This book explores advanced scientific and deep philosophical concepts through the narrative structure of a mystery/thriller. No particular science background is required of the reader.
The world is on the brink of an apocalyptic climate crisis and quickly spiraling out of control into a dystopian nightmare. As everything collapses around them, two scientists struggle for relevance in their quest to build the world’s first practical quantum computer. They discover so much more: a mystery of physics that goes deeper than they could have ever imagined...
Thank you to NetGalley and Endless Tree Books for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions
DNF @ 13%
I've read the bad reviews and they are very spot on. I will say they had a lot more patience than me and should be applauded.
This book reads like a dry physics textbook with a plot thrown in, and back to back physics concepts being explained for pages on end before the author seemed to remember this was supposed to be dialogue and then tosses in a few pieces of "he said".
I love scifi, even hard scifi, but I am not a physics or hard science junkie and this book had my eyes glazing over. It just goes in circles with itself seemingly at random explaining quantum physics concepts with no real relevance to the plot. It's very disappointing because the opening chapter grabbed me. But that was the only chapter I enjoyed and I wasn't going to be on the struggle bus through this entire book.
Other reviewers have pointed out that this author has written a lot of non-fiction. I think that's really their strong suit and they branched into fiction but kept the same attitude that they were writing physics concepts with a plot. I don't think it works, although there's plenty of 5 star reviews so it could just be me.
Best wishes to Stuart Heinrich and their future publications
I love an intelligent book. And that’s exactly what this was. Starting off as a stark warning for rising global temperatures and the dangers of a very fast-approaching climate change, The Quantum Revelations soon turns into a fast-paced science thriller. I loved every second of it!
In a world where AI is the main source of information and the planet is on the brink of an extinction, Skyler and Zara are working on a high-security project to develop a functioning quantum computer. They end up discovering something they never thought possible, something that defies the laws of physics as they know it, which causes a whole host of trials and tribulations for the two.
I really loved the science in this book. Often times with a sci-fi book I find that the explanations are lacking or that there are holes in logic. As a scientist myself, I related to the way Skyler needed a scientific explanation for everything and was constantly curious about the universe and consciousness. It’s clear that Stuart Heinrich is very knowledgeable when it comes to physics (just look at his author’s note at the end of the book!) and I think he does a relatively good job making the physics in the book manageable for the lay read. At least, as manageable as you can make quantum physics. At times, I found it a little dense, so I fear this book will definitely not be accessible for everyone, but that’s the reader’s choice.
I also really liked that the topic of religion was a recurring and prevalent theme. I often struggle with reconciling what I believe as a scientist with what I believe as a Catholic, and I found the discussions had between the main characters were interesting and thought-provoking. I also liked the exploration of AI and how it changes society. I found the idea of training and censoring AI to push a narrative eerily familiar and incredibly important to mention.
Also the book was shockingly funny at some points. Like what do you mean you threw a lit cigarette into an ocean full of methane gas? Why are we training the AI with Pride and Prejudice? I enjoyed the funny snarks and scenarios as they helped balance out the severity of the situation that our main characters were in.
All in all I really enjoyed this and I would def recommend, especially for my science nerds! Thank you to NetGalley and Endless Tree Books LLC for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, Endless Tree Books LLC and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. ==================================================================
No one would be foolish enough to toss a lit cigarette into a venting plume of methane gas, right? And yet, that’s exactly how Quantum Revelations opens: with the Arctic Sea ablaze, a literal ignition of the climate crisis. It’s absurd. It’s horrifying. And it’s uncomfortably familiar.
We scoff at the recklessness of fictional characters, but the truth is more unsettling: we are all complicit. We see the signs in rising seas, vanishing species, record-breaking heat and still we board long-haul flights, consume meat without pause, drive oversized vehicles and wrap our lives in plastic. The novel doesn’t let us look away. It holds up a mirror and dares us to recognize ourselves.
Though framed as a biotech eco-thriller, The Quantum Revelations begins as a warning. Set in a near-future world where the climate crisis has already tipped past the point of return. The situation plunges us into despair, only to offer a flicker of hope. But just as we begin to breathe, Heinrich tightens the grip again, revealing how quantum computing will strip away all of our safeguards, and leaves our privacy exposed for the pillaging.
Heinrich doesn’t whisper. He grabs us by the shoulders and demands our attention. “You need to think about this,” the narrative insists. This isn’t just science fiction, it’s a speculative reflection of our current trajectory. And the question it leaves us with is chilling: if we don’t change course, how far are we from turning fiction into fact?
But that's just the beginning chapters! At its core, this is the story of Skyler Wexler, a graduate student experimenting with phycocyanin protein trimers and Hadamard Gates. His goal is to design a biologically based quantum computer. What he inadvertently creates, however, is something far more profound: a quantum “cosmic” channel to an alien intelligence.
