deeply offensive to traditional values and these Trenchers resort to violence and domestic terrorism as well as political lobbying to restrict and even outlaw philosophy.

Robert Weekes dreams of doing Rescue and Evacuation in the War, the World War that people still think will end all wars. He would be the first man to do so since it’s a skill only women really excel at. He gets a scholarship to Radcliffe, a contingency scholarship which means if he fails, he will owe tuition. The Philosopher’s Flight tells the story of his time at school, the conflicts that arise from women who object to a man invading their turf, resistance to his study, and his friendships, conflicts, and romance while he pursues his improbable dream of joining the most elite of the philosophical careers.


I expected to enjoy The Philosopher’s Flight. But I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. Tom Miller created a credible alternate history that closely mirrors our own, with the same politicians and wars, but with the added complication of this new art. Miller imagines how it would be used in war, the political implications and how they all work together to create social and cultural conflicts. His speculative history holds together.

I like Robert. I liked his easy-going empathy, but I also like that despite understanding why some people may behave badly, he isn’t a pushover. He has a strong moral center, but he is developing his understanding of himself. He can imagine revenge, but when revenge is possible, he learns what kind of man he is. The decisions he makes are not easy and his decision-making and reflection make for an interesting, involving story. I look forward to the sequel.

I received an e-galley of The Philosopher’s Flight from the publisher through NetGalley

The Philosopher’s Flight at Simon & Schuster
The Philosopher’s War will be released in July 2019.
Tom Miller interview at The Qwillery

Lovely read with the WWI setting and the mixture of fiction and real stories. I really enjoyed to read this book an I feel a bit ashamed it took me too long to actually get there and have time to finish it. I would love to read more from the author in the future.

I thought this was a really fun read and I love when books mix historical fiction and fantasy. The magic/science system was really unique and intriguing and was made even better by it taking place in an alternative historical timeline.

I loved the group dynamics and relationships in the story. Robert was a great protagonist who you can't help but like. Danielle and Jake are fierce women who I deeply admire, despite their flaws. Unger is just the kind of friend I would like to have.

The social commentary was a lot of fun and Roberts' moral dilemmas made him even more relateable. Questions of what can and should be justified in wartime are never easy and never straightforward but I thought the book did a good job of addressing them. 

Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I see it listed as part of an Untitled series on Goodreads so I'm hoping there will be more!

The Philosopher's Flight is the debut novel from ER doctor, writer of travel guides, English instructor, and renaissance man Tom Miller. Released 13th Feb, 2018 by Simon & Schuster, it's 422 pages and available in ebook, hardcover, paperback and audiobook formats.

I received my copy of this book last January, I'm ashamed to say. Winter season and early Spring are busy times for me at the hospital lab and in my reading pile, and I didn't get a chance to start it until this past week (we're in September). I devoured it in two sittings. I was enchanted from the first page. I literally missed my bus stop reading. That's only happened a couple of times previously.

This book does not read like a debut. There is absolutely no floundering. The voice is strong and sure and the writing is sublimely good. The dialogue is really well done with deftness and subtlety. The characters are fleshed out and interesting and I cannot wait to see what happens next. I really loved the alternate WWI setting, the magic system, the cohesiveness of the world building, and the pacing. The story arc progresses in a believable arc with logical character motivations. I never once internally questioned why any of the characters did the things they did. Suspension of disbelief is a precious thing and the author never abused my trust.

The book is based on some actual historical characters and occurrences. Fleshing out the framework of real history is a skillfully woven skin of fantasy. It's not always possible to tell where one ends and the other begins. This gives the entire story, despite being a fantasy, a sense of realism which is amazing and a joy to read.

I don't care if Dr. Miller is a doctor (well done, you!), he's a writer with a prodigious gift for storytelling.

I recommended this book highly to colleagues and friends even before I was finished with it. I recommend it now to everyone. Wonderful writing, superlative book.

Five stars. Can't wait to read the next book.

The Philosopher's Flight is one of my favorite reads of the year so far. I found it so incredibly entertaining.

In this alternate World War I era novel, magic (called empirical philosophy) has been part of society for generations. Women are naturally more gifted in empirical philosophy, flipping the gender dynamics in intriguing ways. Robert Weekes's mother is an empirical philosopher, and, though it's slightly unorthodox, she's taught her son. A daring rescue gives Robert the confidence to apply to college to study empirical philosophy, despite the fact that they seldom accept boys.

Tom Miller's debut novel is such an entertaining work of feminist fiction. The words that came out of Robert's mouth really made me stop: things like "I always thought I was a good flyer, for a boy." A good alternate history is one that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, and this book is definitely those things. I'm thrilled that Tom Miller is writing a sequel.

