Time (Baxter novel)

Manifold: Time is a 1999 science fiction novel by

The book was nominated for the 2000 Arthur C. Clarke Award.^[1]

Plot summary

Time is set on Earth, the inner part of the

The book begins at the end of space and time, when the last descendants of humanity face an infinite but pointless existence. Due to proton decay, the physical universe has collapsed, but some form of intelligence has survived by embedding itself into a lossless computing substrate where it can theoretically survive indefinitely. However, because there will never be new input, eventually all possible thoughts will be exhausted. Some portion of this intelligence decides that this should not have been the ultimate fate of the universe, and takes action to change the past, centering on the early 21st century. The changes come in several forms, including a message to Reid Malenfant, the appearance of super-intelligent children around the world, and the discovery of a mysterious gateway on asteroid 3753 Cruithne.

Baxter's short story "Sheena 5" explores an alternate ending to the story of Sheena, the intelligent squid.

Characters

• Reid Malenfant – protagonist
• Emma Stoney – Malenfant's ex-wife and employee
• Cornelius Taine – brilliant
  eschatologist
  mathematician
• Sheena – a genetically engineered squid
• Maura Della – concerned politician
• Michael – a "Blue" child savant and guide to Reid
• Dan Ystebo – marine scientist
• Anna – oldest of the "Blue" savant children

Style

Time is split into four parts and then into smaller sections that each focus on a different character.

Release details

• 1999, UK, Voyager (HarperCollins)
  ISBN 0-00-225768-8
  , Pub date 2 August 1999, hardback
• 2000, UK, Voyager (HarperCollins)
  ISBN 0-00-651182-1
  , Pub date 7 August 2000, paperback
• 2000, USA, Del Rey Books
  ISBN 0-345-43075-1
  , Pub date ? January 2000, hardback
• 2000, USA, Del Rey Books
  ISBN 0-345-43076-X
  , Pub date ? November 2000, paperback

External links

• Manifold Time at Worlds Without End