Outland
Ratings52
Average rating4.2
15
Ratings52
Average rating4.2
When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts, it's up to six university students and their experimental physics project to prevent the end of civilization. When an experiment to study quantum uncertainty goes spectacularly wrong, physics student Richard and his friends find that they have accidentally created an inter-dimensional portal. They connect to an alternate Earth with identical geology, but where humans never evolved. They go panning for gold and become millionaires overnight, while fantasizing about Nobel Prizes and patents. Then the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts on Earth in an explosion large enough to destroy civilization and kill half the planet. Richard and his friends have less than an afternoon to get as many people as possible across to Outland before Nebraska is covered in a lethal cloud of ash. Now Richard finds himself in charge of a disorganized and frightened band of reluctant pioneers, on a world with none of the modern infrastructure that people have come to depend on. Richard has been a loner all his life, and has always wanted to be part of something bigger- but this is far more than he bargained for. If he doesn't get this right, it's not just the lives of the people in his care that could be lost- it may very well be the end of human civilization.
Featured Series
2 primary booksQuantum Earth is a 2-book series with 2 primary works first released in 2015 with contributions by Dennis E. Taylor.
Reviews with the most likes.
I read the bobiverse books before this but I have to say the author had the same vibe even on his first book. If you loved the bobiverse series you'll enjoy this one as well.
OK, it is now settled. I will read (or as in this case, listen to) anything by Dennis E. Taylor. He provides that perfect mix of nerdiness, action, characterization, snark, and world building that appeals to the SF fan in me.
In Outland an eclectic group of university students in Nebraska discover how to create stable inter-dimensional portals. They include a Newton/Einstein level genius, a geologist, an uber engineer, and several with more, um, “practical” skills.
They discover an alternate and almost identical Earth but without any humans. So what do you do in such a case? Why you go panning for gold of course. After all, you need to funds to protect your world-changing discovery from poachers and from takeover by government organizations. Naturally, things don't go exactly according to plan. First, some criminal elements figure out that they are on to something, and then the Yellowstone super-volcano comes to life. From that point, things get very exciting and complicated. Big decisions have to be made. Can this alternate Earth be their key to survival? Read to find out.
Good story. 4+ stars.
3.5 rounded to 4 because Taylor and because Porter )))
It felt a bit like a slightly underbaked version of Bobiverse. Same allusions to sci-fi, sometimes even same curses (holy something on a cracker), but at the same time not as captivating. Too many characters and not all of them with real personality (but here I admit that it could be because I was just binge listening).
Overall, it felt like a good idea that wasn't given it's due.
Possibly will continue the series, but not 100% sure yet.
