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Distress - Greg Egan Book Review

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Review Summary
A scientific journalist is sent to cover a conference where the final theory of everything, (the grand unified field theory), is about to be uncovered. However, why are the scientists disappearing? And what is the connection to the new disease Distress that is killing across the world?
An interesting book which seemed to fizzle at the end into a dissappointing conclusion.

Andrew Banks, Resident Scholar


Detailed literary breakdown of Distress
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book - very upbeat
Spying & Investigations Yes
What is main char. doing? - unraveling a conspiracy
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - journalist
Age: - 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Setting
Earth setting: - near future (later in 21st century)
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - a significant amount of technical jargon
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to Distress
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
King's Cure by Daniel Hood
The Long Habit of Living by Joe Haldeman
Krondor: The Betrayal by Raymond E. Feist
Infinity Beach by Jack McDevitt




Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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