The new novel by Canada's top Science Fiction writer In 2059 two very different groups have their minds uploaded into a quantum computer in Waterloo, Ontario. One group consists of astronauts preparing for Earth's first interstellar voyage. The other? Convicted murderers, serving their sentences in a virtual-reality prison. But when disaster strikes, the astronauts and the prisoners must download back into physical reality and find a way to work together to save Earth from destruction. The Downloaded debuted in a six-month exclusive window as an Audible Original narrated by Academy Award-winner Brendan Fraser promoted by national TV and radio ad campaigns. This print edition is coming out immediately after Audible's exclusivity ends and is being supported by a six-city cross-Canada author book tour.
The new novel by Canada's top Science Fiction writer In 2059 two very different groups have their minds uploaded into a quantum computer in Waterloo, Ontario. One group consists of astronauts preparing for Earth's first interstellar voyage. The other? Convicted murderers, serving their sentences in a virtual-reality prison. But when disaster strikes, the astronauts and the prisoners must download back into physical reality and find a way to work together to save Earth from destruction. The Downloaded debuted in a six-month exclusive window as an Audible Original narrated by Academy Award-winner Brendan Fraser promoted by national TV and radio ad campaigns. This print edition is coming out immediately after Audible's exclusivity ends and is being supported by a six-city cross-Canada author book tour.
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11 books in catalog
Hard science fiction exploring consciousness, quantum physics, and human morality defines a major branch of contemporary speculative fiction, exemplified by the Hugo Award-winning novel Hominids. Canadian-American author Robert J. Sawyer built a celebrated body of work around these thought experiments, merging high-concept scientific hypotheses with philosophical drama.
Born in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1960 and raised in Toronto, Robert J. Sawyer published 25 novels alongside numerous short stories in publications such as Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Amazing Stories, On Spec, and Nature. Over his career, he became one of only eight authors to win all three major international honors for science fiction novels: the Nebula Award for The Terminal Experiment in 1995, the Hugo Award for Hominids in 2003, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Mindscan in 2006.
His contributions to literature and culture earned him appointments to the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario, as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the 2017 Robert A. Heinlein Award. In addition to his novel-length fiction and short stories, Sawyer has worked as a scriptwriter and speaker, and his novel Flashforward was adapted into a major network television series.
Sawyer's fiction frequently investigates fundamental questions surrounding artificial intelligence, human evolution, paleontology, quantum physics, and the nature of consciousness. His narratives blend detailed scientific research with relatable human conflict, examining how technological breakthroughs impact legal systems, personal ethics, and society at large.
Many of his stories employ mystery structures and courtroom proceedings to debate complex ethical dilemmas, using alien or alternative evolutionary perspectives to reframe human social norms. Works like Starplex, Frameshift, and Factoring Humanity demonstrate his signature approach of grounding speculative scientific principles in fast-paced, character-driven plots.
11 books in catalog
Hard science fiction exploring consciousness, quantum physics, and human morality defines a major branch of contemporary speculative fiction, exemplified by the Hugo Award-winning novel Hominids. Canadian-American author Robert J. Sawyer built a celebrated body of work around these thought experiments, merging high-concept scientific hypotheses with philosophical drama.
Born in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1960 and raised in Toronto, Robert J. Sawyer published 25 novels alongside numerous short stories in publications such as Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Amazing Stories, On Spec, and Nature. Over his career, he became one of only eight authors to win all three major international honors for science fiction novels: the Nebula Award for The Terminal Experiment in 1995, the Hugo Award for Hominids in 2003, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Mindscan in 2006.
His contributions to literature and culture earned him appointments to the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario, as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the 2017 Robert A. Heinlein Award. In addition to his novel-length fiction and short stories, Sawyer has worked as a scriptwriter and speaker, and his novel Flashforward was adapted into a major network television series.
Sawyer's fiction frequently investigates fundamental questions surrounding artificial intelligence, human evolution, paleontology, quantum physics, and the nature of consciousness. His narratives blend detailed scientific research with relatable human conflict, examining how technological breakthroughs impact legal systems, personal ethics, and society at large.
Many of his stories employ mystery structures and courtroom proceedings to debate complex ethical dilemmas, using alien or alternative evolutionary perspectives to reframe human social norms. Works like Starplex, Frameshift, and Factoring Humanity demonstrate his signature approach of grounding speculative scientific principles in fast-paced, character-driven plots.
