Der Riss: Hard Science Fiction (Sonnensystem)

Solar System #3

by Brandon Q. Morris

There is a huge, bold black streak in the sky. Branches appear out of nowhere over North America, Southern Europe, and Central Africa. People who live beneath The Rift can see it. But scientists worldwide are distressed - their equipment cannot pick up any type of signal from it. The rift appears to consist of nothing. Literally. Nothing. Nada. Niente. Most people are curious but not overly concerned. The phenomenon seems to pose no danger. It is just there.

Then something jolts the most hardened naysayers, and surpasses the worst nightmares of the world's greatest scientists - and rocks their understanding of the universe.

©2019 Brandon Q. Morris (P)2019 Tantor

Genres: Science Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Hard Science Fiction

328 pages, Hardcover

First published October 9, 2018

About the author

Brandon Q. Morris is a physicist and space specialist. He has long been concerned with space issues, both professionally and privately and while he wanted to become an astronaut, he had to stay on Earth for a variety of reasons. He is particularly fascinated by the "what if” and through his books he aims to share compelling hard science fiction stories that could actually happen, and someday may happen. Morris is the author of several best-selling science fiction novels.

Reviews

[reherrma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dieser Roman kann ich nur als physikalisch-philosophisches Gedankenexperiment betrachten, denn zu absurd ist die Handlung und diese Implikationen eines Dimensions-Riß. Im Zentrum stehen wieder die altbekannten Protagonisten des Hard Science Universums von Brandon Q. Morris (steht das Q für Quantentheorie ?), in diesem Buch ist es wieder die Astronomin Maribel von der ESO-Sternwarte auf dem Pico del Teide auf Teneriffa, die bereits in den zwei Vorgängerromanen "The Hole" und "Silent Sun" eine Rolle darin gespielt hatte.
Die KI eines russischen Konzerns arbeitet alleine als Prospektor auf Ceres um nach Bodenschätzen zu suchen, als sie einen Riss in der Raumzeit endeckte, der sich von Ceres bis zur Erde zieht. Der Riss durch den Himmel ängstigt die Erdbewohner und Forschergruppen gehen sofort an die Erforschung des Phänomens. Auch Maribel wird wegen Ihrers erfolgreichen Management der Black Hole Krise ("The Hole") und der Endeckung der Strukur in der Sonne ("Silent Sun") zu Rate gezogen. Gleichzeitig wird erzählt, dass der Riss einige temporale Paradoxien zur Folge hat; als ein Flugzeug in den Riß fliegt und verschwindet, weiß anschließend niemand auf der Welt von dieser Tatsache, selbst die Angehörigen der Passagiere wissen nicht mehr, dass diese Personen existiert haben. Ein Mann ahnt jedoch etwas von seiner Frau, die ihn in seinen Träumen verfolgt, ebenso ihr Liebhaber und seine Assistentin. Alle drei beschließen, einen Weltraumaufzug zu kapern um zum Riß zu kommen. Inzwischen hat die KI auf dem Zwergplaneten Ceres eine Theorie über das Phänomen erarbeitet, er vermutet, dass hier ein Riß zum Multiversum aufgetreten ist und jedes Mal, wenn etwas das Nichts im Riß durchquert, landet er in einer anderen Realität...
Die Handlung des Romans ist absurd, so wird ein Weltraumaufzug so mir nichts dir nichts so gebaut, dass das Kabel an den Riß herankommt, usw.
Das Gedankenexperiment des Riß und der damit einhergehenden Betrachtung der Implikationen der Multiversums-Theorie sind interessant und lehrreich, insbesondere verbunden mit dem wissenschaftlichen Essay am Ende des Buches "Die neue Biographie des Nichts", hier hat der Autor sein Gedankenexperiment auf die Grundlage der neuesten Erkenntnisse der Kosmologie und der Quanten/String-Theorie gestellt. Wie immer sehr anregend und (für mich) sehr lehrreich...

[Overdramatics · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hat mir leider nicht so gut gefallen. Die Idee war total cool, aber die Umsetzung sehr mau. Die Charaktere waren ebenso uninteressant. Und das Ende war komplett enttäuschend.

[Amy G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not hard science but ok story

This wasn't a bad story, decent sci-fi but all in the realm of sci-fi, not hard science. Characters were rather wooden, something a lot of sci-fi authors need to work on, normal human interaction. Ok overall.

[Curt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I discovered after starting this book that it is a sequel to The Hole by Brandon Morris. But having not read The Hole does not detract from this book.

