City At The End Of Time By Greg Bear

Physics is the study of matter and how it interacts with other matter and the universe as a whole (“Physics (science)”). In the novel City at the End of Time by Greg Bear, the author uses physics to create the plot in the novel. The novel takes place in two cities, a present day Seattle and the Kalpa, a city one hundred trillion years in the future. Jack, Ginny, and Daniel are drifters living in Seattle, and they are all in possession of sum-runners. The sum-runners allow them to cross “fate-lines” or world-lines. In the Kalpa’s universe space has continuously expanded and the fabric of space is being torn causing rips in space. The Typhon, an unexplainable entity, consumes the decaying space homing in on the Earth. Bear does not use basic physics, instead he focuses on the more complex branches such as theoretical physics, astrophysics, and quantum physics. Bear uses theories from each branch, puts his own twist on them. Bear uses the multiverse theory used both in theoretical physics, and quantum physics, and the Big Rip, and Big Crunch theory used in astrophysics. Greg Bear accurately uses theories in the branches theoretical physics, astrophysics, and quantum physics in the novel City at the End of Time.

Theoretical physics uses mathematical formulas to make predictions or theories about what happens in the natural world (Rújula). Theoretical physics is a complex yet interesting science, is filled with theories which people cannot prove, but they also cannot disprove. The theory the author uses in the novel is the multiple universe, or multiverse theory. According to Charles Seife, the multiverse theory states that: “Space is infinite. Within any finite volume of space, however, matter and energy can be arranged in only a f...

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...retical physics, astrophysics, and quantum physics in the novel. Bear has clearly researched the muliverse theory and accurately portrays the theory, using ideas from some of the most influential physicists of the time. He uses the sum-runners to give the three drifters the ability to cross world-lines, and while that may cross into the genre of fantasy there is clearly scientific roots in the idea. The Big Rip and Big Crunch theories are combined and used through the idea of the Typhon. Bear uses certain aspects of the multiverse theory from both theoretical physics and quantum physics, to create his personal interpretation of the multiverse theory. While the ideas used in this novel are strictly theoretical, and cannot physically be observed as of right now. The amount of proof to support these theories far exceeds the amount of proof attempting to disprove them.