Twenty-three intelligent species. One ancient mystery. And two humans thrust into the middle.
Daniel Rice hasn’t felt right since his return from a dystopian future. Curious dreams repeat with detailed precision. A voice – or something – seems to be calling him. His problem isn’t medical, it’s not even scientific, and it’s driving his wife crazy.
Nala is worried, and she’s not the type to pace the halls while her overly analytic husband procrastinates. Earth’s scientific power couple is soon halfway around the world to consult with alien android, Aastazin. Zin is no doctor, but he has friends in high places.
Next stop, a thousand light years from home where an alien megacity shaped in a six-petaled flower hosts species from dozens of worlds. But there is more going on at this gathering place than meets the eye – aggressive security bots, an ancient mystery, and a pending vote that could shun humanity from the greatest collection of civilizations the galaxy has ever known.
Douglas 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."
A fun little sci-fi mystery and adventure. This is a short and fun exploration of what an intergalactic society might be like. Humans trying to earn their place and show their worth in a society of multiple intergalactic beings. The story is lighthearted in many ways and the characters are fun. The author's knowledge of various scientific and astronomical elements also brings an interesting what-if feeling to this otherwise fantastical tale.
I got to pre-read early versions of this book while it was still in the development stages. It was great to come back to read the final produced book. The final edits brought the story together for a terrific little adventure.
I have greatly enjoyed the three and a half previous books in the Quantum Series (the trilogy plus Quantum Incident, a short, free Prologue book). Douglas Phillips writes my favorite - hard science fiction. In this series, Quantum Physics in many forms is the base on which the stories grow. When I learned that there would be a fourth book in the series, I pre-ordered it on Amazon and read it the day it was released.
Apparently Phillips is a real science nerd. He is fascinated by science and reads a wide range of science books for fun. I do that as well but I do not use what I learned to churn out bestselling books. For this book Phillips decided that it would be fun to learn about the similarities and differences of retinal and chlorophyll and then write a book with that knowledge as a major part of the plot. Really, a book about chlorophyll? Don’t panic, it also includes a lot of space travel, aliens, quantum physics, fourth dimension space, astronomy, and cosmology. Also margaritas, which somehow figure into his books as well.
Quantum Entangled continues where the Quantum Trilogy left off. Daniel and Nala are married and just starting to enjoy a more relaxing lifestyle in New Mexico. Very relaxing, that is, until Daniel starts having vivid reoccurring nightmares that he thinks are somehow connected to his previous time traveling stint. Nala takes the lead as they head off to Beijing to meet up with everyone’s favorite android space tourist guide, Zin.
Unfortunately this book is half the length of the other three Quantum books. Phillips says that there is no reason for this, “that’s just how it turned out.” My only disappointment was that it finished so soon. Phillips also admits that there is a lot less quantum physics in this book but that is more than made up for by more chemistry and lots aliens.
If you are a fan of the Quantum series, you will love this book. If you haven’t read the trilogy, PLEASE do so before reading this book or you will miss out on not only three great books but background needed to fully enjoy this one.
“Quantum Entangled” is the fourth book in the Quantum Series by Douglas Phillips. It continues the saga of Daniel Rice and Nala Pasquier as they try to solve a new mystery that could help the world. The story is short but entertaining and easy to read. Unfortunately, this is the weakest book in the series, and Phillips tries to do a good job of developing the characters of Daniel and Nala, but the story is not as strong.
According to reviews, this entry in the series has less physics and more of a “first contact” vibe, which some readers appreciated.
Another shortcoming noted by reviewers is that the narrator of the audiobook should really have been a male voice, as most of the audiobook is from a male perspective.
Overall, “Quantum Entangled” has received positive reviews from readers who have enjoyed its continuation of the Quantum series.
Douglas Phillips has sandwiched his trilogy of fascinating novels between a novella length prologue (Quantum Incident) and this novella length epilogue (Quantum Entangled). For fans of the Quantum series, this is the icing on the cake. This entry in the series is much lighter, and is a fun read. Daniel is having unsettling dreams. He needs Zin’s help. Meanwhile, Earth is being considered for admission to the Intergalactic Council. It’s not going well. Follow Daniel and Nala through the portal on a fast paced trip to the council chamber, with plenty of twists and turns that reveal the mystery behind Daniel’s dreams. Quantum Entangled is the pretty bow that wraps up the series in a most satisfying way.
Thank you!!! The idea of quantum time is truly mind bending! I read recently about a new theory of a fifth dimension that acts as a kind of buffer between quantum realm and relativity, could this fit with idea of the chronon? Quantum time being a representation of an aspect of the this fifth dimension. Science seems to be at a new juncture where what we thought we knew is being questioned, a reboot with quantum discoveries being looked at from new perspectives. What an exciting time to be alive! Thank you for bringing new avenues of thought to discussion! I look forward to reading all of your books, and exploring the new directions scientific exploration is taking us right along with you.
