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Deplosion #1
The Reality Thief
A supra-natural, hard sci-fi technothriller. If you love intergalactic intrigue and paradigm-shifting ideas, the Deplosion series is for you.
Darian Leigh was an accident, a brilliant accident with a lattice-augmented brain. When he invents the Reality Assertion Field generator, a device that can alter the universal laws of physics, he sets ablaze the worlds of science, religion, and politics. Will Darian’s invention be a magnanimous gift to humanity or will it bring about its demise? Mired in conspiracy, betrayal, and murder, the struggle will rage for eons...
In the far future, a self-appointed Living God uses the device to unleash His Divine Plan on an unsuspecting Realm. His diabolical scheme? To collapse all of creation and remake it in His personal image of heaven. When a Cybrid rebel and an enigmatic traveler from beyond the edge of the universe stumble onto His plan, they must stand against Him or be consumed along with the rest of reality. What would you be willing to sacrifice to ensure the survival of the universe? What if it meant giving up paradise?
Darian Leigh was an accident, a brilliant accident with a lattice-augmented brain. When he invents the Reality Assertion Field generator, a device that can alter the universal laws of physics, he sets ablaze the worlds of science, religion, and politics. Will Darian’s invention be a magnanimous gift to humanity or will it bring about its demise? Mired in conspiracy, betrayal, and murder, the struggle will rage for eons...
In the far future, a self-appointed Living God uses the device to unleash His Divine Plan on an unsuspecting Realm. His diabolical scheme? To collapse all of creation and remake it in His personal image of heaven. When a Cybrid rebel and an enigmatic traveler from beyond the edge of the universe stumble onto His plan, they must stand against Him or be consumed along with the rest of reality. What would you be willing to sacrifice to ensure the survival of the universe? What if it meant giving up paradise?
- GenresScience Fiction
399 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2017
73 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Paul Anlee
9 books12 followers“Life is big enough for more than one dream.”
Canadian author Paul Anlee writes provocative, epic sci-fi in the style of Asimov, Heinlein, Asher, and Reynolds, stories that challenge our assumptions and stretch our imagination. Literary, fact-based, and fast-paced, the Deplosion series explores themes in philosophy, politics, religion, economics, AI, VR, nanotech, synbio, quantum reality, and beyond.
“When done right, I think sci-fi is the best genre for challenging what you think you know about the universe and your place in it. One reason I write is to shine a bright, rigorous light on the assumptions in our everyday interactions with our world.
“In large part, I became a scientist because of my love of science fiction. It made me think of a future I hoped to help create. Helping others to create their own visions of the future is another reason I write. Although my specialty was molecular biology and genetics, it was not long before I was involved in the new fields of nanotechnology and synthetic biology.
“As a scientist/storyteller, I try not to use "magical" explanations as the basis for any of my settings, conflicts, or resolutions. I think long and hard about a plausible scientific rationale for everything important that happens in my stories. If I can't see some way that something could have a natural explanation, I won't use it.
“That's quite a challenge in the Deplosion series as I cover quite a range of ideas: a universe evolving naturally from virtual particles; a generated field that changes the natural laws of physics; a way to grow a supercomputer in your head; a combination of artificial intelligence and downloading of a human mind; instantaneous travel throughout the universe; virtual worlds; buildings you grow; genetic engineering for living on different planets; etc.
“For each of these, I can conceive of a scientific route that justifies the different technologies in question. Add in political intrigue, religion, philosophy, and human passion and you have the kind of story I enjoy reading. That's what I try to write.”
Paul Anlee and his wife live in Cuenca Ecuador, where they are learning Spanish and Tai Chi, exploring the Andes, and crafting exciting and provocative stories guaranteed to challenge your thinking.
Canadian author Paul Anlee writes provocative, epic sci-fi in the style of Asimov, Heinlein, Asher, and Reynolds, stories that challenge our assumptions and stretch our imagination. Literary, fact-based, and fast-paced, the Deplosion series explores themes in philosophy, politics, religion, economics, AI, VR, nanotech, synbio, quantum reality, and beyond.
“When done right, I think sci-fi is the best genre for challenging what you think you know about the universe and your place in it. One reason I write is to shine a bright, rigorous light on the assumptions in our everyday interactions with our world.
“In large part, I became a scientist because of my love of science fiction. It made me think of a future I hoped to help create. Helping others to create their own visions of the future is another reason I write. Although my specialty was molecular biology and genetics, it was not long before I was involved in the new fields of nanotechnology and synthetic biology.
“As a scientist/storyteller, I try not to use "magical" explanations as the basis for any of my settings, conflicts, or resolutions. I think long and hard about a plausible scientific rationale for everything important that happens in my stories. If I can't see some way that something could have a natural explanation, I won't use it.
“That's quite a challenge in the Deplosion series as I cover quite a range of ideas: a universe evolving naturally from virtual particles; a generated field that changes the natural laws of physics; a way to grow a supercomputer in your head; a combination of artificial intelligence and downloading of a human mind; instantaneous travel throughout the universe; virtual worlds; buildings you grow; genetic engineering for living on different planets; etc.
“For each of these, I can conceive of a scientific route that justifies the different technologies in question. Add in political intrigue, religion, philosophy, and human passion and you have the kind of story I enjoy reading. That's what I try to write.”
Paul Anlee and his wife live in Cuenca Ecuador, where they are learning Spanish and Tai Chi, exploring the Andes, and crafting exciting and provocative stories guaranteed to challenge your thinking.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 8, 2017
What does it take to make a non-reader of science fiction a science fiction reader? Paul Anlee ! I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, but I explained that I really do not like science fiction nor do I read it. Paul Anlee changed that for me and made me a fan of the Deplosion Series after reading The Reality Thief. There is just the right amount of science and fiction. I absolutely love the characters development and the ease at which characters become real to me from the geekiness of Darian to the defenders of the Realm and the Living God. I couldn’t put the book down and just had to give equal reading time to each character’s contribution to the depth and suspense of what will and can happen in the world of future technology. Waiting for more Paul Anlee books in the series now that I am hooked!
April 6, 2017
A provocative, fun ride! The best science fiction expands your thinking about how the world does (and could) work. Imagination anchored in a real understanding of scientific principles and what might be, a few (or many) years down the line. I found the Reality Thief to be an engaging read, with elements that made me think of sci-fi authors like Neal Stephenson, Isaac Asimov, and Robert Heinlein. Paul Anlee’s professional training as a scientist is evident—the disciplines he draws on are cutting edge, thoroughly thought through, and very believable. Anlee ties a tightly wound story around a philosophical core that will make you think deeply about the nature of life and the universe. Im looking forward to book 2. Highly recommended!
August 19, 2017
Blew me away. There is science fiction and then there is science fiction, if you know what I mean.
One has stardrives and space empires slugging it out across the galaxy. The other, in loving detail, describes how the stardrive works, how those empires grew, and somehow manages to tell a powerful story in the midst of it all. Needless to say, this second type is much harder to find and even harder to write. Only a few of the best ever managed it - people like Heinlein and Asimov and LeGiun and Clarke. It's not easy.
The Reality Thief, and by extension, Paul Anlee, is, at least in my humble opinion, firmly in this second camp. This is page after page of the finest hard sci-fi, crafted with an Asimov-level love of science and detail. In this remarkable debut, Anlee creates an entire mythos for a future galactic empire of humankind, flourishing under an almost omniscient god-entity; he writes an entire alternate present, rooted firmly in science that seems disturbingly close to what we might achieve soon. At the same time, it's also supremely enjoyable fiction; you can almost see Anlee the author overriding Anlee the scientist at times, neatly working all of the complex thought and science into a story that I really don't want to spoil. If you're into Clarke, Greg Bear or Vernor Vinge, you really should check this one out.
If you're more familiar with the genre might notice the themes of superintelligence as a singularity, and the narrative of how virtual realities might completely alter human economics. For me, the Reality Thief is a very promising exploration of science, morality, religion, and of humans playing God. Paul Anlee is right up there with the best of the Golden Age scifi writers - I, for one can't wait for the next book.
One has stardrives and space empires slugging it out across the galaxy. The other, in loving detail, describes how the stardrive works, how those empires grew, and somehow manages to tell a powerful story in the midst of it all. Needless to say, this second type is much harder to find and even harder to write. Only a few of the best ever managed it - people like Heinlein and Asimov and LeGiun and Clarke. It's not easy.
The Reality Thief, and by extension, Paul Anlee, is, at least in my humble opinion, firmly in this second camp. This is page after page of the finest hard sci-fi, crafted with an Asimov-level love of science and detail. In this remarkable debut, Anlee creates an entire mythos for a future galactic empire of humankind, flourishing under an almost omniscient god-entity; he writes an entire alternate present, rooted firmly in science that seems disturbingly close to what we might achieve soon. At the same time, it's also supremely enjoyable fiction; you can almost see Anlee the author overriding Anlee the scientist at times, neatly working all of the complex thought and science into a story that I really don't want to spoil. If you're into Clarke, Greg Bear or Vernor Vinge, you really should check this one out.
If you're more familiar with the genre might notice the themes of superintelligence as a singularity, and the narrative of how virtual realities might completely alter human economics. For me, the Reality Thief is a very promising exploration of science, morality, religion, and of humans playing God. Paul Anlee is right up there with the best of the Golden Age scifi writers - I, for one can't wait for the next book.
April 15, 2017
This is no mere science fiction book. This is a book written by a scientist whose characters are relatable and who say exactly what you’d expect them to say when they’ve discovered that a god-like figure has decided to wind things back to the Big Bang in order to ensure mortals, angels and machines don’t get too uppity. Paul Anlee does not shy away from tackling the very largest subjects possible, from the existence of God, the passage of countless billions of years, the size of the cosmos, the Big Bang - and better still what existed before the Big Bang – and the potential for the creation of alternate universes with their own unique natural laws. The reader can relate easily to the characters, the dialogue, their reactions to events around them and, without being a scientist, the science. This is an exciting page-turner that easily weaves together all of the elements above together with battles between fundamentalist angels, scholarly intrigue, the break-up of America and the collapse of money. Anlee is already an accomplished scientist but his first book also establishes him as a master of suspenseful writing able to create complex, believable characters moving through exotic worlds tackling space, time, good and the evil of fundamentalism. You can’t and won’t want to put this book down. My biggest disappointment is that I have to wait a few more weeks to be able to pick up book two.
April 9, 2017
I do not read or watch Sci Fi. It's just never been my thing. But a friend of Paul Anlee asked me to read an ARC of this book and provide some feedback- particularly from a Non-Sci-Fi reader.
In my humble opinion, this is the best Sci-Fi I've ever read. It's funny, thought-provoking, and entertaining without being too geeky or fantastical. The interaction between characters is lively and refreshing.
It is not an ordinary story set in space- this is what I would consider real sci-fi. Check it out, you just might find a new author you LOVE!
In my humble opinion, this is the best Sci-Fi I've ever read. It's funny, thought-provoking, and entertaining without being too geeky or fantastical. The interaction between characters is lively and refreshing.
It is not an ordinary story set in space- this is what I would consider real sci-fi. Check it out, you just might find a new author you LOVE!
August 28, 2018
As my best GR friends know, I've been a science fiction fan since I was a teenager and have read a lot of SF books. I’m also an avid reader of science magazines.
This novel tells us three very imaginative stories in two different periods, one close enough to ours, the two others very far from the first (thousands of years). It plays on all fronts: science (especially nanotechnology and physics), singularity, Big Bang, religion, politics, parallel universes, aliens, sentient robots and one could almost say "time travel" since it goes from a near future to a future more distant and vice versa and a god wants to send our world back to square one.
The characters all have their own personality and it shows in the dialogues; which few authors do as well. The author knows about hard sciences and he explains everything very well; it's understandable even for laymen. And there is not one mistake in all the 399 pages of this book.
But unfortunately, if the main intrigue is interesting, the abrupt passages between eras are sometimes confusing. The story is more told than shown. And it drags on, especially toward the end. I think the editor could have condensed the verbose final part; a final that isn't really one, because we never know what exactly links these futures or where the author is going precisely with all that. We can't say that it's a cliffhanger, but we feel that the author wanted to deprive us of information that we would eventually get in a sequel.
I find peculiar that it's the readers who say they aren't familiar with science fiction who seem to have most appreciated this novel; maybe because they have nothing to compare it. Or it's just me who finds that the author wanted to do too much with all his themes and too well with his jumps in time and from one universe to another. I don't know.
