I Need Help with a title...

[Jimmy]

So about 15 years ago I was given a book to read by the father of a friend and for the life of me I can't remember the name of the book, just vague recollections of what happened. This has been a decade long search to try and remember what it is called and I hoping someone might know and end my search.

The things I remember vaguely are it has a male main character.

About halfway through the book the main character basically is given a vision of the future in which he watches our civilization grow and expand through the universe, creating dyson spheres and harnessing stars, and then galaxies, and then black holes as power sources until I think the end of time. It ends with him returning to his body (again I think)

I know it's not much to go on but it's driving me insane trying to figure this title out and any recommendations would be helpful.

[Candiss]

Jimmy - I'm moving your post to the General SF Discussion board. The way you posted it caused the Goodreads forum software to create a strange extra "general" category that we didn't previously have. I'm a bit confused by the mechanics that caused this, but it's fixed now. :)

The book doesn't ring any bells for me. Do you recall if it was a recent book at the time you were given it, or was it already an older book? Any clue of the general publishing era? (90s? 70s? Golden Age?)

[Jimmy]

Thank you for moving it, I realized after I posted it I should have designated a category and I couldn't edit it to make that change. As far as when it was published, I got it in 2001-2002 and it had the feel of a 90's book, not super old but not published that year.

[Shel, Moderator]

It's not sounding familiar to me, but it sounds interesting! I'll watch this thread with interest to see if anyone else can identify it :)

[Nikita]

This sounded familiar to me and my first thought was Robert J. Sawyer. Not sure if this is it, but I think it might be Flashforward. There is a scene near the end of the book very similar to what you described.

If that isn't it, maybe this will help. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyson_sp...

[Juston]

Jimmy wrote: "So about 15 years ago I was given a book to read by the father of a friend and for the life of me I can't remember the name of the book, just vague recollections of what happened. This has been a d..."

Hi Jimmy,
The book you've described sounds like one written by Stephen Baxter as part of his Xeelee Sequence (wikipedia), specifically Timelike Infinity.

It certainly sounds like a hard science fiction novel.

Other potential books include one of Gregory Benford's books from his Galactic Centre Saga (wikipedia).

Hope that helps

[Juston]

Hello everyone,
I would also like some help to identify a book I read a long time ago. I can't for the life of me remember its name. What I do remember (vaguely) follows:

1. I read it about 20 years ago
2. It has a human Male lead
3. It is Science Fiction
4. It is set in a technically advanced future
5. Due to technological advances, some of the society are technically immortal
6. There is ruling Monarchy (Emperor)

The synopsis is basically as follows

The Empire's immortal princess is dying. The male lead has been tasked with finding a cure for the princess.

That's all I can remember.

The basic premise of the book is similar to Scott Westerfeld's books (below):
1. The Risen Empire
2. The Killing of Worlds

I've read both of these books this year. However, although they are similar, the book I read wasn't either of these.

Any help you could give would be great!

Cheers
Juston