The Memory of Whiteness is a science fiction novel written by Kim Stanley Robinson and published in September 1985.

[1] It shares with the Mars trilogy a focus on human colonization of the Solar System and depicts a grand tour that travels from the outer planets inward toward the Sun, visiting many human colonies along the way.

The purpose of the tour is to stage concerts by the "Holywelkin Orchestra", a futuristic musical instrument played by a selected master.

[2] Readers follow the Orchestra and its entourage together with a journalist, who after some time detects a conspiracy that seems to be connected with a group of gray-clad, sun-worshipping monks.

Dave Langford reviewed The Memory of Whiteness for White Dwarf #76, and stated that "this is impressive for its scope and feel of connecting the two cultures: both music and multidimensional physics sound convincing.