description Schild's Ladder Overview
Schild's Ladder is a 2002 hard science fiction novel by Australian author Greg Egan. Set approximately 20,000 years in the future, the narrative explores quantum physics and cosmology through the lens of a catastrophic vacuum decay that threatens the universe. The story follows transhuman scientists who study the expanding boundary, relying heavily on complex theoretical physics concepts aimed at readers familiar with hard science fiction.
help Schild's Ladder FAQ
What is the main concept of Schild's Ladder?
*Schild's Ladder* is a 2002 hard science fiction novel by Australian author Greg Egan that explores deep concepts of quantum physics and cosmology. The plot centers on a catastrophic quantum experiment that creates a new vacuum, threatening to destroy the universe.
What is the novo-vacuum in Schild's Ladder?
In the novel, the "novo-vacuum" is an expanding region of space with entirely different physical laws created during a quantum gravity experiment. It expands at half the speed of light, threatening to consume the post-human civilizations of the Milky Way.
How far in the future does Schild's Ladder take place?
The story is set roughly 20,000 years in the future, where humanity has evolved into diverse post-human factions. These beings no longer possess biological bodies and exist as complex, digital software entities living within artificial physics.
Is the physics in Schild's Ladder scientifically accurate?
Author Greg Egan is renowned for his meticulous adherence to real mathematics and theoretical physics. He named the book after Schild's ladder, a real mathematical construction used in general relativity to define geodesics.
explore Explore More
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
