SUPERPOSITION by David Walton, Book Review
Superposition Synopsis:
A Mind-Bending, Near-Future, Science Fiction Techno-thriller.
Jacob Kelley’s family is turned upside down when an old friend turns up, waving a gun and babbling about an alien quantum intelligence. The mystery deepens when the friend is found dead in an underground bunker… apparently murdered the night he appeared at Jacob’s house. Jacob is arrested for the murder and put on trial.
As the details of the crime slowly come to light, the weave of reality becomes ever more tangled, twisted by a miraculous new technology and a quantum creature unconstrained by the normal limits of space and matter. With the help of his daughter, Alessandra, Jacob must find the true murderer before the creature destroys his family and everything he loves. (Pyr Books)
Genre: Sci-fi, Action-Adventure, Crime-Detective, Thriller
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BOOK REVIEW
David Walton’s Superposition is a bonafide page-turner – I read it in a single sitting.
Do not be put off by the descriptor ‘quantum physics thriller’ or that it is written by an engineer, Superposition is very accessible. If you don’t believe me, you can read the full first chapter here.
“I don’t understand why you left,” Brian said. “Nobody does. You’ve got a PhD from Princeton. You’re a published physicist, top of your game, the next Wheeler maybe. How could you give it up for . . .” He waved his hand vaguely around the kitchen.
“I’m teaching physics at Swarthmore College,” I said. “I love it there. I have some bright kids. And there’s no politics, no squabbling over experiment time, no need to prove to strangers that my work is worthwhile in order to keep doing it.”
Jacob Kelly is a protagonist people can relate to – he has knowledge very few others do, but having earned that knowledge the hard way, he remains down to earth and will go to any lengths necessary to protect his friends and family. The ensemble cast Walton surrounds Jacob with are equally intriguing and ‘real world’. Police chases and riveting courtroom battles feature just as heavily in Superposition, if not more than, scientific labs do.
In addition to a clever premise, intricate plotting and compelling dual narrative framework, I particularly admired Walton’s talent for explaining (through his characters) technical scientific concepts. No knowledge of physics is required to be hooked by Superposition, but I felt educated in addition to thoroughly entertained by its conclusion.
While involving members of a scientific elite that many will never encounter, the mystery that lies at the heart of this thriller is a deeply human one, and speaks more to our similarities than differences.
David Walton’s Superposition is a potent mix of science, action, thriller and heart.
I cannot wait to dive into David Walton’s next title set for September 2015 publication.
UPDATE: We have since reviewed David Walton’s Supersymmetry, The Genius Plague and Living Memory.
BOOK RATING: The Story 4.5 / 5 ; The Writing 4.5 / 5
Get your copy of Superposition from:
Book Depository | Amazon | Kobobooks | Booktopia(Aus)
About the Author, David Walton
David Walton is a native of Pennsylvania and recipient of the 2008 Philip K. Dick Award for his first novel, Terminal Mind. His latest book, SUPERPOSITION, is a quantum physics thriller with the same mind-bending feel as films like Inception and Minority Report. He is also the author of Quintessence, a science fantasy in which the Earth is really flat, and its sequel, Quintessence Sky. You can read more about his life and work at http://www.davidwaltonfiction.com/.
Other reviews of Superposition : Goodreads, Washington Post , Kirkus Reviews , SF Signal
* My receiving a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes did not impact the expression of my honest opinions in the review above.