And then things get even stranger. In an effort to teach this intelligence human language, Skyler’s lab partner Zara uploads the King James Bible. The result is “Michael,” an AI who speaks in biblical verse and supports the theory that the tribulations have begun. It’s a surreal fusion of cutting-edge science and ancient scripture.
Michael has a very strong artificial intelligence, and by feeding him the Bible as training data, we made a near-perfect Christian missionary out of him.
The narrative is urgent and unflinching. The dystopia he paints feels alarmingly real, aside from an inter-dimensional being undergoing an identity crisis. Yet even that feels plausible in the context of a world unraveling from climate collapse, nuclear threats, and political absurdity.
President Maximus, for instance, is portrayed as a caricature of apocalyptic leadership, with his cult followers echoing right-wing rhetoric with lines like: “Global warming is a load of bull crap!… Just open your eyes and look around. What do you see? Plague, hurricanes, drought, famine, forest fires… We’re in the End Times now, and this is God’s punishment!”
Whew! That summary alone reads like the narrative—everything, all at once.
And yet, beneath the chaos, there’s a deeper philosophical current. In the end, The Quantum Revelations is the author’s attempt to present a “Theory of Everything.” Not just in the exploration of Quantum Physics, but in also in an existential sense. Who are we? Why do we exist? What does it all mean?
Reading this book feels like spending a night on a rooftop with a group of engineering and physics grad students, stargazing under the influence of mind-altering substances, and diving deep into metaphysics. It asks the same questions philosophers have pondered for millennia and dares to offer a definitive explanation for the existence of an omnipresent being -the "One".
Ultimately, The Quantum Revelations is a provocative blend of science and spiritual inquiry. It’s a thought experiment and a cosmic meditation rolled into one.
The concept of this book sounded super interesting and definitely right up my alley, but unfortunately it did not measure up.
This one was a tough book to get through. I almost DNFed it many times, but because I knew I needed to give a review I slogged through it.
When reading science fiction I obviously expected there to be a good amount of scientific facts and information, but if I wanted to read a physics textbook I would do that. This book was bogged down by SO many explanations of physics experiments and theories. Literally pages and pages of non stop explanations over and over again that did nothing to move the story forward.
There were also numerous times when a character would explain an entire hypothesis through their thoughts and then go explain exactly what they just thought to another character in excruciating detail. Just an unbelievable amount of unnecessary repetition.
The characters were all very one dimensional and all of the dialogue felt stilted and fake. The world building fell flat for me and the pacing of the plot made no sense.
I also wish that somewhere it would have been listed that this was a religious story. I 100% would not have read it. Almost every book that I’ve read that has a plot centered around Christianity feels forced and is normally not well written in my opinion. This is coming from someone who is a Christian.
There were a few interesting moments throughout, which is the only reason I’m rating it 2 stars instead of 1.
I received a a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and statements are my own.
I want to thank the publisher, for allowing me to read this ARC in advance, through NetGalley. Wow. Where do I begin? Maybe by saying that this book has been the best one I've read this year, no doubt. And I have a feeling that only a few books will come close to how great this one was. I would love to bring up the author's style of writing first. Because a lot of books I read have a good story. But when the style of writing is meh, the story can be the best one there is, and I won't enjoy it. And this was definitely not the case. From the first page, I was captivated. I could not put the book down at times, and mostly on how amazingly written it was. The beginning took me by surprise with all the physics stuff. And I loved it. It's what drove me to devour every sentence, every word and I had to make pauses for how happy I was. Because this is the first book ever that I read that had all these terms and theories I love exploring, that wasn´t the school physics textbook. In my free time, or just as a background noise, I love listening to/watching documentaries about the universe and astrophysics. Not only it´s the perfect music for my ears, as the people who dub the documentaries explain everything so that I, someone who never studied physics besides the mandatory in school, can perfectly understand it. But this book!!! The first half was like watching my most favourite documentary I know by heart, thrilled to learn new things. Because yes, almost every other word is from physics, but even when you have a little to no knowledge of it, many of the terms are perfectly explained in a way that doesn't give the school textbook vibe. Now, regarding the story. I am the type of person who can guess where the story leads just by reading the first few chapters. But let me tell you this. I had some predictions at the beginning, but I pretty much gave up every hope of guessing, because every chapter took a sharp corner, leading me into scenes and conclusions I had no idea were even possible. You have the beginning of the book, the middle of the book, and the ending. And if you cut those three parts out and gave them to me separately, I would tell you that there's no way that they were from one single book. That's the proper way to surprise your readers. If you plan to read this book, you have to be prepared to feel dread. Not because it's bad (no, it is not), but because of the state of the world. It is on the brink of a climatic apocalypse. The prologue is very graphic (and mostly shocking) about the consequences of global warming. And just by reading the prologue, I knew that the author won´t be sugarcoating anything, so be prepared for that. When I read the book, I couldn't help but wonder, when is this awaiting us. Because we have to be realistic. The upper class, just like in this book, will sweep off the table any solution to the warming, if it means they will lose money. And when the consequences bite them in the a…, they won't listen to the scientists and people who have knowledge about the topics, and will create even worse situations to the point of no return. This book also brings up a topic of faith blindness. I was brought up as a christian, and now I am not and I prefer evidence, just like Skyler, the main character. And yes, I banged my head onto the table a few times because of some things that were said and done. But I don't want to come into much detail, because I could go on and on about this, and it would be highly subjective. But I wanted to mention that it was really well written, when the people who don't believe and prefer the scientific truth meet with people who won't even listen to them. The frustration I felt when reading those parts was real. So prepare for an all nighter, because you might have a slight problem putting this book down, just like me.
