Review Tour: The Quantum Revelations by Stuart Heinrich

 

THE QUANTUM REVELATIONS

by

Stuart Heinrich

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by

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SciFi / Mystery / Thriller

Publisher: Endless Tree Books, LLC

Publication Date: July 31, 2025

Page count: 480 pages

SYNOPSIS:

The world is on the brink of an apocalyptic climate crisis and quickly spiraling out of control into a dystopian nightmare. As everything collapses around them, two scientists struggle for relevance in their quest to build the world’s first practical quantum computer. They discover so much more. A mystery of physics that goes deeper than they could have ever imagined...

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ENJOY AN EXCERPT:

The wall opposite him, his designated viewing surface, was instantly replaced by a giant rectangle showing a news broadcast from somewhere out in the ocean.

 

A dark haired female correspondent reported from the deck of a ship, her hair whipping in the wind. In the distance behind her was a backdrop of fire, as jets of flame shot directly out of the ocean.

 

“I’m here in the East Siberian Arctic Sea, where an unprecedented and apocalyptic sight is unfolding before our very eyes,” she said. “These methane plumes are a truly surreal and terrifying sight, as if the very ocean itself is engulfed in an inferno.”

 

Skyler’s stomach twisted in a knot of anxiety as he watched the grim scene. How was it that reality was somehow always even worse than his most pessimistic imagination? He considered turning the broadcast off, but he found himself unable to look away.

 

The correspondent continued, “I’m told that these fires are fueled by methane bubble columns released as the subsea permafrost thaws. Somehow, the methane has been ignited, possibly by lightning strike, and the fires continue to burn relentlessly. This is the first time we’ve seen an event like this, but our science correspondents are saying it’s not surprising, and there’s no cause for alarm. These fires are unlikely to have any significant impact on atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations.”

REVIEW:

4 stars!

Fascinating and frightening and completely absorbing! 

The Quantum Revelations by Stuart Heinrich is a riveting science fiction tale that is fascinating, frightening, and completely absorbing. Teasing and teaching, with its plot of humanity on the path to the end times, I couldn’t put this book down. 

The main character, Skyler Wexler, is a doctoral student in quantum physics, working on a classified, grant-supported project at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory, when he makes a breakthrough that could advance his field of study and garner him global recognition, and maybe even the approval of his renowned but emotionally distant physicist father. But what he thinks he’ discovered and what the reality is may be two very different things. But with society on the brink of collapse due to an accelerating climate crisis, it may not matter. 

Skyler’s story is compelling reading, from the book’s explosive opening to its almost gentle, eye-opening conclusion. The author presents a vividly wretched picture of the U.S., suffering from the effects of an accident in the Arctic ice and the denial of impending doom cultivated by an all-too-powerful president and news media, and the many parallels to current conditions lend the tale a definite feeling of realism. Skyler and his lab partner, Zara, are relatable, regular students, and I was quickly invested in their stories: Skyler with his desire for parental approval and Zara with her hospitalized, comatose mother. 

While there is plenty of action, investigation, and plot twists, there is a lot of discussion about the hypotheses that make up quantum physics and much of that are Skyler’s internal monologues as he struggles with determining what his experiment has produced, the current state of the field, discarded alternate hypotheses, which are then repeated when he has someone to argue with or share his thoughts. His ruminations help clarify what’s at stake for those not conversant with the science, and they lay out Skyler’s thought processes, but this tended to go on a little long. And, if long passages of theoretical head-scratching are not your thing, just know the payoff is coming. I loved that Skyler had his own breakthrough after a casual observation by the girl next to him on his flight home from a professional conference that netted him nothing in the way of insight into his research problems. 

I recommend THE QUANTUM REVELATIONS to readers of hard science fiction.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Stuart Heinrich is a computer scientist with a PhD from NCSU and a passion for studying the fundamental nature of reality and physics. He is known for his unique theories on the Relativity of Existence (ROE), the Maximally Biophilic Principle (MBP) and Quantum Fluid Dynamics (QFD).

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Children's Book Review: The Tear Collector by R.M. Romero

The Tear Collector by R.M. Romero
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Intriguing middle-grade climate fiction, post-apocalyptic tale.

