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The Flicker Men
The Man
Eric Argus, a washed-out quantum physicist given one last shot at redemption
Eric Argus, a washed-out quantum physicist given one last shot at redemption
The Experiment
An investigation into the mysterious composition of light and matter
The Discovery
Unexpected and unprecedented evidence for the existence of the human soul
The Consequences
A staggering revelation about the hidden structure of the universe. And an unimaginable reality that should never have been uncovered . . .
339 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2015
94 people are currently reading
2208 people want to read
About the author
Ted Kosmatka
66 books161 followersTED KOSMATKA set his sights early on being a writer. This mostly involved having all his writing rejected, pursuing a biology degree, dropping out before graduation, and becoming a steel worker like his father and grandfather. Then the mill went bankrupt. After that he worked various lab jobs where friendships were born and fire departments were called. (And where he learned the fine point of distinction between fire-resistant and fire-proof) Eventually, Ted ended up at a research lab. Then came the final logical step: ditching all that to write video games in Seattle. Ted’s fiction has been nominated for the Nebula and Sturgeon awards. His novel THE FLICKER MEN was selected by Publishers Weekly as one of the best thrillers of the summer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 286 reviews
September 26, 2019
”’After a while, quantum mechanics starts to affect your worldview.’
‘What does this mean?’
‘The more research I did, the less I believed.’
‘In quantum mechanics?’
‘No,’ I said.’In the world.’”
Eric Argus is one of those brilliant minds that burn bright and then burn out. He is crippled with thoughts of depression. He usually is two-fisting it, but not in the way that most of us think of it. He has a bottle of Jack Daniels in one hand and his father’s pistol in the other. Which one he lifts to his face is something that has to be determined every time he wants to take a drink or eat a bullet.
His father killed himself with that same pistol.
His mother lost the hard edges of her mind. She is adrift in a space of her own making but is still trying to make sense of the universe she is slowly leaving. ”’Most of the universe is missing,’ she says.’Scientists know this, so they invented dark matter, but dark matter is a cheat.’ And now I see anger rising up in her, genuine outrage in those hazel eyes.
…
I reach for her hand across the table.
‘Dark matter is just a way to equal your equal signs,’ she says.’A hack. A fix.’ She leans forward. ‘Black magic.’
‘Mom, I miss you.’”
Even burnouts have to make a living. When a good friend offers him a position with a research company on a trial basis, he takes the extended hand with shaking fingers. They want him for his old research, but he knows he can’t go back there. It is nothing but a black tar pit for his mind to wallow in. He decides what he wants to do is replicate Richard Feynman’s paradoxical double-slit experiment.
Ted Kosmatka explains this in such a way that I can almost grasp the concept.
In replication, Argus finds out something, something that will shake the very foundations of science and theology.
He finds the soul.
Revolutionary enough, but he also discovers something else that shouldn’t even be possible.
In the midst of the ensuing chaos, he meets a blind woman who studies sounds. ”There’s a Mozart concerto hidden in every burst of static.” He learns of The Flicker Men, people who are trying to slow things down, hold back change, keep science like his from ever being known.
His research broke the world.
The science is brilliant and somewhat overwhelming, but I found that if I took a few deep breaths, which at least temporarily sent more oxygen to my brain, I could start to piece together, not the math, but the implications of the math. If you read this book, you will have to stop reading from time to time just to let your brain ponder the probabilities. In many ways, what Argus discovers is more frightening than a zombie apocalypse or a rampaging virus or Donald Trump as President of the United States.
I was looking for a scientific thriller, and Ted Kosmatka delivered exactly what I was looking for. The science is probable. The twists and turns kept me slightly off balance. And who doesn’t love a good shadowy organization that controls our lives more than our own government.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
‘What does this mean?’
‘The more research I did, the less I believed.’
‘In quantum mechanics?’
‘No,’ I said.’In the world.’”
Eric Argus is one of those brilliant minds that burn bright and then burn out. He is crippled with thoughts of depression. He usually is two-fisting it, but not in the way that most of us think of it. He has a bottle of Jack Daniels in one hand and his father’s pistol in the other. Which one he lifts to his face is something that has to be determined every time he wants to take a drink or eat a bullet.
His father killed himself with that same pistol.
His mother lost the hard edges of her mind. She is adrift in a space of her own making but is still trying to make sense of the universe she is slowly leaving. ”’Most of the universe is missing,’ she says.’Scientists know this, so they invented dark matter, but dark matter is a cheat.’ And now I see anger rising up in her, genuine outrage in those hazel eyes.
…
I reach for her hand across the table.
‘Dark matter is just a way to equal your equal signs,’ she says.’A hack. A fix.’ She leans forward. ‘Black magic.’
‘Mom, I miss you.’”
Even burnouts have to make a living. When a good friend offers him a position with a research company on a trial basis, he takes the extended hand with shaking fingers. They want him for his old research, but he knows he can’t go back there. It is nothing but a black tar pit for his mind to wallow in. He decides what he wants to do is replicate Richard Feynman’s paradoxical double-slit experiment.
Ted Kosmatka explains this in such a way that I can almost grasp the concept.
In replication, Argus finds out something, something that will shake the very foundations of science and theology.
He finds the soul.
Revolutionary enough, but he also discovers something else that shouldn’t even be possible.
In the midst of the ensuing chaos, he meets a blind woman who studies sounds. ”There’s a Mozart concerto hidden in every burst of static.” He learns of The Flicker Men, people who are trying to slow things down, hold back change, keep science like his from ever being known.
His research broke the world.
The science is brilliant and somewhat overwhelming, but I found that if I took a few deep breaths, which at least temporarily sent more oxygen to my brain, I could start to piece together, not the math, but the implications of the math. If you read this book, you will have to stop reading from time to time just to let your brain ponder the probabilities. In many ways, what Argus discovers is more frightening than a zombie apocalypse or a rampaging virus or Donald Trump as President of the United States.
I was looking for a scientific thriller, and Ted Kosmatka delivered exactly what I was looking for. The science is probable. The twists and turns kept me slightly off balance. And who doesn’t love a good shadowy organization that controls our lives more than our own government.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
November 20, 2015
There were some very interesting ideas at play here, and the story moved along at a good clip. However . . . this had some pretty blatant plot problems. Villains who inexplicably choose to Villainously Monologue just long enough for Our Hero to escape. Repeatedly. And while I don't have experience in scientific research, even as a layperson, I found the idea of a research institute that required results after only four months of work (or the researcher would be fired) to be rather unrealistic.
The book also had character problems. Aside from Eric Angus (our protagonist) and Satvik (a fellow (male) scientist), the characters are extremely thinly-drawn. This is especially egregious when looking at the female characters. Aside from the Dead Crazy Mom, whose only role is as flashback material to flesh out the psychology of Our Hero, we have: The Infodumper ; The Love Interest ; and our Sidekick
This could have been a really spectacular novel, because the ideas behind it are truly fascinating. But poor plotting and weak characterization, along with a failure to really delve deeply and explore those ideas, ultimately led to a rather weak book. You might be entertained by this, as long as you don't expect well-drawn characters, villains with brain cells, or plot points that always make logical sense.
