The Orthogonal Series - Greg Egan
Greg Egan's Orthogonal series is a masterpiece. This was my first time reading any of Egan's work, and it has left me charmed and delighted. My day-to-day work often involves math such as topology and nonlinear dynamics, which are rarely explored in sci-fi. Egan, however, turns these topics into the driving machinery of a mind-bending sci-fi experience.
Math is integral to the plot because the Orthogonal series takes place in a universe with different physics from our own. Where we have three spatial dimensions and one time dimension that behave differently in Einstein's relativity, the Orthogonal universe treats all four dimensions equally as space/time. Furthermore, instead of the speed of light being fixed (and its wavelength varying), the wavelength is fixed (and the speed varies). This leads to a variety of exciting plot-driving ramifications; the characters must exploit physics and traverse spacetime to save their planet.
One of the best parts of this series is the many figures and diagrams that make the brain-melting math and physics much easier to parse. These books often left me re-reading paragraphs about math as though I were trying to understand a passage from a textbook. Perhaps that's not ideal for every reader, but it really worked for me.
Along with the physics, the other big change in the Orthogonal universe is its biology. The characters are able to absorb and extrude limbs and other flesh/bone at will, leading to exciting engineering based around their physiology throughout the series. Furthermore, the people of the universe have a tragic and jarring method of reproduction, which lends itself nicely to the series acting as a strong work of feminist sci-fi. The ethics of bearing and raising children are driving forces for many of the innovations and interactions in the plot. This makes inclusion and the questioning of gender roles an integral part of the story, as opposed to a political opinion shoehorned into an otherwise science-focused endeavor.
For me, as a grad student in engineering, perhaps the most exciting part about this whole series is that the main characters are academics in math, physics, and biology. We follow them through lives spent exploring topics such as topology, relativity, and neurophysiology. Much like grad students, they fight to balance their "normal" lives with the aforementioned biological difficulties of being members of their species.
I highly recommend this series for anyone who enjoys the works of Ursula K. Le Guin (especially The Dispossessed), and for anyone who wants to see math and physics brought into the spotlight of the plot, as opposed to brushed under the rug. I'm looking forward to voraciously consuming more from Greg Egan.
Math is integral to the plot because the Orthogonal series takes place in a universe with different physics from our own. Where we have three spatial dimensions and one time dimension that behave differently in Einstein's relativity, the Orthogonal universe treats all four dimensions equally as space/time. Furthermore, instead of the speed of light being fixed (and its wavelength varying), the wavelength is fixed (and the speed varies). This leads to a variety of exciting plot-driving ramifications; the characters must exploit physics and traverse spacetime to save their planet.
One of the best parts of this series is the many figures and diagrams that make the brain-melting math and physics much easier to parse. These books often left me re-reading paragraphs about math as though I were trying to understand a passage from a textbook. Perhaps that's not ideal for every reader, but it really worked for me.
Along with the physics, the other big change in the Orthogonal universe is its biology. The characters are able to absorb and extrude limbs and other flesh/bone at will, leading to exciting engineering based around their physiology throughout the series. Furthermore, the people of the universe have a tragic and jarring method of reproduction, which lends itself nicely to the series acting as a strong work of feminist sci-fi. The ethics of bearing and raising children are driving forces for many of the innovations and interactions in the plot. This makes inclusion and the questioning of gender roles an integral part of the story, as opposed to a political opinion shoehorned into an otherwise science-focused endeavor.
For me, as a grad student in engineering, perhaps the most exciting part about this whole series is that the main characters are academics in math, physics, and biology. We follow them through lives spent exploring topics such as topology, relativity, and neurophysiology. Much like grad students, they fight to balance their "normal" lives with the aforementioned biological difficulties of being members of their species.
I highly recommend this series for anyone who enjoys the works of Ursula K. Le Guin (especially The Dispossessed), and for anyone who wants to see math and physics brought into the spotlight of the plot, as opposed to brushed under the rug. I'm looking forward to voraciously consuming more from Greg Egan.
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