Jupiter Magnified by Adam Roberts
01/07/2003 . Source: Jane Palmer 

pub: PS Publishing. 104 page enlarged limited edition paperback. Price: £10.00 (UK), $16.00 (US). ISBN: 1-902-880-56-0. 104 page limited editon hardback. Price: £25.00 (UK), $40.00 (US). ISBN: 1-902-880-57-9.

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A novella and poems of 104 pages

‘Jupiter Magnified’ means just that. Some extraordinary anomaly has created cosmic lensing that, apparently, fills the Earth's sky with the gaseous splendour of Jupiter.

I would like to say that the explanations for this come thick and fast. Instead, the author uses the first person narrative of a Swedish poet with a jaded love life as a commentator. She should be dedicating her efforts to producing an anthology about the quality of light.

Already having a block on her inspiration, the arrival of Jupiter not only alters the quality of light, it puts the tin hat on Stina Ekman's creativity. As a consequence, there is much self-analysis and navel-gazing - especially that of her overweight lover's, Dun.

This male author writing in a first person female voice has the unsettling capacity to make Stina available to accidental sexual encounter, though it is easier to believe her contemplation about the Jupiter anomaly as it eventually unbalances her mind and health.

As there is little plot, to get the most from the novella it is best to go with the flow of thought and not expect a satisfying conclusion. You will be rewarded by the most plausible explanation for Jupiter's appearance to the non-astrophysicist in the last chapter.

It is only when you come to the poetry that you realise how well the anomaly of Jupiter filling the sky complements a plot about the perception of light.

There is an elegance about ‘Jupiter Magnified’ that could easily border on self-indulgence but doesn't. It is issued in limited and signed editions, so if you do want to read it, best acquire a copy now.

Jane Palmer