Pub Date: 03/02/23
CW: death

Huge thank you to Head of Zeus for inviting me to read this book. Lost in Time was SUCH a good book and I was so excited to read Quantum Radio, especially considering it’s another sci-fi book.

I never thought I’d get invited to read an ARC and when I got the email I was so ecstatic. I swear, Riddle must be writing at the speed of light considering Lost in Time came out not too long ago.

Riddle just doesn’t disappoint. He manages to make the whole sci-fi ordeal wildly entertaining without overly complicating the process. Obviously there’s things I didn’t understand cause the only PhD I have is one in reading but again, it’s easy enough to understand.

I can’t wait to see what else Riddle has in store.

<i>Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.</i>

Overall, I enjoyed <i>Quantum Radio</i> by A.G. Riddle, but I was a bit annoyed by the complete shift in tone from the first half to the second. I'll talk about that in a moment.

The book starts off nicely, though a little oddly (see my nit pick later on). Tyson Vogel is giving a speech to various people at CERN in the hopes of getting funding to further his research into an astonishing discovery he feels he's made. After examining the various data from a wide swathe of Large Hadron Collider experiments, he believes he's located a coherent signal of some sort. He can't quite narrow it down more than that, yet. His audience doesn't seem to believe him, but <i>someone</i> does, as events occur that seem to be trying to stop him from pursuing his research further.

This is all well and good, and we move into something of a mystery / thriller type of story. It progresses until it reaches a crescendo about halfway through the book, when it switches to something more akin to a survival story. Then it moves into more of a spy thriller.

Basically, the genres are all over the place, and they don't necessarily mesh well together. Each section, in and of itself, was done well, with good writing, decent character development, etc. But the switching was a bit jarring, altogether.

One additional nit pick: I can't believe a scientist working at the LHC would start with a press conference without having first at least talked to a few other people, let alone written a paper on the subject. I don't care how narcissistic and theatrical they want to be. That's not how scientists of a calibre to be hired at the LHC would behave.

So, in the end, did I enjoy the book? Yes. Were there some serious problems with it? Also yes. Would I be willing to read the (incredibly foreshadowed) sequel? Still yes.

I love AG.Riddles books and this didn’t disappoint. From the first page I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down. I know his books are fiction but they make you think what the future could be like. I can’t wait for the the one in this series.

I really liked the premise for Quantum Radio, and while I was mostly engaged with it at the beginning, I found myself really struggling by the halfway mark. An interesting idea, with quite a lot of science-y bits (admittedly, I got lost with a lot of it) made this one sound like something I would enjoy. And while for the most part, I thought it was fine, I found I just didn’t love it. I read Lost In Time by this author and loved it, but I think I just didn’t get this one. In saying that, I think that the writing was good and the characters were solid, but it just didn’t keep me engaged as I had hoped it would.

The thing I like about Sci-Fi is that it can take you anywhere and this story certainly does that. I managed to keep up (well almost) with the technical stuff about quantum particles, etc although, at times, I felt it was stopping me getting on with the storyline. The story is well planned with surprises along the way and it has a satisfying ending, leaving things open for a follow-up. However, I'm not sure I'd look forward to another.

Still a decent Sci-Fi read though.

Quantum Radio is a sci-fi thriller by author, A.G. Riddle. I am fast becoming a huge fan of this author. If you like authors like Blake Crouch you might find this one up your alley. AG Riddle’s novels focus on science, technology and history and you can tell the author does his homework and research. This book could easily be a movie with its fast-paced action scenes, twists and turns and likeable main characters. While not my favorite one of his, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I grabbed a copy of this one without even reading the blurb that is how much I have enjoyed his books previously and this one was no exception. The first of a series, this one doesn’t completely wrap up and I am keen to see where the series goes next.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an arc of this book.

Quantum Radio is the latest book from AG Riddle. As always from the author the story is well worked sci-fi. I loved his last book, 'Lost in Time' and was lucky to be given an eARC copy from Netgallery to review. Would I find it as good as the last one?

Quantum Radio bursts straight into life with the chief protagonist fleeing for his life after he reveals an astonishing discovery, the book never really stops with the action. Characters are very well drawn, each having their own unique qualities which make the story flow. There's not a dull moment in the book. Across two versions of the same universe, they seek to stop the efforts of a shadowy organization.

There's a lot to love in the story. I see essences of Gregory Benford's 'Timescape', as well as Stargate One in this original story. All of it is good and it doesn't feel a rip off of either. It's a good solid sci-fi read from an author I'm beginning to appreciate as a master in his field. All this and the fact that the characters will return in a series that promises so much. I'm looking forward to reading them.

