chapters.indigo.ca: Spin: Robert Charles Wilson: Books

About this Book

Format:Mass Market Paperbound

Dimensions:464 Pages, 4.2 x 6.8 x 1.2 in

Published:February 1, 2006

Publisher:Tor Books

The following ISBNs are associated with this title:
ISBN - 10:076534825X
ISBN - 13:9780765348258

From the Publisher

One night in October when he was ten years old, Tyler Dupree stood in his back yard and watched the stars go out. They all flared into brilliance at once, then disappeared, replaced by a flat, empty black barrier. He and his best friends, Jason and Diane Lawton, had seen what became known as the Big Blackout. It would shape their lives. The effect is worldwide. The sun is now a featureless disk--a heat source, rather than an astronomical object. The moon is gone, but tides remain. Not only have the world''s artificial satellites fallen out of orbit, their recovered remains are pitted and aged, as though they''d been in space far longer than their known lifespans. As Tyler, Jason, and Diane grow up, a space probe reveals a bizarre truth: The barrier is artificial, generated by huge alien artifacts. Time is passing faster outside the barrier than inside--more than a hundred million years per year on Earth. At this rate, the death throes of the sun are only about forty years in our future. Jason, now a promising young scientist, devotes his life to working against this slow-moving apocalypse. Diane throws herself into hedonism, marrying a sinister cult leader who''s forged a new religion out of the fears of the masses.Earth sends terraforming machines to Mars to let the onrush of time do its work, turning the planet green. Next they send humans...and immediately get back an emissary with thousands of years of stories to tell about the settling of Mars. Then Earth''s probes reveal that an identical barrier has appeared around Mars. Jason, desperate, seeds near space with self-replicating machines that will scatter copies of themselves outward from the sun--and report back on what they find. Life on Earth is about to get much, much stranger.

From the Jacket

"HERE''S A BOOK that features speculative conceits as brash and thrilling as those found in any space opera, along with insights into the human condition as rich as those contained within any mainstream mimetic fiction, with both its conceits and insights beautifully embedded in crystalline prose...The time is the day after tomorrow, and three adolescents--Diane and Jason Lawton, twins, and their best friend, Tyler Dupree--are out stargazing. Thus they witness the erection of a planet-spanning shield around the globe, blocking out the universe. "Spin" chronicles the next 30-odd years in the lives of the trio, during which 300 billion years will pass outside the shield, thanks to an engineered time discontinuity. Jason, a genius, will invest his celibate life in unraveling cosmological mysteries. Tyler will become a doctor and act as our narrator and as Jason''s confidante, while nursing his unrequited love for Diane, who in turn plunges into religious fanaticism. Along the way human-descended Martians will appear, bringing a drug that can elevate humans to the Fourth State, ''an adulthood beyond adulthood.'' But will even this miracle be enough to save Earth?"
--"The ""Washington"" Post"
""
""SPIN" IS MANY THINGS: psychological novel, technological thriller, apocalyptic picaresque, cosmological meditation. But it is, foremost, the first major SF novel of 2005, another triumph for Robert Charles Wilson in a long string of triumphs."
"--Locus"

About the Author

Robert Charles Wilson was born in California and lives in Toronto. His Darwinia won Canada''s Aurora Award and was a finalist for the science fiction''s Hugo Award; The Chronoliths was also a Hugo finalist and won the John W. Campbell Award; and his most recent novel, Blind Lake, was a Hugo finalist and a New York Times Notable Book. Earlier, his novel A Hidden Place won the Philip K. Dick Award.

From the Critics

"An astonishingly successful mlange of SF thriller, growing-up saga... and apocalyptic fable in prose that sings the music of the spheres."

From The Community

Who's Listing it as a Top Ten

This title has appeared in 4 Top Ten lists. See the most recent lists below:

My favourites

D. C. Jones , 2 years ago

This list contains: Spin (Hardcover)
My Top Ten Reads

Jason White , 2 years ago
All Time Top Ten

Corey Shefman , 2 years ago
Favorite Science Fiction!

Kristina , 2 years ago
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Some of my favorite books and other ways to tell a story.

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Average Customer Rating:
Reviews from the Community6 Reviews

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Andrew Peachment
Absolutely Fantastic

This review is from: Spin (Hardcover)

4 years ago

As an avid Fantasy reader I was quite skepitcal about reading "Hard SCI-FI". However, this book was suprisingly brilliant. It is extremely well written and is very fast paced (which I happened to enjoy since most fantasy novels tend to drag). Anyone looking for a wicked story with unbelievable ideas and concepts should definately pick up this book and read it. This was the first Wilson novel I have read and I intend to indulge in more of his work. Highly Recommended.
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Monica
- Top Book Reviewer
Out of my Genre

13 months ago

I don't often read science fiction type books...but this was a good one that kept me interested...a different concept about what the future might hold for the planet Earth.
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Kevin Montag
- 1 person found this helpful
Magnificent !!

2 years ago

Quite simply, "Spin" by Robert Charles Wilson is a superbly well written book. Not only does Wilson capture the true elements of character creation but he weaves a story that encompasses both his characters and his brilliant imagination. I could not put this book down as I, through his characters, was able to connect to these characters through their experiences, emotions, and passion. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to ANYONE, whether they are a sci-fi fan or not. Again, simply… + read more
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This reviewer also recommends:
- I Am Legend
  | Richard Matheson
- Axis
  | WILSON R
- Jumper
  | Steven Gould
Anonymous
loved it

3 years ago

Great book. Takes you far away from where you are at the moment. Read it, believe me you will not regret. I'll be reading more of Robert Wilson's books...
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Anonymous
out of control

4 years ago

I have to say, i never thought myself a Robert Charles Wilson fan; even though i'd read Darwinia back in the day and loved it, read The Chronoliths last year and loved it--it was among the best novels nominated for a hugo last year--but it wasn't until Spin that i became a real fan. Spin encompasses everything i want and crave in a sci-fi novel. The technology is brain-teasing and the characters are well thought out and 3 dimensional. The premise is not only engaging and interesting, but it… + read more
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Elizabeth Vail
An original portrait of human and scientific progr

4 years ago

In Spin, the science fictional premise is that a mysterious barrier has been placed over the earth, destroying satellites, blocking out the natural moon and sun, and cushioning Earth in a state of near-suspended time. For every second on Earth, 3.7 years passes on the outside, which means that in a matter of days, weeks, and months, millions of years are destroying planets and birthing stars while Earth is left out of the loop. It also means that the eventual self-destruction of the sun is sped… + read more
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