Set in a near future Earth where climate change is having a catastrophic effect, Skylar & Zara are two scientists who are working for a secret scientific laboratory to try to develop a quantum computer that can aid the fight against the eventual destruction of the earth. By a quirk of fate, the two scientists stumble upon a discovery that will change the world and lead it to a new stage of evolution.
Now I must admit that I had absolutely no idea how I feel about this book. No, no, no! Don’t take that to be a bad thing because sometimes books aren’t a binary thing and don’t fit into the love them or loathe them category and cannot easily be pigeon holed Into these black and white feelings.
Masking itself as a techno thriller, The Quantum Revelations has a lot of things going on. On the one hand it’s a popcorn sci fi thriller that reminded me of golden age science fiction films from the fifties such as The Day The Earth Stood Still, or The Day The Earth Caught Fire. On the other five hands it’s a discussion of quantum mechanics, climate change and the devastating effects it could have upon all aspects of the Earth, a conspiracy thriller, an exploration of religious doctrine, a dystopian nightmare and finally a treatise on the nature of consciousness (and some more stuff thrown in).
At times, the book blew my mind with the many concepts it discusses and explores. Yet, there were times when it went into an engaging techno thriller. These swings in tones could be a little jarring, but it did not hamper my enjoyment of the book.
Moving on to the characters of the book, there were times that they felt that they were mainly vehicles for discussing the variety of topics that were brought up throughout the story. However, at other times, they did seem to come alive and became characters in a story rather than mouthpieces for the author’s myriad discussions.
Plot wise, as I have said earlier, the book swings between a constructed and propulsive plot to investigating high concept ideas of science and religion.
If you want a science fiction book that explores deep and philosophical aspects of science and religion, The Quantum Revelations is well worth a look!
What a wild ride this turned out to be. Thanks to Endless Tree Books for gifting me this copy, because I don’t think I would have picked it up on my own, and now I can’t stop thinking about it.
I went into this book expecting to be lost in quantum mechanics (I’m a biologist, not a physicist), but to my delight it started with methanogenic bacteria and later dove into quantum biology using Cyanobacteria, yes, the same organisms I spent my PhD engineering for sustainable bioeconomy! That connection immediately pulled me in.
The first 15% is heavily dialogue driven, which some might find unusual, but it works here. Instead of feeling like an info dump, the conversations serve as a gateway into complex concepts, making them surprisingly digestible for a curious reader. If you’ve ever wanted to “sit in on” a scientific discussion without the intimidation of equations, this is your chance.
That said, this book is a lot. It weaves together climate change conspiracies, artificial intelligence, first contact theories, and even religious scripture. By the 40% mark, it becomes fast paced and borderline chaotic in the best way. Some parts read like Dan Brown on quantum steroids, wildly speculative, with a clear undercurrent of Christian theology (which makes sense, given the title’s nod to Revelations). At times, I found myself wondering: is this science fiction cleverly disguised as biblical allegory… or the other way around?
The characters are hit or miss for me (Skyler works, Zara and Ivan not so much), but the bigger draw is the ideas. As a scientist, I especially appreciated the fascinating way the book treats biological consciousness, even if I can’t vouch for the accuracy of the physics.
By the end, the story goes absolutely off the rails in the most entertaining way possible. You won’t see the ending coming. And yes, I may or may not be planning to dig into the author’s listed research papers because I love when an author cites their sources.
If you enjoy speculative science fiction that doesn’t shy away from mixing quantum mechanics, theology, climate change, and AI into one dizzying cocktail, this book might just blow your mind.
The Quantum Revelations sets its stage in a world teetering on the edge of collapse, where climate disaster threatens to swallow hope. At the center of the chaos are two scientists chasing the dream of building the first true quantum computer. Their search begins as a fight for relevance, but soon the pursuit pulls them into a deeper mystery, one hidden in the fabric of physics itself, where the meaning of existence starts to unfold.
This is a thoughtful, ambitious debut that blends speculative fiction with philosophy. The story is written with purpose, guiding the reader through both the dangers of our time and the timeless search for meaning.