The characters from The Hole are called upon to investigate the appearance of a black spance of space that appears as a rift or tearing in which there is nothing (no stars). Scientists conclude that the rift is harmless. But our protagonist is called upon to investigate this anomaly. Meanwhile, an AI-based robot already located on an asteroid at which the rift originates, is motivated to also research it's origin and potential threat to humanity. As it turns out, any object that enters the rift immediately disappears and all evidence of its existence is removed from the currently reality. So any probes sent into the rift disappear and all evidence and memory of the probe is gone too. We also have a person who believes that his life was different prior to the appearance of the rift, thinking that entering it will return him to his lost family.

Like the book's prequel, the science was compelling. That any contact with the anomaly will change one's reality. I enjoyed the book and I would have given 4 stars but I felt that the ending was hurried. One minute we are trundling along working towards a climax and poof the questions are answered and issues resolved. I call this a Star Trek ending - where the universe is in peril until the last 10 minutes of the episode and Kirk, Picard, Janeway, or Sisco solve the problem in time for the closing credits.

[Charl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining and thought-provoking. But I do have a huge problem with one thing:

(It's all established early in the book, so I don't think this is a spoiler.)

1) The Rift is fixed relative to the Earth — it doesn't appear to move as the Earth rotates, so it has to be rotating with the Earth.

2) It's also fixed relative to Ceres — so it must be rotating along with Ceres.

3) It's also determined to be fixed in space, not moving at all.

Those are all mutually exclusive. Morris doesn't appear to even acknowledge that, much less make any attempt to explain it. The Rift may not actually be a part of our universe, but it does interact with our universe. To remain stationary above portions of the Earth, it has to be moving with the Earth's rotation. To remains stationary relative to Ceres, it has to be moving with Ceres' rotation. And to appear fixed in space, it can't be moving at all. So are parts of it moving to painting position around the Earth and Ceres, and the rest of it is motionless? Morris doesn't address this at all, but if I can question this, surely the scientists in the story should at least think of it. to me, this is a huge problem, left completely unaddressed and reducing my enjoyment of the story.

OTHER than that, though, the story was interesting, and I did like it in spite of the elephant.

[Peter Mehiel · Rating 2 out of 5]

No hard science to be found

Clever idea: warn the reader that there’s a lot of complex physics woven in to gain authenticity and respect among Sci-Fi enthusiasts. But in fact, I found the “science” to be 20% real and 80% fantasy sprinkled with partial truths and scientific jargon.

That doesn’t mean it can’t be a good story. But sadly, it’s a bit juvenile - the kind of book that gives this genre a bad name.

For instance, a character breaks into a top secret, heavily guarded facility by jumping over the electric, barbed wire fence using a pogo stick (supercharged of course).

There were so many “problems” with believability that they truly pull you away from the story. The Rift itself made no sense. It was both stationary in space and rotating around earth so as to stay directly overhead at the same time (something the author apparently realized and then tried to fix at the end of the book).

Read it at your own risk. I was disappointed.

[Virginia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tediosa como pocas, La grieta es el ejemplo perfecto de porque no leo ciencia-ficción más a menudo. Y es que pese a que la premisa es muy interesante, la atención del lector se dliluye rápidamente cuando descubre que el libro está plagado de escenas sinsentido, diálogos estúpidos, personajes nefastos y una trama absurda que consigue que terminar esta novela, se convierta en una proeza pareja a la de viajar por el espacio.

Brandon Q. Morris es el autor que firma esta pesada historia. Pese a que tiene cierta fama en el mundillo, para mi era un desconocido. Y creo que los dos éramos mucho más felices antes de habernos cruzado. Desde el punto de vista literario, Morris resulta un escritor bastante mediocre. Su estilo de escritura es excesivamente simple, poco trabajado y peor elaborado. Para ello, cuanta con una prosa lenta con un desarrollo horrible, un lenguaje plagado de tecnicismos físicos no siempre bien explicados, y unas descripciones demasiado superficiales y básicas como para meterte de lleno en lo que está contando el libro.
Y luego están los personajes. Lo único original que se puede decir al respecto, es el hecho de que uno de ellos, M6, no sea humano. El resto de los personajes me parecen el clásico arquetipo de este tipo de obras. A saber, el ex-soldado malote, el médico misterioso, la recepcionista brillante y una serie de científicos inteligentísimos. Nada nuevo bajo el sol, a no ser que consideremos a la grieta como un personaje en sí mismo. El personaje más inútil de la historia debo añadir.