However, like others, I'm not sure if I was sufficiently captivated by this first book to want to read the sequels. But I must say that I have hundreds of books in many genres waiting to be read in my Kindle reader.
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an eARC of this interesting novel.
This novel tells us three very imaginative stories in two different periods, one close enough to ours, the two others very far from the first (thousands of years). It plays on all fronts: science (especially nanotechnology and physics), singularity, Big Bang, religion, politics, parallel universes, aliens, sentient robots and one could almost say "time travel" since it goes from a near future to a future more distant and vice versa and a god wants to send our world back to square one.
The characters all have their own personality and it shows in the dialogues; which few authors do as well. The author knows about hard sciences and he explains everything very well; it's understandable even for laymen. And there is not one mistake in all the 399 pages of this book.
But unfortunately, if the main intrigue is interesting, the abrupt passages between eras are sometimes confusing. The story is more told than shown. And it drags on, especially toward the end. I think the editor could have condensed the verbose final part; a final that isn't really one, because we never know what exactly links these futures or where the author is going precisely with all that. We can't say that it's a cliffhanger, but we feel that the author wanted to deprive us of information that we would eventually get in a sequel.
I find peculiar that it's the readers who say they aren't familiar with science fiction who seem to have most appreciated this novel; maybe because they have nothing to compare it. Or it's just me who finds that the author wanted to do too much with all his themes and too well with his jumps in time and from one universe to another. I don't know.
However, like others, I'm not sure if I was sufficiently captivated by this first book to want to read the sequels. But I must say that I have hundreds of books in many genres waiting to be read in my Kindle reader.
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an eARC of this interesting novel.
October 31, 2018
I've been an avid SF reader since I was 12. I've read hundreds and hundreds of SF-books, went to numerous SF conventions and got to know some authors very well.
I was very much looking forward to reading this book because there seems to be a lack of hard SF nowadays.
Sadly, I was dissappointed on a number of points and I only got halfway in this book. Yes, it is very well written; the author has lots of imagination and knows how to attract the readers' interest. However, he did not succeed in keeping my interest.
First, the science part, which is ok. And of course the book is fiction so here we are. But there is more, much more and this makes, imho, for a rather unbalanced book.
I was halfway the book and so I read about a princess batteling with dragons. Not in her real body obvious and not in 'this time' or 'this universe' but somewhere else. I read about Chaos. I read about an entity that was able to 'create' worlds and so was seen as a 'God'. It is not clear in what day and age this is but apparently áfter the invention, sometime during 'our' time, a pregnant scientist made.
And to top it up, I had to read about politics, very complicated politics.
So I gave up. I will absolutely not compare the author to Isaac Asimov, one of my heroes - and for other reviewers: there are more SF authors than just Asimov ;-) - but in complexity the book looks a bit like The Reality Dysfunction by Peter Hamilton. The difference is that with Hamilton, everything comes nicely together and makes one big interesting story.
I hope this author will use his imagination and talent to write more SF books, but please, stick to one storyline - or maybe two - which I hope will make for a great book without all the confusing storylines in this book.
NOTE: I tried, I really tried to read the book again. But it is just not for me, I'm afraid. Sorry for that.
I was very much looking forward to reading this book because there seems to be a lack of hard SF nowadays.
Sadly, I was dissappointed on a number of points and I only got halfway in this book. Yes, it is very well written; the author has lots of imagination and knows how to attract the readers' interest. However, he did not succeed in keeping my interest.
First, the science part, which is ok. And of course the book is fiction so here we are. But there is more, much more and this makes, imho, for a rather unbalanced book.
I was halfway the book and so I read about a princess batteling with dragons. Not in her real body obvious and not in 'this time' or 'this universe' but somewhere else. I read about Chaos. I read about an entity that was able to 'create' worlds and so was seen as a 'God'. It is not clear in what day and age this is but apparently áfter the invention, sometime during 'our' time, a pregnant scientist made.
And to top it up, I had to read about politics, very complicated politics.
So I gave up. I will absolutely not compare the author to Isaac Asimov, one of my heroes - and for other reviewers: there are more SF authors than just Asimov ;-) - but in complexity the book looks a bit like The Reality Dysfunction by Peter Hamilton. The difference is that with Hamilton, everything comes nicely together and makes one big interesting story.
I hope this author will use his imagination and talent to write more SF books, but please, stick to one storyline - or maybe two - which I hope will make for a great book without all the confusing storylines in this book.
NOTE: I tried, I really tried to read the book again. But it is just not for me, I'm afraid. Sorry for that.
May 29, 2017
I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review. I don't normally read hard science fiction but I was relieved to discover that the scientific concepts were written so clearly that even an ignoramus like myself could follow them. I found them (especially a speech given at a Philosophy Café) utterly fascinating. The book made me look again at some of my own long-held beliefs.
The story cuts back and forth between three sets of characters, one group in the not too distant future where progress in nanotechnology is able to increase the brain's processing power and the two other groups thousands of years beyond that in a world which has grown from the discoveries of the former.
In that latter world a being once human has re-invented himself as a God and is contemplating an unthinkable (but entirely plausible) reboot of all existence. However, others are prepared to risk their own lives to stop him.
I grew fond of the characters (particularly Darak and Brother Stralasi) and enjoyed the story. I look forward to seeing what happens next.
The story cuts back and forth between three sets of characters, one group in the not too distant future where progress in nanotechnology is able to increase the brain's processing power and the two other groups thousands of years beyond that in a world which has grown from the discoveries of the former.
In that latter world a being once human has re-invented himself as a God and is contemplating an unthinkable (but entirely plausible) reboot of all existence. However, others are prepared to risk their own lives to stop him.
I grew fond of the characters (particularly Darak and Brother Stralasi) and enjoyed the story. I look forward to seeing what happens next.
August 3, 2018
The reality thief 3.5⭐️
If you could build a machine that changed the fundamental laws of nature what would you do with that power?
We flip between past and present connecting the two tenses with the experiment which flowed seemlessly.
Syfy- dystopian- futuristic just alot of components going on.
Im picky for my syfy books, they have to complex but understandable, descriptive world but not to extravagant thay i cant picture it and this book did a pretty good job it painting a picture and explaining what was happening.
I really liked the science aspect and the medical terminology, the author seemed to have done their research to make their story as accurate as could be when fictional meets real life science.