This came up on my recommended feed on Goodreads, and the description of it being hard sci-fi with an interplanetary federation idea sounded like it would be something I would enjoy. So I ordered the book. Unfortunately the recommendation algorithm apparently does not consider writing style, and this type of writing just does not appeal to me. However, for the right reader, and probably all those giving five stars, this fits a neat stylistic niche, with not a lot of books being written like this. So I’m excited those readers found an author that they can enjoy, and Phillips should keep pumping them out to fill that niche.
Best I can describe it would be: the casual conversational tone of Blake Crouch without the deep and dark subject matter. Simple in concept, light and breezy without being silly. Lots of gee-whiz scenery like a modernized Buck Rogers. Another writer who uses a lot of real world references is Kishore Tipirneni, if that is something Phillips’s fans enjoy about his writing. Personally, I’m looking for the opposite: richly layered writing with a complex tapestry of interwoven themes, exploration of thought-provoking ideas, and hard-science that goes a little deeper than Bill Nye the Science Guy. And really, are we to consider “spatial compression” hard science? If you are looking for the opposite of that, then definitely give Phillips a try, not many authors writing like this these days.
Enjoyed this book more than the previous four in the series as it finally begins to realize the promise of the compression technology. Phillips has now expanded the field of play to the whole galaxy (universe?).
There has to be something ike warp space or the compression technology described in these books for humans to be able to travel to and communicate between stars. The distances are simply too great, even for light speed ships.
The book feels like a kid's book (excepting the sex references). It is light, easy to read and moves forward relentlessly. The characters, as usual from the first books, are sketched out fairly basically. Nala, Dr. Rice's wife, continues to be as superficial and annoying as she was written in earlier books.
I do have to take issue with the authors explanation of his choices in development of the aliens in the book. I don't think hedgehogs, among others, would be able to develop technology because of their lack of hands or tentacles. Something like arms and hands that is able to physically make and manipulate tools is essential for scientific advancement. Were this not true, then dolphins might have underwater cities and might well be flying spaceships.
I do hope for further books in this series but longer, denser with better character development (maturity?) and more depth of plot.
Daniel is having weird recurring dreams of being stuck dying of dehydration on a desert planet somewhere.
Him and Nala end up teleporting to a distant planet that acts as a sort of United Nations for the galactic council and of course it’s on a desert planet.
Daniel gets mysteriously ejected from the petal-shaped hexagonal structure, along with a confused security bot and walks miles across harsh terrain to “the wreck”, an ancient wreck with a centuries old alien (Ajadu) with the beak of a hawk, who tells him a story about The Ancients and The Colonists who split apart from them, millions of years ago and who Ajadu thinks Daniel might be having premonitions or quantum entangled dreams about.
Turns out that the Ancients created a giant space telescope that was pointed at the area of the sky where earth was 6 million years ago.
Apparently they found chlorophyll so fascinating that they literally flew their whole star system to earth and were still en route at the time that the earth scientists discovered the star Gliese 710 coming right for us.
Galactic council filled with wild species. Hedgehog types, massive centipedes, praying mantises, aquatics.
I have been hooked on the quantum series and pre-ordered this as soon as it was available. I was disappointed with 2 things: (1) there were less hard sciences and "quantum" nuggets in this story compared to the 3 earlier books. (2) Nala was inappropriate given the context. They were meeting other galactic races for the first time with Earth's membership in the galactic association at stake. Yet she did not appear conscious of her language at all and used expletives in her conversations. I would have expected them to be directly translated by translation devices used by the other races which would have lead to misunderstandings. Overall a good continuation of the series. Looking forward to the next installment.
A menagerie of characters, a universe of diversity, a confluence of interests and conflicts
So much vivid, virtual, mental candy! A wild ride to "the other side". What would it be like to meet a new species? What if you met 24 all at once? And what if you could go anywhere almost instantly? This "tall tale" makes that a reality. Only reason I haven't given this great book 5 stars is through no fault of the book; it's just that my preferred genre is hard sci-fi and the storyline didn't attempt to explain HOW all the magic happened. This won't be an issue for 99.99% of the readers who I anticipate will give it 5 stars
Books 1-3 in this series were creative, intriguing and fun. Book 4 ... Not so much. Perhaps I was turned off to your writing by the anti-Christian position the author flaunted in his comments after book 3. Now the ridiculous views on devotion are so porous there are not enough words to save the ship. That such a smart person can be so self-important that he is totally ignorant of all God created, amuses and amazed me. Your personal views will destroy you and those who read your personal views. Sorry, but I am done.
