Quantum Night

Quantum Night is a science-fiction thriller novel written by Canadian novelist Robert J. Sawyer and published in 2016. Set in the near future, the book touches on themes of quantum physics, psychology, current politics and ethics.

Quantum Night
Quantum Night by Robert J. Sawyer
Author Robert J. Sawyer
Language English
Genre science-fiction
Published Ace (March 1, 2016)
Media type Print (Hardcover)
ISBN 9780425256831

Plot

Jim Marchuk, an experimental psychologist has developed a technique for detecting psychopaths. While delivering testimony in a court case he is shocked to discover he is missing six months of memory from his life twenty years ago. As Jim begins to reconstruct his past, he reunites with Kayla Huron, his girlfriend from his lost period and now a quantum physicist. Huron has also made a discovery about human consciousness. As violence and hate sweep across the globe, the two scientists unite to see if they can "fix" human nature before the world pulls itself apart.

Major themes

Robert J. Sawyer keeps an updated list of all of his works and groups them among recurring themes. He self-identified Quantum Night as containing the following themes: the nature of consciousness, biology determining psychology, Canada, courtroom drama, parent-child relationships, psychotherapy/counseling/psychological testing, modern physics and the nature of reality.[1]

Development history

In an interview with SFFWorld, Sawyer described how he wrote the book. When asked if the characters or the story came first, Sawyer said, "Neither. I'm a thematically driven writer; I figure out what I want to say first and then devise the storyline and a cast of characters that will let me most effectively say it." The theme that drives Quantum Night is "the most pernicious lie humanity has ever told itself is that you can't change human nature." In the same interview Sawyer said, "I wanted to open people's eyes and have them look critically at social forces sweeping around them."[2]

Sawyer includes a list of fifty-one nonfiction books in the back of the novel which he consulted while writing the novel. Books, articles and authors referenced.

Consciousness and quantum mechanics:

Philosopher's zombies:

Complex behavior:

Psychopaths

Milgram experiment:

Stanford Prison Guard Experiment:

Human Evil:

Utilitarianism:

Ethics and Free Will

Scientific basis for creation of literature and art:

Publication history

2015, US, Ace ISBN 9780425256831, 1 March 2016, Hardcover

Explanation of the novel's title

The title refers to "it's always darkest before before the dawn." Sawyer wanted to write a book that addressed the dark side of human nature and the negative forces and outright evil in the world today and he wanted the title to reflect that.[2]

Reception

Quantum Night has received positive reviews. Publishers Weekly called it a "fast-moving, mind-stretching exploration of the nature of personality and consciousness."[3] Winnigpeg Free Press described the book "a breath of fresh air and a return to classic Sawyer: big ideas, relatable people and a Canadian perspective."[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Science Fiction Writer Robert J. Sawyer: Themes". sfwriter.com. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  2. 1 2 "Robert J Sawyer Interview". SFFWorld. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  3. ↑ "Fiction Book Review: Quantum Night by Robert J. Sawyer. Ace, $27 (368p) ISBN 978-0-425-25683-1". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  4. ↑ "Psychopaths galore". www.winnipegfreepress.com. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
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