The science and technology of Rift

Attention: this section contains significant plot spoilers. If you haven't yet read the book, you might consider returning here later. --RC

Rift is an adventure story that uses the idea of radical and new technology to drive the plot. Cameron volunteers to test what he thinks is a teleportation machine, and is not so pleased when it's revealed that he was actually cloned. In fact, the original idea occurred to me one day in 1998 while standing in front of a fax machine at work. Yes, I thought it was a pretty original idea, and yes, that was pretty naïve of me, but you know how it goes. Ignorance is bliss.

And while I enjoy reading about new ideas and theories produced by science (physics especially) anyone who shares similar interests knows that what happens to Cameron in Rift is not plausible. No real explanation is ever given about the technology behind the transmission machine because there is none--at least none that employ existing theories or technology.

But that's not to say that all the science and technology used the in the book is fiction. Aside from the plot device of the transmission machine, I tried my best to ground the rest of the story in today's or near-future reality. So if you're interested, I'll discuss here the various "scientific" ideas mentioned in the book and try to explain the difference between fact and fiction. I'm by no means an expert in any of these subjects, so if anyone out there spots conceptual errors or mistakes in my descriptions, I'd love to know so I can make the appropriate changes.

Quantum teleportation

Matter reorganization

Untraceable phone calls

TEMPEST

NeuroStor memory technology