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Virus - (Imagination, Annotated) by  Jayant V Narlikar (Paperback) - 1 of 1

Virus - (Imagination, Annotated) by Jayant V Narlikar (Paperback)

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About this item

Highlights

  • A critical, annotated version of Narlikar's iconic novel about a cybervirus attack by an advanced alien species--with updated text and added material.
  • About the Author: Jayant Vishnu Narlikar (1938-2025) was a renowned Indian astrophysicist, SF writer, and scientific luminary.
  • 288 Pages
  • Fiction + Literature Genres, Science Fiction
  • Series Name: Imagination, Annotated

Description



Book Synopsis



A critical, annotated version of Narlikar's iconic novel about a cybervirus attack by an advanced alien species--with updated text and added material.

A year before Robin Cook's Invasion (1997)--in which an alien force activated a latent biological virus in humans--and almost a decade before Liu Cixin's The Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy (2008-10)--in which humanity's scientific progress was curtailed by an alien supercomputer's "sophon-lock"--Jayant Vishnu Narlikar's Virus (1996) painted a similar scenario. In his novel, a cybervirus broadcast by an advanced, extraterrestrial species invaded Earth and froze its digital infrastructure: a prelude to an alien invasion. The novel, first published in Marathi, recounts how vast radio arrays on Earth intercept a seemingly innocuous message from an unknown planet orbiting Barnard's Star. The radio signal, sent six years ago, coalesces into a cybervirus that has the potential to cause a complete digital meltdown and lead humanity into an age of chaos--an alien First Strike to prevent humanity from evolving further.

This book--a critical, annotated version of Virus, edited and revised by Sami Ahmad Khan--reissues Narlikar's iconic novel with updated text and added dimensions. It includes detailed annotations that locate the technology of the text along the axis of contemporary scientific thought, as well as critical essays that focus on the literary, political, and sociocultural dimensions of the novel; articles on Narlikar's role in India's science and science fiction; an exclusive conversation with the author; bibliographical information on his works; and a bonus short story.



About the Author



Jayant Vishnu Narlikar (1938-2025) was a renowned Indian astrophysicist, SF writer, and scientific luminary. He won many scientific and literary awards, including Padma Vibhushan and Vigyan Ratna Award (posthumous). He was professor at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and the Founder Director of Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), India.

Sami Ahmad Khan is a writer, academic, and documentary producer. Recipient of many fellowships and awards, including Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions and Fulbright FLTA grants, he is the author of the novels Red Jihad and Aliens in Delhi, which was shortlisted for the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar. He is also the author of Star Warriors of the Modern Raj and coeditor of The Speculative Route. He teaches science fiction and creative writing at Jawaharlal Nehru University, India.

Dimensions (Overall): 9.0 Inches (H) x 6.5 Inches (W)
Weight: .81 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 288
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Sub-Genre: Science Fiction
Series Title: Imagination, Annotated
Publisher: MIT Press
Theme: Hard Science Fiction
Format: Paperback
Author: Jayant V Narlikar
Language: English
Street Date: November 17, 2026
TCIN: 1010739591
UPC: 9780262056281
Item Number (DPCI): 247-02-6412
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 1 inches length x 6.5 inches width x 9 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.812 pounds
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Q: What kind of additional content is included in the book?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 17 days ago
  • A: It includes annotations, critical essays, an exclusive author conversation, bibliographical information, and a bonus short story.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 17 days ago
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Q: What recognition did Jayant Narlikar receive during his career?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 17 days ago
  • A: Narlikar was awarded several honors, including the Padma Vibhushan and contributed significantly to science fiction and astrophysics.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 17 days ago
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Q: What is the main theme of the novel?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 17 days ago
  • A: The novel explores a cybervirus attack by an advanced alien species, focusing on digital infrastructure's vulnerability.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 17 days ago
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Q: How does Narlikar's work compare to other science fiction?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 17 days ago
  • A: Narlikar's work precedes notable sci-fi like Liu Cixin's, depicting similar themes of alien influence on humanity’s evolution.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 17 days ago
    Ai generated

Q: Who is the editor of this annotated version?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 17 days ago
  • A: The critical, annotated version is edited by Sami Ahmad Khan, adding depth to the original text.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 17 days ago
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