Beyond Infinity

Beyond Infinity (2004) is a science fiction novel of the very far future. Based on Clarke's Against the Fall of Night, it was initially written as a novella, Beyond the Fall of Night, but has been greatly extended and modified for this version. In this novel, Cley is an Ur-human, a form of Original and the oldest extant version of humanity (the Originals were reconstructed by the Supras during the rejuvenation of Earth). She grows up in her Meta Family knowing only her current MOM - Mother Of the Moment -- and imagining her father. She knows that her mother is probably someone living within the Meta, but her father left the Meta when she was three. Cley yearns for his return. When she is old enough, Cley starts work at the Library of Life, where various species of Mankind catalog and rerecord the DNA and other data of Earth's history. She has a passionate attraction toward Kurani, a Supra who lives in the present as well as within the realm of abstraction. They are working together when agents of the Malign attack the Library and kill Kurani. They also try to kill Cley, but fail; her body slowly mends itself. Seeker After Patterns, a highly modified and intelligent raccoon, finds her body and helps restore her to health. For some time they dwell in the forest, amidst ancient networks of life, while Cley recovers in body and mind. Then Rin, another Supra, discovers them and takes them back to the Library of Life. Cley is told about the attack and learns something of the Malign and other human encounters with higher dimensions. While working outside one day, Cley and Seeker encounter Morphs, manifestations of higher dimensional beings within normal spacetime. They try to capture one, but are transported to the Tubeworld, a sort of bridge between the tri-dimensional world and higher dimensions. After attracting the attention of a higher dimensional being, they are returned to normal spacetime. This novel starts slowly, lingering over Cley's childhood thoughts and behaviors, but abruptly speeds up with the attack of the Malign agents and the introduction of Seeker. After that, the pace increases to the point of giddiness, taking Cley offplanet and into the Solar System. As can be expected from a working physicist, the author inserts various concepts from speculative physics into the plotline, everything from multiple dimensions to electromagnetic lifeforms. The novel terminates with a glimpse of the universe well beyond our ordinary viewpoint and leaves room for an even more exotic sequel. Highly recommended for Benford fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of speculative physics and the far future. -Arthur W. Jordin

I find it tough to read criticism of Benford because I regard him as the greatest Hard SF author, and I think Beyond Infinity is a wonderful achievement. So, maybe it doesn't rank right up there with Timescape or the Galactic Center Series. But as I read the novel, I thought, there is so much substance here, so much knowledge, thought, inventiveness, and imagination. How many people writing today are capable of pulling off what Benford does in this book? Zero, in my view. And that's the thing. There are thousands of competent novelists out there, but Originals are scarce, indeed. Benford is an Original.

If I hadn't looked at the cover to see Gregory Benford's name, I would've sworn I was reading something by one of the greatest science fiction/fact authors of all time: Isaac Asimov. This book was exciting as well as informative while taking us away to not only futures taken by Mr. Asimov's books, such as "Foundation", "I,Robot", and others, but also ranks up there with other sci-fi and even newer cyberpunk books such as: "Stranger in a Strange Land", "Puppet Masters", "Neuromancer", "Snow Crash", "Cryptonomicon", and "Darkeye: Cyber Hunter". Yet another definite must-read for hardcore science fiction fans.

Rebeccasreads recommends master science fiction author Gregory Benford's latest thriller -- BEYOND INFINITY -- a glimpse into our far distant future where, through innumerable revisions, humanity has attempted to resurrect a version of its genetic original.

After eons of being trapped by the gravity of a black hole, the interrelated magnetic fields called the Malign escapes its prison. The essence detests organic matter and blames humans for the incarceration. Vengeance sends the Malign towards earth.Humanity has evolved over the billions of years since mankind first ventured to the moon. Cley is an Original, a genetic remake of the oldest known human species and the last of the "Mohegans" due to an attack by the Malign, at least that is what the genetically reengineered Supras insist happened. The Supras consider Cley as an inferior pet, but she knows that her wardens are hiding part of the truth from her. She plans to learn what really happened to her race, but first must escape from her zookeepers. Abetted by an ET, Cley begins her journey to learn to learn what the Malign is and why did this creature commit genocide?BEYOND INFINITY is a terrific futuristic science fiction tale that predicts the path of physics in a realistic extension of what is known or theorized today, but within a terse thriller that hooks the reader from the start. The physics aspects are deftly interwoven as underpins to the exhilarating plot. The marvelous tale combines a coming of age subplot along the lines of Luke in Star Wars with that of a Galactus-like being threatening much of the galaxy. Gregory Benford provides a tremendous novel that will send new fans seeking his works (some of the best are out there) and old readers just shaking their heads that the guru has done it again.Harriet Klausner