The Oppenheimer Alternative cover art

The Oppenheimer Alternative

 Preview

Audible Standard 1-month free trial

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo + applicable tax after 30-day trial. Cancel Anytime
Try for $0.00
Compare plans

The Oppenheimer Alternative

Written by: Robert J. Sawyer
Narrated by: Josh Bloomberg
Try for $0.00

$8.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $25.47

Buy Now for $25.47

Writing with “a sense of wonder that hasn’t prevailed since the days of Heinlein” (Books in Canada), best novel Hugo and Nebula Award winner Robert J. Sawyer brings you “a truly science-fictional work of alternate history” (S.M. Stirling).

While J. Robert Oppenheimer and his Manhattan Project team struggle to develop the A-bomb, Edward Teller wants something even more devastating: a weapon based on nuclear fusion - the mechanism that powers the sun. But Teller’s research leads to a terrifying discovery: by the year 2030, the sun will eject its outermost layer, destroying the entire inner solar system - including Earth.

After the war ends, Oppenheimer’s physicists combine forces with Albert Einstein, computing pioneer John von Neumann, and rocket designer Wernher von Braun - the greatest scientific geniuses from the last century racing against time to save our future.

Meticulously researched and replete with real-life characters and events, The Oppenheimer Alternative is a breathtaking adventure through both real and alternate history.

©2020 Robert J. Sawyer (P)2020 Recorded Books Alternate History Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Fiction War
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
All stars
Most Relevant
Excellent book. Lots of drama between the various characters, governments, scientists and the military keep the pace of the novel moving along nicely. Well researched by the author and penned with great imagination make this one of my favorite SF novels. Robert makes me proud to be a fellow Canadian.
I also liked Sawyer's idea of a new calendar based on Anti Atoman-(AA), and Post Atoman-(PA)--I'm guessing at the spelling as I had listened to an audio edition---which would replace our current religious based BC/AC calendar. Think of it, a new calendar based on science not religion---love it!!!
(Interesting to note that I had to reread the last chapter about 3 times to fully understand what was going on and let my mind absorb the complexity of it---In short, everything a great SF novel should do, and Sawyer did it in spades).
Note: I had listened to the audio edition as voiced by Josh Bloomberg. Excellently narrated and complete with the various accents and tones

"Fascinating"

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
So he combines history with a plausible twist that feels like you are easedropping for the most important moments and then he carries the story in a new direction. Love it.

Robert J Sawyer is a master storyteller

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Excellent "what if" alternative history! Picks up fictionally where the movie finishes factually. Very entertaining.

Fantastic!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
One of Sawyer’s trademarks beyond the excellent storytelling is his meticulous research. This book is a wonderful example of what must have been years of research, compiling all the notes, and then weaving this page turner into this book. Highly recommend

Fantastically researched

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
one of the most well thought out I've ever read and certainly one of RJS' best.

A MUST READ

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews