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Quantum #2
Quantum Void
Eight months after the astounding discoveries made at Fermilab…
Particle physics was always an unlikely path to the stars, but with the discovery that space could be compressed, the entire galaxy had come within reach. The technology was astonishing, yet nothing compared to what humans encountered four thousand light-years from home. Now, with an invitation from a mysterious gatekeeper, the people of Earth must decide if they’re ready to participate in the galactic conversation.
The world anxiously watches as a team of four katanauts suit up to visit an alien civilization. What they learn on a watery planet hundreds of light-years away could catapult human comprehension of the natural world to new heights. But one team member must overcome crippling fear to cope with an alien gift she barely understands.
Back at Fermilab, strange instabilities are beginning to show up in experiments, leading physicists to wonder if they ever really had control over the quantum dimensions of space.
The second book of the Quantum series rejoins familiar characters and adds several more as it explores the frontiers of human knowledge and wisdom. Of course, it wouldn’t be part of the series if it didn’t have a few twists along the way!
355 pages, ebook
First published March 7, 2018
1809 people are currently reading
623 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Phillips
43 books336 followersDouglas Phillips is the best-selling author of the Ascending Carbon Series, the Quantum Series, and more. The books are page-turning adventures that imagine scientific discovery as the path toward a positive future for humanity. Each story draws the reader deeper into mysteries that require intellect, not bullets, to resolve.
Doug has science degrees in Geomorphology and Meteorology, has designed and written predictive computer models, reads physics books for fun and peers into deep space through the eyepiece of his backyard telescope. He lives in Seattle, travels the world with his wife, hikes with his two sons, and becomes a child all over again with his grandchildren.
"I love science fiction, especially stories that begin with real science then ask, what if? I've studied a wide range of science throughout my life. Now, I'm turning that experience into the stories I've always wanted to read."
http://douglasphillipsbooks.com/
Doug has science degrees in Geomorphology and Meteorology, has designed and written predictive computer models, reads physics books for fun and peers into deep space through the eyepiece of his backyard telescope. He lives in Seattle, travels the world with his wife, hikes with his two sons, and becomes a child all over again with his grandchildren.
"I love science fiction, especially stories that begin with real science then ask, what if? I've studied a wide range of science throughout my life. Now, I'm turning that experience into the stories I've always wanted to read."
http://douglasphillipsbooks.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
June 13, 2022
There are only a random few SF books that treat quantum physics with any kind of serious thought, and virtually none of them (other than a very small handful) go out of their way to treat the actual effects as full-on story elements.
This one does and it combines big-to-small, small-to-big higher dimensional math as effects that our society can research and/or exploit with the help of quantum-AI alien species, quantum transposition in space, and other neat goodies.
I think it's wonderfully accessible Hard-SF and I love how wild the effects can get. No, this isn't on par with The Three-Body Problem or its sequels, but we're in the same ballpark.
Fascinating reading.
This one does and it combines big-to-small, small-to-big higher dimensional math as effects that our society can research and/or exploit with the help of quantum-AI alien species, quantum transposition in space, and other neat goodies.
I think it's wonderfully accessible Hard-SF and I love how wild the effects can get. No, this isn't on par with The Three-Body Problem or its sequels, but we're in the same ballpark.
Fascinating reading.
March 12, 2018
I really enjoyed this book even better than the first in the series. I binge read the last half of it this afternoon. I look forward to the 3rd book in the series and more books by this author. Great hard science fiction read!
January 26, 2024
The first book of the Quantum series was so much better, I loved it so much. It built up such big anticipation, what the second book Quantum Void could possibly deliver. Quantum Void did not deliver the expected quality of a science-fiction book. It was focused on a single action, an anomaly and everything was built around it. There was not really a plot, or character development and there was no further information on the collaboration with the other species.
All in all, I still liked the world the author created, however, this book did not live up to the first book. :(
All in all, I still liked the world the author created, however, this book did not live up to the first book. :(
July 26, 2018
Great book, interesting science, imaginative writing, and interesting characters!
Note - If you haven't already read Quantum Space (Quantum Series Book #1), please stop right now and read it. Your enjoyment of Quantum Void will be greatly increased by knowing what happens in the first book - not to mention that Quantum Space is a great read!
Sequels are a tricky business. I'm not an author but I would suspect that they put their best ideas down as they come to them. Thus, after writing an excellent first book full of great ideas there is the question of whether there is enough good "stuff" left for their characters and the story in book 2. With Quantum Void the answer is given by Douglas Phillips himself in the epilogue of book one, "as an author, once you've left the tracks of reality, you can go wherever your imagination takes you." In Quantum Void, Phillips shows that he has an excellent imagination and takes us on a ride where corrupt business people and politicians and unethical and hasty scientists come together to create a potentially catastrophic mixing of the third and fourth dimensions.
I like Science Fiction that is based on real science and Douglas Phillips definitely writes in that genre. It is obvious that he loves science, does serious research for his books, and can take a current theory and build a believable story from it. Since many of the theories of Quantum Physics already sound impossible and like science fiction to begin with, Phillips doesn't have to go far down this path to move us into alternate universes, new parts of the Standard Model, alien lifeforms, and more.
