The Eternal Flame: Orthogonal Vol. 2

( 21 )

Overview

Greg Egan’s The Clockwork Rocket introduced readers to an exotic universe where the laws of physics are very different from our own, where the speed of light varies in ways Einstein would never allow, and where intelligent life has evolved in unique and fascinating ways. Now Egan continues his epic tale of alien beings embarked on a desperate voyage to save their world . . . .

The generation ship Peerless is in search of advanced technology capable of sparing their home planet ...

See more details below
Hardcover
$19.98
BN.com price
(Save 25%)$26.99 List Price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (Hardcover)
  • All (15) from $16.66   
  • New (13) from $16.66   
  • Used (2) from $19.97   
The Eternal Flame: Orthogonal Vol. 2

Available on NOOK devices and apps  
  • Nook Devices
  • NOOK HD/HD+ Tablet
  • NOOK
  • NOOK Color
  • NOOK Tablet
  • Tablet/Phone
  • NOOK for Windows 8 Tablet
  • NOOK for iOS
  • NOOK for Android
  • NOOK Kids for iPad
  • PC/Mac
  • NOOK for Windows 8
  • NOOK for PC
  • NOOK for Mac
  • NOOK Study

Want a NOOK? Explore Now

NOOK Book (eBook)
$14.84
BN.com price
(Save 45%)$26.99 List Price

More About This Book

Overview

Greg Egan’s The Clockwork Rocket introduced readers to an exotic universe where the laws of physics are very different from our own, where the speed of light varies in ways Einstein would never allow, and where intelligent life has evolved in unique and fascinating ways. Now Egan continues his epic tale of alien beings embarked on a desperate voyage to save their world . . . .

The generation ship Peerless is in search of advanced technology capable of sparing their home planet from imminent destruction. In theory, the ship is traveling fast enough that it can traverse the cosmos for generations–and still return home only a few years after they departed. But a critical fuel shortage threatens to cut their urgent voyage short, even as a population explosion stretches the ship’s life-support capacity to its limits.

When the astronomer Tamara discovers the Object, a meteor whose trajectory will bring it within range of the Peerless, she sees a risky solution to the fuel crisis. Meanwhile, the biologist Carlo searches for a better way to control fertility, despite the traditions and prejudices of their society. As the scientists clash with the ship’s leaders, they find themselves caught up in two equally dangerous revolutions: one in the sexual roles of their species, the other in their very understanding of the nature of matter and energy.

The Eternal Flame lights up the mind with dazzling new frontiers of physics and biology, as only Greg Egan could imagine them.

Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
Readers unfamiliar with 2011’s The Clockwork Rocket, vector mathematics, and the physics of light are likely to stumble through this dense sequel, which puts the “hard” in hard SF. The series’ intriguing underlying premise is apparently that light in the “Orthogonal universe” can travel at different speeds even in a vacuum, but this is never spelled out in the text. The natural laws governing this universe are detailed only in an afterword (which itself follows three appendices) that’s laden with sentences like “Because there is an upper limit on the frequency of light there is no ultraviolet catastrophe, and the spectrum predicted by classical physics is only slightly different from the true, quantum-mechanical version.” Pages of clunky scientific discussion within the book proper also stifle the plot about an alien race’s struggle to avoid the threat of meteorlike objects. Egan’s tendency to bludgeon readers with esoteric detail will be a turnoff even for those who like fiction that assigns homework. (Sept.)
Library Journal
Alien scientists launched the generation ship Peerless in hopes its crew could find the technology needed to help their home planet avoid destruction by a shower of meteors known as the Hurtlers—but now the expedition is in danger of being derailed by a fuel shortage. On board, astronomer Tamara discovers a huge object traveling in a linear trajectory past the ship, and she believes this object could provide the help they need. In the meantime, biologist Carlo searches for solutions to the food shortage on board the ship and finds, instead, a way to reinvent the act of giving birth so that it does not result in the mother's death (this species gives birth by fission). VERDICT Set in a universe where the speed of light is not fixed and where the dominant species is protean in form, this sequel to The Clockwork Rocket explores science's impact on culture and its ability to alter the very fabric of life. The author imbues his characters with a ferocious individuality that belies their amorphous appearance. Egan's fans as well as lovers of sf that emphasizes hard science should welcome this tale of courage and self-sacrifice.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781597802932
  • Publisher: Night Shade Books
  • Publication date: 8/26/2012
  • Series: Orthogonal
  • Pages: 328
  • Sales rank: 775,045
  • Product dimensions: 9.10 (w) x 6.30 (h) x 1.50 (d)