Thank you so much to booksgosocial via netgalley for sending me an ARC copy of The reality Thief by Paul Anlee.
All opinions are my own.
If you could build a machine that changed the fundamental laws of nature what would you do with that power?
We flip between past and present connecting the two tenses with the experiment which flowed seemlessly.
Syfy- dystopian- futuristic just alot of components going on.
Im picky for my syfy books, they have to complex but understandable, descriptive world but not to extravagant thay i cant picture it and this book did a pretty good job it painting a picture and explaining what was happening.
I really liked the science aspect and the medical terminology, the author seemed to have done their research to make their story as accurate as could be when fictional meets real life science.
Thank you so much to booksgosocial via netgalley for sending me an ARC copy of The reality Thief by Paul Anlee.
All opinions are my own.
May 7, 2017
I’ve seen several reviews liking this work to Asimov. I see the similarity, but disagree. This is far better than Asimov because it uses real science. That, by itself, makes this a rare find and tempted me to give it five stars. I could not bring myself to go that far because it uses omniscient narrator, which generally I dislike, although it was told well enough that this didn’t bother me much. The one criticism I cannot get past was the length. The story started to pick up speed and interest where other stories are ending. If this were condensed by a third, I’d give it five stars.
May 13, 2017
What if you could build a machine that could change the fundamental laws of nature? That's the central premise of The Reality Thief, which weaves together theoretical physics, nanotechnology, virtual reality, and far future space opera into an engaging story.
This ambitious novel unfolds in two parallel timelines, one taking place in the mid21st century, the other a hundred million years in the future. In the near future arc, Darian Leigh, a physicist with nanoenhanced intelligence, lays the groundwork for a device that can change the laws of physics as we know them. In the far future, we see the consequences of his work, as Alum, the self-proclaimed god of the universe, works to remake creation in his own image.
If those changes in setting sound dizzying, they are-- there were times when I felt the transition between the two timelines was a bit jarring, though as the novel unfolded I got used to them. This is also definitely a novel of ideas, so the characters aren't as fleshed out as they could be, but the series definitely promises that we'll learn more about them in future installments. Overall, I enjoyed this one and am looking forward to the sequel.
(Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
This ambitious novel unfolds in two parallel timelines, one taking place in the mid21st century, the other a hundred million years in the future. In the near future arc, Darian Leigh, a physicist with nanoenhanced intelligence, lays the groundwork for a device that can change the laws of physics as we know them. In the far future, we see the consequences of his work, as Alum, the self-proclaimed god of the universe, works to remake creation in his own image.
If those changes in setting sound dizzying, they are-- there were times when I felt the transition between the two timelines was a bit jarring, though as the novel unfolded I got used to them. This is also definitely a novel of ideas, so the characters aren't as fleshed out as they could be, but the series definitely promises that we'll learn more about them in future installments. Overall, I enjoyed this one and am looking forward to the sequel.
(Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
April 6, 2017
April 6, 2017
Review: The Reality Thief – Paul Anlee
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I found this book a challenging read but worth the effort and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
There are multiple characters and story lines which I am assuming converge or resolve in the coming books. The individual development of these characters was very distinct and they didn’t blur into each other. I found some of the plots lines initially confusing and difficult to keep straight. I think this is because their time lines were not clear to me when they were introduced. The writing is very readable and it flows well. Some may find the scientific explanations in excess. However I found them understandable and essential to upstanding the different plot lines and themes in the book.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for Science Fiction where the science is plausible with strong philosophical story lines.
Review: The Reality Thief – Paul Anlee
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I found this book a challenging read but worth the effort and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
There are multiple characters and story lines which I am assuming converge or resolve in the coming books. The individual development of these characters was very distinct and they didn’t blur into each other. I found some of the plots lines initially confusing and difficult to keep straight. I think this is because their time lines were not clear to me when they were introduced. The writing is very readable and it flows well. Some may find the scientific explanations in excess. However I found them understandable and essential to upstanding the different plot lines and themes in the book.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for Science Fiction where the science is plausible with strong philosophical story lines.
June 11, 2017
This was my first science fiction in years and Anlee reignited my interest. Granted some of the details is way over my head -- technology, science, etc.-- but I skimmed over some of those parts. The characters, the premise, the storyline...all very strong. I heard the author speak at a writer's conference and my interest grew. A smart read. I look forward to the remainders of his first trilogy.
April 15, 2017
I really enjoyed The Reality Thief with its compelling characters and provocative themes.
Great read from a talented new author and I hope we hear from him again soon.
October 29, 2018
My Review Number 175:
This review is on The Reality Thief, Deplosion: Book One, by Paul Anlee. This is the first book I have read by this talented Sci-Fi author. This story is hard-science, speculative fiction, imaginative, thought provoking Sci-Fi that challenges religious, scientific and political thinking across a host of topics.
The story starts with a Prologue dealing with Chaos; the very beginnings of the universe as we know it created from virtual particles that spontaneously emerge from “the nothingness of the quantum vacuum”. In other words, what scientists now call the Big Bang.
Chapter 1 introduces Sharon Leigh, a scientist, who is frustrated at the slow pace of scientific progress and decides to become the first human test of her own invention; DNND 3.2-003. This stands for Dynamic Neural Nano Dot, which are semiconductor based nanoparticles that react with RNA in brain cells to create a microscopic machine network in a human brain comparable in power to a super-computer. All looks well until Sharon finds out she was pregnant.
Out of the blue, in Chapter 3, the story starts another plotline dealing with Yov, the creator of the universe, including the first two gifted people named Da’ar and Alum. Similar to Adam and Eve stories, Alum sides with Yov and they banish Da’ar from the world of people. Alum is given the task to populate all new worlds with his creations and Alum becomes the Chosen One with God-like powers.
Further in the book, the plot reverts back to present times with the birth of Sharon’s child named Darian Leigh. Unbeknownst to everyone, Darian has inherited the DNND nanoparticles from his mother and grows up with an incredibly smart brain. His achievements in life grow rapidly until he achieves a remarkable scientific discovery, which leads finally to a great breakthrough in the understanding of our universe and how it operates.
This great breakthrough leads to competing factions between religious leaders and political government officials to the point of assassination attempts and sabotage. It creates more unrest in the world as it comes to grips with the God-like machine effects on humanity and its potential consequences.
