- #1
rania yassin
- 7
- 0
well i really like reading novels so i was wondering if there's any novels about physics that are good ? :P
Novels About Physics: Find Your Next Read!
Click For Summary
Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around recommendations for novels related to physics, encompassing both fiction and nonfiction works. Participants share their preferences and suggest various titles, exploring themes in science fiction and historical contexts within physics.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- One participant expresses a general interest in novels about physics.
- Another participant specifically mentions a preference for classic hard science fiction, citing Robert L. Forward as an enjoyable author.
- A suggestion is made to check a related thread for science fiction recommendations, along with a nonfiction title, "Chaos: the Making of a New Science" by James Gleick.
- Participants mention "Surely you're joking, Mr. Feynman" as a notable title, though it is noted that it is not a novel.
- "Timescape" by Gregory Benford is recommended as a relevant read.
- One participant highlights "Ringworld" by Larry Niven, noting its influence on physics discussions in subsequent works.
- A participant points out that some previously mentioned titles are not novels and shares their enjoyment of "Night thoughts of a classical physicist." They also mention various works related to the Manhattan Project.
- Primo Levi's "The Periodic System" is suggested as a significant piece of literature, despite being more chemistry-focused.
- Discussion includes references to "Mine own executioner" and "The small back room" by Nigel Balchin, with commentary on their literary quality and themes.
- CP Snow's "The Quest" is mentioned as a better work compared to his others, praised for its portrayal of the scientific process and society.
- A participant shares a recent find at the library, a book involving Tycho Brahe and Kepler, indicating interest in historical narratives within physics.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express a variety of preferences and opinions on what constitutes a good novel about physics, leading to multiple competing views on the subject. There is no consensus on a definitive list of recommended titles.
Contextual Notes
Some titles mentioned are not strictly novels, and there are differing opinions on the literary merit and relevance of certain works to the topic of physics.
- #2
Doug Huffman
Gold Member
- 807
- 111
Particularly classic hard science fiction. I still enjoy Robert. L. Forward.
- #3
Khashishi
Science Advisor
- 2,812
- 491
If you are looking for science fiction, check here: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/what-are-some-of-your-favorite-science-fiction-novels.576355/
If you are looking for nonfiction, Chaos: the Making of a New Science, by James Gleick, is a good read.
If you are looking for nonfiction, Chaos: the Making of a New Science, by James Gleick, is a good read.
- #4
bigfooted
Gold Member
- 685
- 222
And of course 'Surely you're joking, Mr. Feynman'.
- #5
mpresic
- 514
- 128
"Timescape" by Gregory Benford
- #6
Michael Mann
:D
- #7
jedishrfu
Mentor
- 15,681
- 10,474
Ringworld byLarry Niven generated a lot of Physics discussion that got incorporated into his later Ringworld sequels.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringworld
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringworld
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- #8
epenguin
Science Advisor
- 3,638
- 1,014
#3 and #4 are not novels.
I liked, enjoyed may be not quite the word, "Night thoughts of a classical physicist".
There are quite a number of novels, plays etc. about the Manhattan project. Not totally and not meant to be totally fiction. There is "The Man who would be God", a personal swipe. I've read 2 or 3 times "Principles of American Nuclear Chemistry".
Top class literature is Primo Levi's "The Periodic System" - it's chemistry so broaden your horizons!
Regarding which, the phrase "he's one of those physicists who thinks Science is a branch of physics" occurs, I think, in the novel "Mine own exceutioner" by Nigel Balchin. More famous by the same author is "The small back room", both made into films, perhaps a bit distant is location and time from what you are looking for, and are supposedly middlebrow novels that actually are not that comfortable.
"The Quest" by CP Snow I remember as much better than any others of his, a quite convincing situationing in the research process as well as in the scientific society of his time and place; the narrator seems close to the author and his most vivid character is a very thin disguise of a scientist all informed readers would identify without hesitation. It is scientific-political while his others are more so, much concerned with the "corridors of power" in government and academia, somewhat sychophantically. Again some of it relates to the Manhattan project and its follow-on.
The two italicised phrases from the book titles have also entered common language.
I thought that Swiss guy who dramatised Bohr and Heisenberg etc. then and elsewhere has done the world no great favour, but it's up for discussion.
I liked, enjoyed may be not quite the word, "Night thoughts of a classical physicist".
There are quite a number of novels, plays etc. about the Manhattan project. Not totally and not meant to be totally fiction. There is "The Man who would be God", a personal swipe. I've read 2 or 3 times "Principles of American Nuclear Chemistry".
Top class literature is Primo Levi's "The Periodic System" - it's chemistry so broaden your horizons!
Regarding which, the phrase "he's one of those physicists who thinks Science is a branch of physics" occurs, I think, in the novel "Mine own exceutioner" by Nigel Balchin. More famous by the same author is "The small back room", both made into films, perhaps a bit distant is location and time from what you are looking for, and are supposedly middlebrow novels that actually are not that comfortable.
"The Quest" by CP Snow I remember as much better than any others of his, a quite convincing situationing in the research process as well as in the scientific society of his time and place; the narrator seems close to the author and his most vivid character is a very thin disguise of a scientist all informed readers would identify without hesitation. It is scientific-political while his others are more so, much concerned with the "corridors of power" in government and academia, somewhat sychophantically. Again some of it relates to the Manhattan project and its follow-on.
The two italicised phrases from the book titles have also entered common language.
I thought that Swiss guy who dramatised Bohr and Heisenberg etc. then and elsewhere has done the world no great favour, but it's up for discussion.
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- #9
zoobyshoe
- 6,514
- 1,255
I just stumbled across this at the library today:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005M4ZB1W/?tag=pfamazon01-20
Seems to have some kind of intrigue concerning Tycho Brahe and Keppler as part of the plot.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005M4ZB1W/?tag=pfamazon01-20
Seems to have some kind of intrigue concerning Tycho Brahe and Keppler as part of the plot.
Last edited by a moderator:
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