Radiance

Brilliant, overlooked novel about 2 physicists entangled in corruption, mid-life crises, institutional incentives, technological inevitability, the end of the Cold War, nuclear bombs & the Star Wars missile defense program, existential risks & accelerationism. Based on true events.

ALL THAT AND FANTASTIC, REALISTIC DIALOGUE.

A masterpiece.

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Thematically, Scholz pairs a character that is realistic and sees human politics for what it is - inevitable, Machiavellian, out of control, conflicted - and one that is naive, in search for truth. But in the novel - as in life - truth is problematic, as even smart men can't agree. It is not much of a spoiler to say the tragedy of Quine is that he eventually makes 'moral' mistakes like Highet too. Yet, morality is in the eye of the beholder, and while Scholz has written a political book, it steers clear of easy judgements or finger pointing. Democratic oversight is very hard to get right, and bureaucracy unavoidable. Decisions are "taken in the absolute vacuum of procedure and contingency", and humans have complex, differing motivations. We all need to eat.

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