Superposition

January 19, 2015
In this diverting hybrid of science and mystery, Walton (Quintessence) magnifies the weirdness of quantum physics, in which electrons can diffract (bend) around barriers, to produce a world where bullets do the same. Physicist Jacob Kelley, product of the tough streets of South Philly, is entangled in the murder of a former colleague from the wonderfully mythical New Jersey Super-Collider facility. Kelley finds himself split into parallel tracks as he occupies two lives simultaneously: in one he is on trial for the murder, while in the other his colleague is alive and he remains free. Walton admirably minimizes the confusion of the multiple viewpoints, and he cleverly integrates the science as part of the plot. Mystery fans may notice the solution being telegraphed, and science fiction fans may be disappointed that certain matters are never resolved, but all should be pleased by the touching conclusion.

February 1, 2015
The first volume of a near-future, science-fiction thriller duology, from the author of Quintessence (2013, etc.). Jacob Kelley, a physicist-turned-Main Line academic with a violent temper, receives an unexpected visit from an old colleague, physicist and womanizer Brian Vanderhall. Vanderhall works at the New Jersey Super-Collider, a state-of-the-art facility now mired in politics and lack of funding. Vanderhall makes some wild claims about the discoveries he's made-reality can be hacked, and parts of it are conscious-and proceeds to demonstrate perpetual motion to a skeptical Kelley. Vanderhall then-stupidly, since he knows about Kelley's violent streak-pulls out a gun and, insisting it's perfectly safe, shoots Kelley's wife, Elena. Sure enough, Elena's unharmed, though the bullet apparently passed right through her. Alarmed and furious, Kelley slugs Vanderhall. As Elena calls the cops, Vanderhall flees. In alternate chapters, we meet Kelley again-another version of him; this one's in a Philadelphia jail, accused of Vanderhall's murder, and he's unaware of Kelley No. 1. The latter follows clues left by Vanderhall and enters a secret bunker deep inside the NJSC, where he finds the physicist shot to death amid a lab full of scientific wonders. Then a weird, faceless creature with terrifying powers attacks him. He flees to the surface, jumps into Vanderhall's car-and Vanderhall, or another one of him who's very much alive, sits up in the back seat! Things rapidly grow murkier and more complicated. Dazzling puppetry indeed. But the explanation for all this-a conflation of well-known but not necessarily compatible ideas: quantum superposition, the many-worlds theory of branching realities, the Higgs field, which confers mass, and the universe-as-computer-doesn't add up. The one-dimensional characters don't help. Neither will armchair lawyers warm to the rather farcical courtroom drama. A thrill a minute. Just don't ask questions.

COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 15, 2015

Having left behind a career in physics, Jacob Kelly is surprised to get a visit from former colleague Brian Vanderhall, who says he has made a breakthrough that allowed him to contact a being of pure quantum entanglement. When Brian ends up dead, Jacob is accused of his murder, but this is no straightforward crime story. By accessing quantum energies, Brian has set multiple probable realities into play. One Jacob stands trial, while another, split-off version of Jacob is on the loose with his daughter, Alessandra, investigating the crime. VERDICT A strong combination of mystery and high concept sf. Walton (Quintessence) mostly does an excellent job of explaining the physics at work, although the quantum creatures are pretty out there and never fully described. Jacob Kelly's story arc seems complete here, but there is a follow-up called Supersymmetry in the works as well.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.