The book also had character problems. Aside from Eric Angus (our protagonist) and Satvik (a fellow (male) scientist), the characters are extremely thinly-drawn. This is especially egregious when looking at the female characters. Aside from the Dead Crazy Mom, whose only role is as flashback material to flesh out the psychology of Our Hero, we have: The Infodumper ; The Love Interest ; and our Sidekick
This could have been a really spectacular novel, because the ideas behind it are truly fascinating. But poor plotting and weak characterization, along with a failure to really delve deeply and explore those ideas, ultimately led to a rather weak book. You might be entertained by this, as long as you don't expect well-drawn characters, villains with brain cells, or plot points that always make logical sense.
September 19, 2020
4.4 звезди.
Очакванията ми за тази книга бяха, че ще е нещо подобно като „Тъмна материя“ на Блейк Крауч, което донякъде е така и донякъде не е. Темата и в двете книги се върти около алтернативните реалности, но в „Потрепващите“ има много повече наука и теории. Определено ми хареса, макар и да беше малко по-сложна, но пък това е компенсирано от стила на писане на автора, който е доста разбираем. Това което ми липсваше в книгата беше липсата на повече емоционалност около героите. Ако направя паралел между Джейсън от „Тъмна материя“ и Ерик от „Потрепващите“, то като образ Джейсън ми допада много повече и това е причината, за да не дам максимална оценка на тази книга.
Иначе „Потрепващите“ е изпълнена с много интересни идеи като т.нар. вселени матрьошки, съществуването на реалност в реалността, протичането на времето по различен начин в различните светове, съществуването на хора с души (изгубените) и такива без (обречените), както и самите потрепващи.
Ако си падате по подобни истории, то определено книгата си заслужава.
Очакванията ми за тази книга бяха, че ще е нещо подобно като „Тъмна материя“ на Блейк Крауч, което донякъде е така и донякъде не е. Темата и в двете книги се върти около алтернативните реалности, но в „Потрепващите“ има много повече наука и теории. Определено ми хареса, макар и да беше малко по-сложна, но пък това е компенсирано от стила на писане на автора, който е доста разбираем. Това което ми липсваше в книгата беше липсата на повече емоционалност около героите. Ако направя паралел между Джейсън от „Тъмна материя“ и Ерик от „Потрепващите“, то като образ Джейсън ми допада много повече и това е причината, за да не дам максимална оценка на тази книга.
Иначе „Потрепващите“ е изпълнена с много интересни идеи като т.нар. вселени матрьошки, съществуването на реалност в реалността, протичането на времето по различен начин в различните светове, съществуването на хора с души (изгубените) и такива без (обречените), както и самите потрепващи.
Ако си падате по подобни истории, то определено книгата си заслужава.
February 9, 2025
3.5 Stars
This is a familiar sci fi thriller setup that was generally entertaining but not necessarily groundbreaking. I'd recommend it to readers who have already read the obvious popular books in the genre and are looking for a lesser known novel.
This is a familiar sci fi thriller setup that was generally entertaining but not necessarily groundbreaking. I'd recommend it to readers who have already read the obvious popular books in the genre and are looking for a lesser known novel.
December 25, 2015
This almost felt like two books. The first half was immensely enjoyable and interesting (so much so that I was willing to ignore how thinly drawn some characters were, with the notable exception of Satvik, and how weird the style was at times with the short staccato sentences). I loved the science and the idea behind the story, and I was expecting to see the consequences of the findings in the first half unfurl.
But all of a sudden I was reading a completely different book. The vague, shadowy bad guys (yawn), the chase and escape scenes (that I ended up skimming over), the hero surviving seemingly impossible odds, the mystifying mumbo jumbo that was disguised as scientific talk but made no sense whatsoever. Add to that some more characters that were so flimsy, they barely registered on the page. (Pretty much all female characters in this book kind of make you wonder "Why was she there now? Is there a point to her?" Or in one case "Wait? They had sex now? I thought she was just kind of there? Did they ever talk? Well, he did mention she was beautiful, I guess".)
I also have only a very vague idea what happened at the end but to be honest, by that time I just didn't care anymore.
Mind you, if you like reading the type of action thriller the second half contains, you will enjoy it a lot more than me (it's just a personal thing that I often find these things boring to read), and the other reviews here a largely positive, but if you read the beginning and are hooked by the concept, don't expect any further exploration of the scientific and global impact.
But all of a sudden I was reading a completely different book. The vague, shadowy bad guys (yawn), the chase and escape scenes (that I ended up skimming over), the hero surviving seemingly impossible odds, the mystifying mumbo jumbo that was disguised as scientific talk but made no sense whatsoever. Add to that some more characters that were so flimsy, they barely registered on the page. (Pretty much all female characters in this book kind of make you wonder "Why was she there now? Is there a point to her?" Or in one case "Wait? They had sex now? I thought she was just kind of there? Did they ever talk? Well, he did mention she was beautiful, I guess".)
I also have only a very vague idea what happened at the end but to be honest, by that time I just didn't care anymore.
Mind you, if you like reading the type of action thriller the second half contains, you will enjoy it a lot more than me (it's just a personal thing that I often find these things boring to read), and the other reviews here a largely positive, but if you read the beginning and are hooked by the concept, don't expect any further exploration of the scientific and global impact.
July 26, 2015
Eric Argus is a morose, suicidal alcoholic with a gun in one hand and a liquor bottle in the other, both literally and metaphorically. He is a discredited physicist with a history of instability. An old friend gives him the opportunity to get back into research. Most of the scientific explanations in this book were way over my head, but the bottom line is that Eric appears to have discovered a phenomenon with light waves that occurs only when observed by human beings. It doesn't occur if unobserved, or if observed by other species.
Some attribute this unique quality of human beings to consciousness while others believe it is evidence of the existence of a human soul. An evangelist wants to use Eric's device to test when consciousness begins in fetuses. There are lots of philosophical implications of this discovery that could have been explored in this book, but the author went in a different, less interesting route.
At about the two thirds point the book introduced the flicker men and a mysterious sphere, after which the book ceased to make any sense at all to me. The book really went off the rails here. I don't think the author had the guts to deal with the possible ramifications of Eric's experiment in the real world, so he invented some fantasy creatures and took the book in a direction that did not interest me.
I never comment on the state of ARCs in my reviews because I know they are subject to correction, but this one was in egregious shape, maybe not coincidentally also starting at the two thirds point. They seemed to stop editing the ARC that I received from that point to the end. Maybe the editor couldn't stand to read any more of the incoherent story. The first part of the book was pretty interesting, but I certainly didn't enjoy the end.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
Some attribute this unique quality of human beings to consciousness while others believe it is evidence of the existence of a human soul. An evangelist wants to use Eric's device to test when consciousness begins in fetuses. There are lots of philosophical implications of this discovery that could have been explored in this book, but the author went in a different, less interesting route.