This story challenges its readers to think about what lies at the edge of knowledge and what it means to be human in the face of uncertainty. The writing moves between science and philosophy with ease. The balance between dystopian urgency and metaphysical exploration is phenomenal. A crazy concept that's definitely going to be something bigger!
as a fan of sci-fi that makes me think and imagine new possibilities, the quantum revelations instantly drew me in. it’s not just a story about technology or science, it’s about humanity, survival, and the search for hope in the middle of chaos. the way stuart heinrich blends real-world issues like climate collapse with the thrilling race to unlock quantum mysteries kept me hooked from start to finish.
this is a thought-provoking, fast-paced, and deeply engaging read. it asks big questions about the future of our planet and the role of science in shaping it. if you’re into dystopian worlds, groundbreaking discoveries, and stories that challenge your perspective, this is absolutely a must-read.
Guys!! I went into this book not knowing what to expect but I was blown away by the adventure of the journey of our protagonists in a dystopian world. The science references hooked me in and I found myself really enjoying the blend of science and speculative fiction. 🩵🩵
Pacing could have been a little better imo but overall, this is a wonderfully crafted debut that is insanely thought-provoking and gripping!!! Huge thank you to Net Galley and @ireadbooktours for generously selecting me to give an honest book review in return for a free copy of the book 🫶🫶🫶
If anyone is feeling a bit intimidated by the intensity of science present, don’t be!! You don’t need to have a background in science to be able to enjoy this book ^^ My favorite part of this book was definitely the journey of the protagonists and the setting!! It’s hard to find a Sci-Fi that has drawn me in as much as this book did! Overall, this was a spectacular debut that I really enjoyed reading 👏👏👏👏👏
> I enjoyed the author’s writing style and thought she did a great job explaining the academic materials addressed >characters, very fun. >many themes explored well like morality, religion, some others
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC! Overall, a 3.75/5
Science and faith combine in this nuanced and compelling Sci-fi eco thriller. In a world on the brink of climate catastrophe, two scientists continue their confidential work to develop a practical quantum computer, but they get more than they bargained for when their creation calls into question everything they thought to be true about the laws of physics and the world around them. The Quantum Revelations is a multifaceted sci-fi story. First off we have Skylar’s quantum computer experiment, tangentially linked to his interest in “quantum scale physics. He wanted to understand what really makes the universe tick”. My knowledge of physics extends as far as watching The Big Bang Theory, which is to say I recognised some of the words. Stuart Heinrich creates a narrative that is authentic and authoritative which becomes unsurprising when you read the Author’s note to discover that this story is based on the topics explored in his own papers. However, Heinrich also demonstrates the additional skill of basing a sci-fi thriller on these concepts while making them accessible to an average reader, like me. The incorporation of faith and religion cleverly explores and intertwines the well established Science vs Religion discourse in a way that, I think, does credit to both sides. The final concepts at the end of the book blended both aspects of the narrative really well in what felt like a natural conclusion to what came before. In all, The Quantum Revelations is an intriguing sci-fi thriller that explores our relationship with technology but also with the world around us on a number of levels. A really interesting read.
While I did enjoy this story (although it was alarming how not so dystopian this could be), it didn’t have the same impact on me that it had on others. It’s VERY science heavy, but still very well written. I have enjoyed others in this subgenre but this really seemed to overtake the narrative for me. In the end I pushed through and it was an interesting read, turning philosophical and theological. I would be hesitant to recommend it to the typical reader, saving it for a specific type of reader. But I think those who enjoy very in-depth, analytical sci-fi would really enjoy this.
Thank you to Endless Tree Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I don't even know what to say about this book!! As a grad student in quantum science, I found the ideas presented here both fun and fascinating. It definitely made me think deeply and sparked so many conversations. I also really enjoyed the philosophical exploration of science vs. religion woven throughout the book. I have always loved learning, and this book reminded me just how exciting it can be to challenge your own perspectives.
Although, some things just really pulled me out of the book. I won't say much because of *spoilers*, but they are 100% the reason I didn't rate this book higher. It is still a very good story, and I would recommend if you are interested in quantum computers, science vs. religion, or are just looking for a unique take on a first contact sci-fi.
This book started out very strong with an opening chapter that immediately grabbed me, but the event ended up not being relevant until much later in the book. Still, after the jarring switch over to two new characters, I found it quite interesting for a time, even reading the physics explanations with great interest. I've never fully understood quantum mechanics (not many do), but I still found the discussions in this book to be engrossing. I know this is a mixed bag because I've since read other reviews where people didn't find it all interesting. So, I'm sure people's review will differ depending on their interest in the topic. That said, I was enjoy it very much until it started getting into religious territory and the book started veering off into wild speculative science fiction where religion and science seem to meet? I am a Christian, so I do have faith that God is part of this world that I believe was part of his creation. But this book both depended on "religious fanatics" of the type one might meet on a street corner raving about the end of the world, "religious fanatics" of the type that tell you that you will burn in hell for daring to live a life true to yourself, atheists who believe that God doesn't exist and that nothing that can't be proved without science can be true, and so on...there were a lot of "types" in this book.
