Scratches head

I have read all of Sawyer's novels and really loved them.
I didn't think this was up to those previous novels. It seemed mostly a biography of Oppenheimer with no real science fiction or alternative world he lived in. The only glimpse of Sci Fi was in the last 20 (or so) minutes of the novel. I guess I expected more fantasy and depth. It was well written but I kept waiting to see where this would take my imagination. It didn't get going until the last chapter. I guess I expected more from Mr. Sawyer.

It enjoyed the performance, the history but overall I was disappointed in the novel.

6 people found this helpful

History Up Close and Personal--with a Twist

Robert J. Sawyer has delivered again with The Oppenheimer Alternative. The first section of the novel is a closeup view of the development of the atomic bomb, including the marvelous idiosyncrasies of famous scientists such as Fermi, Szilard, Teller, Feinman, Einstein, and more--plus key non-scientists like General Groves.

The second part of the book explores what might have happened after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where a mystery drives Oppenheimer and his colleagues to SAVE the world, much as the Manhattan Project permanently CHANGED the world.

Highly recommended.

4 people found this helpful

Reads like classic sci-fi

This novel was published in 2020 but reads like Classic sci-fi from the 50s. Perhaps it's because the story begins in 1936 and ends in 1967. Told completely chronologically, the first 4 hours of the tale takes us from Robert Oppenheimer's life as a college professor, through his involvement with the Manhattan Project, Hitler's death in 1945, and the dropping of The Bomb on Japan. It reads like a well-written biography of all the key players in the race for the A-bomb.

Then it takes a turn into alternative history. Edward Teller wants something more devastating: a weapon based on nuclear fusion - the mechanism that powers the sun. But Teller's research leads to a terrifying discovery: by 2030, the sun will eject its outermost layer, destroying the entire inner solar system, including Earth.

Interesting concept for a new book, and I enjoyed it, but not as much as previous Sawyer novels - I think because of the older time period. But if you love classic sci-fi, this is a modern "classic" you shouldn't miss.

I met Rob at a SF writer's conference in LA some years back and he's a great guy. I've enjoyed all of his novels, but my favorite - still - is Calculating God. Look it up, it's a 5-star read!

3 people found this helpful

So far, a major disappointment

Haven’t finished yet, but so far I’m pretty disappointed. The story is uninteresting and slow to get going. I’ll stick with it, because its Robert Sawyer, and I’ve never had a book of his I don’t like, but thinking this might be the first...

**edit** So I just finished it, and while the end is better than the beginning, it just doesn’t have the interest I’ve come to associate with Robert Sawyer. There was potential here, but I don’t feel it was realized. The science fiction got lost in the history, it was almost like the author spent lots of time researching the history and wanted to squish everything he found out, relevant to his story or not, in to the plot. Would have been better if he’d taken the idea, and written his own history to go along with it.

2 people found this helpful

Fascinating....

Sawyer does it again! A totally original journey through the history of the dawn of the nuclear age. Sawyer and Bloomberg bring the giants of the day ( Einstein, Grove, Teller, Oppie! ) to life in this sprawling, unique and fun listen.

Revisionist history, with a hard sci-fi bend to it. For some reason, this offering really resonated with me. Hearing Bloomberg give voice to long passed historical characters was grand fun, and educational as well.

Highly recommended for a variety of listeners, including history buffs. Spend the credit and enjoy it!

2 people found this helpful

Real characters saving the world

Robert J Sawyer's The Oppenheimer Alternative is an alternate history tale that is mostly historically accurate, but with a twist. All the major significant physicists of the mid 20th, especially those directly involved with the Manhattan project to develop the atom bomb are here. Most of the historical events are portrayed true. Added to the mix is the added feature of those same top secrets scientists discovering that the sun has undergone an event that will propagate out and destroy the Earth around 2028 and they plot in super secret to save humanity.

Sawyer stays largely true to the actual historical events including some of the painful and embarrassing personal and professional behind the scenes activities during one of the most secret, but also public periods for physics. While the eventual resolution is a bit rushed at the end, the solution is ambitious, but still based in science fiction physics.

The narration is well done with very good character distinction. Pacing is reasonable. Keep Google handy throughout as confirmation for some of the detailed historical events will be needed as the truth sometimes strains credulity.

1 person found this helpful

History with a twist!

The Oppenheimer Alternative by Robert J. Sawyer is an alternate history novel that follows the group of the world's greatest physicists that developed the nuclear fission bomb during WWII. But in this timeline, this group of intellectuals discover an impending doom for mankind even greater than the Axis powers, and after their creation ends WWII with nuclear fire in Japan, they set about trying to solve this new problem for humanity's sake.

All the characters in this novel are real historical individuals, and their separate personalities, personal drives, and clashing egos make an excellent back drop for a great scifi story. This novel surprised me with its ending, but it did end the best way possible after a bit of reflection. A solid novel, and historically accurate depictions and descriptions of people and history until the story takes its turn make for both a history lesson and a great alternative history scifi read. A solid 3 1/2 to 4 star read from Robert J Sawyer, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

1 person found this helpful

I’m a huge RJS fan….but

This was a dud, and I’ve read every single. Ok the dude has wrote. I love his stuff. I couldn’t even finish this book. I did an audible refund half way through

Good story

It takes you on a voyage that is 85-90% true with the other 10-15% of being fiction. The fiction is sprinkled into the story it’s hard to believe this isn’t how it actually happened. Would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys sci-fi to read/listen to this at least once.

Brilliant

Extremely insightful. I remain impressed by the depth of this approach and its' believability factor.