Loved it, A sci-fi thriller with plenty of action and memorial characters. The first in a new series looking forward to the next book. A G Riddle is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. highly recommended.
I received this book from Head of Zeus/AdAstra and Netgalley for a review.

I would like to thank Head of Zeus and Net Galley for the opportunity to review this book as an ARC. I read another book by the author last year( Lost in Time) and enjoyed it very much. I was interested to read his new book. This book- Quantum Radio, is good but not great. It has plotlines similar to several Sci Fi TV shows from the past- Stargate SG1, Quantum Leap ( the original), Sliders, The Man in the High Castle, and even a bit of The Big Bang Theory. ( The nerdy scientist has a blonde girlfriend named Penny).The book is long, over 400 pages and has very short chapters. The chapters, especially at the beginning, are not sequential, and sometimes I needed to flip back to remember plot points. The basics of the plot are this-Ty Klein is a scientist at Cern . He sees data in the Hadron Collider, that appears to have an organizational pattern to it. He calls it Quantum Radio. Ty was raised by his mother , after his father left the family when Ty was 5. Ty shares his ideas with his fellow scientists and shortly therafter, receives an attempt on his life. He is told to seek help from the one person he does not want to see, his father. Ty is taken to a facility in Washington DC, where he learns that others have found the same patterns, and that there is a shadowy organization called the Covenant. The Covenant is responsible for the attempt on his life and they will not stop trying to kill Ty and get the information that he has. The group in DC have Genetic code on 4 people who they believe will be tied together in some way with each other and with the Quantum Radio. One is Ty. One is Dr Nora Brown, a psychologist who was a lifelong friend of Ty's, until her father disappeared from her life when she was 18. Kato Tanaka is a Sea and a part time mercenary . He is currently estranged from his wife and young son. Maria Santos was a singer songwriter in Nashville, singing with a band, until her drug addiction overtook her.The four of them must work through their own demons ( Ty also has an unspecified illness), and work together to , quite simply, save the world. It is an interesting premise, but it gets bogged down in a lot of background story that just is never made clear.There are long stretches where it is unclear what is happening, and then all of a sudden, a huge amount of information comes to light. The characters are well written and overall plot is good, it just was not as compelling as it could have been.It was good, but not great.

After reading Quantum Radio, I declare myself a fan of A. G. Riddle and add him to my favorite authors.
Several characters see their lives intertwine in a surprising way after an extraordinary discovery using Hadron Collider data.
The novel is a science fiction thriller that keeps you enthralled from the beginning with well developed main characters and a tremendously interesting plot. The ending promises, or so I hope, a sequel.

Tyson Klein, a quantum physicist at CERN, has just made.a discovery that could literally change the world. But someone is trying to stop him and they aren’t messing around. After being almost killed, he’s helped by the very last person he ever expected to see again.

Having enjoyed the authors first book, I was interested to read this one, and although slightly daunted by the science, it still has a good story, being very well researched. It was too heavy going at times for me and I found myself skipping paragraphs that were a bit too technical. That said, the world building was good, I liked Tys rather naive view of the world and the others in this Gang of Four are developing nicely. The pace picked up towards the end, but I was slightly disappointed with the way so many questions from the 4 main characters kept being answered by saying that now was not the time to tell them things. I would have liked more explanations. However, a recommended read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

In the first 75 pages, Ty's apartment blows up, he runs for his life, is accused of being a terrorist, meets his estranged father of 30 years, and hops a private jet from Switzerland to DC to meet with top DARPA officials. And that's just the start of this exciting story. So much action! So well written! This is why @riddlist is one of my favorite authors.

My thanks to A. G. Riddle, NetGalley and Head of Zeus/AdAstra for the ARC and opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend Quantum Radio!

Once again, AG Riddle takes a complicated and boring subject and makes it interesting. The hook was the science and projects he described in the story were real. I could have read this in one sitting, except I kept researching all the projects Riddle mentions, and down the rabbit hole I went. The concept is straightforward when you read the story and compare it to real life. Riddle managed to interweave fiction and nonfiction into an elaborate story. This is different from his other books; it has more heart. Science is Riddle's signature style of writing. However, a particular element of his main four characters, Ty, Nora, Kato, and Maria, has a humanity feel. There is one thing that bugs me the title. The radio part of the title doesn't seem to fit. I can't say more than that without ruining a core plotline. The ending is open, and for once, I wished it wasn't. Riddle stands to be one of my favorite authors.