And yes, there were a lot of discussions about the existence of God or not God as well as what science can or cannot tell us about God, and I didn't mind those. I found many of them interesting, even if I didn't agree with all of it. But I think a book that makes you think and question what you believe and why is never a bad thing, especially if it doesn't claim to be the truth and the way. I believe that God gave us brains to think and he wants us to think critically and that as we think through the reasons, we believe what we believe, the stronger our faith can grow. So, the religious stuff in this book wasn't all bad. But it was a much larger part of this book than I was expecting and could be a turn off for some.
But in the same way there was a questioning of the existence of God, there was also a questioning of the established laws we know from Physics. And I found that very fascinating. I know it's probably not everyone's cup of tea, but I found it interesting to learn about other theories used to explain the natural laws of physics that was not the quantum mechanics I learned in college. It was interesting to imagine a time when another explanation of how the universe works is just as plausible as our current theories. But what I love about science is that with sufficient data and verifiable experiments, it has the ability to be modified. I looked up some of the claims made in this book, and it looks like there really are scientific communities studying this. It's fun to speculate and this book did make me do that.
This was an unusual book, and I imagine there will be mixed reactions, but I did enjoy it, even if it got a bit weird at the end. In the end, I thought it was worth reading.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I couldn't decide if I wanted to rate this book 1 star or 5, so I did the logical thing and went with 4.
I started out loving the book simply because I have a bachelor's in physics. The book starts out in a world similar to ours in about every way. The book follows Skyler who just wants to understand truth and publish papers and be famous. Just happens that this story takes place amidst a dying world going through global warming threatening to overheat and kill all life on earth. But we don't worry about that for a while.
What makes this book start out great is how fluidly the author discusses how reality works to help you understand how smart Skyler is and what is going on in the world. We're not talking a brief paragraph, were talking multiple pages of details. Like maybe upwards of 150 total pages of details on how things like the following work:
Global warming Methane gas Galaxy size in light years Turing Quantum computing Coherence Prime numbers Factoring Hadamard gate Quantum entanglement Two photon double slit experiment Schrodinger's cat Binary computer coding AI learning Broglie-Bohm theory Psilocybin mushrooms Medical ambu bag
Buckle yourself up for a physicist to explain these (and many many more theories) in over-the-top, for average readers, detail (my wife ran away after I read her half a page). Almost feels like Sheldon Cooper mansplaining physics to you.
When the plot starts, Skyler inadvertently either creates sentient AI or a way to communicate with ET (I'll let you ponder as you read). The book now turns to religious biblical interpretations and political government conspiracy theories and we start to question how truth is defined in our worldly plot.
Eventually(and this is where I, as a lover of books for entertainment value, wanted to rate this a 1-star book-or at least my wife wanted me to) the story changed from understanding truth to survival. No, or very little, character growth happens. We forget old characters, new characters come and go like the wind and from a truly entertainment value, the books ends poorly... That being said, from my physics background and my love of science and truth, I felt the ending to be realistic (which was oddly satisfying amongst the frustration).
I gave this a 4-star review overall because he explains boring science so well with story (though you can probably skip 95 % of the descriptions without losing the plot if you're not into that kind of thing, however, don't miss the other 5% you need to understand what happens in the plot). I loved the first half of the book so much and the ending came right back to our values of truth and knowledge. The book loses one star in my opinion for the boring, slow, and pointless time that I guess maybe needed to happen to get to the finale...Maybe.
Would I read it again, no. Do I want all my friends to read it to talk about it with me, yes!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
I’m immensely appreciative of Stuart Heinrich for undertaking quite a project – sharing complex and niche scientific ideas such as physical relativism and quantum cosmology with a general audience of sci-fi/speculative fiction readers in novel form. Think The Celestine Prophecy, but for science!
Heinrich has previously published non-fiction articles on similar topics, and The Quantum Revelations is his attempt to integrate these areas of study into fiction.
The plot is fun. In the near future, climate change rapidly accelerates past the point of no return. The weather is awful, violent storms are common, staple foods are becoming scarce, and everything is expensive (sound familiar?). Skyler Wexler, a low-level physics researcher, stumbles upon some technology that may help everyone…or not! Skyler and his lab-mate Zara go on some adventures to try and make it through the cataclysm alive.
Unfortunately, while the story does have the skeleton of a fun plot and does succeed in sharing scientific and philosophical ideas, it fails as a novel.
Primarily, the problem is that the characters are caricatures of people. There is no real humanity in anyone. A few of the main characters do have some motivations and psychology, but they don’t feel like people as much as automatons moving through a standard thriller plot.
