Incandescence (novel)
Encyclopedia
Incandescence is a 2008 science fiction
novel by Australian author Greg Egan
. The book is based on the idea that the theory of general relativity could be discovered by a pre-industrial civilisation.
-spanning civilisation, investigating the origin of DNA found on a meteor by the Aloof. The Aloof control the galactic core and until the novel begins, have rejected all attempts at contact by the Amalgam. The second narrative is set on a small world known as the Splinter, and covers the attempts by its inhabitants to understand the environment within which their home exists. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the Splinter orbits a collapsed star
within its accretion disk and is subject to various dangers. The two stories come together in a complex twist which involves a kind of past/future first contact
role reversal.
Much of the narrative explores the effects of orbital dynamics
around a high mass object and requires an understanding of Newtonian gravitation and at least a basic familiarity with general relativity
and its application to black hole
s and neutron star
s to be compelling. Understanding the story's wider frame of reference and the Splinter's encounter with the Wanderer are tied in with this.
The Amalgam is explored in two other short stories, "Glory" and "Riding the Crocodile".
. Another reviewer described much of this criticism as "trite received opinion" and said the book had "hints of greatness and pleasing moments" but its structure was "a failed literary experiment" and ultimately rather dull.
On June 6, 2008, British writer Adam Roberts released a review criticizing Incandescence for its awkward prose and weak characterization.
In response, Egan dissected the review, going so far as to call it "probably the first genuine hatchet job I've ever received.". In particular, he accuses Adam Roberts of malicious nitpicking and a straw man argument, and suggests that Roberts should have known he would be unfairly biased against the book and refused to review it:
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
novel by Australian author Greg Egan
Greg Egan
Greg Egan is an Australian science fiction author.Egan published his first work in 1983. He specialises in hard science fiction stories with mathematical and quantum ontology themes, including the nature of consciousness...
. The book is based on the idea that the theory of general relativity could be discovered by a pre-industrial civilisation.
Plot summary
The novel has two narratives in alternate chapters. The first follows two citizens of the Amalgam, a Milky WayMilky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
-spanning civilisation, investigating the origin of DNA found on a meteor by the Aloof. The Aloof control the galactic core and until the novel begins, have rejected all attempts at contact by the Amalgam. The second narrative is set on a small world known as the Splinter, and covers the attempts by its inhabitants to understand the environment within which their home exists. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the Splinter orbits a collapsed star
Gravitational collapse
Gravitational collapse is the inward fall of a body due to the influence of its own gravity. In any stable body, this gravitational force is counterbalanced by the internal pressure of the body, in the opposite direction to the force of gravity...
within its accretion disk and is subject to various dangers. The two stories come together in a complex twist which involves a kind of past/future first contact
First contact (science fiction)
First contact is a common science fiction theme about the first meeting between humans and extraterrestrial life, or of any sentient race's first encounter with another one....
role reversal.
Much of the narrative explores the effects of orbital dynamics
Orbit
In physics, an orbit is the gravitationally curved path of an object around a point in space, for example the orbit of a planet around the center of a star system, such as the Solar System...
around a high mass object and requires an understanding of Newtonian gravitation and at least a basic familiarity with general relativity
General relativity
General relativity or the general theory of relativity is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1916. It is the current description of gravitation in modern physics...
and its application to black hole
Black hole
A black hole is a region of spacetime from which nothing, not even light, can escape. The theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass will deform spacetime to form a black hole. Around a black hole there is a mathematically defined surface called an event horizon that...
s and neutron star
Neutron star
A neutron star is a type of stellar remnant that can result from the gravitational collapse of a massive star during a Type II, Type Ib or Type Ic supernova event. Such stars are composed almost entirely of neutrons, which are subatomic particles without electrical charge and with a slightly larger...
s to be compelling. Understanding the story's wider frame of reference and the Splinter's encounter with the Wanderer are tied in with this.
The Amalgam is explored in two other short stories, "Glory" and "Riding the Crocodile".
Criticism
One review compared Incandescence to "a not particularly enthralling lecture on the process of scientific discovery, combined with the physics of a black hole". Another reviewer described much of this criticism as "trite received opinion" and said the book had "hints of greatness and pleasing moments" but its structure was "a failed literary experiment" and ultimately rather dull.
On June 6, 2008, British writer Adam Roberts released a review criticizing Incandescence for its awkward prose and weak characterization.
In response, Egan dissected the review, going so far as to call it "probably the first genuine hatchet job I've ever received.". In particular, he accuses Adam Roberts of malicious nitpicking and a straw man argument, and suggests that Roberts should have known he would be unfairly biased against the book and refused to review it:
External links
- Greg Egan's Incandescence
- Locus Magazine's Russell Letson reviews Greg Egan includes reviews of Incandescence, "Glory" and "Riding the Crocodile".