28th out of 45 books
—
17 voters
Mortal Chaos (Mortal Chaos #1)
‘The Butterfly Effect ‘: the scientific theory that a single occurrence, no matter how small, can change the course of the universe forever. When a butterfly startles a young rabbit, and the rabbit makes a horse rear, it starts a chain of events, over the course of one day, that will change people’s lives . . . and end people’s lives. From a climber on Everest to a boy in...more
Paperback, 286 pages
Published
February 2nd 2012
by OUP Oxford
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The holistic nature of all things. Chaos theory. All that good interconnectedness shit. In tribute to the dominant paradigm of chaos theory (a butterfly flapping its wings in the rainforest, creating currents that start a knock-on chain of events...culminating in a devastating hurricane on the other side of the globe), Mortal Chaos begins with a butterfly. After emerging from its cocoon, the butterfly in question takes flight in Chaunchy Wood, Wiltshire, England. The insect's flapping startles a...more
I had the pleasure of hearing Matt speak at a conference I attended, and was struck by his knowledge, enthusiasm and generosity as a speaker. If you have chance to hear him talk, then I'd highly recommend it. This was the first time I heard about Mortal Chaos and I was very keen to pick it up as a result.
Mortal Chaos is based around the concept of chaos theory; that where every action has a reaction that is impossible to predict, and yet inevitable, due to the interconnectedness of everything. S...more
Mortal Chaos is based around the concept of chaos theory; that where every action has a reaction that is impossible to predict, and yet inevitable, due to the interconnectedness of everything. S...more
I loved the concept of this story, but then I've always been fascinated by 'the butterfly effect' or chaos theory and how a singular occurrence can crescendo throughout a series of events. It all begins with the butterfly (which I liked) to set off the chain of events when a rabbit is startled and runs out in front of a racehorse on its exercise, which leads to a vet being called out, which leads to his son being left with keys he should no way have been left with, which results in a deer being...more
This is Matt Dickinson's first book for the YA market, although I gather that he is the author of several action/adventure book for adults. I'm not sure what I expected from Mortal Chaos, perhaps some kind of hi-octane action story, but what I got was something very different indeed. In fact, I am struggling to think of how I can describe it.
The premise of Mortal Chaos centres around an aspect of chaos theory known as the butterfly effect. This concept suggests that a small, seemingly minor inci...more
The premise of Mortal Chaos centres around an aspect of chaos theory known as the butterfly effect. This concept suggests that a small, seemingly minor inci...more
'Mortal Chaos' is described as 'the book Jack Bauer would have read as a teenager'. As a huge 24 fan, that was more than enough to pique my interest in this title. This is the first book for teens and young adults written by Matt Dickinson, who has already successfully authored a series of high octane adult adventure novels.
This title is the first in a new series which is inspired by Ray Bradbury's 1952 story 'A Sound of Thunder' (I need to go and read that now!). I thought that the concept for...more
This title is the first in a new series which is inspired by Ray Bradbury's 1952 story 'A Sound of Thunder' (I need to go and read that now!). I thought that the concept for...more
A butterfly flaps its wings in America and a storm breaks over China: the essence of the butterfly effect where one small change in our chaotic world can have massive consequences. In Mortal Chaos Dickinson takes this theory and builds a thrilling story around it.
Dickinson charts the chain of events from a literal butterfly emerging into the world from it's chrysalis into the world in rural Wiltshire. As it startles a young rabbit it sets in motion a chain of consequences for a host of seemingly...more
Dickinson charts the chain of events from a literal butterfly emerging into the world from it's chrysalis into the world in rural Wiltshire. As it startles a young rabbit it sets in motion a chain of consequences for a host of seemingly...more
Once I realised what this book was about, I was excited! I am absolutely fascinated by the Butterfly Effect, and I can vividly remember reading the short story 'A Sound of Thunder' by Ray Bradbury at secondary school. It is definitely one of those stories that makes you think.
