Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
New York: Ace, 1980
Description
Felix Rayman spends the day teaching indifferent students, pondering his theories on infinity, and daydreaming. When his dreams finally separate him from his physical body, Felix plunges headfirst into a multidimensional universe beyond the limits of space and time - the place of White Light.
User reviews
LibraryThing member soylentgreen23
I have to warn you, "White Light" ends weakly. And when it does, with a whimper much less than a bang, it is all the more disappointing, because what led to the finale is so intensely captivating, and even in places, instructional.
The story is of 'infinity,' as told by a mathematician with a
Were it not for the ending, this could have been a true modern classic.
The story is of 'infinity,' as told by a mathematician with a
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poet's heart. Rucker constructs a convincing parallel universe ruled by infinity, populated with characters that deserve as good as Lewis Carroll could give, and more; there is a sense of sadness and loss always, and confusion reigns supreme. Were it not for the ending, this could have been a true modern classic.
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LibraryThing member gregfromgilbert
This book was not a page-turner for me, but was a quick and enjoyable read. I liked the various mathematical analogies and allusions, but I thought other descriptions were a bit over-the-top at times and tiresome.
LibraryThing member ashleytylerjohn
This is a very strange novel that won't be to everyone's taste, but I found it mostly fascinating. It's one of those 1970s-ish (published in 1980, but presumably written prior!) which feel free to picaresquely gambol through plot, characters, etc, in a non-neat-and-tidy way, a la some John Barthes,
Also a nice introduction to the concept of multiple infinities, if you weren't aware that's a thing (it's a thing, apparently--there's not infinity, there are infinities, are some are bigger than others).
Fun!
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
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Jack Vance, and also reminded me (though I liked this much better) of the very strange Autumn Angels, in terms of the extreme powers expressed here.Also a nice introduction to the concept of multiple infinities, if you weren't aware that's a thing (it's a thing, apparently--there's not infinity, there are infinities, are some are bigger than others).
Fun!
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
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Subjects
Awards
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1980
Physical description
277 p.; 7 inches
ISBN
0441885640 / 9780441885640