Quantum Night by Robert J. Sawyer
Experimental psychologist Jim Marchuk has developed a flawless technique for identifying the previously undetected psychopaths lurking everywhere in society. But while being cross-examined about his breakthrough in court, Jim is shocked to discover that he has lost his memories of six months of his life from twenty years previously—a dark time during which he himself committed heinous acts.
Jim is reunited with Kayla Huron, his forgotten girlfriend from his lost period and now a quantum physicist who has made a stunning discovery about the nature of human consciousness. As a rising tide of violence and hate sweeps across the globe, the psychologist and the physicist combine forces in a race against time to see if they can do the impossible—change human nature—before the entire world descends into darkness.
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Goodreads: Quantum Night
Review
*I received this novel for free in exchange for an honest review*
Rating: 3.5 stars
Quantum Night is a science fiction novel centred heavily around the theory that not all humans have a consciousness and in fact walk around in a zombie-like state and others are psychopaths. When psychologist Jim Marchuk discovers that a scientific experiment that he voluntarily took part in twenty years ago resulted in him temporarily losing his conscious state of mind, he teams up with his ex-girlfriend from his forgotten period to discover exactly what happened to him and who was responsible.
The themes running throughout this novel are really interested and delves deep into theories regarding conscious thought whilst engaging the main characters and pulling them towards the discovery of the truth. Quantum Night is a very interesting read, however I do feel there were missed opportunities. Rather than focusing on humanity as whole in the novel’s finale I feel a better direction might have been on the two main characters. This left me feeling slightly disappointed when the novel reached its conclusion.
That being said, I did enjoy reading Quantum Night and it drew on some very interesting theories and concepts. There was plenty of action and suspense to keep me wanting to turn the next page.
