Incandescence (novel)

Infobox Book |
name = Incandescence
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author = Greg Egan
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country = United Kingdom
language = English
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genre = Science fiction
publisher = Gollancz
pub_date = 15 May 2008
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media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 304 pp
isbn = ISBN 978-0575081628
oclc =
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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 [cite web|url=http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=1064|title=The Big Idea|last=Egan|first=Greg|date=2008-07-22|work=Whatever|publisher=John Scalzi|accessdate=2008-08-30] .

Plot Summary

The novel has two narratives in alternate chapters. The first follows two citizens of the Amalgam, a galaxy-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 is set on a small world known as the Splinter, and covers the attempts by its inhabitants to understand the environment it exists in. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the Splinter orbits a particularly large black hole.

The Amalgam is explored in two other short stories, " [http://outofthiseos.typepad.com/blog/files/GregEganGlory.pdf Glory] " and " [http://gregegan.customer.netspace.net.au/INCANDESCENCE/00/Crocodile.html Riding the Crocodile] ".

Criticism

"Incandescence" has been criticised for its awkward prose and weak characterisation, even by the standards of Egan's other hard science fictioncite web|url=http://www.strangehorizons.com/reviews/2008/06/incandescence_b.shtml|title=Strange Horizons Reviews: Incandescence by Greg Egan|last=Roberts|first=Adam|date=2008-06-06|publisher=Strange Horizons|accessdate=2008-08-30] ; one review compared it to "a not particularly enthralling lecture on the process of scientific discovery, combined with the physics of a black hole"cite web|url=http://www.dwscifi.com/reviews/1957-incandescence|title=Incandescence Review|last=Simpson|first=Paul|date=2008-05-09|work=Total Sci Fi|publisher=Titan Magazines|accessdate=2008-08-30] . 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 dullcite web|url=http://www.sfsite.com/09a/ic279.htm|title=The SF Site Featured Review: Incandescence|last=McCalmont|first=Jonathan|date=2008-09-01|work=The SF Site|accessdate=2008-10-01] .

External links and references

* [http://gregegan.customer.netspace.net.au/INCANDESCENCE/Incandescence.html Greg Egan's Incandescence]
* [http://www.locusmag.com/Features/2008/04/locus-magazines-russell-letson-reviews.html Locus Magazine's Russell Letson reviews Greg Egan] includes reviews of "Incandescence", "Glory" and "Riding the Crocodile".