Book four finally delivers on the promise of book one.
This series stumbled a couple times since book one came out, but Quantum Entangled finally puts the story back on track and gives readers a better look at the galactic neighbors we discovered in book one, Quantum Space. Except for a short biology lesson, the science is almost lal but left out this time around, but the story and characters are all much more compelling that anything or anybody introduced in books two or three.
Daniel and his wife are called on the alien carpet after their time travel adventures. Through his tinkering with the timeline, Daniel becomes quantum entangled in time and has to straighten it out. Not all of the aliens in charge want him to succeed. One of them even, quite literally, throws him away in a scene reminiscent of the first Star Wars film. His robot guide is the best character in the story.
I enjoyed the first three volumes more than this one, but I would be happy to read more hard sci-fi from Phillips. 3.5
Book 4 of the Quantum Series doesn’t have a lot of the quantum science we’ve seen in the other books. With that being said, I enjoyed the somewhat easier reading pace and the storyline. The characters we know from the other books with a few new ones added make this book even more fascinating. I enjoyed all the different aliens and interactions with them. An enlightening read till the end, this author doesn’t disappoint!
This addition to the series doesn't disappoint. Finished in two days. Love the way Daniel and Nala play off each other. Douglas makes the fiction part of Science Fiction believable. What I love most is his desire to be true to what science already knows. Much like Asimov. Keep the stories coming. Enjoy that alone time with your wife but don't stop giving us these tales.
I was hooked from book one and read all four. Generally , I read for pleasure; however, I felt compelled to study a little physics along the way. While reading, I often pondered the unintended consequences that arose when curiosity led to unnecessary risks. Reading this series opened a dialogue at home that led to lively discussions and a renewed interest in science and emerging technologies.
I really enjoy the stories written by Douglas Phillips. Not only does he research the science, but he creates a scenario that, while fantastical, is believable. It also whisks the reader away to a world imagined with a story that you can't put down. I love the characters Daniel and Nala, and now TD. Great job.
The fourth (and unexpected) entry in the Quantum series takes a decidedly different trajectory than its predecessors. Through more of a chronological (ironic for a time-shifting storyline!) narration of events, the entry of the human race into the intergalactic multi-species alliance Sagittarius Novartis is chronicled. Interesting read!
Daniel and Nala are back in a new mystery that must be solved to help the world. Phillips's character development of these two is so good, you want them to be part of your life. The new story is short but still quite entertaining and is an easy read. I can see Doug being able to draw this out for another one or two novels and am sure I would find them quite interesting.
Phillips does a fantastic job continuing the Rice/Pasquier saga with Entangled. You’ll find less physics and more of a “first contact” vibe from this entry, which is ok for this reader. Not that I don’t love the mind-bending science, but I’m glad Phillips chose to explore some of the more fantastical elements of the first three books, while still staying grounded. If he chooses to end the saga here, it’s a satisfying conclusion. But, he does leave the door open for a potential follow-up down the road.
Will we be enlightened with communication from other worlds and other life forms? In this 4th book, intergalactic cooperation is dependent on humans making their case through the discovery of Dr. Rice. As previous in the series, science is factual. Very enjoyable tale.
Gives me the same feeling when I discovered Ray Bradbury and R. A. Heineken. I cannot put his books down. Great characters, good theoretical discussions on all facets of our lives, in the books and our current reality. Once you start reading Phillip's books you will be hooked.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys great Science Fiction. Mr. Richards is amazing in his story telling abilities. Daniel Rice and his wife Nala are so fun to read about. The book is fast paced and mind bending in storyline. It would be an amazing world if it existed as it does in this series.....
I liked the story. It dragged a bit compared to the author's previous books in the series. I would have given it a rate of 4.5, but they only allow whole numbers. I look forward to reading his next book in the series. He seeded this story for the next book. A pretty good kudos to Mr. Phillips!
I haven't read a story that required figuring out what the author was trying to say. This was a great science fiction romp that took my mind several tries to visual what was being written! I thoroughly enjoyed this great adventure never once knowing where he was going next. Couldn't put it down once in I started!
Loved the premise of Daniel and Nala getting to visit a new and strange planet. Daniel getting tossed out into a dangerous situation that could cost him his life and Nala never giving up on finding and rescuing him. Important information about the colonists and ancients and their history. Enjoyed the pacing of this book
So I am a die hard sci fi fan and this is the 4th in the series by Douglas. I skipped the 3rd one but that's a must read too, to fully understand this series. Great writing. Can't beleive the amount of research must have gone for all those concepts put forward in the book. Both Douglas Phillips and Douglas E Richards are my favourite. Happy reading