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{4.5/5} “It was very, very strange, but he replied, saying words that he’d said countless times before but meant — really meant — for the first time: ‘I’m happy for you.'”

Quantum Night by Robert J. Sawyer, published in 2016

James Marchuk is a psychology professor who’s been called to testify at a murder trial by the defense. Marchuk says he can prove whether or not the defendant is a psychopath — which might have an impact on whether or not he is executed. Meanwhile, Marchuk discovers there’s a 6-month period of his life that he has no memory of.

Once it gets going you’ll want to find out what happens.

The speculation is fascinating, although a bit technical at times. It has to do with how everyone is (hypothetically) either a psychopath, a philosophical zombie, or someone with an inner voice. It also has to do with ethics, and what’s best for the biggest number of people.

There are some pretty shocking world events that take place in the novel. World events have been pretty shocking in real life lately, though, so you might find they’re all too plausible.

I’ve read 25 of Sawyer’s books. I previously reviewed his novel Red Planet Blues.