Preface and Introduction
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Cataclysmic, hard-core science fiction; the cyclical dance of time, the reincarnation of past and present. An eternal mirror of the future, reflecting all ages; the ultimate love that endures against all odds. This is a science fiction novel tightly bound to the cutting edge of contemporary technology—the second installment in the "Nikolai Tesla’s Rope" series.
The first book, "To the Dark Frequency," was released in digital format in January 2024 on Qidian Reading and has been completed; the print edition was simultaneously published by China Radio and Television Press (ISBN978-7-5043-9178-0).
In a single sentence: Drawing on Nikola Tesla’s theories, Michael (whose real-life prototype is easy to guess) develops Mars and tells the story of Tesla’s transformation of Earth 65 million years ago.
The novel employs a mirrored narrative structure, paralleling two symmetrical storylines. Two pairs of lovers serve as protagonists, living within the same solar system but separated by 65 million years.
Odd-numbered chapters recount the "previous life," even-numbered chapters the "current life," alternating within identical settings to form the mirror. Two seemingly independent stories take turns exploring the same scenario, showcasing technological wonders and the resultant clashes of values.
All characters in the novel are mirror people; they cannot access holograms, while the reader, seeing both inside and outside the mirror, enjoys a full perspective on past and present. The characters, impaired by incomplete information, are fearless in their ignorance, while the reader—privy to all consequences—finds themselves more conflicted.
The author assumes no stance, presenting only the wonders of technology and the ethical shifts as objectively as possible to the reader.
How wide must the boundaries of science and technology be drawn? How resilient should the elasticity of moral ethics be set? Is unconditional love truly without limits or bottom lines?
Though it is science fiction, the author adopts a realist perspective, depicting and projecting the three major directions of today’s technology: space exploration, artificial intelligence, and life sciences.
The novel envisions the technical feasibility of long-term Mars survival, Venus terraforming, and other space industry advancements; projects the near-future of compound-base chips, brain-machine fusion, living robots, and subconscious learning in computational science; and explores gene therapy, cloning, and other both fascinating and unsettling developments in life sciences.
In Chapter 28, "Satellite Twenty-Eight," of the previous novel "To the Dark Frequency," the author, through the voice of a character, puts forth a scientific prediction: Beyond Uranus’s 27 discovered moons, there exists another with a diameter greater than 10 kilometers, named by the author as "Satellite 28."
As early as July 2019, the author, as an amateur astronomer, first announced the prediction of Satellite 28 at an academic conference with astronomers from the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
On December 26, 2019, the Xinglong Observatory used its 2.16-meter telescope to observe Uranus’s moons; unfortunately, Satellite 28 proved too small and dim, and the attempt failed to locate it.
In January 2024, the author, as lead author, published an astronomical paper in a professional journal, studying the symmetry in the distribution of the 285 discovered satellites in the solar system (as of July 2023). Since the research focused on distribution patterns, the paper did not include the prediction of Satellite 28.
Interestingly, some new discoveries about the distribution of solar system satellites and the scientific basis for the prediction of Satellite 28 are woven into the novel itself, notably in Chapter 26, "Triad," and Chapter 28, "Satellite Twenty-Eight," of "To the Dark Frequency."
The highlight: After completing "To the Dark Frequency," foreign astronomers using the 6.5-meter Magellan telescope at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile successfully discovered a new satellite of Uranus.
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In February 2024, the authoritative International Astronomical Union (IAU) Minor Planet Center (MPC) officially confirmed the discovery, assigning the approximately 8–12 kilometer diameter moon the designation S/2023 U1, with its formal number to be U XXVIII (Satellite 28).
Interestingly, Uranian moons are traditionally named after fairies from Shakespeare’s plays. For example, the largest two, Titania and Oberon, derive their names from the fairy queen and king in "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The main characters’ names have been claimed by the large satellites, leaving the minor fairies—Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, and others—unused.
Had Chinese astronomers discovered Satellite 28 based on the author’s prediction, the author, with naming rights, would have proposed "Cobweb," for though the spider is small, its web can catch the heavens.
Now, the naming rights belong to the discoverers, and the International Astronomical Union has declared it will follow tradition, selecting from the names of fairies in Shakespeare’s works.
What will Satellite 28 ultimately be called? The answer is soon to be revealed. Whether the result matches the author’s vision remains unknown.
Although the author and the Chinese astronomers who participated in the search feel a touch of regret, they remain calm. Compared to the vastness of the universe, human vision is so limited; there will always be more astronomical events waiting to be discovered and predicted!
