Emory F. Bunn,
Some events in this novel depend on the detailed behavior of the plasma accretion disks that are present around black holes, and several aspects of this subject remain uncertain. For example, precisely if and when an accretion disk with given physical characteristics would be forced to lie in the equatorial plane of a rotating black hole (a phenomenon known as the Bardeen-Petterson effect) is a matter of controversy, because determining this theoretically depends on complex computer simulations, and direct observational data is inconclusive. See, for example:
"Spin-Induced Disk Precession in Sagittarius A*" by Gabriel
Rockefeller, Christopher L. Fryer, and Fulvio Melia,
A comprehensive discussion of the possible fates that can be suffered by stars that encounter black holes is given in:
"Tidal Disruption of Stars by Black Holes," by Martin J. Rees,
Nature, Vol. 333, 9 June 1988, pp 523–528.
In charting Rakesh and Parantham's journey, I drew on:
"The Nuclear Bulge of the Galaxy. III. Large-Scale Physical
Characteristics of Stars and Interstellar Matter" by R. Launhardt,
R. Zylka, and P. G. Mezger,
Panspermia — the spreading of viable biological material from one planet to another — is almost certainly possible between planets in the same system, but the prospects of such material achieving, and surviving, interstellar journeys is far slimmer. Interstellar panspermia is an interesting idea, and I don't believe it has been shown to be impossible, but I wouldn't argue with anyone who considers it to be highly unlikely.
THE END
Greg Egan, Incandescence
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