Thank you to Head of Zeus, Head of Zeus -- an AdAstra Book and NetGalley for letting me read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book by A. G. Rddle I have read and I can confidently say he is one of the most creative authors I have every read, His story lines are amazing as are his characters. I love the way he plots an alternative world that is very different from the other books I have read in this vain, fas passed, always offering a surprise turn and the way he brought the book to a conclusion was inspired. I loved this book and recommend it to you without hesitation. You will enjoy it.

4 stars, Strangers Together

QUANTUM RADIO
by A.G. Riddle

Four strangers come together because of the discovery of Dr. Ty Klein, a quantum physicist. The announcement of the discovery, brings four strangers together, who must work together if they are going to survive what comes next.

There was a lot of technical wording that I passed over, that didn't interest me. I lost interest in about the middle of the book but got interested in it again, then I was slightly disappointed at the ending. I can see where the technical terms would appeal to someone else.

I received a complimentary copy of #quantumradio from #netgalley #HeadOfZeus I was under no obligation to post a review. #agriddle

<i>Quantum Radio</i> initially revolves around Dr. Tyson Klein. Ty works at CERN in Switzerland when he discovers that quantum entanglement can be used to communicate. In fact, that's already happening. Ty detects a message that could be from another time, or another universe. Immediately after he gives a presentation about this to a select group of colleagues, he becomes the target of someone who clearly wants to prevent this from becoming known. In no time, he and three others find themselves in the middle of a rat race.

This book is the first instalment of what should (or could) be a new series. That is not explicitly stated anywhere. It appears to be a stand-alone, but the end of the story and the author's afterword make it clear that it’s not. It can be considered an introduction in which the four main characters are presented and the situation is explained. It's a full-fledged sci-fi novel though, containing a story that effectively goes somewhere and has an ending, but it has quite some loose ends left, to be dealt with in future novels.

The first half of the book almost literally starts with a bang. In no time Ty's apartment is the target of an explosion and Ty himself must go on the run from assailants. The pace is high from the start but drops after a while, when the plot evolves towards a succession of small puzzles to solve. While this is happening, the other three main characters are introduced. This is neatly woven into the main plot, with a lot of <i>show</i> and little <i>tell</i>. Although Riddle sometimes gets carried away by long info dumps, that is not the case when these new protagonists get introduced.

About halfway through the book, the story moves to a different setting. From then on, the genre temporarily changes from science fiction to historical fiction related to WWII, but with the story still set in our time. Even more than in the first part, we occasionally have to deal with a firm dose of explaining, not related to physics as in the first part, but history related. There is still more than enough adventure here, but this part never reaches the tension level and pace of the first one.

A final change of scenery near the end takes us back into science fiction and serves as preparation for what's to come in possible forthcoming books. Riddle ties up quite a few loose ends here (while at the same time adding others) but does so in a way I am usually not very fond of. He uses a mysterious character who explains everything like a kind of deus ex machina. The characters have gone through a quest of 400 pages, but still couldn’t explain all of what’s happened, and now it gets explained in a few pages. It’s usually way more interesting if the main characters discover these things along the way.

In general it’s a captivating story, based on true science, with well worked out story backgrounds and main characters that have some inner demons to conquer. Riddle focuses more on science and action than on character development, but at least there is a fair amount of personal struggles that enrich the story. The secondary characters get somewhat forgotten in the course of the story. Some of them deserve a comeback in a sequel though. It’s also very noticeable that the characters are all intrinsically good. Even the bad guys listen to their consciousness willingly and then do the right thing. Next to that, Riddle closes his books often with a happy ending for every character. Personally, I believe that a little less sweetness and a more recalcitrant antagonist, or an occasional main character with whom things go the wrong way, would be beneficial to the story. Nevertheless, <i>Quantum Radio</i> is an absorbing read, and fans of Riddle get exactly what they expect.

I really loved this book, it had me spellbound from start to finish! I’ve never studied physics but the story was riveting to follow with enough science t9 explain the processes without overwhelming the unschooled reader. The story is superb and I really hope a series follows as I am completely committed to the characters. A brilliant read!

