The Memory of Whiteness

The Memory of Whiteness is a science fiction novel written by Kim Stanley Robinson (1985). It shares with the Red/Green/Blue Mars trilogy the concentration on our solar system and depicts a tour coming from the far planets (Neptune, Uranus) homing in, set in the far future. The different human societies on the various planets and planetoids visited are depicted in detail. Reason for this tour is the Holywelkin Orchestra, a futuristic music instrument played by a selected master. We follow this Orchestra instrument together with a journalist, who after some time detects a conspiracy, which is focussed on the Orchestra and seems to be connected with a group of gray-clad, sun-worshipping monks. The tour ends near the planet Mercury in a solar station of these grays, which at the same time controls the white line energy source for the whole Solar System.

Compared to his later works, The Memory of Whiteness seems to be more artistic and surreal and less hard science fiction. In a way it's a book about art, especially about music, and the emotions triggered by music.