The Philosopher's Flight presents an interesting alternate history in a female-dominant world. It is a really well written story, that definitely stood out. But there was just something about it that did not allow me to connect with the story. I didn't hate it, by any means. It just wasn't my favorite either. Nothing inherently wrong with it, just not for me.

Great first book from Mr. Miller! Very interesting premise...a man being put down and ridiculed for wanting to be a philosopher...only women can do that...a bit of a reversed society. Very well written and enjoyable read. Looking forward to his next book!

"We've got killers enough in the family. You - you're going to be the first man in R&E"

What a surprise! This book with a totally wacky premise, that was a little bit difficult to get into, and made me a bit cautious with it's "reverse-sexism" theme, ended up being a five star read. The Philosopher's Flight has a strong male lead, a fantastic mostly female supporting cast, is engaging and highly original, and had me rooting for Robert the whole way through.

"I'm in the thrall to it and so are you. You're called. If you don't answer, you'll lose the better part of yourself"

We are in the early 1900s, in the midst of World War One, and the air is full of politics and heat. Imagine the world as it might have actually been in that time, with women fighting tooth and nail for their right to vote, with ideas about being ladylike, with men dominating the infantry and most areas of society. All this is in The Philosopher's Flight ,and then. The most amazing, most respected thing a human being can do - empirical philosophy and sigilry - is the domain of women alone. This is, essentially, magic. Done by using powder to draw sigils, or glyphs, women can influence smoke, create fire and force, and, the most impressive of all, fly. 

Alongside the bulk of the Army is the highly respected Sigilry Corps. They transport armies in the blink of an eye, cover the enemies' trenches in smoke, and generally aid the war effort enormously. Most respected of all is Rescue and Evacuation (R&E). Some men hate them, hate what they can do, all the women want to be them. No man has every flown in R&E. Enter Robert Weekes. His mother was a sigilwoman in various wars, now she is a country philosopher rescuing livestock, providing medicine, flying out the rural wounded to bigger hospitals. Robert is her assistant, unofficial because the board won't legitimise a man, and his childhood dream is to fly R&E.

"Well, philosophy warps the laws of probability"

When his older sister urges him to apply to Radcliffe, a mostly women's school that focuses on flight and hovering, he cautiously submits an application. They only take a few men on Contingency, meaning that if they fail out, as they are mostly expected to (because, of course, men cannot do philosophy and their sigils are weak) they are drafted into the war. He is accepted and goes to Radcliffe with his second-hand flight knowledge and his mother's war stories and the protests of the female students. 

At Radcliffe Robert finds enemies in the form of the flight instructor who can't believe a man can fly and demotes him to the lowest rank. But he also finds allies in the form of his roommate Unger, owner of a hundred and fifty nine bowties who cannot ignite a single sigil, and some women of the student body: flighty and fiesty "Jake" Jacobi, the medalled young war hero Dar, and a select few members of the staff who advise him and encourage him. Robert is modest, likeable, and believably skilled and successful. He is a man who hasn't reached his full potential because of the barriers society has placed against him - this is not the story of a man who rocks up to a college to "put women in their place" or anything, it's just about a man who wants to fly, who wants to save lives, who has a good, kind heart. 

"Sigilwoman Robert A. Weekes. Was it really so absurd?"

This is a fantastic, amazing example of how to do historical magical realism. There are real events woven into the imaginary ones, there is an interesting re-imagining of society that flips the tables without demonising women, and a compelling protagonist that you can't help but love.

My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

I chose this book based on the summary, which led me to believe that this book would be a fantasy rich in WWI historical context. What I got was merely a fantasy novel with WWI playing off in the distance. That is not the author's fault, that is the publisher's fault. Beyond this shortfall, I found the story generally an intriguing one. I found it refreshing to find a society in that this was set as predominantly female ran and favored. I found the different aspects of their magic, which is never called magic by them different from most magic I have encountered in fiction. I, of course, as a perpetual lover of university settings, loved the setting of the college and what it brought to the story. The one thing I found difficult to work my way around was Robert. He was portrayed as weak, emotional, etc. A stereotypical female depiction. I understand the purpose of that portrayal, but I would have rather seen him empowered by the women around him, not treated as a second class citizen. That's the problem, you make a character as a stereotypical woman, I will empathize with them. I don't think this character depiction really worked. It's like asking the reader to ignore the social climate they live in and say, see now the man is being treated as you could be. I still see a white male, who in any other part of society would have thrived without blinking an eye, where I as a woman, would have failed. It was a valiant attempt to bend gender norms, but fell flat.

