Michael Gorton’s Tachyon Tunnel 2: The Daklin Empire picks up right where its predecessor left off—interstellar travelers Alex Durant and Paula Campbell have returned to Earth after a mind-bending adventure through time and space. But home is anything but normal. Between Paula’s memory loss, a tragic second car crash, and a rapidly unraveling timeline, the book blends quantum physics with emotional stakes, then rockets forward into a high-tech corporate thriller. All of it rests on a central question: can you outmaneuver fate, or does it always find you?

This book surprised me in the best way. I expected a sci-fi sequel with more spaceships and techy jargon, but what I got was a personal and often exhilarating look at relationships, ambition, and betrayal. The emotional core hit me hardest early on, with Paula waking up in a hospital after her second crash, her memories scrambled and her heart fractured. The way she searches for clarity while Alex stands by, trying not to break the illusion, was actually heartbreaking. There’s a line when Alex watches Paula light up while solving equations on a whiteboard, and all he can think is, “She was chaos, beauty, and brilliance…” That line stuck with me.

Then there’s the whole startup saga with Zander and his teleportation company, T-Portal Co. At first, I was grinning ear to ear. A sci-fi story about turning teleportation into a consumer business? Brilliant. But things go dark fast. Maillew, the smooth-talking board member who teaches Zander about capitalism, turns out to be a snake. If you’ve ever built something and had it ripped from your hands, this section will sting.

Still, what really makes this book shine is the weird and beautiful connection between Paula and Alex. Her dreams of other lives, other galaxies, and the humming of a ship called Tranquility—and how those dreams slowly turn into memories—was so well done. The whole “reverse aging through frequency” subplot was wild, and I honestly don’t care how plausible it is. It made me want to believe in something impossible. When Paula whispers to Alex about their shared past—memories she shouldn’t have—it feels intimate and magical. It’s not just science fiction; it’s about finding each other through all the noise of time, memory, and loss.

Tachyon Tunnel 2 is not just for science fiction fans. Yes, there’s time travel, AI, tachyon particles, and interstellar tech, but it’s also got heart. If you enjoy stories about second chances, brilliant women solving cosmic mysteries, or just want a good ol’ tale of love, loss, and betrayal wrapped in quantum physics—this book is for you. If you liked The Martian or Project Hail Mary, but wish they had a bit more soul and less sarcasm, Gorton’s got you covered.

Pages: 413 | ASIN: B0DXQFT7FK