I give this book Four Stars because the story is epic in scope, interesting and deals with numerous themes and ideology. The book is divided into three separate stories, each of which could have stood on its own. There are two or three main plots with several main characters to keep track of. The dialog is well written and easy to follow. The scientific and technical explanations are mostly fact-based and plausible. The biggest issue with the storyline is the confusion caused by jumping back and forth between plots, themes and characters. The story, however, is intriguing enough to want to read the next book in the series to see what happens.
Keep reading good science fiction and let me know when you find an interesting novel or author.
This review is on The Reality Thief, Deplosion: Book One, by Paul Anlee. This is the first book I have read by this talented Sci-Fi author. This story is hard-science, speculative fiction, imaginative, thought provoking Sci-Fi that challenges religious, scientific and political thinking across a host of topics.
The story starts with a Prologue dealing with Chaos; the very beginnings of the universe as we know it created from virtual particles that spontaneously emerge from “the nothingness of the quantum vacuum”. In other words, what scientists now call the Big Bang.
Chapter 1 introduces Sharon Leigh, a scientist, who is frustrated at the slow pace of scientific progress and decides to become the first human test of her own invention; DNND 3.2-003. This stands for Dynamic Neural Nano Dot, which are semiconductor based nanoparticles that react with RNA in brain cells to create a microscopic machine network in a human brain comparable in power to a super-computer. All looks well until Sharon finds out she was pregnant.
Out of the blue, in Chapter 3, the story starts another plotline dealing with Yov, the creator of the universe, including the first two gifted people named Da’ar and Alum. Similar to Adam and Eve stories, Alum sides with Yov and they banish Da’ar from the world of people. Alum is given the task to populate all new worlds with his creations and Alum becomes the Chosen One with God-like powers.
Further in the book, the plot reverts back to present times with the birth of Sharon’s child named Darian Leigh. Unbeknownst to everyone, Darian has inherited the DNND nanoparticles from his mother and grows up with an incredibly smart brain. His achievements in life grow rapidly until he achieves a remarkable scientific discovery, which leads finally to a great breakthrough in the understanding of our universe and how it operates.
This great breakthrough leads to competing factions between religious leaders and political government officials to the point of assassination attempts and sabotage. It creates more unrest in the world as it comes to grips with the God-like machine effects on humanity and its potential consequences.
I give this book Four Stars because the story is epic in scope, interesting and deals with numerous themes and ideology. The book is divided into three separate stories, each of which could have stood on its own. There are two or three main plots with several main characters to keep track of. The dialog is well written and easy to follow. The scientific and technical explanations are mostly fact-based and plausible. The biggest issue with the storyline is the confusion caused by jumping back and forth between plots, themes and characters. The story, however, is intriguing enough to want to read the next book in the series to see what happens.
Keep reading good science fiction and let me know when you find an interesting novel or author.
October 19, 2018
The definition of antidisestablishmentarynism
"The Reality Thief" reads like several university theses' with the parameters of: disproving there is an ultimate creator, proving both string theory and the Big Bang, proving space contains 'nothing', and proving great advances in technology will provide intelligence equal or greater than whatever designed the chaos of the universe. Sounds completely impossible but the book makes a strong testament that such theories are possible, and just waiting for our grasp of the necessary. In the last two hundred years or so, what was once science fiction has become fact, and a part of the technology in our everyday lives. The science has been broken down into terms most people can almost understand, at least enough to see where the research is going. Hopefully books like these, closely integrated with knowledge discovered, will spark new ideas and fields of science for the next generations to explore. Human nature, being what it is, will never allow our intellect or our pursuit of truth to remain in a vacuum.
Wonderful explanation of ideas that have been niggling in the back of my mind, at least giving a direction to explore the answers on my own. This is what literature is for, to make you think. Excellent job.
"The Reality Thief" reads like several university theses' with the parameters of: disproving there is an ultimate creator, proving both string theory and the Big Bang, proving space contains 'nothing', and proving great advances in technology will provide intelligence equal or greater than whatever designed the chaos of the universe. Sounds completely impossible but the book makes a strong testament that such theories are possible, and just waiting for our grasp of the necessary. In the last two hundred years or so, what was once science fiction has become fact, and a part of the technology in our everyday lives. The science has been broken down into terms most people can almost understand, at least enough to see where the research is going. Hopefully books like these, closely integrated with knowledge discovered, will spark new ideas and fields of science for the next generations to explore. Human nature, being what it is, will never allow our intellect or our pursuit of truth to remain in a vacuum.
Wonderful explanation of ideas that have been niggling in the back of my mind, at least giving a direction to explore the answers on my own. This is what literature is for, to make you think. Excellent job.
September 29, 2018
The Reality Thief by Paul Anlee is his debut novel. I was given a copy and am voluntarily posting a review. I liked this book so much that I have just purchased a copy. This is not so much science fiction as it is a Speculative Science Fiction Thriller. It is amazing! There are so many aspects to this story besides SF including the question of the existence of God, the theory and politics of economics, the power of established religion, resistance to established society and the future of mankind - just to name a few. There is so much here that I can imagine reading it again and again. Anlee has done an incredible job of structuring a world of the future, developing his characters and demonstrating the pros and cons of various approaches. He also expounds upon the scientific basis for many of his theories presented. Fascinating!
August 21, 2020
This book took me a while to read. 6 months actually and 3 moves and covid. Nothing like a challenge. Even with all that, I couldn’t just lay it down and forget it once I started it. I was a bit confused with the switching from present (sort of) day to future and way in the future. I love science fiction and this book is AWESOME.
Once I’d acclimated to the switching, I loved it. Darian discovers a new science in a world where man has all but forgotten the spirit of religion. A person ‘of the cloth’ takes it from him with the help of a grad student who betrays Darian for ‘30 pieces of silver’, so to speak’. Everyone’s got their price.
There are murders, sacrifices, future worlds, greed, hate and science. All combined to make a very good story. I really do recommend this book.
Once I’d acclimated to the switching, I loved it. Darian discovers a new science in a world where man has all but forgotten the spirit of religion. A person ‘of the cloth’ takes it from him with the help of a grad student who betrays Darian for ‘30 pieces of silver’, so to speak’. Everyone’s got their price.
There are murders, sacrifices, future worlds, greed, hate and science. All combined to make a very good story. I really do recommend this book.