Imagine a world where women dominated a branch of science and men are discriminated against if they try to break into the empirical philosophy field. Robert Weeks dreams of joining the US Sigilry Corps Rescue and Evacuation Service. He would be the first male in the job of flying medics. He wins a scholarship to study at Radcliffe College and will need to prove himself in order to win the respect of the women. Yet he will face the bias of women and others who feel a good philosopher is a dead philosopher.

Well written and it will have you rooting for the underdog. I enjoyed reading this book and the development of the story. A great blend of historical fiction and fantasy.

What an exciting book! I couldn't put it down. I was a bit wary going in, but I need not have worried.

This book flirts with and undermines all sorts of genre tropes and rules -- in multiple genres -- while at the same time gently satirizing real life. It's got great characters, impressively complex gender dynamics, and a well thought out [don't call it magic!] system fully enmeshed in a refreshing Alternate History of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It's like an college sports novel that's the bastard love child of Brandon Sanderson and Cherie Priest. What's not to adore?

This book is fantastic. It's an alt-history with a truly excellent grasp on the social impacts the discovery of "empirical philosophy" (alchemy/magic by any other name) might have on the course of history. And we get snippets of history throughout the book, not just the course of the story, but all the epigraphs as well.

Our protagonist, Robert Weekes, is the son of a war hero - a woman who we're told did some pretty terrible things in previous campaigns. Women are usually the best at philosophy, and he's been helping his mom with her rural practice in Montana after she retired from the military. Shit hits the proverbial fan, and he ends up with the chance to study at Radcliffe College.

As one of three men who're accepted to Radcliffe at the time, Robert is in the thick of some pretty interesting gender politics, but he navigates them very well. There's plenty of other social upheaval as well, as the US is getting ready to enter WWI and philosophers are being targeted.

There are so many parallels to the current socio-political climate that I don't really want to get into them in a review, but suffice it to say that Tom Miller did a great job being true to the source material/history as well as saying something relevant about today.

The characters are wonderful, even the ones who are wonderful to dislike because of their prejudices. The relationships are great as well - romantic, platonic, mentor, and family. I cared deeply what happened to folks, and cried more than once.

The stakes are deeply personal, as Weekes has such lofty goals for himself, but it's easy to see the impact of the personal on the larger stage with how the book is written.

I'd recommend this book for people who like magic schools, those looking for alt-history set in the late 1910s, folks who like fish out of water stories, and fans of strong worldbuilding.

My review copy is courtesy of Net Galley.

The description of this book sounded right up my alley. A mix of magic, history, science and more with a whole flipped gender role aspect. I mean seriously, sign me up! And though it took me much longer than I had originally anticipated or hoped to get around to reading it, I was right. (Congratulations to me for knowing my own reading preferences by now, I guess. Haha.) This was nothing if not thoroughly entertaining, fascinating and wildly imaginative.

“To the men the earth, to the women the sky, as God willed it.”

Robert Weekes is a male sigilrist, a branch of empirical philosophy that is dominated by woman practitioners. He dreams of being the first male member of the elite US Sigilry Core Rescue and Evacuation Service, but no man has the skills for that…so he is stuck spending his time assisting his mother in her local service position in rural Montana. However, after he is (finally) about to showcase some of his abilities in an emergency situation, he earns a scholarship seat at the all-female Radcliffe College. While there, Robert faces all sorts of discrimination, makes some lifelong friends, falls in love with a young war hero turned activist and works harder than anyone in the school to try and achieve his Rescue and Evac dreams, all while drawing the ire of female philosophical traditionalists and a fanatic group of anti-philosophers.

This is, without a doubt, one of the most well developed alternate history novels I have ever read. When I originally looked at the description of the novel, I thought it might ring similar to Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, which is another sweeping magical historical reimagining. And while I did enjoy that book, I liked this one so much better! It’s pacing is considerably faster and everything just feels much more high stakes. If I had to compare the two, I’d say Strange and Norrell is sort of a slow-sip neat pour of a strong whiskey, while Philosopher’s Flight is more of a whiskey sour. Anyways, back on track, this book was absolutely impressive in it’s creative scope. It’s a bit like steampunk, with it’s addition of technologies and customs to a time period that was, in reality, much more primitive, but with a more scientific-magical than technological bend to the additions. The weaving of philosophical “magic” into all aspects of life, from transportation to politics to religious zeal to war was seamless and comprehensive. And the little passages/quotes from “history” books that started each chapter, retelling parts of the past with philosophical supplements, were a fun way to add even more depth to that world development. Also, the detail included in everything philosophical was mind-boggling, like the specifics of flying (or hovering), sigil drawing methods and theory, the medical uses, the “secret” university societies around it, the societal norms around it, and the serious vs sport type uses of it. Honestly, I cannot even begin to guess how long it took the author to map out and think through all the details, but you can tell how much went into it by how effortlessly the history and plot unfold.