La historia que nos narra La grieta se engloba dentro de los relatos que nos cuentan posibles amenazas a las que el mundo (y el universo ya puestos) pueden verse expuestos. Pero trataré de explicarlo algo mejor. Esta novela nos cuenta tres historias simultáneas, cuyo nexo en común es la aparición de una grieta misteriosa que aparece en el cielo. En la primera historia conocemos a M6, un robot que está estudiando Ceres y tiene una IA demasiado parecida a los humanos como para resultar convincente. En la siguiente historia seguimos a Derek, un soldado reconvertido en agricultor que de la noche a la mañana tiene extraños recuerdos de una vida que no parece a haber vivido. Y la última historia seguimos a Maribel, directora del Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias que va a poner el punto de vista científico a la historia. Todos ellos se ven afectados por la grieta, un fenómeno sin explicación y aparentemente inofensivo, aunque esconde un secreto absolutamente aterrador y la semilla para la destrucción del universo. Y si, ya se que así contado puede parecer maravilloso. El problema es que la trama progresa a velocidad de tortuga, le sobran muchas páginas, datos y situaciones que no aportan nada y que embrollan la lectura. Y eso por no hablar del final. El desenlace es demasiado confuso, muy abrupto y excepcionalmente feliz. Tampoco esperéis un explicación clara sobre lo que es, como se ha producido o como se ha eliminado la grieta. Y eso que el autor dedica una ingente cantidad del tiempo a hablar sobre la nada, el vacío, la teoría de cuerdas y demás conceptos abstractos de la física moderna justo al acabar la historia.

En resumen, La grieta es un libro decepcionante. Demasiado lento, aburrido y comprensible a medias, lo único que te deja seguro es la sensación de haber perdido el tiempo a lo grande. Con una trama liosa y demasiadas páginas innecesarias, terminar este libro es un gran reto. Y es que está más que claro que “la grieta” que se ha formado entre este género y mis gustos literarios es tan enorme que ya es insalvable.

[Rita Tourino · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fenda, terceiro livro da série: O Sistema Solar de Brandon Q. Morris, é uma obra que transcende os limites da imaginação e mergulha nas profundezas insondáveis do universo, nesta história somos, conduzidos por um turbilhão de questionamentos cósmicos e dilemas existenciais. Uma história que desafia tanto a compreensão científica quanto os limites da imaginação, uma jornada épica através do espaço e do tempo, enquanto nos confrontamos com os mistérios de uma fenda que desafia toda compreensão humana.
A narrativa se desenrola a partir de múltiplos pontos de vista, cada qual oferecendo uma perspectiva única sobre o fenômeno inexplicável que é a fenda no espaço-tempo. Desde Maribel, a dedicada astrônoma, até Derek, o fazendeiro assombrado por lembranças que desafiam a lógica, e M6, a inteligência artificial em busca de respostas em meio aos mistérios de Ceres, somos conduzidos por um intricado emaranhado de histórias entrelaçadas.
O foco da trama reside na própria fenda, uma cicatriz negra que rasga o céu e desafia a lógica dos cientistas e a compreensão humana. Inofensiva à primeira vista, ela se revela como um portal para o desconhecido, um elo entre realidades onde o nada se encontra com o tudo. O autor explora conceitos complexos da física teórica, assim como nas obras anteriores, este livro mergulha profundamente em teorias científicas complexas, desafiando a compreensão até mesmo dos leitores mais entendidos e experientes no assunto. No entanto, mesmo diante desse desafio, a narrativa se revela emocionante. Reconheço que uma compreensão mais aprofundada da física quântica, da teoria das cordas e da astrofísica certamente ampliaria minha apreciação, mas ainda assim, a profundidade e a emoção da história foram inegáveis, os conceitos de multiverso e as anomalias do espaço-tempo, nos desafia a questionar nossas próprias noções de existência e causalidade.
A fenda, fixa em relação à Terra e a Ceres, desafia as leis da física conhecidas, provocando um frenesi global entre cientistas e leigos. Somos confrontados com questões profundas sobre a natureza da realidade e o destino do universo.
O livro é uma jornada que vai além das estrelas, explorar os mistérios de a fenda não é apenas uma obra de ficção científica, é uma exploração corajosa dos limites do conhecimento humano, uma jornada rumo ao desconhecido que desafia nossas noções preconcebidas sobre o universo e nosso lugar nele, um convite para contemplar os mistérios do cosmos e as fronteiras da nossa própria compreensão.

