Rating: 
Summary: A Rarity in SF
Review: "Einstein's Bridge" is reminiscent of Benford's excellent "Timescape". Both are authentic to the scientific endeavor and both are satisfyingly speculative while trying to get the physics right. "Timescape" is superior in many ways, but "Einstein's Bridge" shines the best when it covers the politics behind big physics. Cramer's take on the recent past (remember Quayle!) glows with the brilliance of astute hindsight. This book is a wonderful conceit of why things turned out the way they did for the SSC.
Rating: 
Summary: A hard science novel that reads like an adventure story
Review: After having enjoyed TWISTOR some years ago, I have been waiting for a possible sequel to that novel. The tantalising glimpse of an alien world accessible through a "gateway" bore the promise of much adventure.EINSTEIN'S BRIDGE is certainly no sequel to that book, though the concept of parallel universes also forms its basis. It is an exceptionally good "hard science" story. The physics is credible and presented with such clarity that very few readers will be discouraged. They will indeed learn quite a lot about high energy physics along the way, and gain much insight concerning the way scientific research is done and how the related "politics" works. The characterisation of the protagonists is good, the plot is excellent for its rigour and unpredictability. There are some some truly terrifying moments (when the "hive" is found and breaks loose) that have the same kind of impact as the claustrophobic anguish of being embedded inside a tree in TWISTOR. Like in that novel, the ending is also open, though more ominous...An exciting adventure that no reader will ever forget. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and encourage the author to continue practicing his considerable talent for SF. He can at least count on one unconditional reader of his next novel: me!
Rating:
Summary: A hard science novel that reads like an adventure story
Review: After having enjoyed TWISTOR some years ago, I have been waiting for a possible sequel to that novel. The tantalising glimpse of an alien world accessible through a "gateway" bore the promise of much adventure.
EINSTEIN'S BRIDGE is certainly no sequel to that book, though the concept of parallel universes also forms its basis. It is an exceptionally good "hard science" story. The physics is credible and presented with such clarity that very few readers will be discouraged. They will indeed learn quite a lot about high energy physics along the way, and gain much insight concerning the way scientific research is done and how the related "politics" works. The characterisation of the protagonists is good, the plot is excellent for its rigour and unpredictability. There are some some truly terrifying moments (when the "hive" is found and breaks loose) that have the same kind of impact as the claustrophobic anguish of being embedded inside a tree in TWISTOR. Like in that novel, the ending is also open, though more ominous...
An exciting adventure that no reader will ever forget. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and encourage the author to continue practicing his considerable talent for SF. He can at least count on one unconditional reader of his next novel: me!
Rating: 
Summary: Hard Science / Soft Plot
Review: Although meticulous in his physics, Mr. Cramer's depiction of the "ultimate alien" (the Hive) is distinctive only in that we've seen it before. Remember the Giant Ants in the 50's SciFi thrillers? Only their method of arrival seems different. But Mr. Cramer's lack of imagination in envisioning aliens is understandable ... if you consider the imagination used to get his trash-scifi-author-posing-as-a-reporter hero into the super collider to begin the story. Maybe he thinks that real scientists don't read science fiction?
Rating: 
Summary: A book only a physics nerd could love.
Review: As a professional in the life sciences, the physics of the Superconducting Super Collider and wormholes were inadequately explained. I remained a somewhat mystified outsider unsympathetic to all the main players, and the concept of the Iris character was just plain silly. Moreover, on page 48 of the paperback edition, the author has a traveler passing directly from Alabama into Louisiana without having to transit Mississippi. Now THAT'S a wormhole!
Rating:
Summary: Einstein's Bridge is not for sf nerds.
Review: At least Cramer, in spite of his scientific background, doesn't fall into these traps. His characters are interesting, decent morally, and are justifiably motivated to do what they have to do. Cramer also manages not to bog the reader down in inordinately long ramblings filled with technical jargon, or at least he made me feel not to be ignorant of what he was talking about by graciously filling me in on the numerous acronyms. Which is unlike what several current wordmeisters of modern hard scifi are actually doing. My only complaint with this exciting, easily readable and enjoyable book, was that Cramer seems to have truncated the tale too early, and left a bit of unresolved issues (maybe a sequel intended in that). Still, EB is clearly a heart-stopping mixture of Lovecraftian mythos and Borg mania. (Made me almost feel as if I was reading another great novel by William Browning Spencer [Resume With Monsters].) This book is a steal. Grab it!
Rating:
Summary: Extremely enjoyable--I loved it!
Review: Believe it or not, it was the Acknowledgements that made me buy Einstein's Bridge. John Cramer wrote that when the Superconducting Super Collider project was scrapped in 1993, it was a year before he could bear to look at his unfinished manuscript. I "felt his pain." Those who have an interest in particle physics will especially enjoy this book, although I think any fan of hard sci-fi will be delighted with it. The characters are great--likable and believable. The real beauty of this book is its highly original plot. The backdrop is Waxahatchie, TX, (yes, that was to be the SSC site) in the first decade of the 21st Century--in other words, 'bout now. Our high-energy physics experiments have attracted notice of two different groups of aliens. We have the bad guys, who invade and take over other worlds, and the good guys, who empower other civilizations to defeat the bad guys before the invasion can be completed. They do this by contacting us and teaching us to "read" and "write." (These words will never have the same mundane meaning to you again after this book!) There is plenty of good science mixed in with the fiction, and enough twists to keep you wondering how on earth it will resolve itself. Much to my delight, time travel was even introduced. I don't want to say more, as it would spoil the plot. This book takes you along on a great ride--enjoy it!
Rating:
Summary: excellent twist
Review: Cramer takes what would be a worthwhile, but, not particularly original disaster book (that he, to his credit pokes fun at) and twists the second half into a delightful telling of our history with a terrible inside joke. I was about to give up when this twist captured my interest and swept me through. I will agree with others that the ending was not satisfying. I appreciate the use of cycles, but, we deserve a bit more. Overall, you shouldn't miss this one.
Rating:
Summary: Einstein's Bridge
Review: Einstein's Bridge is an excellent Hard Science Fiction book. I enjoyed the very strong hero and heroin characters, the physics presented as the basis of a powerful and profound story and a terrific surprise ending. There was also a very tender love story carefully integrated into and throughout the plot. Good science with a powerful love story.
Rating:
Summary: Einstein's Bridge
Review: Einstein's Bridge is an excellent Hard Science Fiction book. I enjoyed the very strong hero and heroin characters, the physics presented as the basis of a powerful and profound story and a terrific surprise ending. There was also a very tender love story carefully integrated into and throughout the plot. Good science with a powerful love story.
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