Joe Cube is a techie working on a 3D television prototype at the turn of the millennium. After the anticlimax of 1999 turning into 2000, Cube finds himself face to "face" with a four-dimensional "person" named Momo. Momo augments Cube so that he can perceive things in the fourth (physical) dimension. She wants Cube to spread the word about the fourth dimension, and Cube is her man for the task. He, along with his wife, co-worker, and co-worker's girlfriend, attempt to start up a company using 4-D technology. Chaos ensues.
This book succeeds in its depiction of the third dimension from a four-dimensional perspective. I've never seen it depicted so completely. Rucker also does well with his review of the properties of a two-dimensional world. He also does well in describing what happens when the two worlds collide. I've read many books that have attempted to explain the fourth physical dimension and none come anywhere close to this.
Despite this strength, the book fails in almost all other regards. Despite having characters of both the 3rd and 4th dimensions, they all possess 2-D personalities. It seems as if Rucker interacts with few people on a regular basis and has likely never had a serious relationship with a woman. Either that or he's a terrible fiction writer. I know that sounds really harsh but the characters are really truly unlikable and poorly developed. Interactions between men and women, particularly those in relationships, are painful to read and absolutely unrealistic. Finally, the plot is completely inane and so twisted that it's hardly worth the effort to follow it.
Read this book for the most fully-realized depiction of the fourth physical dimension and its relation to the other physical dimensions. Don't worry about the plot or the characters - they just get in the way and aren't worth any effort to follow.
Rating: How can I rate a book like this? 5 of 5 stars for the theoretical physics stuff, 0.5 for the characters and plot.
54/100, and well ahead of schedule
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