The Clockwork Rocket

Abstract

The Clockwork Rocket introduces characters from an alien civilisation that becomes threatened by the Hurtlers, meteors that enter their planetary system from the same direction, but at different times. Yalda, who is three years old in the beginning of the narrative, grows up to become a physicist, dedicating herself to the study of the laws of physics, especially regarding time and light. Ultimately, she concludes that the technology which needs to be developed and implemented in order to defend the world against the Hurtlers must be created in a generation ship (the Peerless), so that there is sufficient time to address the issue, as time on the ship would pass differently from that on the planet. Being a hard science fiction novel, The Clockwork Rocket presents the reader with extremely elaborate calculations and explanations of the laws of physics that apply in the aliens’ home world, as well as outside of it (such as how the Hurtlers function). It also presents reflections on determinism, causality, biology, sexuality and reproduction, among others.