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Tau Zero

By Poul Anderson
Series: S.F. Masterworks
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Check link for latest rating. ( 16,508 ratings, 1,144 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Tau Zero by Poul Anderson is a riveting science fiction tale centered around the crew of a spacecraft on a mission to reach a distant star. As they accelerate near light speed, an unforeseen complication prevents them from decelerating, thrusting them into a relentless journey through an ever-expanding universe. The narrative explores profound themes of time, space, and human resilience against cosmic challenges.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by space travel and the relativistic effects of near-light speed journeys. It's a gripping exploration of time, physics, and human endurance, set against a backdrop of interstellar adventure. Fans of hard science fiction with a touch of existential reflection will find it particularly appealing.

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'The ultimate hard science fiction novel' James Blish

This is the classic hard science fiction novel and the ultimate sense-of-wonder story 'Imaginative and at time brilliant' The Sunday Times 'Magnificent ... a sense of timelessness, human eternity, and the order of the cosmos ... builds to an overpowering climax' Barry Malzberg 'Its speculations on cosmology are fascinating and the hypothesis it embodies is strikingly well conceived ... Convincingly sustained' The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction 'An enjoyable novel ... The voyage through space-time takes the ship beyond the dissolution of our universe' Brian W. Aldiss Poul Anderson was one of the towering figures in science fiction and this novel is one of his best loved and most brilliant

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Fifty men and women set out in the twenty-third century from Earth aboard an interstellar craft to travel to a planet some thirty light-years away. The ship will approach the speed of light and so (as Einstein predicted) subjective time on board will slow, and the journey of several decades will be of much shorter duration for the crew.

But the ship's deceleration system is irreparably damaged when it hits a cloud of interstellar dust, and acceleration continues towards light speed, tau zero. Soon the ship is speeding through galaxies, and eons are passing on board the ship in the blink of an eye...

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Tau Zero by Poul Anderson is highly praised for its rigorous scientific foundation and exploration of relativistic physics, integrating hard science with a compelling narrative. Reviewers often commend its intricate character development and philosophical depth, especially concerning the nature of time and human resilience. Many readers find it a thought-provoking blend of traditional science fiction themes and existential questions.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780575077324

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 09 February 2006

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Gollancz

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 15.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 176g

Pages: 192

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Poul Anderson Sci-Fi & Fantasy Science Fiction Series: S.F. Masterworks

About the Author

Poul Anderson (1926-2001) was born in Pennsylvania of Scandinavian stock. He started publishing science fiction in 1947 and became one of the great figures in the genre, serving as President of the Science Fiction Writers of America, winning many Hugo and Nebula awards, and also winning the Gandalf (Grand Master) Award.

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