[Leo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was recommended by the Amazon Kindle AI after reading the Mars Colony Trilogy written by Gerald Kilby. I liked those books and this book's concept sounded interesting. Sadly that's about all glowing remark I have to say about.
The book was classified as "hard science fiction", and the alphabet sound of science techno babble made you believe the story was ground in some kind of reality, bit with researcing the studies being tossed around for plot reasons, I can't too sure how accurate the science was.
Overall concept of the story was interesting. A Rift forms in space and scientist across the planet scramble to figure it out. Story is told from different POV's, often within a similar timeframe in concert with event taking place at a different location. The story telling was pretty simple to follow, even with the techno babble, and it managed to keep me entertain up until the end. I did find myself skipping several paragraphs, until something interesting popped up. M6 was interesting and to some extent so was Derek's story arc, but that's about it.
Book became hard to follow in the second half, especially after it was finally revealed how scientist and AI's save the Earth from a black hole in 2072. At this point in the book, hard science was completely tossed out the window and into the emptiness that was the rift.
Oh, I also found oddly peculiar on the frequency male/female biological body parts and their functions was mentioned in this book. Not sure is this is normal in Morris' stories.
In conclusion, I would be hard pressed to recommend this book to any hard sci-fi reader I know.

[Marsha · Rating 2 out of 5]

In all the hundreds of books I've read, I've never once thought 'this story could really be enhanced with some detail about people using the bathroom'. I still don't think that, and I'm honestly baffled the writer thought including details about people peeing was of value to the reader. But this story doesn't have a lot going for it so maybe that was considered vital information.

Three random strangers make a series of completely unlikely, extreme, and irrational decisions without motivation being established for any of it. It simply serves the story... which actually didn't need any of them. Someone at a space agency has a convenient but stalled space elevator program that is just as easily and conveniently restarted without obstacle, a seeming minimum of time and effort and no real notice from the world as if its existence wouldn't be historical. The whole story is just nonsensical but bland. It is, readable though, so it has that going for it.

At some point, I was actually hoping one of the main characters would, for all his efforts, just fall to the ground in his effort to access the rift. It would have been a bit funny and more interesting than the actual plot.

[David Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A two dimensional rift of nothing causes untoward problems!!!!!

Derek takes his wife to the doctor. Derek is currently rather self absorbed in the mundanity of his own life and takes little notice of his wife. He is surprised to learn that his wife suffers from allergies and it turns out the wood preservatives he used on the farm may be a cause of the allergies...
While at the doctors there is a commotion outside and a black line or tear appears in the sky. The tear proceeds towards Ceres where a spider-like AI, M6, is working.
What is the rift made of - nothing? What happens when something enters nothing? What is the cause and effect response of such an event? What is nothing? M6 ponders these questions while investigating the rift on Ceres, while Maribel returns on Earth.
This is an interesting tale about existence, cause and effect, multiverses and nothing. Highly entertaining and a thought provoking read.

[Frank Becker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Die Geschichte ist ganz ok, an vielen Stellen aber unglaubwürdig: die Reaktionen auf unvorhergesehene Ereignisse sind fast immer unnatürlich entspannt (ein bewaffneter Eindringling in einer Militärbasis - Huch, naja, passt schon...); alles ist improvisiert, trotzdem klappt eigentlich alles; so richtig zufriedenstellend logisch finde ich die Erklärungen zum Riss und den Anpassungen in der Realität (und woran sich Leute erinnern) nicht - und das Ende ist auch etwas blass; zuuu "happy".
Trotzdem einige interessante Ideen, so dass man es immerhin zuende lesen möchte.

Irgendwo zwischen 2 und 3 Sternen - für mich das schwächste Morris Buch bisher (out of 4).
Spielt im Enceladus/Eismond-Universum; man muss die anderen Bücher aber nicht zwingend gelesen haben.

[Kissu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me encantó la temática (ampliamente asentada en la teoría de cuerdas), pero la traducción me molestó bastante (un exceso de errores notorios para mi gusto). Si ignoramos el detalle de los errores de traducción, el libro no sólo es emocionante, también es muy bueno para aprender sobre la teoría cuántica y demás. Al principio, me desconcertó un poco que hubiera incoherencias y me tomó un tiempo darme cuenta de que era parte de los efectos de la grieta.

Mi parte favorita fue el principio holográfico. Increíblemente, es la primera vez que leo al respecto y dejó pensando en muchas posibilidades.

Como dato adicional, la relación "confusa" de Derek, Mary y Akif es graciosa e interesante, un buen chisme/cotilleo.

¡Muy buena lectura!

[Nancy Shaffer · Rating 2 out of 5]

More like lame science fiction. It’s all well and good to get the physics and astronomy right, and that in itself seems to give author the right to call his work “hard science fiction.” But most of these writers slump badly on the psychology and sociology of their work. If you can’t get those disciplines right, you can’t tell a good story.