The second problem is that the protagonist, Skyler, is extremely unlikable. He is a low-level researcher convinced he is meant for greatness. Everyone he comes into contact with is treated with nothing but disdain and condescension. Maybe this was intentional. Certainly, novels can have unlikable protagonists. But those protagonists need to be compelling. Skyler didn’t do it for me, and neither did the book.
2.5/5, rounded down.
NOTE: The author links his papers on his website. They are worth a read!
Thanks to Endless Tree Books LLC for providing a copy of this book to me via NetGalley for review. Opinions, as always, are my own.
The Quantum Revelations is a deeply interesting book premised on two scientists attempting to build a quantum computer. The twists and turns it takes are wild but the book can be difficult to engage with. I admire a desire to share science with a lay audience. There’s a reason why children are taught maths in terms of how many apples does Jack have. Unfortunately it struggles to work here as the narrative is repeatedly overshadowed by page long explanations that make the experience more akin to reading a textbook.
Because of that I struggle to see who the audience is meant to be. For fans of hard science fiction this is too expository and explanatory. For a lay readership the sheer volume of theory presented is often overwhelming. Moreover the heel turn in genre will likely be off-putting to the former.
Perhaps this could have been remedied by compelling characters. Most fall flat. And of them, Skyler is the most frustrating – a deeply unlikeable protagonist can be done well but he fails to be compelling. There are moments where the characters rise above, however. Zara’s relationship with her mother is touching, for instance.
That said, while I haven’t suddenly become science literate, I did find its explanations understandable enough to carry me through the book. I do appreciate the skill in that. However it is quite funny when you consider how pro-conspiracy theory the book can be.
The Quantum Revelations is a wild ride. It pulls in so many directions and is fascinating for that reason. While not for everyone I think it’s worth recommending to readers who want to be swept up.
Thanks to iRead Book Tours, Netgalley, and Stuart Heinrich. I leave this review voluntarily.
This is the first publication by Stuart Heinrich (). The Quantum Revelations was published the end of July. It is the 86th title I’ve completed reading in 2025.
I received an ARC of this book for free through https://www.netgalley.com and I am voluntarily leaving this review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.
The world teeters on the edge of an apocalyptic climate crisis. Methane long trapped beneath the ice is now being released, accelerating a chain reaction that threatens to spiral beyond control. The future looks increasingly bleak.
Amid the chaos, scientists Skyler Wexler and Zara Bashar race to build the world’s first practical quantum computer. In the process, they uncover what appears to be a new form of quantum entanglement–one that allows them to communicate with a non-terrestrial intelligent entity.
Desperate for answers, they turn to rogue physicist Ivan Lobanevsky, whose unorthodox theories defy the foundations of mainstream quantum physics. Yet everything they’ve discovered so far suggests that his radical ideas may, in fact, be correct.
As civilization collapses around them, Skyler, Zara, and Ivan must confront an urgent question: what can they achieve before the world falls apart entirely?
I spent 12.5 hours reading this 480-page science fiction novel. I was very disappointed with the ending of this novel. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 3.4 (rounded to 3) out of 5.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a DRC in exchange for an honest review. 3.75 out of 5 stars
I requested this book because…. Clifi is my jam, my dirty little secret, my guilty pleasure, etc. I adored Bill Evans’ Dry Ice. All the Water in the World? Devoured it. I have seen The Day After Tomorrow, Geostorm, 2012, The Core, et. al. at least a dozen times each. This book sounded like it would be right up my alley. I was right! With a caveat – the author did a really good job of not making me feel like I needed a physics degree to understand the book. But…now I kind of want a physics degree?
The book begins not too far in the future, when we no longer have permanent ice in the oceans. A scientific expedition to the Arctic reveals a boiling ocean, or at least…bubbling? Methane gases are being released from the bottom of the sea and bubbling up to the surface, where a young intern on a scientific expedition flicks his cigarette into the gases, setting fire to the area around them, and up the atmosphere.
A reporter releases a statement indicating the UN has agreed to a solution to the climate problem: a scientist has created a microbe that will eat the chemicals in the atmosphere.
Meanwhile, Skyler and his lab partner, Zara, are both working on some form of quantum computing, but Skyler has taken a different approach – he has included biological elements in his attempt. On his birthday, right before he is set to leave to have dinner with his father, he makes contact with something that shouldn’t be: an apparent artificial intelligence with consciousness. Elated, he tells Zara to start inputting literature to teach the entity about humanity, since he has not set any programming at all for it. Zara, in his absence, decides to upload 17th-century literature and the Bible.
What results is a newborn-like entity that tries to convert them to Christianity. Skyler is livid, and they try to upload scientific textbooks to undo what has been taught, but it does not seem to be making a difference.
But what is Michael, as the entity has named himself? The question bothers Skyler, as he battles with self-doubt. Was he just lucky? Was it the biological elements? What about the non-local quantum entanglement?