At about the two thirds point the book introduced the flicker men and a mysterious sphere, after which the book ceased to make any sense at all to me. The book really went off the rails here. I don't think the author had the guts to deal with the possible ramifications of Eric's experiment in the real world, so he invented some fantasy creatures and took the book in a direction that did not interest me.
I never comment on the state of ARCs in my reviews because I know they are subject to correction, but this one was in egregious shape, maybe not coincidentally also starting at the two thirds point. They seemed to stop editing the ARC that I received from that point to the end. Maybe the editor couldn't stand to read any more of the incoherent story. The first part of the book was pretty interesting, but I certainly didn't enjoy the end.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
June 7, 2015
I found Ted Kosmatka's stories a few years back: Prophet of Bones, The Games, and N-Word (along with a slew of other ingenious short stories tucked about in the better SF magazines). Someone whose opinion I had come to appreciate in such matters told me: "You got to read this Kasmatka guy. He writes like a boss." They were correct. When I got wind of Ted Kasmatka's latest, The Flicker Men, I finagled a way to get my hands on a pre-published copy. That's how much I wanted to read it. I had an idea it might be good. I didn't know it was going to be this good.
One early review suggests The Flicker Men is akin to Stephen King and Stephen Hawking writing a book together. I cannot stress enough how this claim is not an exaggeration. Imagine King and Hawking spending a year together pounding out the best science fiction thriller in their power. Imagine too that the keen and lively spirit of another Stephen, noted evolutionary biologist, Stephen Jay Gould was in the room with them, cheerfully offering his own insights. (Steven Pinker and Steven Weinberg also spent several weekends with them to discuss mathematics, psychology, and religion but not necessarily in that order).
The Flicker Men is first-rate, sit on the edge of your beach chair entertainment. Even if you sit back in your beach chair it's good--especially if you sit back. It's brilliant. It is also spun with golden threads of scientific probabilities. So well written, The Flicker Men brings all these impressive scientific notions into the purview of those who've never even read an Arthur C. Clarke novel. Even my cousin who once told me Sci-Fi was for teenagers who couldn't get a date is going to like this story. If one reads ten pages into The Flicker Men, others will have to assume their household chores until they've finish it. It's that kind of good.
Remember the Double-split quantum mechanics experiment that physicist Brian Greene is always explaining on the Discovery Channel, well, Mr. Kasmatka has finally put some literary wings on the thing. As it turns out there's more to that experiment than anyone could have imagined (except for, of course, Ted Kosmatka).
The only thing I disliked about this book was that it wasn't 500 pages longer. I hope Ted Kosmatka makes so much money with this novel he can buy a big old three-story Victorian mansion somewhere in the middle of some magnificent, quiet nowhere and write morning, noon, and night.
Not buying and reading The Flicker Men would be like failing to see the Rolling Stones if they just happen to be playing on your own back deck on a cool starry evening.
One early review suggests The Flicker Men is akin to Stephen King and Stephen Hawking writing a book together. I cannot stress enough how this claim is not an exaggeration. Imagine King and Hawking spending a year together pounding out the best science fiction thriller in their power. Imagine too that the keen and lively spirit of another Stephen, noted evolutionary biologist, Stephen Jay Gould was in the room with them, cheerfully offering his own insights. (Steven Pinker and Steven Weinberg also spent several weekends with them to discuss mathematics, psychology, and religion but not necessarily in that order).
The Flicker Men is first-rate, sit on the edge of your beach chair entertainment. Even if you sit back in your beach chair it's good--especially if you sit back. It's brilliant. It is also spun with golden threads of scientific probabilities. So well written, The Flicker Men brings all these impressive scientific notions into the purview of those who've never even read an Arthur C. Clarke novel. Even my cousin who once told me Sci-Fi was for teenagers who couldn't get a date is going to like this story. If one reads ten pages into The Flicker Men, others will have to assume their household chores until they've finish it. It's that kind of good.
Remember the Double-split quantum mechanics experiment that physicist Brian Greene is always explaining on the Discovery Channel, well, Mr. Kasmatka has finally put some literary wings on the thing. As it turns out there's more to that experiment than anyone could have imagined (except for, of course, Ted Kosmatka).
The only thing I disliked about this book was that it wasn't 500 pages longer. I hope Ted Kosmatka makes so much money with this novel he can buy a big old three-story Victorian mansion somewhere in the middle of some magnificent, quiet nowhere and write morning, noon, and night.
Not buying and reading The Flicker Men would be like failing to see the Rolling Stones if they just happen to be playing on your own back deck on a cool starry evening.
February 13, 2020
„Ако Стивън Хокинг и Стивън Кинг напишат заедно роман, ще се получи „Потрепващите“. Много обещаващо изречение добавено към анотацията на тази книга, но и много подвеждащо. Всъщност за Стивън Хокинг не знам, защото нищо негово не съм чела, но в книгата има доста научни формулировки и обяснение, така че донякъде съм склонна да се съглася, но за Стивън Кинг...? - няма връзка просто.
И все пак започнах книгата с голямо въодушевление и първата половина наистина се оказа добра - известен учен, претърпял срив в кариерата си, започва работа на ново място, в нова модерна лаборатория, но без частица увереност и знание върху какво да работи. Докато ни въвеждаше в света на учените и на експериментите тази книга ми беше много увлекателна. Опитът, който Ерик беше решил да направи и да публикува беше интересен и пробуди любопитството и на колегите му. Всички обяснения, всички методи, начинът на описване беше интересно. Но после романът се отклони към някакви щуротии, от които нищо не разбрах и разбира се рязко ми изтъпя. Ако до този момент ми се движеше по скалата на високите оценки, там вече рязко се спусна надолу. Намесиха се някакви световни сили (богове ли, дяволи ли, архангели ли, врели-некипели), някакво бясно преследване не се знае за какво и вече Ерик се чуди как да оцелее!!! А всички обяснения бяха просто толкова оплетени и абсурдни, че се чудя как авторът изобщо ги е измислил. И кой по дяволите са тези Потрепващи? Нищо не разбрах. После имаше малко екшън, малко престрелки и хайде по живо, по здраво. Все пак заради някои интересни идеи и доброто начало заковавам оценката на 3*.
