The Hundred-Light Year Diary by Greg Egan

Shunting.

Sometimes 'hard-science fiction' does not make for easy reading because it can feel like information overload, relying on devices like neologism, dialogism and complex scientific concepts that can be utterly perplexing. This is not meant to come across as a negative criticism of the genre. Any fan of science-fiction might be inclined to agree that this cognitive estrangement (coined by the SF critic Darko Suvin) is exciting in its unpredictability. It creates an intense curiosity, prompting the reader to engage with new concepts and think more critically about their own reality. The fun, at least for me, mostly resides in the pleasure of working out the underlying logic or "science" behind the author's vision.

In the case of "The Hundred-Light Year Diary", Greg Egan examines the concept of free will (or lack thereof) now that it is possible for the future self to communicate with their present self through a messaging system using light. However, this also means that the idea of history has now been altered, which can have major repercussions, both for the present and the future. Confused yet? Even though most of the science went way over the my head, the concept is fascinating, especially pertaining to the "gaps" found in these diary entries. In the current moment, the protagonist possesses foreknowledge of events through insights recorded in his future diary. Yet, as unanticipated situations unfold, some intense philosophical and moral conundrums emerge: how does one navigate the unforeseen within the framework of a preordained destiny? What is historical truth and can it be trusted? 

In essence, this story is a total mind-trip that leaves the reader with many unanswered questions. The hard-science fiction encapsulate a rich complexity that might initially feel overwhelming due to its multitude of layered elements: Metaphysics, neurophysiology, ontology, information, disinformation, time-traveling paradoxes to name a few. I anticipate that my appreciation for "The Hundred-Light Year Diary" will continue to blossom with each successive reading. The abundance of information, initially challenging to fully grasp on the first read, promises a deeper understanding upon subsequent explorations.