April 19, 2019
A free copy providing by the author- an honest review. This is a brilliant story with well developed characters with strong emotions that engage the story on numerous levels. If we can make ourselves smarter by using science should we? This story weaves the very question with a complex journey of scientific and philosophical ideas and feelings that are still debated. Thought provoking at its best and shouldn't be missed. There are even journeys into the multiverse that add a creative flavor to this beginning to an unforgettable journey. Highly recommended.
April 16, 2019
All I can say about this book is WOW. It takes 2 times of reading it to understand it, but it is worth the time. Have you ever asked yourself, what came first? The chicken or the egg? This makes a wonderful reading adventure that is really outside the norm. Read it, and then read it again and you will be thrilled.
September 16, 2017
Fresh and exciting!
In many of my reviews I grumble over writers who's characters lack individual and unique voices. Anlee succeeds in this skill,without relying on heavy accented brogues, or strong use of stereotypical colloquialisms. Congratulations Paul! Well done!
The level of well integrated hard science, speculative physics, and personal relationship drama is well balances and a joy to read. I could have enjoyed more development of a few characters (more understanding of a woman's motivation and willingness to risk all to rush human trials, for example. More description of the depth of her relationship with her husband, and her thoughts for her child. More description of the world the is created. This is definitely a story that is told rather than painted by words.
The dual story aspect is the single biggest negative for me. It can be quite jarring,with no apparent connection between scenes. The stories are defiantly related and the longterm consequences of early actions displayed, there are just not as clear reasons for the breaks between stories as I would like.
I can hardly wait for more. I will definitely buy more from this author.
In many of my reviews I grumble over writers who's characters lack individual and unique voices. Anlee succeeds in this skill,without relying on heavy accented brogues, or strong use of stereotypical colloquialisms. Congratulations Paul! Well done!
The level of well integrated hard science, speculative physics, and personal relationship drama is well balances and a joy to read. I could have enjoyed more development of a few characters (more understanding of a woman's motivation and willingness to risk all to rush human trials, for example. More description of the depth of her relationship with her husband, and her thoughts for her child. More description of the world the is created. This is definitely a story that is told rather than painted by words.
The dual story aspect is the single biggest negative for me. It can be quite jarring,with no apparent connection between scenes. The stories are defiantly related and the longterm consequences of early actions displayed, there are just not as clear reasons for the breaks between stories as I would like.
I can hardly wait for more. I will definitely buy more from this author.
June 5, 2020
I only read half the book. I liked the original story line well enough, but the ultra-religious one on another planet less so. Even half way through the book, I still can't figure out how the two story lines are connected. Then two more story lines are added. One is about a cyborg rebelling against a God-like character. The other is about a super-genius physicist who is also an atheist. I am not a fan of the scientific theory...it strained my brain. I read fiction for enjoyment and relaxation and that part wasn't either relaxing or enjoyable.
The view of God in the first half of the book is either distant, non-existent, or controlling and harshly judgmental, depending on which story line you are reading. I did not see a God who had Grace, mercy, and love. I have a problem with that.
I stopped reading because the themes were becoming more about religion and politics, which are not my cup of tea, and also I felt like I was reading 3 or 4 books, not one cohesive story. Hopefully the second half ties is all together and is a more enjoyable read.
The view of God in the first half of the book is either distant, non-existent, or controlling and harshly judgmental, depending on which story line you are reading. I did not see a God who had Grace, mercy, and love. I have a problem with that.
I stopped reading because the themes were becoming more about religion and politics, which are not my cup of tea, and also I felt like I was reading 3 or 4 books, not one cohesive story. Hopefully the second half ties is all together and is a more enjoyable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2021
It's great to find a scientist that can write. This has a complex plot with solid science. Hard sci-fi is one of my favorite genres and I enjoyed this one. Good stuff.
August 26, 2018
On the surface level, The Reality Thief by Paul Anlee has all the makings of a great science fiction story. The plot is unique. The science informing the plot is plausible. The themes of the story are quite relevant to today's social turmoil. The characters are adequate. Yet by the end of the story, I felt somewhat disappointed. While the book is good, it never reaches its full potential. This is partially due to three main factors: the characters, the pacing, and structure of the story. At times, these aspects of the story seems to compete with one another, not really coalescing and it can lead to a disconnect and turn off for the reader.
So part of the reason why the story can turn off readers is due to the structure of the story. The story is divided into three main substories. One substory focuses on Darian Leigh, a scientific wunderkind due to an artificial lattice developing within his brain as a fetus due to his mother’s research. This lattice allows him to process and comprehend large amounts of information, though it does have some downsides such as requiring downtime to process information, headaches, etc. Around him, the United States undergoes severe social turmoil, facilitating the splintering of the union. He becomes a professor in the newly created country of Pacifica. His first major research project is to create a machine designed to explore how the natural laws of the universe evolved into being by generating a microverse. However, this research draws the ire of the powerful quasi-religious governing body of the Neo-Confederacy.
The other two substories deal with characters in the far future. One substory deals with the arrival of a stranger to a space colony of humans on the outskirts of a faraway galaxy. This attracts the attention of one of the leaders of the community, Brother Stralasi due to the oddness of it. This event precipitates an adventure that seeks to open Stralasi’s eyes to the truth about his religious beliefs and the godlike prophet he follows. The other substory is somewhat of an inverse. A cybrid, that is a conscious artificial intelligence, named Darya opposes the plan that the aforementioned prophet has created to control the universe. She has grown to oppose how the prophet keeps everyone ignorant. After her rebellion was crushed the first time around, she seeks to rebuild her groups and sabotage the prophet’s plan utilizing any means available. Now the summaries of the three substories were given to illustrate how divergent the substories are in terms of theme and setting. And while I do appreciate how creative the settings and characters are, they do not reinforce one another. It is pretty clear that the all three stories are connected, not just in terms of themes but also in a direct sense since Darian’s story takes place in the past of the other two substories. But beyond a few references, the stories feel completely self-contained. This hurts the overall story because the constant shifting from substory to substory deprives the characters of development. And while Stralasi’s and Darya’s substories have decent plot developments that may keep a reader entertained, Darian’s substory does not have anything to keep a reader engrossed.