И все пак започнах книгата с голямо въодушевление и първата половина наистина се оказа добра - известен учен, претърпял срив в кариерата си, започва работа на ново място, в нова модерна лаборатория, но без частица увереност и знание върху какво да работи. Докато ни въвеждаше в света на учените и на експериментите тази книга ми беше много увлекателна. Опитът, който Ерик беше решил да направи и да публикува беше интересен и пробуди любопитството и на колегите му. Всички обяснения, всички методи, начинът на описване беше интересно. Но после романът се отклони към някакви щуротии, от които нищо не разбрах и разбира се рязко ми изтъпя. Ако до този момент ми се движеше по скалата на високите оценки, там вече рязко се спусна надолу. Намесиха се някакви световни сили (богове ли, дяволи ли, архангели ли, врели-некипели), някакво бясно преследване не се знае за какво и вече Ерик се чуди как да оцелее!!! А всички обяснения бяха просто толкова оплетени и абсурдни, че се чудя как авторът изобщо ги е измислил. И кой по дяволите са тези Потрепващи? Нищо не разбрах. После имаше малко екшън, малко престрелки и хайде по живо, по здраво. Все пак заради някои интересни идеи и доброто начало заковавам оценката на 3*.
August 7, 2019
My Grade = 60% - D-
Published 2015. 328 pages.
.....One of the worst books I've read in years!
From the beginning of the flyleaf: "A quantum physicist shocks the world with a startling experiment, igniting a struggle between science and theology, free will and fate and antagonizing forces not known to exist." Sounds promising; it wasn't.
Well the protagonist, Eric Argus is a depressed and suicidal hand shaking alcoholic who is given a new chance by an old college friend, who hires him for a major research project (of his own choice) in a major research center near Boston. That much I could understand.
From there, however, the story moves to some very unrealistic scenarios (even for a work of science fiction.) Some major powers are pushing for one direction and the whole thing falls apart, followed by about a hundred page chase scene, until, in the end, Argus is back at the research center moving in the direction for which he was hired.
I was not interested from almost the very beginning as Argus sat on the beach in the rain, with only one shoe, and a gun in one hand and a bottle of booze in the other.
I don't know what to add from there, though I finished it just yesterday and am doing everything to forget about it in its entirety.....
Published 2015. 328 pages.
.....One of the worst books I've read in years!
From the beginning of the flyleaf: "A quantum physicist shocks the world with a startling experiment, igniting a struggle between science and theology, free will and fate and antagonizing forces not known to exist." Sounds promising; it wasn't.
Well the protagonist, Eric Argus is a depressed and suicidal hand shaking alcoholic who is given a new chance by an old college friend, who hires him for a major research project (of his own choice) in a major research center near Boston. That much I could understand.
From there, however, the story moves to some very unrealistic scenarios (even for a work of science fiction.) Some major powers are pushing for one direction and the whole thing falls apart, followed by about a hundred page chase scene, until, in the end, Argus is back at the research center moving in the direction for which he was hired.
I was not interested from almost the very beginning as Argus sat on the beach in the rain, with only one shoe, and a gun in one hand and a bottle of booze in the other.
I don't know what to add from there, though I finished it just yesterday and am doing everything to forget about it in its entirety.....
September 9, 2019
Светове зад ъгъла
(Цялото ревю е тук: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...)
Често фантастиката забърква солиден научен коктейл от теории и хипотези, за да даде тласък на въображението на читателите. Какво по-хубаво от смръщено чело, чиито притежател се опитва да си обясни почти непреводимата на разбираем език квантова механика. Ако си учен теоретик, ще се заровиш в томовете, изпълнени с формули или ще гледаш видео от поредната научна конференция, в опит да достигнеш подходящото ниво, което ще ти помогне да осмислиш последните достижения в областта. Но ако просто обичаш научната фантастика и просто проявяваш любопитство, една художествена творба би свършила чудесна работа. И тъй като моята „подготовка“ по темата е на любител, подобни книги ме привличат изключително много. Освен това наскоро прочетох удивителната „Тъмна материя“ на Блейк Крауч и беше въпрос на време да се огледам за нещо друго по темата. Когато знам, че не съм на нивото на Мичио Каку, примерно, ме привлича повече художествената интерпретация, т.е. разиграните сюжети, покриващи изискванията от научна гледна точка, плюс „пълнежа“ за повече интрига. Както и при споменатата по-горе книга, така и при „Потрепващите“ („Ибис“, 2019, с превод на Боряна Даракчиева) я има тази сложност, подплатена с не малко объркващи факти от квантовата механика. Представата за този необикновен микросвят на елементарните частици и законите, които го определят, носи онова мъгляво „пиянство“, каращо ни да се съмняваме в самата реалност. Но, както се казва в книгата, ако не можеш да колапсираш вероятностната вълна, по-добре бързо да се захванеш с нещо друго. 😉
(Продължава в блога: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...)
(Цялото ревю е тук: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...)
Често фантастиката забърква солиден научен коктейл от теории и хипотези, за да даде тласък на въображението на читателите. Какво по-хубаво от смръщено чело, чиито притежател се опитва да си обясни почти непреводимата на разбираем език квантова механика. Ако си учен теоретик, ще се заровиш в томовете, изпълнени с формули или ще гледаш видео от поредната научна конференция, в опит да достигнеш подходящото ниво, което ще ти помогне да осмислиш последните достижения в областта. Но ако просто обичаш научната фантастика и просто проявяваш любопитство, една художествена творба би свършила чудесна работа. И тъй като моята „подготовка“ по темата е на любител, подобни книги ме привличат изключително много. Освен това наскоро прочетох удивителната „Тъмна материя“ на Блейк Крауч и беше въпрос на време да се огледам за нещо друго по темата. Когато знам, че не съм на нивото на Мичио Каку, примерно, ме привлича повече художествената интерпретация, т.е. разиграните сюжети, покриващи изискванията от научна гледна точка, плюс „пълнежа“ за повече интрига. Както и при споменатата по-горе книга, така и при „Потрепващите“ („Ибис“, 2019, с превод на Боряна Даракчиева) я има тази сложност, подплатена с не малко объркващи факти от квантовата механика. Представата за този необикновен микросвят на елементарните частици и законите, които го определят, носи онова мъгляво „пиянство“, каращо ни да се съмняваме в самата реалност. Но, както се казва в книгата, ако не можеш да колапсираш вероятностната вълна, по-добре бързо да се захванеш с нещо друго. 😉
(Продължава в блога: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...)
September 16, 2015
Every once in a while, you come across a novel that makes your brain want to explode. The Flicker Men is one of those novels. There is so a lot of sciencing going on, but the story is so much deeper than quantum physics and theories with life altering outcomes. But, I will say, I did have to put the book down a few times in order to perform some research of my own ( not saying you have to do that, but I always like to learn about what I'm reading. )
Ted has written a well paced story here. Yes, most of the science will probably be over your head, but it does not detract from the plot and Kosmatka does a great job explaining what the meatheads don't understand. The book is full of suspense and action and the the characters are vividly described. There are plenty of plot twists and head scratchers to keep even the minimally science-y people intrigued, but this is definitely a story you have never seen before and is well worth your time.
Ted has written a well paced story here. Yes, most of the science will probably be over your head, but it does not detract from the plot and Kosmatka does a great job explaining what the meatheads don't understand. The book is full of suspense and action and the the characters are vividly described. There are plenty of plot twists and head scratchers to keep even the minimally science-y people intrigued, but this is definitely a story you have never seen before and is well worth your time.
