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• The Technologists is historical fiction that is part mystery, part thriller set against the background of the newly evolving field of science and technology in 1868 Boston.In Boston Harbor ships begin to crash into each other in the fog as compasses momentarily fail to function. Days later glass in the buildings in the financial district begins to melt causing destruction and panic only to solidify moments later, disfiguring anyone who touched it. The people are alarmed and demand that the perpetrator be stopped. Everyone fears another disaster will soon occur.The police turn to Harvard, the preeminent and trusted institution, and ask the professors there to help them find an answer. Several students at the newly formed Massachusetts Institute of Technology want to help with the investigation but they are told to stay away. The public views MIT with distrust as the very word “technology” scares people. The trade unions fear the many new emerging technologies will eliminate jobs and the press sensationalized what they did not understand. A small group of MIT students form a secret society which they call The Technologists and surreptitiously begin their own research, determined to save Boston from the madman who is causing these disasters.It took the first 60 to 70 pages for me to get oriented, figure out who all the characters were and get accustomed to the language of the time period or perhaps it was the author’s writing style. After that, the story just took off. The pace picked up and I didn’t want to put the book down. I enjoy historical mysteries and the addition of science made it irresistible for me. The characters were well-developed and believable, the protagonist likeable and the story a suspenseful mystery. It had the feel of a Sherlock Holmes adventure and there were a few great plot twists along the way to the mystery’s conclusion.I especially enjoy a book that makes me curious about the history of the characters and the setting, and inspires me to learn more. Were they based on real people? I began looking them up on Wiki. Yes, some of them were. Two of the students were based on actual individuals who attended MIT in the early years, one being the first woman in America accepted to any school of science and technology.It is apparent that the author did a remarkable amount of research that gave this novel an air of authenticity. 19th century Boston, a time and place I am not familiar with, comes alive. At the end of the book is a several page Afterword. The author cites his inspiration for the story, provides more information on the characters, the science of the day and some factual background on MIT’s fight for legitimacy in the early days when the concept of scientific education was considered dangerous.I definitely recommend this for those who like historical mysteries and the techie types who like a little science mixed in will enjoy it even more. This was my first book by Matthew Pearl and I’m looking forward to reading more from him.

  5.00 out of 5

  UnderMyAppleTree

• This is a perfect example of the kind of book I adore. First, college campus back in the olden days. Second, mystery. Third, history, especially since Pearl based his characters off of real students at the university. Basically, I ate it up and it was awesome. There were so many times when I was like, "OMG it's this person!!" only to find that, in fact, the culprit was still lurking in Boston's shadows somewhere. Love.I adored the setting, in 1800s Boston, right after the Civil War. I also loved the characters, and how Marcus had fought in the Civil War. He is scared by it, but trying to make a better life for himself. His friends, Bob, Edwin, and Miss Swallow, were all instantly likeable, like they were friends of mine as well as Marcus. I also loved Hammie, who tries so hard to be a part of their group and is often hilarious. The Institute of Technology also has its rivals over at Harvard, and I loved the scenes where they bickered and basically tried to one-up each other. This is the kind of book you want to talk about as you're reading it. I kept being like, "OMG, I can't believe this is happening! OMG could it be?!" But of course I had no one to discuss this with. All in all, I adored this book, as you can probably tell. This was my first time reading anything by Matthew Pearl, and I can't wait to pick of The Dante Club, which is my friend's favorite book of his.

  5.00 out of 5

  tomgirl571

• The time: 1868. The place: Boston, a city suddenly and inexplicably beset by catastrophes that seem to have been precipitated by a madman. First, various types of vessels in the harbor collided in the fog and sank because their navigational instruments all malfunctioned concurrently. Then, in the financial district, glass spontaneously melted away from windows, pocket watches, etc., causing some horrific injuries. The questions: Why is someone terrorizing Boston? Who is behind these events? And what will happen next?This gripping novel unfolds against a backdrop of fear, not just of the elusive madman but of other unknowns. One of the greatest fears is of technology. Then the very word was new. To machinists, it meant the threat that newfangled contraptions would eliminate their jobs. To Harvard students, the establishment of the fledgling Instutute of Technology meant opening higher education to the masses--those who were not cultured gentlemen--and there was no telling where that could lead. Why, the Institute had actually admitted a female student!When the disasters struck, a small group of the Institute's students, the lone female among them, risked their futures--and the school's--to pursue the perpetrator and to prevent further calamities that threatened to destroy the entire city. Their efforts are resourceful and engrossing, with a surprise at almost every turn of the page. Extensively researched, intricately plotted, and engrossingly narrated, Matthew Pearl's fourth novel is a tour de force.

  5.00 out of 5

  Fjumonvi

• MIT's first class is about to graduate. Before they do so, a madman is at work in the city of Boston, creating a distrust of technology among the people. Will these students be able to discover his identity and thwart his plans before Boston is destroyed? I found this to be a captivating read. The characters were interesting and well-drawn. The attitudes toward technology and Darwinism were interesting to explore. It was also interesting to see the attitudes towards a woman being enrolled in MIT pursuing education in a male-dominated field. My interest in the book never waned. There are enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing the identity of the madman until almost the end. This review is based on an advance uncorrected proof received through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.

  5.00 out of 5

  thornton37814

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