The Arrows of Time

De: Greg Egan

Narrado por: Adam Epstein

Hard science fiction’s grand master delivers the stunning conclusion to his Orthogonal trilogy.

In a universe where the laws of physics and the speed of light are completely alien to our own, the travelers on the ship Peerless have completed a generations-long struggle to develop advanced technology in a desperate attempt to save their home world. But as tensions mount over the risks of turning the ship around and starting the long voyage home, a new complication arises: The prospect of constructing a messaging system that will give the Peerless news of its own future.

While some see this as a guarantee of safety and a chance to learn of their mission’s ultimate success, others are convinced that the knowledge will be oppressive or worse that the system could be abused. The conflict over this proposed communication system tears the travelers’ society apart, culminating in terrible violence. To save the Peerless and its mission, its leaders must travel to a world where time runs in reverse.

Continuing in the tradition of The Clockwork Rocket and The Eternal Flame, Greg Egan’s Orthogonal trilogy has continuously pushed the boundaries of science fiction, without ever losing track of the lives of the individuals carrying out this grand mission.

The Arrows of Time brings this fascinating space opera to a close while offering insight into human nature and the struggles we face, both as individuals and as a species.

©2013 Greg Egan (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Amazing End to an Amazing Series

The Arrows of Time is a great ending to this amazing series. It keeps with the general themes and conflicts that have made the series great up to this point while still finding its own particular focus. The novel explores big concepts in a way naturally intertwined with plot itself not just thrown in and hastily hand-waved away. I normally don’t write reviews, but this series’ attention to detail, insightful views into complex topics, and careful of consideration of the social issues of a literally alien society have certainly earned it. Egan imagined a universe and built plot around it not the other way around, and the novel flows all the more naturally for it.

Blown away by the series

Wonderful story for nerds who love physics.
Definitely recommend the whole series.
I listened at 1.4 speed and the narration sounded good.

another stunning tale

Greg Egan writes the most beautiful stories mixing mathematics and physics in unique ways to develop new universes. The Clockwork Series questions the spacetime signature in a fun exploration. I would 100% recommend this series to those who are looking for a significant deviation from standard scifi or fantasy.