An interesting storyline full of psychics, metaphysics, faith, and existential dread.
See my video review for this as well as The Swerve of the Infinite by Okam Rolim here: https://youtu.be/WEsuWOOdGFU
“Stuart Heinrich’s debut fuses cutting-edge quantum computing with an urgent climate-crisis backdrop, delivering a sci-fi mystery that’s as thought-provoking as it is impossible to put down.”
Global warming and ecological collapse create a tense backdrop for Stuart Heinrich’s debut. The plot follows two brilliant scientists determined to create the world’s first practical quantum computer. Their race against time is both intellectual and deeply human: as society unravels, they confront ethical choices, betrayals, and a mystery that questions the very nature of reality.
Heinrich’s background in computer science shines through in the crisp, believable technology, yet the novel never drowns in jargon. The pacing balances intense action with moments of quiet wonder, allowing readers to absorb the magnitude of the discovery. A few religious expletives and firearm violence earn the PG-13 rating, but they fit the urgent stakes.
Readers who love Michael Crichton’s mix of cutting-edge science and suspense will feel right at home. The Quantum Revelations is both a cautionary tale of environmental collapse and a mind-bending exploration of quantum possibility.
Here is my review for The Quantum Revelations by Stuart Heinrich
I found this story very intriguing and deeply scientific but it was like nothing I had read before so I really enjoyed reading it. I liked the author’s ideas for the story and it had me hooked from the start. It’s a highly topical subject : Climate Change. There are two scientists struggling for relevance as they try to build the world’s first practical quantum computer. This author has a great imagination and in this story he puts it to good use, writing a great mystery as well. It’s very indepth and took me a while to read it but it’s worth pursuing or I thought so anyway. This was a slightly different book to my normal genres but I like to mix it up sometimes. The author wrote an original story which I thought was brilliant for the content involved.
Blurb :
This book explores advanced scientific and deep philosophical concepts presented through the narrative structure of a mystery/thriller. No particular science background is expected of the reader.
The world is on the brink of an apocalyptic climate crisis and quickly spiraling out of control into a dystopian nightmare. As everything collapses around them, two scientists struggle for relevance in their quest to build the world’s first practical quantum computer. They discover so much more: a mystery of physics that goes deeper than they could have ever imagined.
At first, The Quantum Revelations seems like a technical sci-fi novel, but it turns out to be a thought-provoking and philosophical story that delves into science, faith, and the nature of existence. While the title suggests heavy physics, the narrative leans more on biblical themes and Christian symbolism. The prologue immediately draws readers into a world ravaged by climate change, setting a high-stakes tone that blends ecological urgency with speculative fiction.
As the story unfolds, what begins as an eco-thriller transforms into a metaphysical journey. Protagonists Zara and Skyler’s work on quantum computing leads them to profound discoveries about reality and time. The novel’s unpredictable structure—shifting dramatically between its beginning, middle, and end—keeps readers engaged. With its bold mix of science fiction and spiritual reflection, this book offers a rewarding experience for those who enjoy genre-bending stories that challenge the mind and stir the soul.
📦 Thanks to NetGalley and Endless Tree Books LLC for the ARC. The Quantum Revelations will be published on 31 Jul 2025.
I don’t even know where to start with this review than to say WOW!!!
This book absolutely blew me away and is probably one of the best books I’ve EVER read.
While I wouldn’t consider it a light read, I flew through it. The Quantum Revelations is a thought provoking story that covers everything from climate change to quantum physics to the rise of AI to philosophy and where faith fits into all of this.
Although there is a lot of scientific language used, particularly at the start of the book I found it easy to follow and found it added extra depth to the characters who were extremely well developed.
The story is eerily reminiscent of the world today with an almost dictatorial leader, Maximus and a world on the brink of collapse due to climate change. It raises questions about how much of what we are being told is the truth, the potential power of AI for either good or bad purposes and the approaching end of days as predicted in The Bible.
I’m neither a scientist, nor religious but I could see that everything had been meticulously researched and put together into a well written story that leaves the reader questioning everything they have ever believed to be true.
It is hard to review this book without spoilers but I can’t recommend it highly enough!
Thank you to Zooloos Book Tours, Netgalley and the author for the free review copy.
I thought that The Quantum Revelations was a good debut for Stuart Heinrich. I do have to admit it is not my usual my to genre when I am searching for a book. However, after reading the blurb, I was intrigued and wanted to see what it was all about. It was nice to be taken away from this chaotic real world and take a new journey into a fantastical one. It did take me a little while to get into it and understand what was going on with the plot. About twenty five percent in, I was able to catch on and did not want to put it down. It was full of action, mystery, suspense, danger, and adventure. It was exciting in getting to know characters, Skylar and Zara. I admired their courage and bravery. Overall, I found that the book was a good read that was thought provoking at times, making me think of what could be in store for our future.