In my review of Quantum Space, I commented that Phillips fell into the trap of many other male, Sci Fi authors in his presentation of female characters and interactions between the men and women in his story. He credited his wife with helping him with the female characters in the first book and, based on the improvements in the second book, I assume there were many, interesting late night talks. (And yes, Douglas, you do need to take her to Haiti.) He even addresses this issue when one of the main male characters muses on how he is hearing and reacting to one of the female characters differently that he would a male one, negatively ascribing her actions to emotions rather than a scientific thought process. Keep up the learning curve Douglas - and feel free to share with the rest of us of the minority sex what you learn.
I was delighted to see that Phillips again included an epilogue where he explained some of the science and directed to places where we could learn more about Quantum Physics. This is a great feature and one I wish more hard science, Science Fiction writers would use.
I did give this book one less star than the first one in the series. That is due to the fact that I felt Phillips headed this book too much toward what I would describe as an adventure story rather than a scientific exploration. Also, in the first book humans are meeting other species and reaching out toward the rest of the universe and in this one, despite the amazing discoveries humans make in the first book, they just slide back into their same old short sided greed. Many previous Science Fiction stories have proposed that the human race will improve and come together after we meet with an off-world intelligence and I sincerely hope that is true! Phillips doesn't seem to think this will happen nearly quickly enough - and he may be right.
I'm sure that you, like me, cannot wait for Quantum Time (Quantum Series #3) due out later this year.
Note - If you haven't already read Quantum Space (Quantum Series Book #1), please stop right now and read it. Your enjoyment of Quantum Void will be greatly increased by knowing what happens in the first book - not to mention that Quantum Space is a great read!
Sequels are a tricky business. I'm not an author but I would suspect that they put their best ideas down as they come to them. Thus, after writing an excellent first book full of great ideas there is the question of whether there is enough good "stuff" left for their characters and the story in book 2. With Quantum Void the answer is given by Douglas Phillips himself in the epilogue of book one, "as an author, once you've left the tracks of reality, you can go wherever your imagination takes you." In Quantum Void, Phillips shows that he has an excellent imagination and takes us on a ride where corrupt business people and politicians and unethical and hasty scientists come together to create a potentially catastrophic mixing of the third and fourth dimensions.
I like Science Fiction that is based on real science and Douglas Phillips definitely writes in that genre. It is obvious that he loves science, does serious research for his books, and can take a current theory and build a believable story from it. Since many of the theories of Quantum Physics already sound impossible and like science fiction to begin with, Phillips doesn't have to go far down this path to move us into alternate universes, new parts of the Standard Model, alien lifeforms, and more.
In my review of Quantum Space, I commented that Phillips fell into the trap of many other male, Sci Fi authors in his presentation of female characters and interactions between the men and women in his story. He credited his wife with helping him with the female characters in the first book and, based on the improvements in the second book, I assume there were many, interesting late night talks. (And yes, Douglas, you do need to take her to Haiti.) He even addresses this issue when one of the main male characters muses on how he is hearing and reacting to one of the female characters differently that he would a male one, negatively ascribing her actions to emotions rather than a scientific thought process. Keep up the learning curve Douglas - and feel free to share with the rest of us of the minority sex what you learn.
I was delighted to see that Phillips again included an epilogue where he explained some of the science and directed to places where we could learn more about Quantum Physics. This is a great feature and one I wish more hard science, Science Fiction writers would use.
I did give this book one less star than the first one in the series. That is due to the fact that I felt Phillips headed this book too much toward what I would describe as an adventure story rather than a scientific exploration. Also, in the first book humans are meeting other species and reaching out toward the rest of the universe and in this one, despite the amazing discoveries humans make in the first book, they just slide back into their same old short sided greed. Many previous Science Fiction stories have proposed that the human race will improve and come together after we meet with an off-world intelligence and I sincerely hope that is true! Phillips doesn't seem to think this will happen nearly quickly enough - and he may be right.
I'm sure that you, like me, cannot wait for Quantum Time (Quantum Series #3) due out later this year.
February 8, 2021
I can’t say I liked this book less than the first one . At times I even liked it more as it was somewhat more fast paced and imaginative. But looking at them together as a sequel I don’t feel they deserve more than 4 stars . It’s very fun and entertaining read and I love the science of dimensions.
But it lacks a bit of depth which started bother me after reading 2 books as such in a row .
Will come back to read the third one after I take a break and read something different .
But it lacks a bit of depth which started bother me after reading 2 books as such in a row .
Will come back to read the third one after I take a break and read something different .
April 19, 2018
Understand why it was free. Kindle Unlimited has an unlimited selection of really bad books.
May 1, 2018
It's my book, so naturally I think it's good! (Luckily, many other people do too).
June 29, 2020
Enjoyed but it ended up being predictable. I mean from a quantum superposition point of view.
July 5, 2023
“Quantum Void” is the 2nd book in the Quantum series by Douglas Phillips. The story picks up eight months after the astounding discoveries made at Fermilab in the 1st book. Particle physics was always an unlikely path to the stars, but with the discovery that space could be compressed, the entire galaxy had come within reach. The technology was astonishing, yet nothing compared to what humans encountered four thousand light-years from home.
