If you love science fiction that dives deep into quantum physics, cosmic-scale disasters, and mind-bending new scientific theories, Schild's Ladder is your jam. This book takes hard SF to a whole new level, exploring a post-human future bursting with bold, original concepts - think digitized minds, quantum graph theory, and societies built around physics-defying tech. Fans of authors like Iain M. Banks and Liu Cixin, or anyone who enjoys having their brain stretched by the big questions at the edge of science, will find a lot to geek out over. There’s a sense of wonder here that’s hard to beat, and Egan’s willingness to run towards all the weirdness is both fun and inspirational.

Who May Not Like This Book:

If you’re more into relatable characters, fast-paced action, or crystal-clear storytelling, this might not be your cup of tea. Some readers find the characters distant or emotionally flat, and the science so heavy it can feel almost like reading a thesis. The early parts of the book, in particular, can seem slow or even bewildering if you don’t have some physics background - or the patience to just roll with long scientific explanations. If you prefer soft sci-fi or find technical jargon off-putting, this one may leave you a bit lost or unengaged.

A true feast for fans of hard sci-fi who don’t mind getting lost in wild physics and abstract ideas - brilliant, ambitious, and occasionally overwhelming, but unforgettable if you’re up for the challenge.

About:

Schild's Ladder by Greg Egan is a hard science fiction novel set 20,000 years in the future, exploring themes of quantum mechanics, transhumanism, and the manipulation of matter at a quantum level. The story follows a research team divided into Preservationists and Yielders, dealing with the aftermath of an accident at the future equivalent of the Large Hadron Collider. The protagonist, Tchicaya, navigates the slow-motion destruction caused by a false vacuum expanding throughout the universe, while interacting with computationally augmented post-humans and delving into complex quantum theories.

Greg Egan's writing style in Schild's Ladder is characterized by intricate scientific concepts, such as quantum graph theory and relativity, presented in a detailed and thought-provoking manner. The narrative delves deep into the implications of advanced technology on humanity, exploring themes of identity, society, and the consequences of manipulating the fabric of reality.

Characters:

Characters are futuristic and often overly intellectual, with emotional detachment reflective of their advanced technological state.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is intricate and dense, filled with scientific terminology, requiring significant engagement from readers.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative follows a post-catastrophic future where humanity faces a cosmic threat due to the expansion of a false vacuum, exploring profound themes of existence and identity.

Setting:

The setting is a far-future universe grappling with the consequences of scientific advancements and existential threats from a false vacuum.

Pacing:

The pacing tends to be slow to start, with a gradual buildup that leads to more engaging and faster-paced segments later on.

Other patterns could propagate in a similar fashion, and their symmetries and interactions matched up perfectly with the known fundamental particles. Every graph was still just a graph, a collection o...

Notes:

Schild's Ladder explores complex science concepts like quantum mechanics and tensor networks.

The book features a future where humans have advanced tech that allows for unique problem-solving.

It delves into philosophical discussions about identity and consciousness over time.

The story's backdrop is an environmental disaster from a false vacuum expanding through the universe.

Characters in the story are presented as highly evolved, often detached post-humans with enhanced capabilities.

Egan's writing is described as dense and mathematically heavy, making it challenging but rewarding to read.

The protagonist, Tchicaya, navigates a divided research team dealing with this cosmic threat.

The novel raises questions about whether beings are the same over time, using the concept of parallel transport on a manifold.

Many readers find the scientific exposition fascinating yet difficult to understand.

Schild's Ladder is recognized as one of the hardest science fiction novels due to its scientific realism.

From The Publisher:

When the laws of physics are suddenly called into question, a whole new potential for life and death is brought to the entire universe.

For twenty thousand years, every phenomenon that has ever been observed in the universe has been explainable through the means of the Sarumpaet Rules. These rules are the essential laws of quantum graphs that explain the makeup of the geometric structure of space-time.

Cass, a humanoid physicist from Earth, discovers that the Sarumpaet Rules may not be the only applicable set of the laws of physics in the universe. Cass travels to a remote experimental facility in hopes to test her theorythat the novo-vacuum" will begin to decay the moment it is created. Cass's theory proves greater than she'd anticipated, and the novo-vacuum" begins to expand out from the research facility at half the speed of light.

More than six hundred years pass, and at least two thousand inhabited systems have been consumed by the novo-vacuum." Those fascinated by the phenomenon choose to study it under two differing categories: Preservationists and Yielders. Preservationists are forever hypothesizing on how to destroy the vacuum; Yielders believe it holds a purpose in reinvigorating civilization.

Tchicaya is a Yielder and Mariama is a Preservationist. These childhood friends will put their beliefs and their history to the test when violence breaks out among the two groups. Tchicaya must form an alliance with Mariama so that she can help them both escape the violence and confront the fate of the universe before it is too late.

Skyhorse Publishing, under our Night Shade and Talos imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of titles for readers interested in science fiction (space opera, time travel, hard SF, alien invasion, near-future dystopia), fantasy (grimdark, sword and sorcery, contemporary urban fantasy, steampunk, alternative history), and horror (zombies, vampires, and the occult and supernatural), and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller, a national bestseller, or a Hugo or Nebula award-winner, we are committed to publishing quality books from a diverse group of authors.

2002

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352 pages

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Schild's Ladder

Greg Egan

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