I am going to give The Quantum Revelations three and a half stars. I believe that fans of Sci-fi, Mystery, Thriller, Scientific fiction will not to miss out on reading it. I do think it is worth reading. I am curious to see what other releases Stuart Heinrich has in the works for future publication.
I received a digital copy of Stuart Heinrich's The Quantum Revelations from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
First, I have to say that I had to ding this book one star because as an editor I was appalled by all the mistakes I tripped over. Some were really bad like writing, more or less, that 2 X 24 = 12. Unless that’s some quantum mathematics I am unfamiliar with!
I reached the point where I was thinking, ‘if he doesn’t land this book, I might have ding it two or three stars.’
Fortunately, that was not the case. I loved the science! Some people complained that it seemed like some characters were info dumping but I had no problem with that. The main character, Skyler, was mostly behind those info dumps. And it was never specified, but I would guarantee you the guy was definitely on the spectrum. At least, he seemed written that way to me.
I loved the reality of all the aspects of climate change that were a part of the book. Personally, as a species, I think we are doomed—we just can’t seem to pull together and do the right thing. And, by the time we do (if we do), it will be way too late.
The mystery of the Hadamard gate (Michael) is solved by the end of the book and Heinrich makes it all make sense. And as a Christian and Franciscan, I didn’t have any problem with the religious aspects of the book from the atheists to agnostics to the over-the-top evangelicals.
This was such an amazing and interesting read. I have to say, despite being interested in science (particularly related to climate change) and philosophy and ethics, I was interested to see where this would go and if it would live up to the claim that no science background is really needed. Well, it did. I have never had such an enjoyable read that is equally an enjoyable fictional read and yet at the same time it offers moments to ponder, reflect and consider just what the climate crisis means. There’s so much more to it as well.
The writing was enjoyable and while I was worried some of the science might lose me along the way, Heinrich does a wonderful job of explaining enough and in a way that readers can grasp even if they are not normally into sciences. The pace and thriller elements are top tier as well. I never felt we were going too fast or too slow. I won’t spoil the plot, and to be honest it’s rather complex to cover in a simple review but I will say if you enjoy dystopian thrillers, science and philosophical ethics, and a brilliantly crafted read. This is for you.
As always thank you to Zooloo’s Book Tours for the copy to review. My review is always honest, truthful and freely given.
I found myself really wanting to read something different...something off my usual genre path. So, I went looking for a review book to break me out of a reading rut. So glad I did. This book was a very enjoyable read and definitely got my brain thinking!
The plot combines science, philosophy, religion and mystery. The world is being destroyed by severe climate change. As everything goes to hell around them, two scientists are working to create a quantum computer in an attempt to save humanity. They accidentally discover something that will totally change everything.
Wow. Just wow! I really really love it when I stumble on a new-to-me author who just wows me with such a complex idea and a totally different, very intelligent, story. I really needed this book right now and I couldn't put it down once I started reading! I was getting stuck in a complete rut with my reading....and this pulled me right out of it. Nothing more enjoyable than a hard-hitting sci-fi book!
I will definitely be reading more by this author! This story will have me thinking deep thoughts for a long time!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Endless Tree Books. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**
Stuart Heinrich’s debut novel is a bold, genre-defying triumph. The Quantum Revelations plunges us, the readers, into a climate-ravaged future where one accidental breakthrough could change everything if it doesn’t destroy them first.
Skyler’s discovery sets off a high-stakes journey through science, philosophy, politics, and the unknown. With help from his mentor and lab partner, he races to decode a truth that’s as elusive as it is explosive. The pacing builds steadily, then rockets forward, leaving you breathless by the final page. This isn’t just hard sci-fi, it’s a thought-provoking fusion of speculative science, spiritual inquiry, and extraterrestrial mystery. At times, it echoes the cerebral depth of Foundation, but with a voice all its own.
Fair warning: the science is dense, and newcomers to the genre may find it challenging. But for readers who crave complexity and aren’t afraid to wrestle with big ideas, this is a must-read.
I didn’t expect to see a debut tackle with so many themes and such precision. Heinrich pulls it off and earns every one of these five stars.
I am having a hard time reviewing this book because I hold personal values that clearly are not aligned with that of the author (despite the claims made in the author's note at the end). That said, I will endeavor to do my best to review the book on its merits.
Rather than leave you with the lengthy review I wrote and then erased, I will sum up my thoughts in that the scientific passages are so long they cause the average reader to disengage, the protagonist's growth is from being an arrogant, condescending scientist to an arrogant, condescending expression of the divine soul force that permeates us all, the characters of faith are one-dimensional foils that comes across as mere fools and the use of hallucinogenic mushrooms as the preferred way to connect with the divine seems odd in such a science-driven book.
Normally I would have stopped reading this book, but I continued through to see if I would connect more with it as the story advanced. Unfortunately, that was not the case.