August 10, 2019
„Ако Стивън Хокинг и Стивън Кинг напишат заедно роман, ще се получи „Потрепващите“. Думите са на Хю Хауи, но са толкова точно описание на новия трилър на Тед Козматка и изд. „Ибис”, че не намерих по-подходящ начин да започна ревюто си. Пригответе се за квантов кошмар, който ще ви прати направо в Зоната на здрача. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...
August 2, 2019
Това не е лека книга..незнам какво бях очаквала, но определено съм изумена. Пълна е с факти, терминология, формули, много физика, математика и със сигурност квантова механика /поне тази част бях предвидила/. Трудно я започнах, отне ми време да разбера за какво става въпрос изобщо, но краят.. краят компенсира всичко това.
August 28, 2015
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Flicker Men starts with a great premise. A physicist, somewhat wrecked by his past research (which has made him doubt the nature of reality) recreates an experiment which shows that light changes from wave to particle depending on how it is observed. This is interesting enough in itself, but then he think about testing what exactly constitutes an observer. Do animals have the self-awareness to count?
I don't want to say much more about this part of the plot, but it gave me some chills and made me think about just how alone we could be in our self-awareness. It also made me wonder if anything like this idea has actually been tested.
The science was interesting and plausible. It's actually one of the more scientific science fiction books I've read recently, and I quite enjoyed that aspect.
My problems with the book didn't begin until more than half-way through. Suspicious figures are watching, people have gone missing, and sinister organizations are taking an interest in the research. Great! We can have a thriller along with our science fiction. But then my pet peeves came cropping up. Our hero gets strung along for almost 50 pages with mysterious people giving him cryptic warnings and telling him that he's got to wait for the right person to come along to the right place to tell him the thing he's got to know, even though everyone involved seems to also know this mysterious thing. Once the person who can give him the information comes along, everything is still very vague. By this point, it's pretty obvious that some supernatural elements are in play, but our hero's allies are maddeningly vague. In answer to the question: "Who are these people?" we get the answer "they go by many names... but those who have seen them in action call them the flicker men." It has taken 200 pages of this 300 page book for the title to even be referenced. And that's all the detail we get!
At this point I quit in disgust. The book began with a fascinating scientific inquiry and an original take on physics that combined the spiritual with the scientific, but then it got all mystical and went right off the rails. I would rather have stuck with the science- frankly, it was scarier.
The Flicker Men starts with a great premise. A physicist, somewhat wrecked by his past research (which has made him doubt the nature of reality) recreates an experiment which shows that light changes from wave to particle depending on how it is observed. This is interesting enough in itself, but then he think about testing what exactly constitutes an observer. Do animals have the self-awareness to count?
I don't want to say much more about this part of the plot, but it gave me some chills and made me think about just how alone we could be in our self-awareness. It also made me wonder if anything like this idea has actually been tested.
The science was interesting and plausible. It's actually one of the more scientific science fiction books I've read recently, and I quite enjoyed that aspect.
My problems with the book didn't begin until more than half-way through. Suspicious figures are watching, people have gone missing, and sinister organizations are taking an interest in the research. Great! We can have a thriller along with our science fiction. But then my pet peeves came cropping up. Our hero gets strung along for almost 50 pages with mysterious people giving him cryptic warnings and telling him that he's got to wait for the right person to come along to the right place to tell him the thing he's got to know, even though everyone involved seems to also know this mysterious thing. Once the person who can give him the information comes along, everything is still very vague. By this point, it's pretty obvious that some supernatural elements are in play, but our hero's allies are maddeningly vague. In answer to the question: "Who are these people?" we get the answer "they go by many names... but those who have seen them in action call them the flicker men." It has taken 200 pages of this 300 page book for the title to even be referenced. And that's all the detail we get!
At this point I quit in disgust. The book began with a fascinating scientific inquiry and an original take on physics that combined the spiritual with the scientific, but then it got all mystical and went right off the rails. I would rather have stuck with the science- frankly, it was scarier.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2016
First off – the physics of this book is wrong. I’m not saying the author wasn’t aware of it – he had to take this liberty with physics to allow for a great plot – but just to set the record straight: in the famous double-slit experiment of quantum physics you don’t need consciousness to “collapse the waveform.” A measurement device is enough. Eric Argus, the genius and tormented physicist of the novel, replicates the double-slit experiments and finds out (you’ll win the Nobel Prize if you can show this) that the waveform doesn’t collapse unless a human reads the measurement result. Even if you leave the measurement device on but don’t look at the result, you see the interference pattern, not the double-line. This is wrong, but assuming it’s right, it leads to an interesting question. Who should look at the result to collapse the waveform? What if an animal looks at it instead of a human? A conservative Christian politician wants to use this experiment to prove that fetuses can collapse the waveform, therefore they’re endowed with a soul. They run the experiment and it turns out that….
I won’t spoil it for you. The first half of the book is very captivating. Kosmatka had a great idea for a novel that could explore consciousness and free will and quantum physics, but in the end he didn’t know where to take his idea. The second half of the novel descends into a really weird and fantastical plot involving a mysterious cabal bent on destroying civilization.
I won’t spoil it for you. The first half of the book is very captivating. Kosmatka had a great idea for a novel that could explore consciousness and free will and quantum physics, but in the end he didn’t know where to take his idea. The second half of the novel descends into a really weird and fantastical plot involving a mysterious cabal bent on destroying civilization.
November 30, 2017
This book was very fast paced, honestly I think you could finish this one in one day. The premise of the book is very promising and up to certain point, the book delivers it. What i liked; the science, the premise that our main character had discovered something he shouldn't have and now he has to fight for his life against "supernatural"forces, The idea behind the plot that science is key to open our understanding of the world but that at the same time we are not yet ready to understand all of what we encounter. What i didn't like; The ending , it felt too pedestrian after the build up towards it , the fact that the author didn't spend a lot of time explaining the world it had created, instead dumping it all on the reader in just a couple of pages. Irregardless ; I liked this book a lot because of its plot and the mixture of science with adventure was a hit for me.
June 18, 2016
A quantum physics thriller. the first half is easy to follow, the second becomes a bit of a mind fuck which is fine by me but I wish the final resolutions had been clearer, I really have questions about the ending, which was supposed to be clearer.
August 11, 2023
Like a Peter Clines book but it sucks. Probably would have been passable if it were written in the 60s but by today’s standards, undercooked in every way. You’d get harder sci-fi from an episode of The Outer Limits.
October 1, 2019
This might come as a shock to you,,, but I'm not a Quantum phyicist!! What I know about causality and wave particles could be written on a postage stamp... But I enjoyed this scientific thriller!
Eric Angus is a alcoholic former scientist who is given a second chance at a research laboratory to redeem himself by throwing himself into a wave particle experiment.
