SF Signal: REVIEW: In War Times by Kathleen Ann Goonan

REVIEW: In War Times by Kathleen Ann Goonan

MY RATING:

Sometimes a book makes me stop and think after I've finished it. Occasionally a book will make me stop and think during it. Rarely will a book do both. In War Times is one of those rare books whose ideas live in your mind long after you've finished and make you think about them for a time afterward.

In War Time is the story of Sam Dance, who, while studying mathematics and electronics for the Army just before WW II, is seduced by a mysterious female physicist teaching one of his classes. Dr. Hadntz has plans for a device that might end war forever, by changing humanity's seeming need for conflict. From this premise, Goonan weaves a remarkable tale of quantum physics, human nature and jazz.

Sam and his buddy Wink, both mathematical and electronic whizzes, become involved in creating Hadntz's device. Their attempt to create a working model occurs during the height of WW II, and involves a bit of creative logistics to acquire the necessary components. That both men are working on top secret radar equipment helps them, but they don't get the items they need until the occupation of Germany. Complicating things, the OSS seems to know that Hadntz gave Dance something, and has assigned Major Elgante to interrogate/shadow Dance. There also appears to be a group working with Hadntz to refine and improve the device. Hadntz herself contacts Dance several times over the years, and gives him better plans for the device, as well as more information on what it supposedly does. Sam and Wink succeed in creating a prototype, but when they turn it on, it appears to melt into a gray mass of metal. However, something happened, as both Sam and Wink begin to experience time 'slippage'. The rest of the story is about how the device is used by a cabal of people, trying to use it to remove humanity's predilection for way. To do so, they must intervene at a nexus point and set humanity on a different path. Conspiracy theorists will love what the nexus point happens to be.

The most intriguing aspect of this story has to be the idea surrounding time, parallel dimensions, quantum physics and the human mind. Goonan postulates that the human mind, with the aid of the device, can travel between the different possibilities inherent in quantum foam at any given time. Since all possible eventualities exist, it is possible to find a time line where humanity gives up its penchant for violence, and instead use science and technology for the betterment of all. Hadntz asks Dance and others to use the device to force that reality into being. The theory being that the mind uses quantum effects to function and these effects can be harnessed to 'move' between realities. Those people who are fans of freeform jazz are more able to harness these effects because their brains are used to the freeflowing rhythms. Goonan also uses jazz as a stylistic device for telling the story. It will go off on tangents and riffs of varying lengths before returning to the main storyline.

But a good idea is only part of the equation. Goonan also fills her book with interesting and sympathetic characters. Dance is the main one here, and Goonan does a great job of placing us in his head so we know all the thoughts and decisions that lead him to take the actions he does.The diary that Sam keeps during the WW II part of the story are actual diary entries that Goonan's father wrote during that same time period. That Goonan weaves these seemlessly into a SF story is nothing short of amazing. Elegante is also an interesting character, and being on the other side from Dance adds a bit of spice to story as their relationship grows. Wink, also a source of humor, has his own interesting and unique role to play while Hadntz remains mysterious as ever throughout the story. I found the character of Hadntz to be the most intriguing, but we never really learn more about her, which was disappointing.

The biggest negative for me was the structure of the 'good' reality Hadntz and company are working toward. In all respects it is a utopian ideal, and like all utopias, its realization is an impossibility. The culture described is one where learning and science have made the world a perfect place to live with no crime, no one has to work at what the don't want to, and everyone has access to anything they need. Yes, it sounds great, but its not something that will ever happen, so, therefore, it would never be a possibility to coalesce from quantum uncertainties. And I was bothered by the fact that a small group of people would take it upon themselves to create a new reality for all of mankind without the consent of everyone else.

Still, Goonan weaves an intriguing hard SF tale of alternate realities and jazz that most fans of SF will like. I'm definitely interested in her Nanotech Quartet series. You should be too.

Good review, thanks. Goonan is one of my favorite authors and In War Times is up to the quality of her previous novels. Some authors can write a techie-eye view of WWI, and some authors can write an alternate-universe conspiracy mystery, but few can combine both in the one book and make it work well.

SPOILER ALERT

For me, the utopia worked fine as a concept; it was in fact a very religious speculation that fit in with the overall war theme. What bothered me was the method of getting there. It was the old "let's all put our heads together and wish real hard for a better reality" chestnut, the same conceit that bothers me in Spider Robinson's novels. After spending so much time setting up sf-nal gizmos and plot explanations, the "wish upon a star" device seemed like a cop out.

The Nanotech Quartet is good although different in tone. More ambitious, expansive, florid and visionary. In War Times has a more convincing, more nuanced emotional impact.

Posted by Matte Lozenge on Friday August 24, 2007 at 6:15 PM