A physics treatise rethinks a fundamental yet mysterious aspect of the universe.

Isaac Newton thought of gravity as a force pulling together all matter; Albert Einstein, more abstractly, considered it a curvature of space-time, caused by matter. Ticer’s concept of gravity goes further in its complexity and abstruseness, which seeks to unify different threads of cosmology and quantum mechanics. He describes gravity as a “vacuum effect,” generated by virtual particles that blink in and out of existence, and he associates it with the Hubble constant that governs the speed at which the universe is expanding—seen in the cosmic redshift of light toward longer wavelengths—and with a “tired light” notion that ascribes the redshift to interactions between photons from distant stars and intervening objects. The author sets this account against the history of physics from Aristotle to Newton, encompassing Einsteinian relativity and modern models like the Higgs field. Ticer’s theorizing ambitiously seeks to unify discordant strands of thought about gravity, which still lacks an entirely complete and consistent explanation. His early chapters on ancient and early modern physics are lucid and illuminating, and he offers insightful, thought-provoking statements about lapses in modern physics consensus, such as “What is not explained is how gravity is constantly being created as a particular form of energy that does not diminish its source of creations.” However, the book is very dense. Ticer takes on too many topics to systematically develop them all, and advanced material is introduced in an abrupt, sketchy way that presumes readers already have expertise. There are reams of equations but few diagrams to help readers visualize the physical reality behind them. Ticer’s explanation of gravity is not simple, nor is it presented in a systematic or intuitive fashion; instead, it gets lost in turgid, coiling prose: “Mass is to be considered as the superimposition of wave packets of radiation wherefrom it is further explained how a restoring force is created as a recycling process of emitted gravitational radiation….” Lay readers will be baffled, and even physicists may find themselves frequently scratching their heads.

A far-reaching but forbidding disquisition on gravity.

When an apparent space alien rescues a woman from an assault, federal agents and terrorists take notice in Ticer’s (Explaining Gravity and Hubble Cosmology, 2018, etc.) sci-fi tale.

Kayla Chalet is taking classes at the University of Oregon. She and her mom, Darcy, are struggling with debt from medical expenses due to the latter’s cancer. One day, while Darcy’s walking home from class, a man attacks and tries to rape her. Thankfully, a stranger intercedes—knocking the attacker out with a “barrel like device”—but he tells Kayla that he wants to avoid the police, as he’s neither a citizen nor carrying proper identification. She suggests that he’s an alien, and he confirms this by saying “I am an alien stranger.” They part ways, but she soon confides in her mother, who tells the police about the rape attempt. A detective believes that her savior may be “a spy with advanced technology.” Soon, the FBI is looking into the incident as well. Then the stranger communicates with Kayla telepathically. After she rescues him from a potential drowning, he rewards her with millions of dollars, which gradually appear in her bank account. Kayla and her classmates want to use the funds to combat climate change, but it’s later revealed that the money once belonged to drug-dealing terrorists, who want it back. Kayla’s relatable struggle for control of her life drives much of the story; the stranger tries to control her with money, and the authorities attempt to do so with threats of prison time. Ticer wisely keeps the stranger ambiguous, keeping readers constantly unsure about his trustworthiness. However, several prolonged scenes, including a discussion of the Big Bang and a sequence in which Kayla’s classmate John von Lay teaches her the game of billiards, have no bearing on the plot. Other parts are simply confusing; for example, at one point, the stranger asks Kayla to sell an extravagant necklace because he’s “in need of money,” although he later manages to transfer a fortune to Kayla’s account. Nevertheless, the ending retains some engaging ambiguity while still offering resolution.

An intriguing novel with a tenacious protagonist, despite a few narrative stumbles.