Incandescence - Greg Egan

Incandescence (novel)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Incandescence
Author Greg Egan
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Genre(s) Science fiction
Publisher Gollancz
Publication date 15 May 2008
Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages 304 pp
ISBN 978-0575081628
OCLC Number 192027449


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[1].Contents [hide]
1 Plot summary
2 Criticism
2.1 Adam Roberts' review and Greg Egan's response
3 External links and references

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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, "Glory" and "Riding the Crocodile".
[edit]
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" [2]. 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[3].
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Adam Roberts' review and Greg Egan's response

On June 6, 2008, Adam Roberts released a review[4] 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."[5]. 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:“ But if someone aspires to be taken seriously as a reviewer, they either need to read the entire book, carefully, and give at least as much thought to what they've read as a twelve-year-old would when sitting a reading comprehension test, or — if that prospect is far too unpleasant to bear — they should decline to review the book. [...] In short, Roberts has as much of a good time as I'd have at the Bayreuth Festival, and as little worth reporting about the experience. The mystery is why he bought the ticket in the first place; a previous encounter with Schild's Ladder should have warned off any but the most masochistic of science-haters. ”

—Greg Egan, [5]

[edit]
External links and references
Greg Egan's Incandescence
Locus Magazine's Russell Letson reviews Greg Egan includes reviews of Incandescence, "Glory" and "Riding the Crocodile".
^ Egan, Greg (2008-07-22). "The Big Idea". Whatever. John Scalzi. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
^ Simpson, Paul (2008-05-09). "Incandescence Review". Total Sci Fi. Titan Magazines. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
^ McCalmont, Jonathan (2008-09-01). "The SF Site Featured Review: Incandescence". The SF Site. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
^ Roberts, Adam (2008-06-06). "Strange Horizons Reviews: Incandescence by Greg Egan". Strange Horizons. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
^ a b Egan, Greg. "Anatomy of a Hatchet Job". Retrieved 2009-05-25.


3.5 out of 5

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incandescence_(novel)