Back at Fermilab, strange instabilities are beginning to show up in experiments, leading physicists to wonder if they ever really had control over the quantum dimensions of space. One team member must overcome crippling fear to cope with an alien gift she barely understands, to try and help her colleagues escape from 4th dimensional space.
The book has received mixed reviews. Some readers have praised it as an excellent second chapter in the Quantum series, raising the stakes and further improving on many of the qualities displayed in the first novel. However, others have criticized it for being more of the same and for changing narrators mid-series.
As in the first book, the Afterward by the author is a nice touch as it explains what science in the book is based on real science and what is fiction.
Overall, “Quantum Void” is a thought-provoking and engaging science fiction novel that explores the frontiers of human knowledge and wisdom. It is definitely worth checking out if you are a fan of hard science fiction or if you enjoyed the first book in the series.
Back at Fermilab, strange instabilities are beginning to show up in experiments, leading physicists to wonder if they ever really had control over the quantum dimensions of space. One team member must overcome crippling fear to cope with an alien gift she barely understands, to try and help her colleagues escape from 4th dimensional space.
The book has received mixed reviews. Some readers have praised it as an excellent second chapter in the Quantum series, raising the stakes and further improving on many of the qualities displayed in the first novel. However, others have criticized it for being more of the same and for changing narrators mid-series.
As in the first book, the Afterward by the author is a nice touch as it explains what science in the book is based on real science and what is fiction.
Overall, “Quantum Void” is a thought-provoking and engaging science fiction novel that explores the frontiers of human knowledge and wisdom. It is definitely worth checking out if you are a fan of hard science fiction or if you enjoyed the first book in the series.
October 18, 2021
Probabilities preceded Possibilities
Now that the 4th dimensional world has been made accessible, Daniel Rice and Marie Kendricks are working hard in their different jobs to continue with the exploration.
An arrangement is made between the Governments and the Core, the Artificial Intelligence who coordinates contact among beings in the 4th dimension. Kin, as he is nicknamed, is the Android go-between for the Core and Earth.
As Space travel as we have known it has changed forever, four people are chosen to be "Katanauts", traveler's from one dimension to another. At the last minute, Marie Kendricks is asked to step in on the journey.
What happens from here is like Alice falling down the rabbit hole, so fantastic are the worldscapes and life forms they encounter. Marie becomes crucial to both the interdimensional journey and to the survival of Earth itself.
Your imagination will be engaged 150% of the time you are reading, including the frequent pauses to fantasize about what if...? Each book in this series gets more exciting than the last. 5/5 Stars again!
Now that the 4th dimensional world has been made accessible, Daniel Rice and Marie Kendricks are working hard in their different jobs to continue with the exploration.
An arrangement is made between the Governments and the Core, the Artificial Intelligence who coordinates contact among beings in the 4th dimension. Kin, as he is nicknamed, is the Android go-between for the Core and Earth.
As Space travel as we have known it has changed forever, four people are chosen to be "Katanauts", traveler's from one dimension to another. At the last minute, Marie Kendricks is asked to step in on the journey.
What happens from here is like Alice falling down the rabbit hole, so fantastic are the worldscapes and life forms they encounter. Marie becomes crucial to both the interdimensional journey and to the survival of Earth itself.
Your imagination will be engaged 150% of the time you are reading, including the frequent pauses to fantasize about what if...? Each book in this series gets more exciting than the last. 5/5 Stars again!
March 2, 2024
Again, smart science fiction based in science fact with a decent story. There are some cliches, but the science is solid and the fiction taking it to the next level is fun.
September 1, 2023
More science-y than the last book.
April 8, 2021
Quantum void is probably heaven if you love creative quantum mechanics and four dimensional space issues. I like those too but it becomes a bit too much in the long run. Still it is entertaining.
May 4, 2022
As first book was 4.5 this is less. Interesting in science, but so bad in character development.
June 20, 2021
Sidesteps the hard science fiction this time around and introduces magic to move the story forward.
After being tantalized with the promise of a first contact scenario in book one, book two lets readers down by diminishing the relevance of a first meeting by transforming it into a McGuffin delivery device. This story in this book couldn't exist without this device, and the protagonist this time around would be wholly unneeded without it. Only because the author forcibly tuned the device to one very specific character is that character's inclusion even justified--to the point where the plot couldn't move forward without their use of said device.
There are logic problems abound in this story, and all the most interesting science talk comes after the story has wrapped up and the author gives us insight into his take on the theoretical science behind the story. Unfortunately, very little of this science translates into a compelling tale, and it mostly leaves leaves this reader wondering why quantum effects at the quantum level can suddenly manifest themselves to macro objects in the macro world. Typical quantum level mysteries and paradoxes seem to affect our own world to the degree that the science behind the story goes beyond a speculative fiction and wholly detaches the story from any known plausible scenario, given our current understanding of quantum physics.
I could get into the finer points of my issues here, but I would prefer to avoid spoilers.
Suffice to say, the author put more effort into fleshing out some of the characters, but at the expense of the hardcore speculative fiction that delights readers in the first book. And he doesn't spend enough time explaining why, in his universe, these fantastical "quantum" situations are reasonable speculative leaps as they would fit in a plausible reality like our own. This story seems to blow its chance of telling a meaningful story about humanity's first interactions with the other-worldly intelligence introduced and hinted at in the first book.
