Quantum Radio

January 9, 2023
A mysterious message from another dimension sparks chaos in this dry sci-fi adventure from Riddle (Lost in Time). In prose peppered with extensive and occasionally unnecessary explanations of scientific concepts, mostly delivered through stilted dialogue, Riddle introduces quantum physicist Tyson Klein, who discovers entangled particles delivering data from an alternate universe within CERN’s Large Hadron Collider. When a bomb explodes in his apartment, Ty realizes that somebody else is after his extraordinary discovery, which he calls a quantum radio, and they’ll do anything to get it. To escape, Ty turns to an old colleague, Richter, with whom he has a thorny history. Riddle layers in enough backstory to keep readers invested as Ty and Richter are drawn into a U.S. military operation to decode the data from the quantum radio, but a lack of emotional depth makes it difficult to truly feel for any of the characters. Thoughtful explorations of alternate history, especially surrounding WWII, take center stage as Ty’s efforts to decode the quantum data lead him to a shocking revelation. Newcomers to sci-fi may appreciate the scientific concepts here, but this will be old hat to more experienced genre fans.

February 1, 2023

Tyson Klein, a brilliant physicist at CERN, discovers a groundbreaking pattern among the subatomic particles in the Large Hadron Collider, which turns out to be a data stream transmitted from a quantum radio outside of space and time. Hard on the heels of presenting his discovery, there's an explosion in Ty's apartment, and he flees to his family for help. Ultimately, he's seized by DARPA, who translate his cryptic data and consequently initiate a race against the clock to locate the central players involved in the mind-boggling mayhem that ensues. The expert multiverse manipulation morphs into an enthralling alternate history that is both immersive and intelligent. This is a long book with quick chapters that cover an impressive amount of ground. It's as much about solving the universe's biggest mysteries as it is about families and friends finding their way back to each other. While remarkable all on its own, the enticing ending suggests that the series will get even better from here. VERDICT Eclectic author Riddle (Lost in Time) combines science and history to create a riveting thriller.--Andrea Dyba

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