And if you're going to put out a shingle on your story boasting what good science it is, and go into excruciating detail on the physics, yet not even bother to hand-wave an explanation about how your AI heroes got to be the way they are, maybe you should reconsider that subtitle.

[Timothy OBriant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book in spite of the fact that I am NOT a multiverse guy. (Not a fan of time travel stories either, but that is for another book.) I'm guessing that, like others that read hard sci-fi, I look for science that can be true. In this case, I have to at least have a story that holds together under some scrutiny, and this one does. I especially enjoy the way Mr. Morris weaves in the characters from previous books.

Thank you, Brandon, for an enjoyable story. However, could we stick to OUR verse from now on?

[Wahju · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sorry, started really promising, but as I read along, I could practically see the stereotype action movie playing in my head, including the cast. The farmer, who is really retired military? The woman scientist with small daughter? And so on. The only thing missing from the standard movie plot so far, is the ex husband and the family dog. The characters are so bland, that I found the narrativ of the research robot the most interesting. Three stars for the original idea at the beginning.

[Clare Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great sci-fi from Morris

This one involved science theories that I find hard to comprehend, but still it was an exciting story and I learned a little more science facts than I knew before. If I understood quantum physics better and had a better grasp of astrophysics, I probably would have gotten more insights. Still I feel I understand a little more than I did before I read this book.

[dave cornell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun causality disruption story

Five stars for the story because the author did a great job of taking something very weird and implausible and extrapolating how people would behave. Very good science behind it all. Good characters with depth, and I enjoyed the robots thoughts. Very creative, highly recommended.

[Lynnelle D. Bolton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this guy...

I love his writing. Haven't found one of his books yet that falls on its face, if a book has a face... But I will say that I have to read this one again because I lost some participants along the way near the end of the book. I'm pretty sure I understand, but I want to read it again anyway because I like it.

[Jamie Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rift: Hard Science Fiction (Kindle Edition)
by Brandon Q. Morris

A credible, hard SciFi as usual from this author.
Some old and dear friends, and some new ones. A worthy puzzle to tease out, and one with lasting implications. The answer will surprise you.
Also, the author continues to explore the evolution of AI, with good effect.

[Gwenythe B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating!

I found this to be entertaining and the experience of cause and effect illuminating in theory. Mr. Morris does a good job of untangling the many quarks of quantum physics whilst showing the many degrees of the human experience. Thoroughly enjoyed the adventure and the educational aspect of the theories abound. Great Job!

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Auch der dritte Teil der Solar System-Reihe bietet das, was ich an Morris so liebe. Eine gelungene Mischung aus lebensnahen Figuren, gekonnt erzählter Geschichte und einer guten Portion Physik. Trotzdem lassen sich diese Bücher alle ausnahmslos gut lesen, obwohl sie Hard Sci-Fi sind. Eben weill Brandon Q. Morris so viel Talent für gute Geschichten hat.

Dies ist einer seiner älteren Titel, was in einigen wenigen Szenen spürbar ist. Aber schon 2018 zeigt sich Morris als sehr inklusiver Autor und dies hat sich in den neuen Büchern sogar noch verfestigt.
Auch lassen sich die Solar System-Bücher alle einzeln lesen, sodass Neugierige einfach reinspringen können. Je mehr Titel gelesen sind, desto eher erkennen wir auch bestimmte Figuren wieder.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different theory space time

It was an interesting space time theory about multi verses with characters reactions dovetailed into the conclusion. Probably not my cup of tea but if you are a scifi fan you'll like the proposition!

[Kit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great novel...

I especially liked the way science was dealt with as real and not galactic wars, aliens, etc. found in space operas. Also, his explanation of the science after the end was clear, despite the complexity of quantum physics.

[Richard D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

Outstanding hard science fiction. Story line is extended really well from book to book.
The principles are explained in a way that triggers your mind to see new things.

[Robert Knudsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing I will say is to read all nine in order, because there is a minor character that is in a couple of stories, I enjoyed the story and I thought the narration was great, the character's were well written

[Cassia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esta história é incrível, ao contrário do que outras histórias sobre robôs e IAs elas podem ter
consciência e podem desenvolver o livre árbitro e contrabalançar as diversas possibilidades para sobrevivência da espécie humana.

[Alex Fürstenau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ganz spannend und unterhaltsam aber das Ende war etwas zu abrupt.

[Agent Belthil · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent little book

I chose three stars because it was kind of choppy. I felt like it was underdeveloped in terms of the characters also.

[Richard Bernstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspend your disbelief and enjoy it. Fun summertime reading