In the end, characters spend way too much time walking and talking and not enough time accomplishing anything interesting. Perhaps later entries in the series will do a better job of picking up certain story arcs where book one left off.
After being tantalized with the promise of a first contact scenario in book one, book two lets readers down by diminishing the relevance of a first meeting by transforming it into a McGuffin delivery device. This story in this book couldn't exist without this device, and the protagonist this time around would be wholly unneeded without it. Only because the author forcibly tuned the device to one very specific character is that character's inclusion even justified--to the point where the plot couldn't move forward without their use of said device.
There are logic problems abound in this story, and all the most interesting science talk comes after the story has wrapped up and the author gives us insight into his take on the theoretical science behind the story. Unfortunately, very little of this science translates into a compelling tale, and it mostly leaves leaves this reader wondering why quantum effects at the quantum level can suddenly manifest themselves to macro objects in the macro world. Typical quantum level mysteries and paradoxes seem to affect our own world to the degree that the science behind the story goes beyond a speculative fiction and wholly detaches the story from any known plausible scenario, given our current understanding of quantum physics.
I could get into the finer points of my issues here, but I would prefer to avoid spoilers.
Suffice to say, the author put more effort into fleshing out some of the characters, but at the expense of the hardcore speculative fiction that delights readers in the first book. And he doesn't spend enough time explaining why, in his universe, these fantastical "quantum" situations are reasonable speculative leaps as they would fit in a plausible reality like our own. This story seems to blow its chance of telling a meaningful story about humanity's first interactions with the other-worldly intelligence introduced and hinted at in the first book.
In the end, characters spend way too much time walking and talking and not enough time accomplishing anything interesting. Perhaps later entries in the series will do a better job of picking up certain story arcs where book one left off.
July 30, 2018
QUANTUM VOID is the second book in a projected trilogy by Douglas Phillips who came out of nowhere in 22017 with the first novel in this fascinating hard sci-fi series, QUANTUM SPACE. QUANTUM VOID picks up a few months after the events of the first novel with the same characters, plus a few new ones. There is a team of astronauts (called katanauts because they are not actually going into space but traveling through another dimension whose directions are kata and ana) preparing to make humanity's first foray into interstellar travel using technology provided by Core, a mysterious cybernetic entity thousands of light years away that was contacted when Nala, Jan and Thomas, researchers at Fermilab, discovered how to access 4-dimensional space using a beam of coherent neutrinos. There is a considerable amount of suspense and multiple subplots dealing with First Contact, serious troubles for the Fermilab team, and a potentially world threatening accident in Texas, all relating to the new technology of dimensional compression and expansion.
I read a lot of sci-fi and and am partial to stories where the science is based on real physics, particularly quantum mechanics and relativity. THE QUANTUM SERIES by Phillips are the first novels based primarily on predictions from string theory. One doesn't need to know a lot about physics to enjoy the novel as Phillips does an excellent job of having his characters explain everything one needs to know without having the story get bogged down in endless exposition. He writes with a crisp, economical style and the pacing is just right. There are many new ideas and concepts introduced. The aliens are anything but Star Trek-like humanoids with brow ridges and the first contact is really interesting and different.
There is a third and final book in the works that I will preorder as soon as I can
Highly recommended.
JM Tepper
I read a lot of sci-fi and and am partial to stories where the science is based on real physics, particularly quantum mechanics and relativity. THE QUANTUM SERIES by Phillips are the first novels based primarily on predictions from string theory. One doesn't need to know a lot about physics to enjoy the novel as Phillips does an excellent job of having his characters explain everything one needs to know without having the story get bogged down in endless exposition. He writes with a crisp, economical style and the pacing is just right. There are many new ideas and concepts introduced. The aliens are anything but Star Trek-like humanoids with brow ridges and the first contact is really interesting and different.
There is a third and final book in the works that I will preorder as soon as I can
Highly recommended.
JM Tepper
April 6, 2018
10 stars at least
I can't get enough of Phillip's writing. I wish he wrote faster. It all hangs together, and even makes some sort of sense. I can't discuss the plot, except to say that you would think me or him or both quite mad. Try to think about the way a chair would be constructed if our knees went the other way, or what shape would a ball be if it was turned inside out. This book is like that. But it does make sense.
I can't get enough of Phillip's writing. I wish he wrote faster. It all hangs together, and even makes some sort of sense. I can't discuss the plot, except to say that you would think me or him or both quite mad. Try to think about the way a chair would be constructed if our knees went the other way, or what shape would a ball be if it was turned inside out. This book is like that. But it does make sense.
November 9, 2018
Phillips has the artistic style of a third grader. The characters are flat. The plot is contrived to get from A to B, and when we finally get to B, so what. A lot of people seem to like this book. I don’t know why. It was not my cup of tea.
August 16, 2018
I stopped reading after about 100 pages. Just too convoluted. The characters didn't really grab me and the story dragged.
