Quantum Radio -- A.G. Riddle
Head of Zeus -- Ad Astra Book
512 Pages
This is the second time that I’ve reviewed a book by A.G. Riddle. The last was Lost in Time. That was an amazing sci-fi thriller that kept me wanting more. So, when I saw another new book by Riddle at the Lockport Public Library, I knew that it was coming home with me. Quantum Radio sat in the pile of books for about a day before I decided to skip ahead in my reading schedule and take on this book. His last book was so good that I wanted to see if this new venture would be as fun. It was.
Dr. Tyson Klein is a quantum physicist at CERN in Switzerland. While analyzing data from the project he’s working on, he notices a strange set of data that seems to be constant and deliberate. He deduces that it could be a message. But from where? Or when? He calls this data a quantum radio, thus giving us the title of the book. When he starts to investigate the anomaly, he sets a series of events into motion that makes his continuing life in dire jeopardy. Then the thriller really takes off. Afterall, new technology like this brings out the worst in people, especially shadow governments and organizations.
This book emphasizes greatly on the theory of the multiverse. Think of the Star Trek episodes where there was a mirror universe. While there was not a goateed Spock running around, there were evil doppelgangers keeping the suspense high. Without giving away too much, the events in the parallel universe in this book often have far different values than our own universe. As Klein and his party are able to interact with these new intruders, there are machinations in motion that strive to expand certain powers beyond their own world. Tempering this and getting to the bottom of the mystery of the original message are the focus of the story.
There is a lot of technical talk that melts into the narrative of the characters. For the most part it flows easily into the plot. Occasionally, though, the techo-babble between characters is contrived and seems unlikely since they all are scientists. Obviously, it is for the benefit of the lay reader, but it seems so unnatural that such trained people would over-explain the details to each other. Other than that, I don’t have any real criticism for this book.
Quantum Radio by A.G. Riddle is a fun book to read. While the technology isn’t real, it’s close enough to pretend. Who knows? Maybe someday, even in the near future, such things could be possible. That’s the part I find the most intriguing -- the “what if” moments. The shadow organizations desperate to both silence Klein and take control of the technology ring embarrassingly true. The world is a dangerous place, and Riddle exploits that in his endeavor to write a thriller science fiction adventure.
I strongly suggest Quantum Radio as the next book for you to read. It is a rather long book, clocking in at just over five hundred pages, but you’ll fly through it. Riddle writes with a passion and flair that is evident as you read it. That makes it that much easier and fun to read.
Craig Bacon thinks his local library doesn’t have enough books by A.G. Riddle. He thinks he may be heading to a bookstore to find others.