However as he sobers up and tests more, he discovers a way to test if animals have souls, and this leads to the discovery that not all humans have souls! Things then take a sinister turn as supernatural forces begin to hunt Eric, determined his findings go no further...
Eric Angus is a alcoholic former scientist who is given a second chance at a research laboratory to redeem himself by throwing himself into a wave particle experiment.
However as he sobers up and tests more, he discovers a way to test if animals have souls, and this leads to the discovery that not all humans have souls! Things then take a sinister turn as supernatural forces begin to hunt Eric, determined his findings go no further...
February 18, 2016
Ждал от Косматки новый НФ триллер, только теперь не про антропологию, а про квантовую механику, что даже интереснее - получил чорт знает что.
Первые 50 страниц герой старательно демонстрирует, какое он унылое говно и депрессивный алкоголик с трудным детством и тягой к самоубийству (унылое говно описано очень реалистично и в исчерпывающих деталях, еле продрался). Потом он внезапно изобретает квантовый прибор, выявляющий, что некоторые люди обладают душой - читай, способны схлопывать волновую функцию на копенгагенский манер - а некоторые нет. Кипят исследования, ставятся эксперименты, все это подробно и довольно занятно описано.
Затем вдруг из существования души вытекает множественность миров, ПОТОМУ ЧТО НАУКА. И из этих миров к нам набигают бессмертные неуязвимые сверхзлодеи, ловко маскирующиеся под простых людей и убивающие всех передовых ученых, ПОТОМУ ЧТО ЗЛОДЕЙСТВО. Герой некоторое время борется с набигающими сверхзлодеями и даже убивает одного голыми руками без особого труда, а потом разбивает волшебный хрустальный шар и от этого все пришельцы сразу умирают, а люди без души все разом бросаются в море и тонут, ПОТОМУ ЧТО КВАНТОВЫЙ ПАРАДОКС.
Это была моя третья и последняя попытка читать Косматку.
P.S. Если кому интересна хорошая умная НФ на тему квантовой неопределенности, парадоксов наблюдателя и т.п. - бешено рекомендую "Карантин" Игана.
Первые 50 страниц герой старательно демонстрирует, какое он унылое говно и депрессивный алкоголик с трудным детством и тягой к самоубийству (унылое говно описано очень реалистично и в исчерпывающих деталях, еле продрался). Потом он внезапно изобретает квантовый прибор, выявляющий, что некоторые люди обладают душой - читай, способны схлопывать волновую функцию на копенгагенский манер - а некоторые нет. Кипят исследования, ставятся эксперименты, все это подробно и довольно занятно описано.
Затем вдруг из существования души вытекает множественность миров, ПОТОМУ ЧТО НАУКА. И из этих миров к нам набигают бессмертные неуязвимые сверхзлодеи, ловко маскирующиеся под простых людей и убивающие всех передовых ученых, ПОТОМУ ЧТО ЗЛОДЕЙСТВО. Герой некоторое время борется с набигающими сверхзлодеями и даже убивает одного голыми руками без особого труда, а потом разбивает волшебный хрустальный шар и от этого все пришельцы сразу умирают, а люди без души все разом бросаются в море и тонут, ПОТОМУ ЧТО КВАНТОВЫЙ ПАРАДОКС.
Это была моя третья и последняя попытка читать Косматку.
P.S. Если кому интересна хорошая умная НФ на тему квантовой неопределенности, парадоксов наблюдателя и т.п. - бешено рекомендую "Карантин" Игана.
April 14, 2019
The Flicker Men is a solid, fast-paced crowd-pleaser to the likes of Dark Matter, The Fold, and Superposition.
I loved the idea of an alternate world where quantum physics can be used to prove consciousness in a being. Eric and his colleagues quickly found themselves going down a slippery slope as they dug deeper into their experiment - that the only living beings capable of collapsing the quantum experience as an observer, suggesting that they are conscious, are humans.
Things start to take a weird turn when the story inevitably leaks out to the public, and a preacher insist on conducting his own experiments with unborn fetuses, wanting to prove that they are also conscious, or in his words, that they have a soul. I gasped when Now that was delicious!
Kosmatka's fever-fueled fantasy was undoubtedly engaging, but I rather it didn't take on a paranormal, one-dimensional, hero-vs-villian, my-wife-and-the-kids kind of story. Still, I enjoyed it enough to give it 4 stars.
I loved the idea of an alternate world where quantum physics can be used to prove consciousness in a being. Eric and his colleagues quickly found themselves going down a slippery slope as they dug deeper into their experiment - that the only living beings capable of collapsing the quantum experience as an observer, suggesting that they are conscious, are humans.
Things start to take a weird turn when the story inevitably leaks out to the public, and a preacher insist on conducting his own experiments with unborn fetuses, wanting to prove that they are also conscious, or in his words, that they have a soul. I gasped when Now that was delicious!
Kosmatka's fever-fueled fantasy was undoubtedly engaging, but I rather it didn't take on a paranormal, one-dimensional, hero-vs-villian, my-wife-and-the-kids kind of story. Still, I enjoyed it enough to give it 4 stars.
January 18, 2020
Обичате ли физиката? Въз основа на квантовата теория авторът развива доста интересен сюжет. Книгата е научна фантастика и в нея има доста терминология, трудно разбираема понякога за мен. Консултирах се доста често с чичко Гугъл. Иначе научих доста интересни физични закони и експерименти.
Ерик Аргус е учен на ръба на нервна криза, алкохолик. Негов стар приятел му дава възможност да се завърне в света на науката и изследванията. Ерик открива феномен със светлинни вълни, който се появява само когато е наблюдаван от хора. Това не се случва, ако не се наблюдава или се наблюдава от други видове. Та от тук тръгва много интересен сюжет, който се превръща в криминална история с фантастични елементи. Хареса ми как авторът се заиграва със законите на физиката, но имаше някои слаби моменти в книгата, свързани с героите и техните действия. Ако се поработи върху тях, ще бъде една много интересна история. Това смъкна оценката ми. Иначе не можех да спра да я чета. 3,5* е може би най-точно.
Ерик Аргус е учен на ръба на нервна криза, алкохолик. Негов стар приятел му дава възможност да се завърне в света на науката и изследванията. Ерик открива феномен със светлинни вълни, който се появява само когато е наблюдаван от хора. Това не се случва, ако не се наблюдава или се наблюдава от други видове. Та от тук тръгва много интересен сюжет, който се превръща в криминална история с фантастични елементи. Хареса ми как авторът се заиграва със законите на физиката, но имаше някои слаби моменти в книгата, свързани с героите и техните действия. Ако се поработи върху тях, ще бъде една много интересна история. Това смъкна оценката ми. Иначе не можех да спра да я чета. 3,5* е може би най-точно.
June 17, 2024
4.7 stars ⭐️! Almost perfection!