September 4, 2023
FIRST CONTACT AT LAST IN THIS THRILLING SERIES
Spatial compression had already made unmanned spaceflight obsolete. The stars were now within easy reach for any probe, camera or radio link. Interstellar travel for humans was not yet possible, but one step at a time. Earth was now connected into a vast web of alien civilizations.” So we learn early in Quantum Void, the second entry in Douglas Phillips’ Quantum series. But then, suddenly, interstellar travel opens up and First Contact becomes a reality. There is, however, a catch. The technology is not as easy to use, or as safe, as it seems.
HOME-GROWN TECHNOLOGY WITH AN ALIEN BOOST
The technology is home-grown using the world-famous Fermilab particle accelerator outside Chicago. Scientists there had stumbled on a method to compress fourth-dimension space, thus shortening travel between the stars to minutes or hours. But they learn how humans can travel through the fourth dimension only from Core, “the extraterrestrial cybernetic organism” they’d encountered when first exploring the technology. And now Core has sent them an android named Aastazin (“Zin”) as a guide. With its help, a team of four “katanauts” set out to meet the two intelligent species on a far-distant planet called Ixtlub.
TWO ADVENTURES UNFOLD SIMULTANEOUSLY
While the katanaut team sets out on a two-day adventure to the stars, particle physicist Nala Pasquier moves forward with her research at Fermilab. Big mistake. When she pushes the technology above its rated limits, a massive explosion destroys her laboratory and the associated equipment deep below the surface of the Earth. And it sends her and her lab assistant into the fourth dimension, where they are trapped in a bubble.
Phillips spins out both stories in alternating chapters as scientists and government officials frantically search for a way to rescue Pasquier—and the interstellar travelers encounter eye-opening surprises on Ixtlub. The writing style is crisp and easy to read, and suspense piles on suspense as the tale moves forward at a blistering pace.
Spatial compression had already made unmanned spaceflight obsolete. The stars were now within easy reach for any probe, camera or radio link. Interstellar travel for humans was not yet possible, but one step at a time. Earth was now connected into a vast web of alien civilizations.” So we learn early in Quantum Void, the second entry in Douglas Phillips’ Quantum series. But then, suddenly, interstellar travel opens up and First Contact becomes a reality. There is, however, a catch. The technology is not as easy to use, or as safe, as it seems.
HOME-GROWN TECHNOLOGY WITH AN ALIEN BOOST
The technology is home-grown using the world-famous Fermilab particle accelerator outside Chicago. Scientists there had stumbled on a method to compress fourth-dimension space, thus shortening travel between the stars to minutes or hours. But they learn how humans can travel through the fourth dimension only from Core, “the extraterrestrial cybernetic organism” they’d encountered when first exploring the technology. And now Core has sent them an android named Aastazin (“Zin”) as a guide. With its help, a team of four “katanauts” set out to meet the two intelligent species on a far-distant planet called Ixtlub.
TWO ADVENTURES UNFOLD SIMULTANEOUSLY
While the katanaut team sets out on a two-day adventure to the stars, particle physicist Nala Pasquier moves forward with her research at Fermilab. Big mistake. When she pushes the technology above its rated limits, a massive explosion destroys her laboratory and the associated equipment deep below the surface of the Earth. And it sends her and her lab assistant into the fourth dimension, where they are trapped in a bubble.
Phillips spins out both stories in alternating chapters as scientists and government officials frantically search for a way to rescue Pasquier—and the interstellar travelers encounter eye-opening surprises on Ixtlub. The writing style is crisp and easy to read, and suspense piles on suspense as the tale moves forward at a blistering pace.
April 11, 2018
So intellectually conceived
Having studied mechanical engineering which is mainly physics and math in the 60s when an atom had 3 particles and there were a few 50lb satelliteslp i found this interesting. I read sci-fi occasionially..especially since seeing 2001 in 1968..the movie with little dialog and and every visual that I could not compute to. All sci go was wired into the speed of light parameter, not only with Clark (songs of distant earth) but all the others that wrote well.. The great barrier. I have always thought someday with SETI we would match the truly wonderful discoveries of many non solar planets with a radio message like another favorite sci-fi "contact"....Phillips is right..it won't happen..light speed prohibits. Some qyears ago I read an article by MITs Allen Guth describing his well regarded works on the Big Bang. He in so many words says it couldn't happen "conventionally". He explains the beginning contained "inflation"..not a financial term, obviously, but a period where universe expansion exceeded the speed of light. His theory and math stands today. I have been facinated by some writers like Kali and others by strong theory and multiple universes. I think good scifi , maybe starting with Verne, now into the Gibson's and Stephensons, is a very valid and exciting literary form. I enjoyed every bit of Philips last two novels exploring such things as Jody foster won't get the SETI message any more than we wait on smoke messages from the nearby hilltops..the universe is silent..why!! Think I just read a very well constructed and intellectual sci-fi reason by Mr Phillips. He is on my sci-fi reading list like Mr Stephens and some others who really have studied science like Clark and write beautiful or longingly about it
Having studied mechanical engineering which is mainly physics and math in the 60s when an atom had 3 particles and there were a few 50lb satelliteslp i found this interesting. I read sci-fi occasionially..especially since seeing 2001 in 1968..the movie with little dialog and and every visual that I could not compute to. All sci go was wired into the speed of light parameter, not only with Clark (songs of distant earth) but all the others that wrote well.. The great barrier. I have always thought someday with SETI we would match the truly wonderful discoveries of many non solar planets with a radio message like another favorite sci-fi "contact"....Phillips is right..it won't happen..light speed prohibits. Some qyears ago I read an article by MITs Allen Guth describing his well regarded works on the Big Bang. He in so many words says it couldn't happen "conventionally". He explains the beginning contained "inflation"..not a financial term, obviously, but a period where universe expansion exceeded the speed of light. His theory and math stands today. I have been facinated by some writers like Kali and others by strong theory and multiple universes. I think good scifi , maybe starting with Verne, now into the Gibson's and Stephensons, is a very valid and exciting literary form. I enjoyed every bit of Philips last two novels exploring such things as Jody foster won't get the SETI message any more than we wait on smoke messages from the nearby hilltops..the universe is silent..why!! Think I just read a very well constructed and intellectual sci-fi reason by Mr Phillips. He is on my sci-fi reading list like Mr Stephens and some others who really have studied science like Clark and write beautiful or longingly about it
