Manifold: Space (Mass Market Paperback)

by Stephen Baxter (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Stephen Baxter follows up his Arthur C. Clarke Award nominee Manifold: Time with the second book in the Manifold series, Manifold: Space. In this novel, former shuttle pilot and astronaut Reid Malenfant meets his destiny once again in a tale that stretches the bounds of both space and time.

The year is 2020 and the Japanese have colonized the moon. The 60-year-old Malenfant is called there by a young scientist named Nemoto who has discovered something in the asteroid belt that can only mean humans are not alone in the universe. The aliens seem robotic in nature and appear to be building something in Earth's backyard. The Gaijin, as they are called by humans, don't respond to communication efforts so an unmanned ship is launched to investigate. In the meantime, Malenfant decides answers are only possible by mounting an expedition to Alpha Centauri, which may be where the Gaijin come from.

Baxter, who won the John W. Campbell Award and the Philip K. Dick Award for his novel The Time Ships, orchestrates a stunning array of scientific possibilities in Manifold: Space. Each chapter adds a new piece to his mosaic of humanity's future. The novel is admirable in its enormous scope, but it's hard to invest much emotion in the characters. Although they are well drawn, they vanish for long periods of time as Baxter leapfrogs through time and space. Manifold: Space, by its nature, lacks passion but excels in grand ideas. --Kathie Huddleston --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly
Former NASA astronaut Reid Malenfant returns to lead the vanguard for humanity's future in space in this deeply thought-provoking sequel to Manifold: Time. In the year 2020, America's space program has disintegrated, and the Japanese have colonized the moon. A young Japanese lunar scientist invites Malenfant to the moon for a consultation over mysterious sources of infrared she's discovered in the asteroid belt. A couple of enterprising engineers send the first probe to the asteroids to find out just what's there, only to have their probe swallowed up by a huge, artificial ship. Years later Malenfant mounts his own expedition to the solar focus of Alpha Centauri, where he finds a teleport gateway leading to a race of self-duplicating robots that humans eventually call the Gaijin. Centuries pass before Malenfant begins to understand the realities that underlie the existence of all life in the universe. Philip K. Dick Award-winner Baxter packs his gigantic odyssey with innovative hypotheses, fascinating explanations of complex scientific phenomena and gorgeous descriptions of spaceships. That the novel covers far more territory, both in time and distance, than any one person could ever absorb is both a strength and a weakness; suspense is difficult to maintain over the course of centuries. While a large cast of characters helps generate this unwieldy scenario, only their scientific motivations are explored. Science itself is very clearly the star player on this stage. Nonetheless, this focus allows for an exceptionally intricate and original view of the future that both scientists and lay enthusiasts will enjoy. (Jan.)Forecast: Manifold: Time was nominated for the 2000 Arthur C. Clarke Award. This one could garner its own nominations--with a consequent boost in sales for both titles.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (January 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345430786
• ISBN-13: 978-0345430786
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #51,793 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 2 in The Manifold Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Baxters' best to date., January 30, 2001

By	Jason N. Gultjaeff "jayg99" (Corpus Christi, TX United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Manifold: Space (Hardcover)

Absolutley loved this novel. The shear depth of Baxters' ideas and his firm grasp of the latest cutting edge physics, is a joy to read. I loved Mainifold: Time, but this one I couldn't put down. What I love most about this novel is that you realise your learning something while enjoying every page. Personally, I have no problems with Baxters' characterizations and writing style, I think he's one of the best in hard SF ( generally better than Egan or Bear, in my opinion). To summarize what this novel is about, while not giving too much away- imagine a thought experiment concerning the Fermi Paradox, e.g if aliens exist, why aren't they here? This paradox could have lots of solutions, e.g life is very,very rare, or perhaps life is common but it gets wiped out or wipes itself out in a relatively short time scale... This novel seems to take the latter angle, space is brimming with life, yet none of it every really gets the chance to advance beyond a certain point. What's behind all this is the crux of the story. Loved the ending as well.

Highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting- but not satisfying, February 12, 2001

By	John C. Chowning "triedstone" (Linden, Michigan USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Manifold: Space (Hardcover)

This book is worth reading for the interesting discussions concerning sublight space travel and even gives a scientific explanation for teleportation. However, the author fails to give satisfying motivations for the political institutions and characters. ETS are discovered in the asteriod belt, but no government sends a probe or a manned visit. Aliens threathen to invade the solar system, but no human or government is willing to put up a defense. Instead, humans relie on a group of ETS to defend the home system for 500 years; the same group of ETS that had to buy an x-ray weapon from the humans earlier in the novel. Other parts of the novel seemed to defy logic- The teleportation gates are not affected by an event that erases all other biological and constructed material from the galaxy; an old woman mounts a better defense of our solar system than a fleet of ETS. Readers who love "hard" SF will like this novel. People who like more character development or military SF will not be as pleased.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lost in space, March 14, 2003

By	Kris (Oxnard, CA) - See all my reviews

Thank you, you other reviewers on this website. Without you, I would have understood far less of this book. Not being a sci-fi buff.

This book has great value because it makes us realize how small we are, compared to the larger scheme of things. Where will we be when the the years in which this book is set (3800) come around? In Heaven, maybe?

Which brings up the spiritual aspect of the book, which few reviewers mentioned. I got a sort of Buddhistic concept from the author's tone. This rather fits in with the fact that one of the protagonists is a Japanese woman, Nemoto, who lives from scene to scene in a metaphysical way. Also, the inhabitants of the Moon are Japanese.

The Buddhistic element in the book is embodied in the idea that as humans, we believe we are separate and autonomous individuals. But maybe, like computers, we are just electronic impulses with an aggrandized view of ourselves. Pre-programmed at the factory, melted down and recycled when the newer generation of computers takes our place.

Buddha taught something similar, didn't he? Dissolving the ego?

In this context, there is a character in the book, somewhat minor really, named Dorothy Chaum. She was really the most interesting character, because she starts out working for the Pope trying to convert aliens and Extra-terrestrials.

She ends up something far different than a practicing Catholic, something more like, what, a Buddhist? And when you're flying around from galaxy to galaxy, visiting Venus, Triton, a strange Earth, seeing and feeling all sorts of strange feelings, living too long, who wouldn't be a Buddhist by then? Anyway, there is little mention of Christ, but he must be flying around there somewhere also, wouldn't you think?

Well, this book is worth reading, but only the patient will be able to finish it. Diximus.