So the characters in this story are fairly flat. That is to say that they do not have a lot of character growth. And with Darya and Stralasi, their substories are plot driven enough to where that is not too big of a detriment. Yet with Darian, there is nothing there to really engage the reader. Darian as a character is not fleshed out. And since he does not have a plot driven narrative, he needed character growth or moments to help a reader connect with Darian. If anything, the way Darian is written will turn off readers even if they agree with him. Darian is written in a way that is reminiscent of how r/Atheism used to be on Reddit. That is to say, he is arrogant and condescending, even when he does not mean to be. And while he does have moments where he does realize that he should use more tact, these moments are few and far between. Darian is not the only one who suffers from this, however. Many of the characters feel like caricatures. Which lessen the themes’ impact as we do not see them develop. One theme of Darya’s substory is the idea of how far one should go to promote their ideals and stop an unthinkable event. The problem is that Darya does not receive any real resistance to her plans. In fact, the other Cybrid she has for this goal, Macy, seems to acquiesce to her plan without any resistance besides the initial argument. We really do not see Stralasi change as well as his world view expands. And while this is the first part of a series of books where we may see more development of these characters, first impressions are everything. This is not to say that there is nothing good about the story, however. The themes of the story are important. The science behind the story is fairly plausible. And the writing is pretty good. I just wish the characters were worthy of the story that they are in.
So part of the reason why the story can turn off readers is due to the structure of the story. The story is divided into three main substories. One substory focuses on Darian Leigh, a scientific wunderkind due to an artificial lattice developing within his brain as a fetus due to his mother’s research. This lattice allows him to process and comprehend large amounts of information, though it does have some downsides such as requiring downtime to process information, headaches, etc. Around him, the United States undergoes severe social turmoil, facilitating the splintering of the union. He becomes a professor in the newly created country of Pacifica. His first major research project is to create a machine designed to explore how the natural laws of the universe evolved into being by generating a microverse. However, this research draws the ire of the powerful quasi-religious governing body of the Neo-Confederacy.
The other two substories deal with characters in the far future. One substory deals with the arrival of a stranger to a space colony of humans on the outskirts of a faraway galaxy. This attracts the attention of one of the leaders of the community, Brother Stralasi due to the oddness of it. This event precipitates an adventure that seeks to open Stralasi’s eyes to the truth about his religious beliefs and the godlike prophet he follows. The other substory is somewhat of an inverse. A cybrid, that is a conscious artificial intelligence, named Darya opposes the plan that the aforementioned prophet has created to control the universe. She has grown to oppose how the prophet keeps everyone ignorant. After her rebellion was crushed the first time around, she seeks to rebuild her groups and sabotage the prophet’s plan utilizing any means available. Now the summaries of the three substories were given to illustrate how divergent the substories are in terms of theme and setting. And while I do appreciate how creative the settings and characters are, they do not reinforce one another. It is pretty clear that the all three stories are connected, not just in terms of themes but also in a direct sense since Darian’s story takes place in the past of the other two substories. But beyond a few references, the stories feel completely self-contained. This hurts the overall story because the constant shifting from substory to substory deprives the characters of development. And while Stralasi’s and Darya’s substories have decent plot developments that may keep a reader entertained, Darian’s substory does not have anything to keep a reader engrossed.
So the characters in this story are fairly flat. That is to say that they do not have a lot of character growth. And with Darya and Stralasi, their substories are plot driven enough to where that is not too big of a detriment. Yet with Darian, there is nothing there to really engage the reader. Darian as a character is not fleshed out. And since he does not have a plot driven narrative, he needed character growth or moments to help a reader connect with Darian. If anything, the way Darian is written will turn off readers even if they agree with him. Darian is written in a way that is reminiscent of how r/Atheism used to be on Reddit. That is to say, he is arrogant and condescending, even when he does not mean to be. And while he does have moments where he does realize that he should use more tact, these moments are few and far between. Darian is not the only one who suffers from this, however. Many of the characters feel like caricatures. Which lessen the themes’ impact as we do not see them develop. One theme of Darya’s substory is the idea of how far one should go to promote their ideals and stop an unthinkable event. The problem is that Darya does not receive any real resistance to her plans. In fact, the other Cybrid she has for this goal, Macy, seems to acquiesce to her plan without any resistance besides the initial argument. We really do not see Stralasi change as well as his world view expands. And while this is the first part of a series of books where we may see more development of these characters, first impressions are everything. This is not to say that there is nothing good about the story, however. The themes of the story are important. The science behind the story is fairly plausible. And the writing is pretty good. I just wish the characters were worthy of the story that they are in.
September 16, 2018
There is, in the further reaches of the universe, a god of Order, bringing the forces of Chaos and Darkness to heel. This is Alum, who aims to bring stability and prosperity to an evet-expanding universe of planets and asteroids, managed by humans and their yo-called cyber mechanical servitors.
Suddenly, a new prophet emerges, but not one of Alum's making. Darak instead hints that natural life and eco systems are being destroyed to make way for a system that is ultimately stagnant. Only Chaos with its inherent instabity and openness to Change can represent the New Way.
A wormhole slide through space and time brings us to the experiments in bio technology that will be capable of augmenting human intelligence into so much more. The child of one of its pioneers, Darian Leigh, is about to reveal how whole new universes may be generated through the manipulation of sub-Quantum particles.
But Darian has enemies from within a divided continent that was once the USA. A fundamentalist faction is determined to put a stop to what is perceived as his arrogant, atheist hubris.
This novel is not a standalone! Before a mini universe is created in lab conditions, it does seem as though some of these original earthlings will become part of this new world, though it is not revealed yet, which of these will become Alum ( though it may be posy to guess). Paul Anlee hopes to get his emerging new readership hooked from this original bite from the apple.
Even so, here is hard SF at its most audacious. The Final Frontier may be reached, or perhaps breached, though applied quantum physics and bio technology, as much as through building rockets.
An important theme seems to lie within a die tic argument on how the least attractive of two world views have clashed. The fanatical and unsophisticated world views of Fundamentalists who nevertheless hold political power is shown to be at loggerheads with a world devoid of both gods and the hope of any ultimate meaning to life.
How this plays out however, will have to be sent though, in the sequels to this first in the series.
Suddenly, a new prophet emerges, but not one of Alum's making. Darak instead hints that natural life and eco systems are being destroyed to make way for a system that is ultimately stagnant. Only Chaos with its inherent instabity and openness to Change can represent the New Way.
A wormhole slide through space and time brings us to the experiments in bio technology that will be capable of augmenting human intelligence into so much more. The child of one of its pioneers, Darian Leigh, is about to reveal how whole new universes may be generated through the manipulation of sub-Quantum particles.