July 6, 2024
4.5 Stars for this story.
I had read Quantum Incident, a prelude to this series earlier and got interested in reading the hard sci-fi series and I have also completed the first book in this series prior to starting this one. While the first story Quantum Space prepared a lot of ground rules for the series.
I love reading hard science fiction and have been reading this segment from my early teens starting with some of the works of Carl Sagan, his works on SETI, Voyager, Pioneer and the series Cosmos. I also read some of the work of Asimov and Clarke.
Quantum space the term has been something of an interest and reading this book is a natural progression towards that end. Much of my concerns regarding to the authors naivety in the early volume have been negated as Douglas prepares a smooth foundation and structure with the characters now robust and well fleshed out slowly developing with the story. Sometimes the science and its theories and explanations does intimidate the reader but reading the story clears out the understanding of the process. Douglas does a great job making the reader understand and work their way out of the technology, quantum theory and how it works. He also keeps the bulk of the story even paced even when there is this unbelievable technology that works after the first contact.
The story is the equivalent of a Disneyland visit for geeks and hard SF readers like me and the goodies on display gladdens my heart.
I'm reading the next book of the series right now.
I had read Quantum Incident, a prelude to this series earlier and got interested in reading the hard sci-fi series and I have also completed the first book in this series prior to starting this one. While the first story Quantum Space prepared a lot of ground rules for the series.
I love reading hard science fiction and have been reading this segment from my early teens starting with some of the works of Carl Sagan, his works on SETI, Voyager, Pioneer and the series Cosmos. I also read some of the work of Asimov and Clarke.
Quantum space the term has been something of an interest and reading this book is a natural progression towards that end. Much of my concerns regarding to the authors naivety in the early volume have been negated as Douglas prepares a smooth foundation and structure with the characters now robust and well fleshed out slowly developing with the story. Sometimes the science and its theories and explanations does intimidate the reader but reading the story clears out the understanding of the process. Douglas does a great job making the reader understand and work their way out of the technology, quantum theory and how it works. He also keeps the bulk of the story even paced even when there is this unbelievable technology that works after the first contact.
The story is the equivalent of a Disneyland visit for geeks and hard SF readers like me and the goodies on display gladdens my heart.
I'm reading the next book of the series right now.
June 26, 2018
The second book in the Quantum series explores the revelations of the newly discovered 4D space technology as well as first contact with an alien race.
The idea of 4D space presented by Douglas Phillips, based upon current multiverse theory first brought about by Einstein's initial Theory of Relativity is intriguing and this book brings up some very salient points about how mankind might use this type of technology (the wrong way) in the near future.
However as a story teller, Douglas Phillips is still fairly basic in his themes. His character building is worthwhile but he makes the same mistake many sci-fi writers do which is to include (and skim through) many large ideas, any of which could comprise the whole of the story.
In this case, I think the author "dumbs down" the interesting details of the science with which this book revolves around while promoting a fairly basic and cliche plot. Books shouldn't necessarily have Hollywood endings, and it appears that his book was written with more of a screen sense then a book one.
Ironically his Afterword, which expands more on the science behind the book, was more interesting then a lot of the book itself. However I am interested to see where his next book in this series (Quantum Time) goes. Hopefully a little heavier on meat and a little lighter on fluff.
The idea of 4D space presented by Douglas Phillips, based upon current multiverse theory first brought about by Einstein's initial Theory of Relativity is intriguing and this book brings up some very salient points about how mankind might use this type of technology (the wrong way) in the near future.
However as a story teller, Douglas Phillips is still fairly basic in his themes. His character building is worthwhile but he makes the same mistake many sci-fi writers do which is to include (and skim through) many large ideas, any of which could comprise the whole of the story.
In this case, I think the author "dumbs down" the interesting details of the science with which this book revolves around while promoting a fairly basic and cliche plot. Books shouldn't necessarily have Hollywood endings, and it appears that his book was written with more of a screen sense then a book one.
Ironically his Afterword, which expands more on the science behind the book, was more interesting then a lot of the book itself. However I am interested to see where his next book in this series (Quantum Time) goes. Hopefully a little heavier on meat and a little lighter on fluff.
