Gravitys Chain

by Alan Goodwin

A contemporary novel about what happens when a brilliant young New Zealand scientist manages to solve the scientific disparity between the previously incompatible theories of Relativity and Quantum, creating the new Superforce Theory, with significant lucrative commercial applications. His discovery occurs the same night his wife commits suicide, and the book describes his battle with guilt, the trappings of sudden worldwide fame, alcohol and drugs as his theory is taken over by the multi-nationals and he finds himself suddenly cast as an 'every-move-PR- managed international showman' selling science as entertainment. While he is being groomed for a Nobel Prize, a rival theory emerges and in the tense months leading up to the Nobel announcement his personal life falls apart, when old relationships remerge and someone who knows him very well starts sending him anonymous letters that stir up painful memories. A scathing, clever and very well-written contemporary novel from an exciting new writer, this will be a Prime Read.

233 pages, Paperback

First published May 19, 2006

Reviews

[Michele Harrod · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book - marvellous start, it just missed a great finale that I kept hoping would come - but a great portrayal of a life on the road to destruction and the chaos of a brilliant but misunderstood mind. I read this after a very chaotic time - so I appreciated (and recognised) a lot about this book.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

As at page 50 the word that comes to mind is "narcisistic".
Ran out of time and, to some extent, interest. Seemed like a black comedy without the comedy. Skip read it to the end but wont go out of my way to get another copy and finish it. Too many other books to read

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is the story of Jack, a narcissist of the highest extreme who goes through life doing whatever he likes with little to no consequences. Also, he is brilliant. Towards the end of his story, and way too late for at least two people, he starts to kind of get a conscious. I thought the prose was good - it was believable that someone like this would do the things he did. The resolution wasn't very strong, it kind of reminded me of an indi film, where you don't really know if the characters were OK after the part of their life that you saw. What I did enjoy was the brief glimpses of the science behind his theories. Very interesting ideas there, even if they were fictional.

[Nutty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book had plenty of action, plenty of twists and pretty well drawn characters. What I liked most of all was that it kept its realism throughout, especially in the end. All in all, a good read, though a bit too dramatic at some points. The star I took is for the drama.