Meet the Author

Greg Egan is a computer programmer, and the author of the acclaimed SF novels Diaspora, Quarantine, Permutation City, and Teranesia. He has won the Hugo Award as well as the John W. Campbell Memorial Award. His short fiction has been published in a variety of places, including Interzone, Asimov’s, and Nature. Egan holds a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Western Australia, and currently lives in Perth.

Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 21 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(16)

4 Star

(1)

3 Star

(1)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(3)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 21 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 11, 2013

    Bluebell

    God i hate imposters!~bluebell

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 18, 2013

    Opalleaf

    U mean the battle at the giild? Why dont u use ur powers?

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 15, 2013

    Leafy

    Mmmhhmm, I luvs chu more! *nudges her*

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 16, 2013

    Enderfur

    Teleported away........

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 11, 2013

    There is a cat bothering me.....

    I need someone to help me
    There is a cat in lunaclan bothering me
    What should i do?
    •Foxpaw of flameclan•

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 7, 2013

    To everybody

    Go to killer blood first result and ask for Claw...

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 6, 2013

    To enderfur

    I do not appreiecate u accusing me of sending a bloody assasin to kill u!! I am not a evil cat enderfur. U know me. Ever since u were an apprentice. I get u r probly scared and pissed right now. BUT I DID NOT SEND THE BLOODY ASSASIN!!!!! I am not a fan of killing off my friends. Nor do i find favor with Blade!!! He hates me fore stealing away her mate. I forgave her for the harm she did to my family. I not the cat to fight. OR a cat in favor of bloodshed!! Would i rly send assasin to kill my first friend ever?

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 5, 2013

    Please read

    Kill enderfur at mossy result 14

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 6, 2013

    Please read and listen to what i have to say.

    I heard of your "advertisments" for killing cats.i have come to let you know that this is blind murder.Killing cats that you dont know anything about?it is wrong and against the warrior code!this is not using force to pursuade you...just common sense.please take this into consideration.this us not the will of starclan
    Frozenstar and coldwind of the northern frostclan

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 5, 2013

    ANYONE PLEASE KILl

    Enderfur at mossy result fourteen!!!!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 5, 2013

    Killer

    If you dont shut your muzzle i will kill you. He growled. I will kill you in a very painful way. Just shut up.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 4, 2013

    Goku

    Lunastar knows its a setup

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 4, 2013

    To the assian here

    Join No Mercy at "death sword". We work together to fight big clans. We can destroy them. We destroyed DayClan. I killed Pantherstar myself.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 7, 2013

    Altair to all

    Go to the guild res 1 and join the assassin's guild

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 4, 2013

    Angela

    She pads in and looks around until her gaze falls on nyctea. "So you thought you could ty and kill my mate and get off scott free?" She growled her black fur fluffing up along her flanks

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 30, 2013

    Bloo

    *pads around her den* bleh i hate the scent of souls

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 3, 2013

    Blackness

    (Im a she cat)

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 4, 2013

    ScarletRowan

    *growls and bunches her muscles, ready to leap in*

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 20, 2013

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 3, 2013

    To Shade

    Kill Hunter. I don't know where he is, but if you find him, beat him until brain matter comes out. He did that to a KIT.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 21 Customer Reviews
If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)