Sci-Fi Group Book Club discussion

This is the discussion thread for the second book of the month, or group read, for February. Please remember to use the spoiler tags where necessary. The other group read topic for this month (The Forever War) can be found here.

Although the current group read topics don't come to an end until February 12th, feel free to start reading this book now.

Hi everyone!

If anyone wants a free, no obligation electronic copy of Intersection Man, please let me know. Email to harismind at gmail dot com, and I will gladly send you the novel in epub format, which can be read on your computer, smartphone or tablet. Kindly do not forward the novel to anyone else; it's strictly for your honest review only. If you want, you may leave your email in this thread.

Thank you,

Hari

Got my copy. Got to support an author who is part of the group. (Just saying, so as to keep on the notification circuit.)

Ian wrote: "Got my copy. Got to support an author who is part of the group. (Just saying, so as to keep on the notification circuit.)"
Thank you so much! Really appreciate it :)

I'm grabbing my copy tomorrow. Got to support a fellow author. Best of luck with your book, Hari.

Chris wrote: "I'm grabbing my copy tomorrow. Got to support a fellow author. Best of luck with your book, Hari."

Thank you! :)

Hari wrote: "Hi everyone!

If anyone wants a free, no obligation electronic copy of Intersection Man, please let me know. Email to harismind at gmail dot com, and I will gladly send you the novel in epub forma..."

Thanks, Hari, for making this offer! :)

It is on my Kindle

I thought it would be useful to start a discussion - there has to be more to it than just sitting around reading it as a group but not talking. I also write so-called "hard" sf, and so I am interested in what everyone thought of the science content. Given that it is mainly imagined, is it too detailed? Did you all follow it? Skim it?

One thing that puzzled me was the use of the words, "What universe do you want to be in?" to Lev. I assume there were two Levs, and the choice was, which Lev does the one there want to settle as conscious, but surely both Levs were conscious, and if they were doing different things, wouldn't that require Lev to be in both minds at the same time (until he chose), and worse, if we have the "many worlds" interpretation, they would be splitting too whenever either Lev had a choice to make. How did he concentrate on one, or the other, but not both/many? Did anyone else think about this? Did it bother anyone?

Hi Ian, thank you so much for reading my book and opening the discussion. Though I am tempted to respond to your thoughtful questions, I am going to hold back now and see how others have interpreted the book.

That's fine, Hari. My questions are as much as anything to see what everyone thinks of these issues. At the end of this I shall at least give you a review :-)

Hi Ian,
Since no one has yet responded to your excellent questions on 'Intersection Man,' I thought I might as well try to explain the points you have raised from the author's perspective :-)
The exact quote, "What universe do you want to be in?" does not appear in the book. Are you perhaps, referring to the book's two-line catchphrase: "What if you exist in two universes? And what if you must choose one?"? However, in chapter 8 Jonah reveals to Lev what is going to happen once the entanglement wears off. They have a long discussion on the terrifying choice Lev will be facing at that point. From the discussion, it is apparent that Jonah is sure that Lev's choice would be to remain in Mira's world. So, the question of what Lev's choice would be, never actually arises.
As for your assumption that there were two Levs, well, yes and no. Yes, if you consider a person as the person's physical body only. No, if you consider a person as his/her consciousness or mind, rather than just the body. I think it is mentioned several times in the book, Lev's single consciousness is shared across two bodies each inhabiting a distinct universe upon reconstitution in the Entangler's pod. That is why he is the Intersection Man, his consciousness being the intersection of the two universes. This is explicitly mentioned by Jonah and is the central premise of Book 1.
Also, the two bodies Lev's consciousness inhabits cannot do different things because (1) they are controlled by a single mind (explained above), and (2) the atoms of the physical bodies are 'entangled' across the two universes.
I hope I have answered your questions :-)
Thank you,
Hari

Although I've downloaded the book, I've yet to explore it. Sorry, looking for a job at the moment, so feel bad that I can't voice my opinion on the points that Ian raised.

Hari wrote: "Hi Ian,
Since no one has yet responded to your excellent questions on 'Intersection Man,' I thought I might as well try to explain the points you have raised from the author's perspective :-)
The ..."

Hi Hari,

As for my question of choosing, as I read it Lev did have the choice. The fact it was obvious which one he would choose does not negate the choice, but if I follow correctly, once "our Lev" chooses, the other Lev still continues - it is just that they are no longer entangled. Of course the question then is, why does not the entanglement end when one of the Levs is "observed"? I know - the plot wants it to last, but if we are going into quantum entanglement, can't help raising that one :-)

But that is where on the scientific front we disagree - the two Levs surely have choice because other people in the different Universes can do different things can't they? Suppose in one, someone comes up and punches Lev, but not in the other. He falls down in one, but not in the other, therefore he becomes "observed" and disentangled. Yes? However, let's not spoil the plot.

The next question is, is anyone else going to enter the discussion, at least sooner or later. If so, I shall stop asking questions because I don't want to spoil, but I suppose I can ask the others one without spoiling. Early in Book 1, when Lev is introduced to the possibility of living, the story switches to Dulles. What did everyone think of that?

Ian wrote: "Hari wrote: "Hi Ian,
Since no one has yet responded to your excellent questions on 'Intersection Man,' I thought I might as well try to explain the points you have raised from the author's perspect..."

Hi Ian,

Thanks for your comments. Due to the inclusion of some spoilers, I have responded to you in a private message :-)

Thank you,

Hari

A request to all:

Please do not comment unless and until you have thoroughly read the book till the end.

Thank you,

Hari

Hari wrote: "A request to all:

Please do not comment unless and until you have thoroughly read the book till the end.

Thank you,

Hari"

Actually, Hari, the point of group read topics is for people to comment on a book as they read it - not just when they finish it. :)

However, members posting about a book should use spoiler tags (as shown in '(some html is ok)' just above the comment box) so as not to give important plot elements or events away to readers who haven't finished reading the text yet.

Greg wrote: "Hari wrote: "A request to all:

Please do not comment unless and until you have thoroughly read the book till the end.

Thank you,

Hari"

Actually, Hari, the point of group read topics is for peo..."

Ok, then that's fine :)

Not a lot of discussion however if you liked the book you can still support an indie author in the group by leaving a review on Amazon and Goodreads. Why not actually do something positive? I have. And believe me, as an indie author myself I know only too well that we need a little assistance.

Ian wrote: "Not a lot of discussion however if you liked the book you can still support an indie author in the group by leaving a review on Amazon and Goodreads. Why not actually do something positive? I have...."

I cannot agree more! Thank you so much for your comment, Ian. Your review has meant so much to me. Indeed, indie authors with their limited reach need everyone's support. I too will be reviewing the works of other Indie authors.