As far as the characters, I definitely got into their stories. There were a lot of them, and their backgrounds and personalities were all just as fleshed out as the world-building, so it took some time to get a handle on it all after meeting them. But I didn’t mind the effort because it all just seemed so real that it was worth doing. I cannot say that there were any serious character development moments, and to that extent this was definitely a setting and plot driven novel, but I don’t think that was a particular problem for me. We really only spend about a year with them, and they are all university age or adult already, so much of their major changes are already complete. This is really just a chance to live in and experience a fantastic “new” world with a great set of already formed characters. But despite that more or less static character development arc, that plot that drives the story is worth reading. Things start up fast and serious, though they slow down a little once Robert gets to Radcliffe and he is forming new friendships. I respect the need for this change in pace in the middle, but I did have to skim just a little through some of it so it didn’t drag too long (particularly regarding some of the particularly in depth about sigil theory and flying techniques). And the last third or so is just great – the pace picks up, the action stays constant, and by the end I couldn’t read fast enough.

I loved the upending of social norms and gender roles as they were in the 20th century. This kind of flipped story is something I usually really enjoy (which is why The Power was one of my absolute favorite recent reads) and it’s creatively and intuitively done here. There are many moments of small discomfort as Robert challenges these roles that are incredibly poignant and recognizable. And when arguments against his participation in certain aspects of life and philosophy strike the reader as absolutely ridiculous, it’s provides a stark and ideal opportunity to examine the gender role prejudices we have today. That’s what good writing can do – and I am so grateful for it.

This is a phenomenal mix of history, social commentary, medicine, political intrigue, and some budding romance, all with a great side of magic. It has a little something for everyone and is incredibly well written. A very, very impressive debut.

A riveting example of alternate history storytelling, made even more exciting by a unique blend of fantasy, science fiction, and characters compelling enough to keep you turning the pages.
Tom Miller's approach to gender stereotyping and exclusivity is an excitingly original take on a theme that seems to be getting worn out, even as it remains a necessary discussion for our society today. The Philosopher's Flight takes the reader on a journey both exciting and illuminating.

This is an alternative history with a scientific form of magic called "philosophy". It takes place around World War I and is kind of a humorous coming-of-age story. The magic largely involves drawing sigils to perform various functions and women have by far the greatest abilities with it. The book is a fun ride, but has lots of depth to it too with its looks at sexism, the demands of activism, and the dangers of extremism. What is one to think when the heroes commit acts as atrocious as the enemy?

I wouldn't mind if this turned out to be a series, Mr. Miller!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a free e-ARC of this book.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Robert Weekes has grown up in a family of empirical philosophers – women who can fly, heal, and perform various other spells. Empirical philosophy has always been a women-dominated field; some men have shown an aptitude for it, but they are not as proficient as women. Since his older sisters left their Montana home, Robert has worked as an assistant to his mother, a former soldier and now the county philosopher. When his mother is injured during one of her runs, Robert is forced to test his strength and endurance as a philosopher and saves 3 lives in the process.

Robert's dream has always been to serve with the army's Rescue and Evacuation unit of philosophers, despite the fact that no man has ever served in that unit. With his sister's encouragement, Robert applies for and lands a scholarship to train in the empirical philosophy department at Radcliffe, one of only 3 boys in the school. While Robert faces a lot of women angry at Radcliffe's decision to admit him, he also forms some strong friendships. He also falls for Danielle Hardin, a fellow student, war hero, and political activist. Both attract the attention of the the Trenchers, an anti-philosopher hate group. Robert, Danielle, and their friends and allies must work together to preserve the philosopher movement for the next generation.

I really enjoyed this book. I see that there is at least one more book coming out in this series, and I can't wait for to read the sequel next year! It will be neat to see how empirical philosophy is used in war as compared to at the comparatively safe use at college. Also, at the beginning of the book, all the philosophers lived just over the US border in Mexico. I hope the next book will explain when and why that happened! The Trenchers definitely echoed a lot of what we are seeing in political movements today.

Such a fun, action-packed adventure that both children and adults alike will enjoy! I particularly enjoyed the idea of the women holding the positions of power.