The Tear Collector by R.M. Romero is an intriguing post-apocalyptic tale for middle-grade readers, featuring an island community formed after a second great flood. Besides a mysterious story with young protagonists living on an isolated island where sadness can transform one into a monster, it is a cautionary tale about taking care of our world before it is too late. All is not lost, though; the story provides hope for the future by the tale’s end.

Siblings Malka and Ezra were swept away during the civilization-ending flood, ending up with other survivors on an island formed by the rising water level. They are "adopted" by a medical doctor in the new community who has dedicated his life to finding a cure for a terrible new malady called "The Sorrows' that afflicts deeply bereft, morose islanders and turns them into monstrous, animalistic creatures. Dr. Jonas Hollman is convinced that the answer to the horrifying illness lies in the tears of the people, and it becomes Malka’s job to collect samples. She follows through with determination because her beloved younger brother, Ezra, has started sprouting feathers. But when a small plane flown by a girl her own age, claiming to come from the mainland, crashes on the beach, everything changes.

Malka and Ezra were close even before the flood. She saved his life when the water came, and continues in her role as his champion when other islanders shun him when the proof he’s got "The Sorrows" comes to light. Malka is quite aggressive in her dealings with others, sometimes getting in people’s faces so quickly that she borders on unlikable. She takes nothing from nobody, except Ezra. They have developed a found family with Jonas and some of the other residents of their hotel home, complete with all the quirks that come with one formed from blood ties. However, their relationship with Jonas takes an unfortunate (and all too tragically realistic) turn as the story progresses.

The author does an amazing job creating her post-flood world, with the survival of random bits and pieces of life from before and the odd mix of buildings that literally weathered the storm. I really liked the pink hotel, where Jonas, Malka, Ezra, and others made their home as Jack’s efforts to normalize its current state continued.

The horrifying effects of "The Sorrows" absolutely gripped me, not only because of the body horror but also the uncertain internal impact on the minds of those poor afflicted individuals. Jules Gray and his henchmen, Mikos and Lukus, are dastardly, evil villains.

Due to the colorless, dreary, and always-raining setting, Olivia Diaz, the young pilot, stands out as a shockingly bright spot in the narrative from the very first. Still, it is a toss-up as to who I would name my favorite character among the three children.

I recommend THE TEAR COLLECTOR to readers of middle-grade fantasy and horror.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through Toppling Stacks Tours.

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Book Blog Tour & Giveaway: Reap the Wind by Joel Burcat

REAP THE WIND

by

Joel Burcat

Action-Adventure / Suspense / Climate Change / EcoThriller

Publisher: Milford House Press, an imprint of Sunbury Books, Inc.

Date of Publication: February 6, 2024

Number of Pages: 215 pages 

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THE PERFECT STORM meets THE FIRM.

Reap the Wind is a thrilling action/adventure novel that follows three lawyers as they embark on a treacherous journey from Houston to Cincinnati during a catastrophic hurricane. Josh Goldberg is on a mission to be with his girlfriend for the birth of their child. Along the way, they'll face terrifying obstacles like tornadoes, hailstorms, and driving rain. But the real danger may come from within as they struggle to survive each other's company. His two travel companions—his best friend, a drug-addicted lawyer, and his conniving boss who has her own agenda.

Don't miss out on this unforgettable odyssey that might just be a suicide trip.

PRAISE FOR REAP THE WIND:

"Reap the Wind is a bold, bracing and blisteringly original take on the legal thriller form. Joel Burcat has fashioned a seminal tale focusing on the nightmare of all road trips in which a storm raging outside the car is matched only by the storm raging within. Burcat dares to tread on the hallowed ground of John Grisham and Scott Turow and ends up blazing a fresh, daring literary tale of his own. Not to be missed!"

—Jon Land, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

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5 stars!

Riveting road trip during a massive and unexpected hurricane-force storm.

Reap the Wind is the new climate-fiction road trip thriller by veteran author Joel Burcat, and from its edge-of-your-seat opening to the final pages, the suspense never lets up. This book made me stay up half the night just to find out what was going to happen, and it was worth it!

