The Rule of Four

Title: The Rule of Four
Authors: Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason

This novel is about about a bunch of Princeton students (roommates) who have different personalities and interests. Thomas, Paul, Gil and Charlie are their names, and like usual American college/university students, they like to fool around (although they are very devoted to their studies), a pinch of hedonisme here and there (Nude Olympics) but in a few days, an ancient text will change their lives.

The novel started rather slowly (written in Thomas' first-hand account). Tom's late dad was an expert in Renaissance studies. There was no doubt, that Tom grew up being haunted by one of the most famous and complicated of all Renaissance text, titled Hypnerotomachia Poliphili. (The text does exist) Paul, on the other hand, is totally crazed about the text that he could spend his whole life studying it. In short, Paul is something like a mirror image of Tom's dad.

To be honest, Hypnerotomachia Poliphili is famous not because of a great storyline, plot, or anything like Homer's Odyssey. It is more infamous for being totally incomprehendable. Even the author remained anonymous until a scholar discovered through some puzzles ala Da Vinci Code style that a certain Francesco Colonna wrote it. On the whole, it tells the story of a young man by the name of Poliphilo, who went looking for his lover. But, as each chapter unfolds, everything made no sense. One second it was talking about architechture, but then pictures of explicit accounts between Zeus and Leda jumped in. One moment it was written in Greek, the next it was written in Hebrew. But of course, there are secrets hidden within...

There are also feuds between two professors who used to work with Tom's dad, namely Vincent Taft and Richard Curry. It was apparent to Paul, who needed both to guide him in unveiling the text, that Taft was accused of stealing Curry's diary that may had clues to solve the puzzle. This is important later.

As Paul and Tom made discoveries from the text, it became clear that Colonna had reasons for the text's complications. Each page that had no sense became a series of questions that Paul and Tom had to answer in order to reach the next clue. Each question was linked to passion for art, culture, and science, for only the ones who are strong-willed enough would break through the maze. Which is why, Paul became half-a-maniac (almost a hermit) with only Tom as his friend during the process.

The reward was priceless treasure (of art and poetry) saved by Colonna during the end of the Medici family reign in Florence from a priest named Savonarola. The title, "The Rule of Four" is the rule to solve the text.

To me, the novel is an interesting read, especially if you're a Da Vinci Code fan. Unfortunately, the writing is quite slow and unlike Dan Brown, the two authors (Caldwell and Thomason) spent too much time writing subplots like Tom's deteriorating relationship with his girlfriend Katie, etc. This may be a hurdle for readers who want more action and less talk. However, the clues are briliant, and it would spoil the excitement if I were to state the ending.

It's worth a read (or two, three times) in case you missed some of the good parts.

Trivia: Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason are indeed, Princeton and Harvard graduates respectively, thus the exaggeration on Ivy League way of life. But, it's a Da Vinci Code style of book with higher standards since some of the true facts are totally distant and never unheard of by laymen, except scholars like the authors.

Next: I'd like to write reviews of a time-travel themed novels:
1. Timeline by Michael Crichton
2. A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux
3. The Time-Traveler's Wife (the author slipped my mind ryte now)

Enjoy!