Physics In Greg Egan's The Arrows Of Time

Would you want to know your future, of the future of society and be powerless to change it? The Arrows of Time by Greg Egan discusses this very question, explaining the physics that enable this technology along the way. I was intrigued by the ethical problems posed in the book, as well as the self-consistent science that made this conflict possible. Although the science explanations sometimes go overboard with fine details, each explanation serves a purpose in accelerating the plot. Egan uses his background in math to describe the dangers and benefits technology may pose on society, a theme found throughout his works. The Arrows of Time, published in 2016, tells a story about how politics, science, and society interact, and the problems …show more content…
Thanks to several quirks in the physics of the universe, these alien physicists, biologists, and chemists spent generations researching these bizarre comets and finding a way to save their home planet. The Clockwork Rocket, the first book in the trilogy, ended with the development of new physics that pushed them closer to their goal Generations later, in the next book, the scientists discovered a way to generate free energy using even more complicated physics and novel properties of light. The Eternal Flame ended with the discovery of a new rocket that does not rely on external fuel, the tool required to escape their doomed planet. The Arrows of Time began several generations after The Eternal Flame, opening with a debate discussing whether it is truly in their best interests to save the home planet. The scientist on the mountaintop-turned-spacecraft were self sufficient and developed technology far beyond what their ancestors could have imagined, and leaving them to their fate was a legitimate option. After reaching a consensus, the society of scientists then had to determine the best way to save their home