I enjoyed Quantum Radio- a fast paced science fiction thriller by A G Riddle.
I received a copy of a free and unbiased opinion
I really enjoyed A G Riddle’s last book Lost in Time (review here), so I was pleased to be able to review this book.
This is a fast-paced action thriller with lots of science thrown. While the characters are interesting, this isn’t a book that is driven by the characters but by what happens to them, but the story is fascinating because of this.
Ty, Nora, Kato and Maria are chosen by some mysterious people unknown to earth to communicate through the quantum radio and as result find their lives and world changed forever.
The book does have a shady organisation operating in the background trying to influence events called The Covenant which adds an extra dimension ( and danger ) .The Quantum Radio is activated halfway through the book and I have to say I love where the author too the story I couldn’t put the book down after that (I have discussed this part after the spoiler alert if you really have to know).
There was a bit too much explanation on the science behind the quantum. This might have necessary to fully understand the quantum radio, but I thought it slowed down the story a bit. I skipped a bit of this and it made no difference to my enjoyment of the book!
This is the first book in a series, but the story does feel complete by the end with plenty of future strands for the next book to continue- I will definitely be reading this to find out what happens next.
Content Warning
References to substance misuse and parental abandonment
Spoiler alert- Do not read further if you don’t want to what happens when the quantum radio is turned on.

I wasn’t sure where the book was heading and was expecting a standard meet the alien plot, but the book takes a turn halfway which made it so much more interesting. I love parallel worlds and the idea of multiverse, and the quantum radio takes Ty and his friends to alternate world where World War 2 has a completely different outcome.

To have a basic idea of what this book is just grab the show sliders and stargate, a pinch of history, a lot of science and mix it well ^___^ and there you go, you have a thriller that will leave you in the end with the taste for more, that's the basic explanation for this book in a nutshell and you know what? I enjoyed it a lot, I don’t know why, but reading this author books feels like drinking a cold water glass in a very warm summer day, I felt that some plot holes stayed without answers, but the ending gave me hope of a sequel and then hopefully the answers will come our way.

I didn’t have one moment to feel bored in this book, actually events happen really fast, there’s something always happening, and when things happen I just want to know what will happen next, actually if sliders had used this kind of plot to give continuation it would have ended with much more success, you have 4 main characters, Ty, the first character we got to know and he was a bit naïve but really clever since he was the one that started to turn the wheel of events that brought to the construction of the quantum radio, and before others could understand what it was! he figured that out… Kato is the military man, with a foundress for history, hard-boiled, with a family he deeply love but he definitely needs a second chance with showing how much they mean for him, Maria she is like the odd one out, because at first, she doesn’t have any special skill, she does makeup and was a singer but that was before, because right now her life is looking pretty bad, she is currently living in a homeless shelter… and finally we have Nora, and for me this was a bit weird, why bring someone from Ty past? But she had more relevance to the story since she had knowledge on medicine and biology.

The answers in the end just left me with more questions, but I really want to dive and read more about this four characters and about the ones who brought this come forward, I even want to know more about penny, who she really was and how she will come together with us in the future, how Ty father fit in all of this, do his mother knew, where is our Nora father, so many things ^__^ this book will live in my head for a long time.

Thank you NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.

Very much a story in two halves, Quantum Radio by A. G. Riddle begins with a breakthrough at CERN where Dr. Tyson Klein discovers a code hidden in the data stream from an experiment which he believes is a message from another world. So begins a whirlwind and fast paced first half which culminates in Tyson and three others stepping in to an alternative version of Earth. A little like Stargate but without aliens. In the second half they see alternative versions of themselves and interact with them in order to bring about peace between the Pax and Hitler's legacy had he have won WW2. It's a clever ploy by A.G. Riddle as the concept of the multiverse seems to overcome the time travel paradox. I cannot help but think that the four might just represent an alternative four horsemen of the Apocalypse because in the multiverse there can be an infinite versions of ourselves. Now, whether this extends to the dark force; The Covenant and their opposites; Historians (batting for the good side), I am uncertain. So I guess A.G. Riddle has written his own paradox and one which he needs to resolve. Does The Covenant represent evil or the devil and the Historians the Saints or does it depend which multiverse you step in to? It is certainly a lengthy novel and the book finishes with endless possibilities for sequels.
I felt a little hijacked when it came to exploring the multiverses as I am not really in to science fiction. I don't dispute that multiverses could and possibly do exist but it's at the quantum level I'm given to understand.
So, I will base my score on an alternative me, one who might like science fiction.
Two niggles:
1, Why would quantum repeaters be needed when entanglement appears to have no limits?
2.. A satellite phone would not work in the depths of the DARPA facility.
I wish A.G. Riddle every success with this novel both here and wherever else it may be published in the multiverse.