“Greg Egan, often considered the hardest of all hard SF authors, is mostly unknown outside of his dedicated following. No photos exist of him on the internet, he does not attend SF conventions, and he does not sign autographs. He occupies an odd place in the genre book-world in which he’s an award-winning writer, but more often awarded in translated markets than the US/UK scene”
“Egan is never explicit with his politics nor does he preach to or patronize the reader. Still, much of his work belies a deep concern for the other, no matter how different or bizarre, a critique of the powers that oppress us, and a belief that we can improve the worlds we inhabit”
“In a society dominated by tech titans, reprehensible politicians, increasing polarization, and immoral corporations, Egan’s novels portray indirect acts of rebellion, solidarity in the face of catastrophe, and sources of hope and inspiration”
“Egan doesn’t world-build, he world-unravels: from idioms in conversation (“it’s go immortal or go home”), to advertisements attempting to take advantage of cyte superstition, to history (generational prejudice against “Flourishers,” people with robust cytes who don’t die), to crime (“Scavengers” who steal others’ cytes), the bizarre becomes normal and the surreal becomes commonplace”
“Egan is a champion of the triumph of science and reason. He is also a remarkable problem-solver across a wide range of narrative challenges. He doesn’t just pose ethical questions and leave them unanswered; he also provides a blueprint for answering them and moving forward. The answers are often subtle encouragements toward empathy, trust in oneself, restraint, and patience”
“Egan is an expert at conveying research breakthroughs and progress, describing the conflicts, dialogue, and questions asked when pursuing scientific discoveries. He paints these scenes with tension and realism, with characters deliberating, discussing, analyzing modifications, and learning to achieve their aims”
“The undercurrent of these interactions, as in all of Egan’s books, is that the answer can be discovered, through work and gradual understanding, and that the world will be a better place once it’s found”