Permutation City is smart and delightful, and messes with the reader’s mind. This novel of
virtual reality with multiple levels of simulated word is an example of great
world-building.
1. Start with basic science.
2. Change a few principles and
laws to create pseudo-science.
3. Build a world based on this
new pseudo-science.
Greg
Egan creates the new world by laying down the new principles and laws, and
challenges the reader to take the journey into the unknown. As a result, he
gives credit to science and makes pseudo-science a key character in the story,
rather than just using some fantastic science as the background, or as an
excuse to a story that could happen in many other settings.
