Cosm

by Gregory Benford

Book Overview

Alicia Butterworth is a physicist from U.C. Irvine who's trying to re-create the conditions that existed just before the big bang using the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider on Long Island. Something... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380790521
• ISBN13: 9780380790524
• Release Date: February 1999
• Publisher: Eos
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Hard core physics in fast paced credible SciFi thriller

As a woman PhD physicist, who worked in academia and government labs, I REALLY identified with Benford's black superwoman, superhero, hard-nosed but soft hearted physicist, who is too busy teaching and making her name in science to get a love life (which, true to life, comes to her eventually through working on physics with fellow physicists).The science fiction flows smoothly out of science fact, the coast- to-coast settings and characters are all too familiar and true to style in this near-term future, whether it's the UC or Caltech faculty, students and administrators, or whether it's at the Brookhaven accelerator; and federal officials are still the BAD GUYS. As a Benford fan of long standing, I found this novel to have more depth, more character development, more plotline and more fun: it's a good read for all and any science or SciFi lovers...I give it an easy high five!

Not Benford's Best, But Definitely A Cut Above

From the outset, it's clear that this is Benford in techno-thriller mode, a la "Artifact" and his "Sterling Blake" novel "Chiller". Still, even when he's not writing up to the breathtaking level of the Galactic Center series, Benford always has something interesting to say. I can't think of another current author who better bridges C.P. Snow's dichotomy of science and literature. And although you can always rely on him for Big Science and neat ideas, he puts his characters first. I was sorry to say goodbye to Alicia and Max when "Cosm" ended.

Great view of how scientists work and a great read

Cosm is the first book I have read which combines hard science fiction, great reading, and a real sense of how a scientist actually lives and works in the academic world. As a fellow professor, I was constantly struck by the accuracy of Prof. Benfords insights. He also ventures into areas of philosophy and religion where few scientists and science fiction writers have dared to go. All together at thoroughly wonderful book.

Benford once again humanizes science in his glowing 'Cosm'.

'Cosm' is indeed cosmic reading. Gregory Benford once again displays his mastery at flawlessly merging science fact with fiction while tackling questions that scientists eternally ponder. The main characters live on well after one puts down the book. It is quite easy to identify with Alicia and cohorts as they could easily exist today in a particle physics laboratory . The impenatrable Cosm represents the common view many hold of the cold, selfish, and completely objective to a fault scientist. Alicia and Max are eventually able to peer through the Cosm while at the same time looking inward exposing feelings and emotions that would be dangerous to one's career. Benford is so skillful at his craft that it becomes easy to believe that the reader is involved in an account of a factual event. Only a writer with a firm grasp of cutting edge quantum physics could pull this off. A rating of '10' was considered but I made the mistake of reading Benford's earlier 'Timescape' prior to 'Cosm'. It is difficult for a writer to top a masterpiece, but Gregory Benford comes very close with 'Cosm'.

An intellectual masterpiece! A movie, waiting to happen!

Benford closes the loop of time. From the creation of our universe and all the questions that abide therein, to the creation of... COSM. COSM is hard yet humanistic science (is it fiction?) with spectacular set pieces and the largest ticking clock ever imagined. Benford's SHIVA DESCENDING was the first of the great asteroid stories, now Hollywood film fodder. COSM is destined to blow out the ranks of today's intelligent science fiction filmmaking, i.e CONTACT. A professor of physics, Benford manages to keep all readers happy in this one, from me (the general audience) to his Quantum contemporaries. No doubt COSM will take it's place in bookstore windows and Book Of The Month Club, front cover. I urge you to get a copy and take the ride.