Although the road trip from Houston involves three people, the story focuses on the young couple, Josh Goldberg and Keisha Jones, who are expecting a baby sometime in the next six weeks. They love each other and are fun and sweet together; their anxiety is palpable when apart. Both have reservations about their futures, and their tense situations have them thinking and rethinking their actions. Josh is an environmental attorney who feels like a sell-out working for his large corporate clients, who are the antithesis of all he believes. While he fights through the massive storm, he also struggles with his ethical dilemma. Along for the ride is a senior associate coworker, Geoff Roberts, and Josh’s selfish and manipulative boss, Diane Scanlon, a villain who is easy to despise. Keisha, confined to the hospital in Florence, has time on her hands for reflection as well, and that includes thinking about Dr. Anthony Sudor, her ex-boyfriend who just happens to be the attending OB/GYN at St. Elizabeth’s.

Coincidentally, the initial stage of Josh’s drive from Houston was certainly déjà vu for me. I drive to Houston along parts of his route a couple of times a year, and one leg of the trip is ALWAYS through a major storm, without fail. (It has become a joke with my family.) While the storms are not in the same league as this fictional one (except for that one time outrunning an actual hurricane), the trip becomes exponentially longer and more difficult with the smaller highways, winding terrain, and tall, encroaching treelines, all contributing to the experience. Throw in an unfamiliar vehicle (my husband’s pickup rather than my daily driver), and I could absolutely relate. And, yes, there are some odd little towns along the way should you have to make a stop.

I was definitely on the edge of my seat and actively guessing the whole time as to how the story would work out. I was not disappointed. This is the first book by this author I’ve read, and I will check out his Mike Jacobs series as soon as I have the chance.

 I recommend REAP THE WIND to readers who enjoy exciting climate-related thrillers, stories featuring attorney protagonists, and tense road trip tales.

Joel Burcat is an award-winning author of three environmental legal thrillers: Drink to Every Beast (illegal dumping of toxic waste), Amid Rage (a coal mine permit battle), and Strange Fire (a fracking dispute). His most recent book, Reap the Wind, is about three lawyers trying to drive from Houston to Cincinnati in a climate change-induced hurricane.

He has received a number of awards, including the Gold Medal for environmental fiction from Readers’ Favorite for Strange Fire, and as a Finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards for Amid Rage. He has written numerous short stories. Burcat imbues his novels with facts to educate his readers about critical environmental issues while they are being entertained by the story.

Burcat’s books are infused with realism developed over a forty plus year career as an environmental lawyer.

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“What Could I Do That Was Like That?”

Guest Post

By Joel Burcat 

I am legally blind. I have an eye disease called Non Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION). In July 2016 and again in January 2018, I had blood clots form in the back of first my left, then my right eyeball, which prevented blood from getting into part of my optic nerve. Over the course of about 6 weeks, I lost vision in each eye. I was seen by neuro-ophthalmologists at three leading hospitals and was told the same thing—I had NAION, an incurable eye disease. The best I could hope for was that it would not advance further and, maybe someday, there might be a cure.

Because the loss of vision was in my optic nerve, I cannot wear glasses to correct the NAION vision loss (eyeglasses correct vision loss in the front of your eyes). Also, there are no treatments for this condition (although several drugs are going through trials). I cannot see words on paper in regular font very well, have difficulty seeing almost anything at distance, and cannot make out faces at about ten feet (a weird condition known as prosopagnosia, which seems like a literary metaphor). Thankfully, I did not lose all of my vision. I still see well enough to walk, see most things (although a lot of what I see is fuzzy), and function well in daily life. I lost enough vision, however, that I could not work as a lawyer and could not drive. Thankfully, I was able to continue reading. I cannot readily read paper (even large print), but I can read a screen using a large heavy font with appropriate backlighting. I bought myself a yard-wide ultra-high-def monitor, which works pretty well when I spread a sentence across the monitor using Ariel black font.

Beginning in January 2018, I spent two months feeling sorry for myself. In March 2018, I was watching a show on TV about skiers who had lost one or more limbs. I found it fascinating and inspiring that they were doing something most people would say they could not do—skiing with one leg. I wondered: what could I do that was like that? I went to my home office and began writing a novel. Seven weeks later, the first draft of STRANGE FIRE was done. I have been writing continuously ever since. 