But Darian has enemies from within a divided continent that was once the USA. A fundamentalist faction is determined to put a stop to what is perceived as his arrogant, atheist hubris.
This novel is not a standalone! Before a mini universe is created in lab conditions, it does seem as though some of these original earthlings will become part of this new world, though it is not revealed yet, which of these will become Alum ( though it may be posy to guess). Paul Anlee hopes to get his emerging new readership hooked from this original bite from the apple.
Even so, here is hard SF at its most audacious. The Final Frontier may be reached, or perhaps breached, though applied quantum physics and bio technology, as much as through building rockets.
An important theme seems to lie within a die tic argument on how the least attractive of two world views have clashed. The fanatical and unsophisticated world views of Fundamentalists who nevertheless hold political power is shown to be at loggerheads with a world devoid of both gods and the hope of any ultimate meaning to life.
How this plays out however, will have to be sent though, in the sequels to this first in the series.
April 11, 2020
Loved It
Great story telling. With so many things happening it must have been hard work writing this and getting the editing right.
About to start book 2.
Great story telling. With so many things happening it must have been hard work writing this and getting the editing right.
About to start book 2.
August 30, 2018
I debated between giving this 3 or 4 stars on Amazon, and decided to be generous because the writing is captivating and the science is impressive. I might have given it 5 stars if not for the frequent and sudden shifts in timelines to stories with all new characters and plots with no connection made between them. The shift to a fantasy like environment with a dragon-slaying princess threw me at first and I see from other reviews here, I wasn’t alone. If you pick up this book, I encourage you not to throw it across the room when you get to this chapter and trust that the author hasn’t lost his mind. He soon pulls you back into a science-based story. Eventually (and I do mean eventually), I started to see how the earlier timeline must have given birth to the later ones, but it was a struggle to see how they were all connected until the very end, which resulted in another issue for me ... the ending felt very abrupt and unsatisfying due to so many unresolved questions--an obvious ploy to get the reader to purchase the next book. I prefer stand-alone novels, and this isn't one of them.
What I enjoyed most in this book were the deeply philosophical discussions about God, religion and man. I definitely recommend this book for those who question authority and religious dogma. However, readers who are firmly ensconced in their faith may find this book offensive because the main character is an atheist and the religious characters are portrayed as scheming duplicitous murderers.
I also recommend this book to lovers of hard science fiction. The author bases his extrapolations on sound knowledge and at times goes in deep. Those who find the science challenging may find themselves skimming over those parts to get back to the plot.
Having said all that, I found Book 1 intriguing enough to get Book 2. So, I must give kudos to Anlee for pulling me into his world.
What I enjoyed most in this book were the deeply philosophical discussions about God, religion and man. I definitely recommend this book for those who question authority and religious dogma. However, readers who are firmly ensconced in their faith may find this book offensive because the main character is an atheist and the religious characters are portrayed as scheming duplicitous murderers.
I also recommend this book to lovers of hard science fiction. The author bases his extrapolations on sound knowledge and at times goes in deep. Those who find the science challenging may find themselves skimming over those parts to get back to the plot.
Having said all that, I found Book 1 intriguing enough to get Book 2. So, I must give kudos to Anlee for pulling me into his world.
September 8, 2018
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Doctor Sharon Leigh has it all literally. A career as one of the smartest sceintist in the world. But when a experiment leaves her an incinerator for her undeveloped son, the world's smartest child is born. With events just starting to take place, the world is about to experience events no one has seen before on earth.
Along with a war, that has building with the true god Alum, "the reality thief," is story that is a bit confusing if you can't read book two in the disposition series. "The Reality Thief," is a story that can truly be enjoyed for all mature ages. I can say, I really enjoyed the book and can't wait to read the rest of the series.
The ending will have you feeling like, "Ha. Thanks what you get." No spoilers here though.
Doctor Sharon Leigh has it all literally. A career as one of the smartest sceintist in the world. But when a experiment leaves her an incinerator for her undeveloped son, the world's smartest child is born. With events just starting to take place, the world is about to experience events no one has seen before on earth.
Along with a war, that has building with the true god Alum, "the reality thief," is story that is a bit confusing if you can't read book two in the disposition series. "The Reality Thief," is a story that can truly be enjoyed for all mature ages. I can say, I really enjoyed the book and can't wait to read the rest of the series.
The ending will have you feeling like, "Ha. Thanks what you get." No spoilers here though.
May 7, 2017
I’m not an Asimov fan.
It’s great to have a person writing Sci-Fi who actually passed basic high school science. (So many writers get the basics wrong) I’m tempted to give this book 5 stars just for that. But, this is a book review and not a book report, so I must be honest.
As I said, I’m not an Asimov fan. If that makes me a heretic so be it.
This is a very long book with what seems to be two story lines (present & future) going through it. Both are connected by an experiment in the present that joins the human brain with machines. The results have turned humanity into religious cult drones who obliterate worlds because they don’t fit ‘gods’ view of the universe. (I know a few people like that.)
The story is long and drawn out with what feels to me like a lot of backstory. If you like that kind of stuff, this book is for you.
It’s great to have a person writing Sci-Fi who actually passed basic high school science. (So many writers get the basics wrong) I’m tempted to give this book 5 stars just for that. But, this is a book review and not a book report, so I must be honest.
As I said, I’m not an Asimov fan. If that makes me a heretic so be it.
This is a very long book with what seems to be two story lines (present & future) going through it. Both are connected by an experiment in the present that joins the human brain with machines. The results have turned humanity into religious cult drones who obliterate worlds because they don’t fit ‘gods’ view of the universe. (I know a few people like that.)
The story is long and drawn out with what feels to me like a lot of backstory. If you like that kind of stuff, this book is for you.
May 1, 2018
The scenes were disjointed and did not come together before this book ended. The main scene, or plot, had an interesting science proposition that was being played out and could have been a book in itself. However, there were other scenes involving aliens or one or more gods and entities who were revolting against the aliens and/or god/s. I surmise this was a future or alternate result of the scientific discovery that the main character was in the process of developing. Except the book suddenly ended without any connection that I could see to bring it all together. Perhaps this comes together in a future book. I am not going to find out. The only reason I finished this book was because the main plot/scene was pretty good.
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