May 28, 2020
The squad is back! Daniel has been traveling around as a celebrity scientist explaining Core and the newly discovered 4D world. Nala is back in the Fermilab working on experiments trying to expand her knowledge of the 4D phenomenon. And Marie is a part of a team going to another world to meet the “Dancers” species 300 light-years from earth.
I was very excited to read this book after reading Quatum Space and it did not disappoint! Douglas Phillips is an incredible author which such a great imagination. I love every character in this book and all of their quirks that makes them specially to the story. As expected the science behind the book is amazing as well as the storyline. I did find myself to be a lot more excited and invested in what was going on in the Fermilab over what was happening in Texas but the connection became understandable as I also wish Daniel could have had a slightly bigger role in the book itself but Marie and Nala definitely held their own in this book!
Only comment I will say is that 95% of the explicit language in this book came from one character alone and it just so happens to be the only African-American character in the book. It’s not a big deal but as a 34 year-old minority adult who doesn’t curse it was just a weird thing that strongly stood out to me throughout the book.
I was very excited to read this book after reading Quatum Space and it did not disappoint! Douglas Phillips is an incredible author which such a great imagination. I love every character in this book and all of their quirks that makes them specially to the story. As expected the science behind the book is amazing as well as the storyline. I did find myself to be a lot more excited and invested in what was going on in the Fermilab over what was happening in Texas but the connection became understandable as I also wish Daniel could have had a slightly bigger role in the book itself but Marie and Nala definitely held their own in this book!
Only comment I will say is that 95% of the explicit language in this book came from one character alone and it just so happens to be the only African-American character in the book. It’s not a big deal but as a 34 year-old minority adult who doesn’t curse it was just a weird thing that strongly stood out to me throughout the book.
October 23, 2023
Breathless.
The author Douglas Phillips makes the science of unexplained easy to understand and beautifully gets it all in a believable story.
What’s behind the curtain, a reminder of the Karbala which many believe wrongly that it’s a religion but in truth it’s science in purity and very complicated containing the secrets of the universe and probably much more which is the reason why it’s huge and impossible to understand as is so thousands of regular size books popped up like mushrooms trying to explain tiny parts or a few pages and hidden realities is in this thousands of years old knowledge or more like our belief in our reality is wrong and that there is a vail hiding the truth of it all.
What I’m trying to say is that this author is a great teacher using a story.
Beautiful narration of each of the characters by Traci Odom.
Without a doubt, got My full recommendations !!!
Oded Ostfeld.
PS:
Only the first two were out and on audio when I got them for reviewing.
Beautiful penmanship, amazing imagination and how I wish that a day will come for me listening and reviewing the rest of the audiobooks in this series.
My thanks to the author of this series Douglas Phillips.
The author Douglas Phillips makes the science of unexplained easy to understand and beautifully gets it all in a believable story.
What’s behind the curtain, a reminder of the Karbala which many believe wrongly that it’s a religion but in truth it’s science in purity and very complicated containing the secrets of the universe and probably much more which is the reason why it’s huge and impossible to understand as is so thousands of regular size books popped up like mushrooms trying to explain tiny parts or a few pages and hidden realities is in this thousands of years old knowledge or more like our belief in our reality is wrong and that there is a vail hiding the truth of it all.
What I’m trying to say is that this author is a great teacher using a story.
Beautiful narration of each of the characters by Traci Odom.
Without a doubt, got My full recommendations !!!
Oded Ostfeld.
PS:
Only the first two were out and on audio when I got them for reviewing.
Beautiful penmanship, amazing imagination and how I wish that a day will come for me listening and reviewing the rest of the audiobooks in this series.
My thanks to the author of this series Douglas Phillips.
September 8, 2018
This is one of those rare books that is written by someone who has the ability to write a gripping page-turner while being able to explain the science behind the story clearly and simply. My suggestion would ( as always) to read the books in order to get a feel for the characters as well as the background to the original story that becomes the starting point to Quantum Void - you don't have to, but if you do then you'll get more from it.
You don't have to have a working knowledge of quantum physics (even if there is such a thing :-)) but a little understanding will help. The good thing is that you can pick up a massive amount on the way through as you progress. One of the things that I really appreciated was that at the end of the book the author reviews the science behind the story, that which is accepted by scientists and the places where he has taken a few liberties for the sake of the story.
I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series that will be coming out later in the year.
You don't have to have a working knowledge of quantum physics (even if there is such a thing :-)) but a little understanding will help. The good thing is that you can pick up a massive amount on the way through as you progress. One of the things that I really appreciated was that at the end of the book the author reviews the science behind the story, that which is accepted by scientists and the places where he has taken a few liberties for the sake of the story.
I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series that will be coming out later in the year.
November 26, 2018
"Quantum Void", the sequel to "Quantum Space" was as entertaining as its predecessor. A "hard science-fiction" novel that uses real science and a little speculative extrapolation to create exciting situations for our characters. Nala, Daniel, and Marie continue to push the edges of science as they did in the previous book and although this book can be a stand-alone novel, it is nice to have some background and familiar characters from the first book.
