Diaspora.

Another interesting "explore an idea" novel from Greg Egan around physically embodied versus reality simulating virtual versus no bounds virtual living. But this one didn't engage me as strongly as Egan's books usually do. Mainly I think because the discussion of the differences between the two virtual modes of living went on to long for me. I understand why that length and depth was needed for reasons critical to the plot, but it was too much for me.

Neutron stars, gamma rays, curvature, multiverse, Euler, Planck, six-dimensional space and the gang are at it again! This time in a story which, despite not being exactly original, is challenging and captivating. Had to do a ton of googling while reading, physics is not my cup of tea, and have enjoyed myself. Cannot but recommend.

A good but demanding read with great concepts for science fiction, but at times it does feel like the author tied several great short stories into one trench coat novel. Mind you, that's not a bad thing, just something to consider.

The first chapter can be seen as its own small and can be read on the authors blog, which i highly recommend! It sets the tone of the story pretty well by introducing a level of "techno-babble" that will be present at other parts of the book. You have the choice to read it and attempt to fully comprehend it or skim through it with the necessary understanding to catch the intent. If you want to understand the techno-babble or broaden your understanding, the author even supplies visual guides and very short explanations on his website, easily findable from the link for the first chapter. www.gregegan.net/DIASPORA/01/Orphanogenesis.html

Too many infodumps about a proposed idea about particles being linked by wormholes.
A story about virtual people growing up, taking over robots to meet fleshers (people still in bodies), and then a disaster caused by colliding neutron stars. The characters then travel through many universes to find an explanation for regular planet-sterilising events.

I've seen it described as "diamond-hard SciFi", it might even be an understatement. It starts off being confusingly abstract. After ~15% it gets more coherent, slightly more corporeal, though never entirely so.

Even through its abstract and detached universe, it revolves around modern issues of reality, subjectivity of perception and even memetic reality bubbles.

There's a lot to get from this, provided you can keep your mind clear enough to absorb the weirdness of it all.

A detailed but kind of depressing scifi tale, as most Greg Egan stuff tends to be. The protagonists are immortal cyber-beings with the barest remains of animal desires, so the overwhelming theme is one of "well, what do we do now". And the final conclusion to that is one of the most disheartening things one could read in science fiction.

Too many infodumps about a proposed idea about particles being linked by wormholes.
A story about virtual people growing up, taking over robots to meet fleshers (people still in bodies), and then a disaster caused by colliding neutron stars. The characters then travel through many universes to find an explanation for regular planet-sterilising events.