What do you think?
Rate this book
The Entropy of Loss
Sarah Shannon is a scientist working at the cutting edge of black hole research. She is also a woman seeking to cope with the impending death of her wife, Rhona, the love of her life. Unable to come to terms with this inevitable loss, she has embarked on an affair with her work colleague, Akshai; and that's only the start of things getting complicated.
Something has gone wrong with Sarah and Akshai's ground-breaking simulations of black holes. When they are able to correct the errors the system abandons their simulations, instead spitting out equations as if demanding a response. When they answer, the system takes over their lab and starts to transform their equipment - forcing them to flee. They are left suspecting the impossible: First Contact.
As Sarah's employer steps in and seeks to take control, she risks losing access to her own work. Worse still, when they fled the lab she and Akshai had to leave Rhona behind, and Sarah will do whatever it takes to get her back.
Something has gone wrong with Sarah and Akshai's ground-breaking simulations of black holes. When they are able to correct the errors the system abandons their simulations, instead spitting out equations as if demanding a response. When they answer, the system takes over their lab and starts to transform their equipment - forcing them to flee. They are left suspecting the impossible: First Contact.
As Sarah's employer steps in and seeks to take control, she risks losing access to her own work. Worse still, when they fled the lab she and Akshai had to leave Rhona behind, and Sarah will do whatever it takes to get her back.
- GenresScience Fiction
118 pages, Paperback
Published April 5, 2022
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 9, 2022
I have to say I was not sure what to make of this Newcon novella as at first appearance it seemed to mix a lot of totally different and complex ideas together (after all the book is only just over 100 pages so that is a lot to cram in).
However once you got past a few conversations about how to describe quantum mechanics - or at least appeared to discuss it - for all I know it could have been just a jumble of words - the real story kicked in and I have to say it was great fun.
The story became not only accessible but also human with a lot of genuine feelings (I sometimes think books like this over play emotions to either reinforce aspects of the story or create caricatures of the people) but I think there was a lot of humanity and humility here that gave the more exotic aspects of the story a grounding.
I have to say off the back of this book I would certainly consider reading more of their work - am very pleased I added this one to the growing series of titles
However once you got past a few conversations about how to describe quantum mechanics - or at least appeared to discuss it - for all I know it could have been just a jumble of words - the real story kicked in and I have to say it was great fun.
The story became not only accessible but also human with a lot of genuine feelings (I sometimes think books like this over play emotions to either reinforce aspects of the story or create caricatures of the people) but I think there was a lot of humanity and humility here that gave the more exotic aspects of the story a grounding.
I have to say off the back of this book I would certainly consider reading more of their work - am very pleased I added this one to the growing series of titles
August 12, 2022
More like 3.5 stars.
The novella is a good, solid read about a first contact situation that is more in the realms of physics than bodily encounter.
What I especially liked about it is the fact that all protagonists are female and that my brain only registered that in the last chapter, because it felt so normal.
The novella is a good, solid read about a first contact situation that is more in the realms of physics than bodily encounter.
What I especially liked about it is the fact that all protagonists are female and that my brain only registered that in the last chapter, because it felt so normal.
April 10, 2022
A beautiful story of loss of grief and first contact, all flowing together. Written with great sensitivity and tenderness, as well as a strong scientific foundation, this is SF at its best.
April 8, 2022
I went into this novella with no knowledge of what it was about, and was delighted to discover an original and artfully drawn tale of first contact and pre-bereavement. The alien incursion happening via information space (as opposed to physical space) brings a strangeness to the story that perfectly counterbalances the attempts of the principal character to navigate an unmappable emotional space in her life created around the impending death of her partner.
The success of the story hangs on the sensitivity of the characterisation which is wonderfully done. It's a book full of raw truth, and is profound in the way that the best science fiction always is.
The success of the story hangs on the sensitivity of the characterisation which is wonderfully done. It's a book full of raw truth, and is profound in the way that the best science fiction always is.
April 2, 2022
A fantastic and thoughtful piece of science fiction cleverly blending themes, concepts and characters to make a tale exploring humans and communication. Loved it
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
January 2, 2023
The novella is about loss that exists in the nucleus of love. A brilliantly written tale that uses hard sci-fi as a turf to walk the reader through myriad of scientific concepts and human emotions.
From a small press that is bereft of the shackles that weigh down many a big business publisher, the chapters takes the reader through a wild ride, alternating between hard science and heart squeezing drama.
The recent discovery of information escaping a blackhole is used in a what-if(the best thing about science fiction) conversation wherein the information, instead of energy is thought to form the basic pillar of the existence.
Without any spoilers, Stewart Hotston's The Entropy of Loss is a first contact story that, under the auspiciousness of good prose, narrates the thrill experienced by a quantum cryptographer. The novella is adorned with various scientific concepts that leads the reader to an ending that deals with something inherent in core humanness - the power of a beautiful goodbye .
From a small press that is bereft of the shackles that weigh down many a big business publisher, the chapters takes the reader through a wild ride, alternating between hard science and heart squeezing drama.
The recent discovery of information escaping a blackhole is used in a what-if(the best thing about science fiction) conversation wherein the information, instead of energy is thought to form the basic pillar of the existence.
the walls were bleached an inflamed bronze as a last echo of dying light, fat with promises that couldn’t be held together.
Without any spoilers, Stewart Hotston's The Entropy of Loss is a first contact story that, under the auspiciousness of good prose, narrates the thrill experienced by a quantum cryptographer. The novella is adorned with various scientific concepts that leads the reader to an ending that deals with something inherent in core humanness - the power of a beautiful goodbye .
May 11, 2022
I wan to stress that I normally don’t like this kind of story, where the big event is a background to the emotional story but this novel avoided the cliches of loss and impending loss and made the emotions very raw and real.
I can give it no higher praise than this. Every time I put it down I wanted to pick it back up again and read more.
I can give it no higher praise than this. Every time I put it down I wanted to pick it back up again and read more.
July 29, 2022
Fantastic story beautifully written. Absolutely loved it!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews