Outland
Ratings37
Average rating4.2
15
Ratings37
Average rating4.2
When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts, it's up to six college students and their experimental physics project to prevent the end of civilization.When an experiment to study quantum uncertainty goes spectacularly wrong, physics student Bill Rustad and his friends find that they have accidentally created an inter-dimensional portal. They connect to Outland-an alternate Earth with identical geology, but where humans never evolved.The group races to establish control of the portal before the government, the military, or evildoers can take it away.Then everything changes when the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts in an explosion large enough to destroy civilization and kill half the planet. The team has just hours to get as many people as possible across to Outland before a lethal cloud of ash overwhelms them.Nothing has prepared the refugees for what they find-a world of few resources and unprecedented dangers. Somehow, they must learn to survive, because Outland may be not just a safe haven-it could be their new home.This 2019 edition has been substantially revised by the author.
Reviews with the most likes.
I read the bobiverse books before this but I have to say the author had the same vibe even on his first book. If you loved the bobiverse series you'll enjoy this one as well.
OK, it is now settled. I will read (or as in this case, listen to) anything by Dennis E. Taylor. He provides that perfect mix of nerdiness, action, characterization, snark, and world building that appeals to the SF fan in me.
In Outland an eclectic group of university students in Nebraska discover how to create stable inter-dimensional portals. They include a Newton/Einstein level genius, a geologist, an uber engineer, and several with more, um, “practical” skills.
They discover an alternate and almost identical Earth but without any humans. So what do you do in such a case? Why you go panning for gold of course. After all, you need to funds to protect your world-changing discovery from poachers and from takeover by government organizations. Naturally, things don't go exactly according to plan. First, some criminal elements figure out that they are on to something, and then the Yellowstone super-volcano comes to life. From that point, things get very exciting and complicated. Big decisions have to be made. Can this alternate Earth be their key to survival? Read to find out.
Good story. 4+ stars.
3.5 rounded to 4 because Taylor and because Porter )))
It felt a bit like a slightly underbaked version of Bobiverse. Same allusions to sci-fi, sometimes even same curses (holy something on a cracker), but at the same time not as captivating. Too many characters and not all of them with real personality (but here I admit that it could be because I was just binge listening).
Overall, it felt like a good idea that wasn't given it's due.
Possibly will continue the series, but not 100% sure yet.
