Einstein's Bridge

by John G. Cramer

Book Overview

A startling and breathtakingly believable tale of big science and the near future, and of a terrifying threat to humankind's very existence that waits at the farthest reaches of the cosmos.In a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380792796
• ISBN13: 9780380792795
• Release Date: December 1999
• Publisher: Eos
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Very, Very Cool

Reading through these reviews, one thing becomes clear: People have varying opinions. I suppose that's why we have chocolate and vanilla. In general, I do not like SF, so "I'm driving in the wrong neighborhood" writting a review amongst the serious SF readers. I could probably count all the SF books I like on one hand. I tend to like science/medical thriller writers, like Michael Crichton, Robin Cook, Richard Preston and Dan Brown. If you like those writers, you will probably also like this book. John Cramer is a excellent writer and, as I've discovered, quite an intellectual. His characters are well developed. The plot concept is mind blowing and very cool. This is a new genre of fiction, called "hard science fiction". Hard SF should appeal to engineers and scientists. Anyone who needs somewhat plausible scientific explainations, before allowing their "willing suspension of disbelief", should enjoy this story. Apart from the physics, there are many lessons and gems of opinions about humanity, society, politics, government and even psychology. This is what sets this book apart from many of the other SF I've encountered. I hope that Prof. Cramer is writing a sequel. If he is, I suspect there is already a long line formed.

Not just for high energy physics junkies...

All right, so if you were ever involved with high energy physics [I was], and especially if you're American [I'm not], this is going to remind you of lot of things, even if you've missed the latest developments (basic string theory all right? QCD is now obsolete, in case you hadn't noticed. Bubbles, bubbles, anybody remembers bubble chambers?). Dr Cramer's gift is to be able to paint skillfully the inside of a modern physics lab ten years ago, the hierarchical pecking order therein, going down from top dog -the head of a facility- to the electrician servicing some parts of an experiment, and shows them as people, with the complex pattern of their relations, not as empty formula-spouting cardboard characters, which is unfortunately so often the doom of the not-too-crafty hard science fiction writer, even when the author is a scientist. Dr Cramer shows also a more-than-basic knowledge of the legislative arm of the US federal government, and effectively describes some of its failings, as well as the mystique in "science research financing" which actually is pork in disguise, in a fairly interesting way. Also, his physics is good and it takes a reasonably good experimental physicist (alas, I no longer am) to understand when he deviates from real science to fairy tale (though at least partially credible). I am sure this will appeal to all scientists who read SF (I admit being one), but its ease of writing, its 3D characters and the plot twists should reach beyond this specialised audience. Excellent book, entertaining and as good or even better than "Twistor". A must for the hard SF fan.

Extremely enjoyable--I loved it!

Believe it or not, it was the Acknowledgements that made me buy Einstein's Bridge. John Cramer wrote that when the Superconducting Super Collider project was scrapped in 1993, it was a year before he could bear to look at his unfinished manuscript. I "felt his pain." Those who have an interest in particle physics will especially enjoy this book, although I think any fan of hard sci-fi will be delighted with it. The characters are great--likable and believable. The real beauty of this book is its highly original plot. The backdrop is Waxahatchie, TX, (yes, that was to be the SSC site) in the first decade of the 21st Century--in other words, 'bout now. Our high-energy physics experiments have attracted notice of two different groups of aliens. We have the bad guys, who invade and take over other worlds, and the good guys, who empower other civilizations to defeat the bad guys before the invasion can be completed. They do this by contacting us and teaching us to "read" and "write." (These words will never have the same mundane meaning to you again after this book!) There is plenty of good science mixed in with the fiction, and enough twists to keep you wondering how on earth it will resolve itself. Much to my delight, time travel was even introduced. I don't want to say more, as it would spoil the plot. This book takes you along on a great ride--enjoy it!

It is great.

This book mixes hard science with an alternate universe. It is a mix that might have fallen flat in other hands, but it works well here. I was particularly interested to see how he handled the workings of the SSC (the superconducting supercollider, which was built in the alternate universe). Cramer's speculation of a hive mind that savages universes they contact was a scary one. The science was believable, and the characters behaved like other physicists I have known. This is the best science fiction I have read this year. I recommend it to anyone interested in speculation that is science-based, not "science fantasy". Also interesting is Cramer's description of what happened to the SSC in our universe. He is passionate and witty here too. He definitely had a lot of inside knowledge, which served him well in the book.

A hard science novel that reads like an adventure story

After having enjoyed TWISTOR some years ago, I have been waiting for a possible sequel to that novel. The tantalising glimpse of an alien world accessible through a "gateway" bore the promise of much adventure. EINSTEIN'S BRIDGE is certainly no sequel to that book, though the concept of parallel universes also forms its basis. It is an exceptionally good "hard science" story. The physics is credible and presented with such clarity that very few readers will be discouraged. They will indeed learn quite a lot about high energy physics along the way, and gain much insight concerning the way scientific research is done and how the related "politics" works. The characterisation of the protagonists is good, the plot is excellent for its rigour and unpredictability. There are some some truly terrifying moments (when the "hive" is found and breaks loose) that have the same kind of impact as the claustrophobic anguish of being embedded inside a tree in TWISTOR. Like in that novel, the ending is also open, though more ominous... An exciting adventure that no reader will ever forget. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and encourage the author to continue practicing his considerable talent for SF. He can at least count on one unconditional reader of his next novel: me!