Starquake (novel)

Starquake is a science fiction novel written by Robert L. Forward, published in 1985. It is a hard science fiction work, heavily grounded in physics, particularly neutron star physics and general relativity. The novel explores the consequences of a "starquake," a sudden and massive rearrangement of the crust of a neutron star, and its impact on a human research team stationed nearby.

The story centers on a group of scientists who have established a research outpost on a planet orbiting the neutron star, Dragon's Egg, also the setting of Forward's earlier novel of the same name. They are studying the evolution of life on the neutron star's surface when the star undergoes a catastrophic starquake. The event releases an enormous amount of energy, causing widespread destruction and dramatically accelerating the evolution of the cheela, the intelligent lifeforms that inhabit Dragon's Egg.

Starquake is noted for its detailed and imaginative depiction of the extreme physical environment around a neutron star, including the immense gravity, magnetic fields, and tidal forces. The novel delves into the relativistic effects of time dilation and length contraction as experienced by the human scientists relative to the cheela, whose perception of time is vastly different due to their rapid biological processes. The narrative interweaves scientific exposition with character development, exploring the challenges and ethical dilemmas faced by the researchers as they witness the rapidly changing world of the cheela.

The book builds upon the concepts introduced in Dragon's Egg, further expanding the exploration of exotic life and its interaction with extreme astrophysical phenomena. It examines themes of scientific discovery, the limits of human understanding, and the potential for communication with radically different forms of intelligence.