Matt Dickinson has taken the theory behind the Butterfly Effect and shown how one tiny event where a butterfly startles a young rabbit can set off a chain of events that lead to mortality and chaos. This isn't just confine...more
Matt Dickinson has taken the theory behind the Butterfly Effect and shown how one tiny event where a butterfly startles a young rabbit can set off a chain of events that lead to mortality and chaos. This isn't just confine...more
Matt Dickinson je filmař a spisovatel, specializující se na divoká místa všude na světě a na lidi, kteří tato místa obývají. Sám je vášnivý cestovatel a dobrodruh. Je zřejmé, že právě v knize Smrtící chaos se inspiroval jak svou cestou na Mount Everest, tak i návštěvou Afriky. Na univerzitě vystudoval antropologii, poté se začal věnovat kariéře v televizi. Série Smrtící chaos je prozatím jeho poslední knižní sérií.
Námětem pro tuto sérii se autorovi stala matematicko-fyzikální teorie chaosu, a to...more
Námětem pro tuto sérii se autorovi stala matematicko-fyzikální teorie chaosu, a to...more
A very clever book - possibly a tad too clever for its intended audience used to a diet of easy to read teen novels!
Interlinking stories build to a climax with each small action causing a reaction and binding together intriguingly. The chapters are very short - 1 to 2 pages - which means the book can be a little disjointed and the action switches across the globe with some stories seeming almost unattached.
This is an easy to read book and a great story and not what I was expecting at all - will...more
Interlinking stories build to a climax with each small action causing a reaction and binding together intriguingly. The chapters are very short - 1 to 2 pages - which means the book can be a little disjointed and the action switches across the globe with some stories seeming almost unattached.
This is an easy to read book and a great story and not what I was expecting at all - will...more
This complex and compelling book is written in a way that links the tiniest movement in one part of the world to an avalanche on the other side of the world. How that tiny flap of a newly hatched butterfly's wings manages to work its way across the world is told through multiple viewpoints and makes for compelling reading. I think Matt Dickenson must have had to cover his office walls in post-it notes just to keep track of the plot for this book. This book made me reflect on how everything in th...more
This book is amazing! It's really 'high concept' (chaos theory in novel form) and yet nobody could accuse it of being too 'commercial' (you know, that way people say it to mean poor quality or 'dumbed down'). Mortal Chaos is on the longlist for the Carnegie this year, which is what prompted me to shunt it up the TBR pile, after languishing on my Kindle.
The novel starts with a butterfly hatching, which startles a race horse in its training. This means that our focus shifts from the butterfly to...more
The novel starts with a butterfly hatching, which startles a race horse in its training. This means that our focus shifts from the butterfly to...more
I was intrigued about Mortal Chaos from the moment I read the blurb "Some will live. Some will die. All are connected". I already knew about the Butterfly Effect but I was really curious to see how Matt Dickinson would take that theory and spin it into a story. How do you manage to connect a jockey racing at Newbury, two boys bunking off of school, a female pilot, a Japanese girl climbing up Mount Everest and a young boy in Africa? If you're Matt Dickinson you do it in a story that is fast paced...more
Jan 07, 2013
Rob Wilcox
added it
Great book, keeps you turning the pages even when you think it's time to stop for the evening! A page-turner, and well written in my opinion.
I was lucky enough to have been given an early ARC copy during the OUP Bloggers Event earlier this year, but I have to admit that at first glance I didn't think I would enjoy it. There were too many characters in a series of stories that didn't seem connect at all. Then Dickinson worked his magic. Slowly but surely all the stories started to interconnect, like a spider web, leading to an explosive end. Literally.
Read my full review here: http://bit.ly/tLdgpv
Read my full review here: http://bit.ly/tLdgpv
Amazing book! When I first read it, i got a little annoyed with constant change in POV; but as I got further in the book. I grew to love it because you saw what the multiple people saw throughout their day and how one thing; say a butterfly fluttering its wings can change everything.. I love this book and I am now very interested in the Chaos Theory :D And will buy more Matt Dickinson books soon :D
May 16, 2013
Jade Casey
marked it as to-read
May 07, 2013
Lozam_3
added it
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