Vortex

By: Robert Charles Wilson

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Vortex tells the story of Turk Findley, the protagonist introduced in Axis, who is transported 10,000 years into the future by the mysterious entities called “the Hypotheticals”. In this future, humanity exists on a chain of planets connected by Hypothetical gateways; but Earth itself is a dying world, effectively quarantined. Turk and his young friend Isaac Dvali are taken up by a community of fanatics who use them to enable a passage to the dying Earth, where they believe a prophecy of human/Hypothetical contact will be fulfilled. The prophecy is only partly true, however, and Turk must unravel the truth about the nature and purpose of the Hypotheticals before they carry him on a journey through warped time to the end of the universe itself.

Vortex is thrilling and complex science-fiction novel from Hugo Award-winning author Robert Charles Wilson.

©2011 Robert Charles Wilson (P)2011 Macmillan Audio

What a great End to a satisfying trilogy.

Loved this series. I am often concerned with the outcome of sci-fi series having disappointing endings, but Vortex delivers.

Vortex is captivating!

I lost interest in the Spin trilogy after listening to Axis and almost decided not to listen to Vortex. I'm really glad I decided to listen to the last book of the Axis trilogy. Vortex is captivating, exciting and has well-developed characters. I think Vortex is better than both Spin and Axis. Bottom line: Vortex is a great story and one that I look forward to listening to again.

Somewhat unexpected but unsatisfactory ending

The story was good until the end. I think he did a good job, as always, to answer all opened ended questions and finally answered the questions about the Hypotheticals. I felt like the end however was a little empty, but I suppose when you think about the pace of the book and the pace at which mankind is portrayed in that ending was logical, but it wasn’t exactly surprising or well, very creative. I really hate to say that and I think the series is great, just not that last bit, but with all that said this book is still worth reading.

over extended writing

i am a tremendous fan of Robert charles Wilson. perhaps like all writers he ha reached the limits of his own talents. i admit i loose interest with many things. so this could be a biase opinion.


its just after three massive exhilarating sequels i found myself struggling to believe another endlessly geniused soliloqui on reality. the feeling was there as Wilsons passion for stories convinces readers of their own feelings about the stories. yet the backdrop had finally becomo too grand. i say this about all Wilsons novels en total from his very first pulp efforts. there was just far too much going on by Vortex. i had even skipped middle chapters in reaction. i could feel for the characters. perhaps that is the mark of mature writing. yet i could not continue to pretend i had entered another reality and was grudgingly leaving it withou knowing. that is why i read Wilson. perhaps both our standards have become too demanding.

Nice ending to a trilogy

I loved it, it was not as good as spin but enjoyed it. gives closure to Spin

I like to think of it as an "alternative ending"

Three books: Spin, Axis and Vortex.


If Spin is viewed as a standalone novel, the Hypotheticals (aka the aliens) are a vast Mystery, so vast and complex that mere mortal humans cannot even conceive of what they are.


In Axis/Vortex - especially by the end of Vortex - the Hypos are pretty much explained.


This works, certainly. Vortex is a very good read. RCW delivers once again with good character development (yay!) and a clear, taut narrative. He gets around the problem of creating believeable characters 10,000 years into the future in a clever way. The Big Concept approach of Spin is continued, with a lovely balance struck between the "human interest" element (characters we can relate to and care about) and the sci-fi stuff. Both elements are well described and compelling. The ending is satisfying and not only beautifully written (one gets the sense that a LOT of care went into this) but also moving.


Still, there is something about the Hypotheticals being so far beyond us that they are intrinsically, utterly Unknowable (as they were in Spin) that really appeals to me, so I prefer to think of Axis/Vortex as a POSSIBLE ending to the saga, rather than THE ending.

Better than Spin

I liked Spin quite a bit, and Axis somewhat less so. I was prepared for Vortex to follow the common downward spiral of most sequels. I was pleasantly surprised to find Vortex was significantly better than Spin. The characterization was deeper and more touching, the story more compelling, and the ideas more thought provoking. I am a real stickler for good science and as wild as the story becomes it remains grounded in (equally wild) current theories of cosmology. This is not a feel-good romp, the story is dark, thoughtful and intense. The conclusion may not satisfy every reader, but it was consistent, unexpected, and interesting. The twists were inventive and fascinating. The Spin was good, but I suspect I will be thinking about Vortex for some time to come.

Great Story,

I have not listened to the previous two books the other reviewers talked about and I did not need to, but after listening to this book, I most certainly will. The narrator is incredible as always, and the book is so well written its a pleasurable and engaging visit that will keep you spell bound to the end.

Disappointing and slow

The first volume was great. This one plodded. Only the Earth-side story was interesting. The rest was preachy and tedious. I was glad when it was finally over.

Tired of preachy Sci-fi

I really hate it when authors use a work of fiction to grind a political axe. Man-made global warming is more pop-science then settled science, and I'm tired of having it preached to me, with smug condescension, in works of science fiction.