Customer Reviews

Indistinguishable From Magic

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an excellent book for the introduction of physics concepts. By blending science fiction and science fact Dr. Forward puts concepts commonly misundersttod into the grasp of the laity. I have found this book very useful in my Physics courses. My students tend to enjoy it as well. Dr. Forward draws on his background at JPL to give sound techincal explanations and his ability as a science fiction writer to give the concepts life.

WARNING! If you are looking for a piece of fluffy fantasy fiction this is not the book for you.

As a particle physicist I learned much from this book. When Forward discusses situations about which I know some details he almost always has it right, so I trust him when he discusses situations about which I know little. The short stories that follow the technical chapters are ingenious, although they do not all relate well to the preceding technical chapter. I would like to have had more discussion about the relative probabilities of the various scientific theories yielding useful technology.

i bought the book purely for its scientific content and have not read the short stories. but the information concerning exotic forms of propulsion and loopholes in modern day physics is very good. another good book relating to this is the starflight handbook by eugene f. mallove & gregory l. matloff.

Sorry, I love big words. The fiction was not impressive, but the science is. Dr Forward is one of the big guns theoretical physics and it shows. He explores the ways impossible science-fiction concepts like antigravity, time travel, or faster-than-light travel might be done (if the gray areas of physics have the right answers), and sometimes ways it could be done (with a lot of engineerng).

Robert L. Forward illustrates the potential of time travel,anti-gravity and many other wonders using relativistic principles.Well worth reading.Imagine the refinements which will bring these to fruition.

Although this book is listed as Science Fiction it is notjust a collection of short stories. Dr. Forward puts forthessays on various aspects of SF technology, couching them in fairly easy to understand language. Between the hard science bits are short stories dealing with the previous chapter so you can see how it all fits together. ***Warning*** Don't read this all in one session. I did, and got a headache for my trouble. That much information in such a short time is a real brain stretcher.

I bought this, partially because some of the reviews I saw compared it to similar books by Charles Sheffield, a master at writing stories coupled with science fact essays. This is a hard act to follow, but Forward has been writing for long enough that I was at least hoping for entertainment.

After reading this, I regretfully conclude that this is not a book I would buy, and I wish that I had returned it after reading it.

I found every fiction story was contrived, and not intriguing enough to hold my interest. This was regrettable, as Forward clearly sees some quite amazing possibilities in the high power densities antimatter brings, and the impact of easy travel within the solar system. I did not, however, come away from the stories with a sense of wonder, or a sense that I had "seen the future."

Even were this entirely a science fact book, I would have misgivings. Forward seems quite intent on pointing out the number of patents he holds. At several occasions, I felt the book was moving from entertainment or education vehicle into self promotion. I am not above that myself, but I find it entertains poorly.

Forward clearly understands the material, and explains it well, but the level he chose to pitch it at was not satisfying to me. I felt that he was using a bit too much fancy footwork, and a bit too little solid explanation. See Sheffield's "Dancing with Myself" for a collection of essays with similar focus, but with more meat on the scientific bones.

In essense, a well thought out book, but one that does not deliver on the implicit promise of such a powerful and wide reaching set of technologies.