Chronoscribe Tsai Yini monitors the tachyon communication system, which transmits data faster than the speed of light. When classified results from an astrobiologist’s research are leaked to her, she cannot believe what she reads. The report reveals that intelligent life forms exist on a tropical planet in the Gliese system.
Their civilization is still in its infancy but revolves around an artifact of unknown origin that seems to influence their body chemistry. But there’s the astrobiologist who uncovered this artifact has undergone a baffling evolution of his own, and he’s now en route to Earth!
Yini suspects he carries a danger far greater than anyone could imagine. To stop him, she must make unimaginable decisions that could determine not only her fate but the future of the universe.
For fans of Cixin Liu, Andy Weir, and Frank Herbert, The Weapon delivers a high-stakes adventure where the line between discovery and destruction blurs.
Brandon Q. Morris is a physicist and space specialist. He has long been concerned with space issues, both professionally and privately and while he wanted to become an astronaut, he had to stay on Earth for a variety of reasons. He is particularly fascinated by the "what if” and through his books he aims to share compelling hard science fiction stories that could actually happen, and someday may happen. Morris is the author of several best-selling science fiction novels.
Future communication faster than light and a weapon?
There are 4 different time streams running in this book but there is not a lot of time between them all. Two are unspecified, though the second of these is told in letters read in the 4th time stream. One person appears in many of the time streams including the 2nd as the letters were written to Tailin. Mankind has advanced to the point where they can be transferred from one 'body bag' to another and can communicate instantaneously across vast distances using tachyons - particles that move in time. This has led to the formation of an organisation to map time which is where the 4th time stream comes in as Tsai attempts to plot the sequence of events in time stream 3 and uncovers the letters relating to time stream 2 and a secret she knew nothing about... A colony on Mars was destroyed by Earth leading to the formation of Neomars on Titan and these people are in a cold war with Earth and both are spying on each other and the 3rd and 4th time streams deal with each side attempting to gather information about the possible use of tachyons as a weapon. This convoluted tale does Interweave the 4 time streams as connections between them come to light, but much information is still missing, though hopefully will be filled in by the next 2 books. There is a heady mix of suspense, intrigue, mystery, espionage, data transfer (and human transfer), genetic manipulation (particularly of Neomars inhabitants), and more sexual content than normal (nothing particularly graphic, but just more of it than in previous books). At the end is a handy guide to Tachyons, though reference to discoveries in 2300's demonstrate some liberties in this section too which unfortunately now casts doubt on the authenticity of other factual inserts by Brandon. A story with great potential, though is currently not quite hitting the mark...
Quite interesting adventure that has some great ideas and hard science speculation. I was really enjoying it but towards the end became rather confused about the identities of the characters Mike, Mark and Monte. Perhaps it’s just me getting my 68yo senior moments, I rather enjoyed the concepts like having “biobags”, although how anyone recognises anyone else if you can just choose any body seems a tad problematic. The timeline confusion inherent in tachyon communication is understandable and integral to the book’s premise. However I was ultimately left with a unsatisfied feeling that the story never led anywhere except towards the need to buy the next book to find out what happens next. Never did find out what the title “Tachyon: The Weapon” was and how it might destroy the universe. Again understandable from the author’s perspective but I wasn’t totally convinced that I would not have buyers remorse after forking out for the next two volumes. I usually give 4 stars but this is a 3.5 with only a 60% chance I will continue to read what is for me a new author.
The author accomplishes the mission of Science Fiction Writers of making things that don’t exist understandable in our current knowledge sphere. Well done.