I am particularly fond of the Afterward where Phillips explains the science and theories that are relative to his book. He also provides references for follow-up if you want to delve a little deeper into the science. I like Phillips' explanations. I don't think I have the capacity to delve much deeper into quantum physics. This book has it all, science, unique aliens, adventure, unique places, and likable characters.I will be waiting for the conclusion to this series, "Quantum Time" due to be released around the end of this year (2018).
I am particularly fond of the Afterward where Phillips explains the science and theories that are relative to his book. He also provides references for follow-up if you want to delve a little deeper into the science. I like Phillips' explanations. I don't think I have the capacity to delve much deeper into quantum physics. This book has it all, science, unique aliens, adventure, unique places, and likable characters.I will be waiting for the conclusion to this series, "Quantum Time" due to be released around the end of this year (2018).
July 7, 2019
In Book 1 of the Quantum Series, Quantum Space, the ability compress space to small distances through quantum manipulation is used to discover an entity, “Core” located light-years away in deep space. Communication channels are opened with it resulting in an invitation to visit, through quantum means, an odd watery world, “Ixtlub”, many light-years distant.
Marie Kendrick is chosen by an alien android to visit Ixtlub, but her visit is designed to give her a unique ability that confuses and frightens her. In the meantime, Fermilab is shaken by fourth- dimensional tremors resulting in catastrophic damage. Is Core to blame for the tremors? Or is there a more rational explanation close to home? In any event, Fermilab physicist Nala Pasquier and a colleague find themselves caught between dimensions and their path out is totally unexpected.
Quantum Void is the kind of far-fetched adventure every sci-fi reader loves. Anyone who likes a good, rousing edge of the seat romp through the unknown will like it as well.
Marie Kendrick is chosen by an alien android to visit Ixtlub, but her visit is designed to give her a unique ability that confuses and frightens her. In the meantime, Fermilab is shaken by fourth- dimensional tremors resulting in catastrophic damage. Is Core to blame for the tremors? Or is there a more rational explanation close to home? In any event, Fermilab physicist Nala Pasquier and a colleague find themselves caught between dimensions and their path out is totally unexpected.
Quantum Void is the kind of far-fetched adventure every sci-fi reader loves. Anyone who likes a good, rousing edge of the seat romp through the unknown will like it as well.
April 14, 2018
Hang On Tight!
Ah, humans... always messing with stuff they barely understand, driven by curiosity and greed. The science lesson continues in this book with excellent handwavium as a team is sent to a distant world via the portal, where they meet two races working symbiotically, one under water, the other on land and Marie is gifted a device that allowed her to see that which cannot be seen... but a device that has tapped into places in her mind best left unseen.
Nana and Thomas, during experiments, create a zero point singularity and wind up creating an even bigger one that destroys the lab and everyone assumes they both died. Except they’re not dead but trapped in 4D space.
In Texas, a businessman uses 4D tech to make a electric plant that burns coal 100% emission free, tech that he hopes will bring him billions of dollars.
You just know something bad is gonna happen... but you’ll have to read the book to find out why - it’s gonna be one hell of a ride!
Ah, humans... always messing with stuff they barely understand, driven by curiosity and greed. The science lesson continues in this book with excellent handwavium as a team is sent to a distant world via the portal, where they meet two races working symbiotically, one under water, the other on land and Marie is gifted a device that allowed her to see that which cannot be seen... but a device that has tapped into places in her mind best left unseen.
Nana and Thomas, during experiments, create a zero point singularity and wind up creating an even bigger one that destroys the lab and everyone assumes they both died. Except they’re not dead but trapped in 4D space.
In Texas, a businessman uses 4D tech to make a electric plant that burns coal 100% emission free, tech that he hopes will bring him billions of dollars.
You just know something bad is gonna happen... but you’ll have to read the book to find out why - it’s gonna be one hell of a ride!
January 5, 2020
Good Story
Douglas Phillips is one of those rare genius types. You know, the ones in school who never had to study but got straight A's. They are the ones snapped up by .coms and other think tanks. I do not say this to disparage him in any way but to praise him. I believe that God occassionally peppers this type among us normal people for reasons of His own. So, this science of quarks and other stuff confuses me to the point that I say, "Who cares...It doesn't really matter to me anyway." But Phillips has another special gift and that is the ability to explain these mysteries to us normal folk in a way that, most of the time anyway, we can at least follow the story. He also develops lovable characters with real emotions, something that is often lacking in these "genious" types. I may not understand much of the science part that many scientists are claiming is reality, but I do know a good story when I read one. This is a good one.
Douglas Phillips is one of those rare genius types. You know, the ones in school who never had to study but got straight A's. They are the ones snapped up by .coms and other think tanks. I do not say this to disparage him in any way but to praise him. I believe that God occassionally peppers this type among us normal people for reasons of His own. So, this science of quarks and other stuff confuses me to the point that I say, "Who cares...It doesn't really matter to me anyway." But Phillips has another special gift and that is the ability to explain these mysteries to us normal folk in a way that, most of the time anyway, we can at least follow the story. He also develops lovable characters with real emotions, something that is often lacking in these "genious" types. I may not understand much of the science part that many scientists are claiming is reality, but I do know a good story when I read one. This is a good one.
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