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Book Tour & Giveaway: Future Imperfect by Babette Gallard

Speculative Fiction / Cli Fi

Date Published: Oct 2023

Publisher: BAD PRESS iNK

 

It’s 2050 and climate change catastrophe isn’t the future... it’s now. And climate refugees aren’t other people... it’s you.

The streets are a spider’s web of new tributaries. Everything is underwater. Don’t worry about us, but nothing is the same anymore.

It’s 2050 and the River Rhône has flooded the town of Arles in France so Helen and Isha leave to join their adopted daughter Jana and eleven-month-old granddaughter Ayo in England.

But at Calais, they find that if Isha crosses the Channel, she will be immediately deported as her grandparents were Ugandan-Asian. Faced with the terrible dilemma, Helen chooses to remain with Isha.

Homeless and now stateless, they decide to seek refuge in a friend’s Swiss mountain chalet, but to avoid immigration checkpoints they have to walk, following the Via Francigena, an ancient pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome, and now the preferred escape corridor for refugees fleeing climate catastrophes.

Horrified at her parents embarking on such a dangerous journey, Jana resolves to follow. However, this is not so easy.

They communicate whenever and however they can while battling with exhaustion, terror, and virulent xenophobia as people struggle to protect their increasingly scarce resources.

The journey ends in Parma, Italy, a perfect destination for reasons they could never have imagined.

 

 

Praise for Future Imperfect

"Future Imperfect is a thought-provoking and timely book that explores a not-too-distant future where environmental changes and social divisions have reshaped society… It will make you reflect on the choices we make today and the impact they will have on our future."

Kumi Naidoo: Human Rights Activist

International Executive Director of Greenpeace International 2009-2015

Secretary General of Amnesty International 2018-2020

"an incredibly good read… both deeply personal and political, it will become part of the canon climate novels."

Rehad Desai

Producer / Director: Miners Shot Down (2014), How to Steal a Country (2019) and Everything Must Fall (2019)

 

"This is one of those rare books that becomes part of you…. An engrossing read."

Terry Shakinovsky, author and book journalist

Review

5 stars!

An intriguing premise and absorbing story with surprising twists and turns at every crossroad. 

Future Imperfect by Babette Gallard was an absorbing story based on an intriguing premise with twists and turns every step of the way. I was immediately drawn into these engaging characters’ stories as their world went to pieces as they attempted to make their way to safety and back together as a family. 

The storytelling is superior, with the author using straightforward narratives from multiple viewpoints supplemented by the emails (Nmails) the characters periodically send to update one another regarding their current circumstances. It was very easy to read but tense as the women made their way across France. 

Two journeys are occurring simultaneously, each taking a different route and encountering surprise after surprise in this future France devastated by flood, famine, and fear. Real place names are used and anchor the action to the progress the travelers are making. I was riveted to the pages from start to finish. 

I recommend FUTURE IMPERFECT to readers of speculative fiction and climate fiction, but those who enjoy post-apocalyptic and dystopian-themed tales will also feel right at home.

About the Author

After clambering up and falling through a 20m roof at school (avoiding lessons), breaking several significant bones, Babette’s equestrian career was over until her mother suggested she continue with the safer art of dressage-riding. For this, she trained in Germany and rode professionally, but after 4 years, she returned to the UK to, as she said, grow up. She took and passed three A levels and then a Humanities degree, and with these survived as a freelance journalist and TV researcher in Bristol until she met her husband, became a hippy and got pregnant. Wanting a better life for their daughter, they decided to live off the land in Portugal, which worked for a few years.

Meanwhile, she wrote anything and everything, fiction, non-fiction, some published, some lucrative, some not, including young adult novels and accounts of her 1000km journeys along St James Way and Via Francigena on horseback. With her third husband, Babette manages their publishing company for the LightFoot guides.

Babette was born in Shropshire but has lived and worked long-term in seven countries, including on a boat and in a jungle. Now living in Johannesburg, in 2022, she received her Masters degree in Creative Writing from the University of Witwatersrand and is currently preparing for an English doctorate at Stellenbosch University, where she will undoubtedly be the oldest but most enthusiastic student.

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