This book started out incredible and hit me with big ideas outta no where! The reason it didnt make perfect is the end was not as strong as beginning, but still was *chef’s kiss* 💋 just what I wanted.
We follow a washed up alcoholic physics researcher on his last chance experiment —- when he uses a well known physics experiment and accidentally develops a test for consciousness.
This was an incredible idea! And the author doesnt dhy away from the ramifications of this….. including the clash of religion and politics - which get interesting to say the least!
However the end somewhat went off in its own weird direction and the MC in the end was a different person than the author made us get to know in beginning…. Otherwise I had a good time with it.
This book 📖 just hit me at the right time. And i had a surrisingly great time- would recommend. (Note: i am a big ideas reader!)
This book started out incredible and hit me with big ideas outta no where! The reason it didnt make perfect is the end was not as strong as beginning, but still was *chef’s kiss* 💋 just what I wanted.
We follow a washed up alcoholic physics researcher on his last chance experiment —- when he uses a well known physics experiment and accidentally develops a test for consciousness.
This was an incredible idea! And the author doesnt dhy away from the ramifications of this….. including the clash of religion and politics - which get interesting to say the least!
However the end somewhat went off in its own weird direction and the MC in the end was a different person than the author made us get to know in beginning…. Otherwise I had a good time with it.
This book 📖 just hit me at the right time. And i had a surrisingly great time- would recommend. (Note: i am a big ideas reader!)
January 3, 2018
Such an exciting and compelling SF thriller! But while I'd award the first half five stars, I'd have to give the second three stars. My enjoyment in the novel never floundered but I would have appreciated it even more if the science hadn't flown completely over my head. I understood the gist of it - and loved the premise - but during the second half there were sections when I didn't have a clue what was going on. Quantum physics, especially when it goes awry, isn't the easiest of subjects for a lay reader. Also, there were some fascinating leads in the first half which weren't chased during the second, turning it into a different kind of novel altogether. Nevertheless, very hard to put down.
March 12, 2018
Sometimes, “hard” science fiction doesn’t seem worth the effort to me. Sometimes, it seems like the author is using exposition to explain intricate systems to the reader without being concerned about the pacing of the plot. I don’t like thrillers such as Tom Clancy’s post-Patriot Games in which it seems to me that there is more attention paid to specification sheets than to human insights. Yet, The Flicker Men caught my attention for multiple reasons and I am glad it did.
First, I am fascinated by the implications of quantum theory and the plot of The Flicker Men turns on this idea. Second, I was using my understanding of quantum theory to hypothesize far-future inventions in my Traveller role-playing game and, my notes described a “flickering man” before I ever discovered this novel (We don’t treat them exactly the same, but it’s an interesting coincidence.). Third, the protagonist’s struggle has, for me and at least one of the characters in the novel, a theological debate between determinism and “free will.” That’s something I feel strongly about—especially regarding the latter which I hold true. Fourth, the protagonist’s experience unfolds a lot like one of the noir thrillers from Hard Case Crime. Except for the science, I would almost think it comparable to a Quarry novel by Max Allen Collins or one of Westlake’s darker novels. In short, The Flicker Men grabbed me and wouldn’t let me loose—even though my schedule precluded me from reading it straight through (I would have if I could have.).
A lot of the elements in the story build from the Feynman-slit (or Young-slit) experiment, using a thermionic gun to shoot a photon stream through at two slits. The result on a monitor would be a wave-form interrupted such that an interference pattern of overlapping waves appears (p. 38). Yet, if one puts a detector at the two slits, one measures two distinct streams of phosphorescent particles. There is no interference when measuring like this (p. 39). From one reading, there is. In the real world, and before the fictional events in this novel, Feynman said of this experiment, “It has in it the heart of quantum mechanics. In truth, it contains only a mystery.” (quoted on p. 44)
Now, things become more interesting when the protagonist, Eric Argus, makes a breakthrough in his experiment. The resulting research paper garners the interest of a prominent religious evangelist. The evangelist believes he can use the research as a way to prove the existence of the human soul. While the results appear to confirm said existence, the results also reveal a frightening phenomenon. It is the latter revelation that puts Argus in a precarious position with those who are angry that the latter results were revealed. The evangelist becomes disillusioned: “Can anything in this world be truly relied upon? Even atoms are an evanescent haze—emptiness stacked upon emptiness which we have somehow willed ourselves to believe in.” (p. 126) As Argus interrogates him further and points out that his discouragement is costing his reputation, the evangelist responds, “Even fame, it seems, follows the rules of quantum mechanics. The eye of the public changes what it observes.” (p. 127)
Eventually, Argus discovers that there are those afraid of the world’s eberaxi, later defined as “errant axis” on p. 240. As quantum mechanics recognizes both the reality of the wave and the particles, Argus discovers an incongruity in the universe. “Free will in a determinant universe. Because the math was dead serious. It was only in us that it failed. The mystery wasn’t those who couldn’t collapse the waves [by their observations of Argus’ experiment]. The mystery was those who could [collapse the waves via observation.]”
To make a long story short, Argus has not just grasped, but proved the theoretical physics of “Gabriel’s horn” (aka “Torricelli’s trumpet”), the idea of a Matryoshka (aka Russian dolls) universe (p. 244). Eventually, Argus has to put the pieces together of why some can conceive of this and others cannot. And, it is a most dangerous game. Without a spoiler, let me just say that Ted Kosmatka foreshadows the conclusion perfectly. But I won’t tell you why it’s perfect, just that it’s brilliant. Indeed, I felt like The Flicker Men was brilliant through and through. I think it rivals my favorite hard science-fiction in the late James P. Hogan’s work.
First, I am fascinated by the implications of quantum theory and the plot of The Flicker Men turns on this idea. Second, I was using my understanding of quantum theory to hypothesize far-future inventions in my Traveller role-playing game and, my notes described a “flickering man” before I ever discovered this novel (We don’t treat them exactly the same, but it’s an interesting coincidence.). Third, the protagonist’s struggle has, for me and at least one of the characters in the novel, a theological debate between determinism and “free will.” That’s something I feel strongly about—especially regarding the latter which I hold true. Fourth, the protagonist’s experience unfolds a lot like one of the noir thrillers from Hard Case Crime. Except for the science, I would almost think it comparable to a Quarry novel by Max Allen Collins or one of Westlake’s darker novels. In short, The Flicker Men grabbed me and wouldn’t let me loose—even though my schedule precluded me from reading it straight through (I would have if I could have.).