Fortunately, with Qidian as the stage and readers as witnesses, a science fiction novel predicting an undiscovered moon, later found in reality, has become a legendary tale—how cool is that! Indeed:
Shapes obscure, hard to discern,
Chasing illusions, seeking paths unknown.
Shakespeare’s dreams leave webs behind,
Giant mirrors sweep the sky, catching moons.
In this novel, through the characters, the author introduces the Mars explosion hypothesis to explain the formation of the asteroid belt, inviting astronomers to investigate. The story also presents two technically feasible, falsifiable scientific experiment proposals: the lunar mass anomaly experiment to unravel gravity’s mysteries, and the Saturn ring marker experiment to solve the puzzle of dark matter.
As with "To the Dark Frequency," this novel is also a quest for truth.
Many characters are based on real or mythological prototypes, historical events, arithmetic calendars, and archaeological discoveries, with even the most fantastic aerospace, computer, and life science ideas reflecting the latest technological advances.
In "To the Dark Frequency," the author blended scientific knowledge—astronomy, physics, etc.—with artistic forms such as poetry and music to create the novel’s backdrop, weaving century-spanning historical threads and regional cultural flavors under a global perspective.
In this novel, the stage is expanded to encompass the entire solar system: five major planets, moons, asteroids, and comets serve as backdrops for earth-shattering upheaval; the timeline stretches through the entire geologically defined Cenozoic era, from the end of the Cretaceous to the present and future, creating a genesis within the tides of change.
Moreover, the novel combines hard-core technologies—astronomy, physics, computer science, genetic engineering—with the evolutionary histories of geology and paleontology, alongside the symbols of human civilization represented by Egypt, India, and the Maya (the third volume will focus on Chinese culture). Poetry, music, architecture, and film are interwoven, forming a multifaceted structure of both rigidity and charm.
The author strings together the pearls scattered across the solar system’s expanse and the long river of time with Nikolai Tesla’s "rope," soaking the hard core of technology in a romantic literary atmosphere.
No entanglement in scenic description; employing a shorthand, sketch-like writing style, the plot advances at triple speed like scrolling through videos.
No predetermined judgments; with repeating cycles of mirrored settings, the story plays out like a game, two lives reflecting past and present.
In a letter to readers of "To the Dark Frequency," the author once said, "The boundary between science fiction and fantasy lies in ‘out of thin air.’"
During the creation of this novel, the author maintained a style that balances novelty and connectivity, aiming to provide a case study combining fantasy and reality.
Readers can close their eyes and wander through the dreamlike wonders, or open their eyes to feel the imminent arrival of future technology.
Setting aside fantasy, in science fiction, the difference between imagination and speculation lies in "whether it’s possible."
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This novel is a realist science fiction work, echoing the famous line from the film "Walter Defends Sarajevo" once shared with readers: "Whoever lives, will see!"
It is not merely a novel; beneath its mirrored pair separated by 65 million years, it resembles a repeatable game or thought experiment.
If humanity truly had "two lives," with the temptations of the mortal world and the cycles of fate, would people repeat the same choices?
The author hopes to explore with readers: Faced with the immense changes and uncertainties of the universe, what is the secret that has enabled fragile human civilization to endure and persist until today?
In "To the Dark Frequency," the characters display loyalty, wisdom, and courage; when these are not enough, they choose resilience, one of humanity’s most precious qualities.
If you cannot succeed for a moment, endure for a lifetime.
Is this enough?
What if even a lifetime’s resilience is not enough?
"Explosive Wavelength" presents another essential treasure: humanity, wielding science and technology, with a compassionate heart and an indescribable light of fortune overhead, survives and flourishes across millions of years, passing down through generations.
That is…
Forgot to mention: There’s a romance subplot with two female leads, sweet moments abound—come see for yourself!
Welcome to follow the hard yet tender science fiction novel: "Nikolai Tesla’s Rope" Book Two, "Explosive Wavelength."
Borrowing verses from the ancients, a seven-line acrostic poem, I beseech you all:
Fire cleanses and renews, Tang, Chu Zai
Explosions echo distant imperial dust. Qing, Cao Yunwen
Words heavy in the ear reveal your intent. Song, Liu Kezhuang
Friendship pure, heart true. Ming, Cheng Ruxin
Recalling old traces, only longing remains. Song, Murong Yanpeng
Reading past events, bittersweet. Tang, Luo Yin
Waves surge into the brush, a thousand feet of tide. Song, Wang Yang
Fragrance offered to a hundred deities. Song, Ding Wei
Explosive readers, follow the Wavelength!
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