A lot of the elements in the story build from the Feynman-slit (or Young-slit) experiment, using a thermionic gun to shoot a photon stream through at two slits. The result on a monitor would be a wave-form interrupted such that an interference pattern of overlapping waves appears (p. 38). Yet, if one puts a detector at the two slits, one measures two distinct streams of phosphorescent particles. There is no interference when measuring like this (p. 39). From one reading, there is. In the real world, and before the fictional events in this novel, Feynman said of this experiment, “It has in it the heart of quantum mechanics. In truth, it contains only a mystery.” (quoted on p. 44)
Now, things become more interesting when the protagonist, Eric Argus, makes a breakthrough in his experiment. The resulting research paper garners the interest of a prominent religious evangelist. The evangelist believes he can use the research as a way to prove the existence of the human soul. While the results appear to confirm said existence, the results also reveal a frightening phenomenon. It is the latter revelation that puts Argus in a precarious position with those who are angry that the latter results were revealed. The evangelist becomes disillusioned: “Can anything in this world be truly relied upon? Even atoms are an evanescent haze—emptiness stacked upon emptiness which we have somehow willed ourselves to believe in.” (p. 126) As Argus interrogates him further and points out that his discouragement is costing his reputation, the evangelist responds, “Even fame, it seems, follows the rules of quantum mechanics. The eye of the public changes what it observes.” (p. 127)
Eventually, Argus discovers that there are those afraid of the world’s eberaxi, later defined as “errant axis” on p. 240. As quantum mechanics recognizes both the reality of the wave and the particles, Argus discovers an incongruity in the universe. “Free will in a determinant universe. Because the math was dead serious. It was only in us that it failed. The mystery wasn’t those who couldn’t collapse the waves [by their observations of Argus’ experiment]. The mystery was those who could [collapse the waves via observation.]”
To make a long story short, Argus has not just grasped, but proved the theoretical physics of “Gabriel’s horn” (aka “Torricelli’s trumpet”), the idea of a Matryoshka (aka Russian dolls) universe (p. 244). Eventually, Argus has to put the pieces together of why some can conceive of this and others cannot. And, it is a most dangerous game. Without a spoiler, let me just say that Ted Kosmatka foreshadows the conclusion perfectly. But I won’t tell you why it’s perfect, just that it’s brilliant. Indeed, I felt like The Flicker Men was brilliant through and through. I think it rivals my favorite hard science-fiction in the late James P. Hogan’s work.
June 18, 2015
Kosmatka has a knack for writing intense thrillers that skirt the edge of hard science while still remaining accessible to layman. In his new book, The Flicker Men, he is even more successful than in his book The Games. It's a fast read full of unpredictable twists and turns. Angus is a broken man to start, and when he finds himself through a new quantum physics experiments, he begins to lose his fellow researchers and his understanding of reality.
It comes down to a complex question: what is the meaning of a soul within a body? When Angus's work determines humans have souls and animals do not, it initially sets the stage for a religious dilemma. THAT took me totally off guard--one of those twists that makes perfect sense in hindsight but that I didn't see coming at all. From there, the novel drops deeper into science fiction and the thriller pace intensifies. The ending was remarkably satisfying (which was an issue I had with The Games).
I can't help but compare this to last year's great science fiction novel, The Three-Body Problem, as both deal with issues of science and reality. I found Kosmatka's work more accessible, which is saying something, as my past efforts to parse quantum physics have literally given me migraines. I may not have understood everything, but what I knew enabled me to grasp the stakes of the story and move along. It made for a fantastic read.
It comes down to a complex question: what is the meaning of a soul within a body? When Angus's work determines humans have souls and animals do not, it initially sets the stage for a religious dilemma. THAT took me totally off guard--one of those twists that makes perfect sense in hindsight but that I didn't see coming at all. From there, the novel drops deeper into science fiction and the thriller pace intensifies. The ending was remarkably satisfying (which was an issue I had with The Games).
I can't help but compare this to last year's great science fiction novel, The Three-Body Problem, as both deal with issues of science and reality. I found Kosmatka's work more accessible, which is saying something, as my past efforts to parse quantum physics have literally given me migraines. I may not have understood everything, but what I knew enabled me to grasp the stakes of the story and move along. It made for a fantastic read.
May 10, 2015
Eric Argus, an accomplished scientist now an alcoholic on the verge of suicide, receives a second chance at resurrecting his career in the form of four months of probationary employment at Hansen Research. Any line of investigation is acceptable as long as the researcher’s project has scientific merit; after several weeks of indecision, Eric stumbles across an electron gun and a detector and decides to recreate Feynman’s double slit wave-particle experiment. He wants to see what Feynman saw, to experience for himself the dual nature of light and matter.
When he discovers that only human beings can collapse the wave function in the experiment, things rapidly escalate into this being hailed as “proof” of the existence of the human soul. But an accidental discovery that not all humans can collapse the wave function turns Eric’s world upside down, putting him in dire jeopardy as sinister forces wield their power, seeking to destroy his friends, his work, and his life.
Brilliant writing makes this riveting science fiction thriller impossible to put down. Believable characters and situations keep the pages turning and the suspenseful plot has more than enough science to satisfy. Filled with unexpected twists and turns, tension mounts as the story races its way to an ending that will leave readers deliberating the tantalizing possibilities.
Highly recommended.
When he discovers that only human beings can collapse the wave function in the experiment, things rapidly escalate into this being hailed as “proof” of the existence of the human soul. But an accidental discovery that not all humans can collapse the wave function turns Eric’s world upside down, putting him in dire jeopardy as sinister forces wield their power, seeking to destroy his friends, his work, and his life.
Brilliant writing makes this riveting science fiction thriller impossible to put down. Believable characters and situations keep the pages turning and the suspenseful plot has more than enough science to satisfy. Filled with unexpected twists and turns, tension mounts as the story races its way to an ending that will leave readers deliberating the tantalizing possibilities.
Highly recommended.
Read
July 22, 2015A quantum physicist is given a second chance at brilliance, but it just might cost him his life, in this whip-fast sci-fi thriller! Eric Argus has washed out personally and professionally when an old friend gives him a job in a research lab. But when Eric discovers old equipment that was used to search for the human soul and decides to test it for himself, he opens a can of worms that the world may not be ready for. Now he and his colleagues are in a whole lot of danger, and unless Eric can answer the great mysteries brought about by the experiment's implications, it could be the end for everyone. I love a great sci-fi thriller, and this one is top notch!
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October 10, 2015
WTF did I just read? I've seen elsewhere commentary that this book is a mashup of Stephen King and Stephen Hawking, which sounds about right. (And, I'll independently add that those two names only differ by the addition of three letters, "haw", to one name ... fittingly strange.) Maybe throw in a little Neal Stephenson. STEPHENson. Oh my god.
I enjoyed it, appreciated the originality of the concepts, thought the writing was better than adequate, found the end less than fully conclusionary, and afterwards thought (in addition to WTF did I just read) ok do I want to read another book by this author - yes or no. Unless there's a third option .... maybe.
I enjoyed it, appreciated the originality of the concepts, thought the writing was better than adequate, found the end less than fully conclusionary, and afterwards thought (in addition to WTF did I just read) ok do I want to read another book by this author - yes or no. Unless there's a third option .... maybe.
December 5, 2015
Great story, with a hard science edge that I really enjoyed.
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