I too thought the explanation was good and believable, it's just that it is pretty long with a lot of possible consequences (doubles of yourself, weird alternate universe, time/space anomalies etc..) and came out as if it was a major plot element in itself.

I was expecting a lot more from it than a long introduction to where tachyons (the actual major plot element) came from. Especially since the one-paragraph-long explanation of tachyons would be equally plausible if you just replaced "into another universe" by "to another point in space".

Hence my curiosity ;)

Perhaps one of you who read the whole series can tell me (us) if it turns out to be important beyond the existence of tachyons?

I really appreciated obs20 link on John Scalzi's own comments, it's interesting to see how he sacrificed a bit of his "own voice" to appeal to as many reader as possible, it's planed like a true blockbuster movie! I guess I'm naive to think books are less thought-out than movies in term of target audience, success, fashionable plots/styles etc..

I loved the book. Recently finished it as part of a Sci-Fi challenge. The humor is really what made it shine.

I gave up on the book pretty quick (maybe I should give it another chance). It didn't help that I'd just read Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan which covered a similar idea and covered it very well. I'm now making my way though all of Morgan's books even though I do find him a little too blood thirsty at times.

If you gave up on it really quickly, I doubt you'd find much enjoyment on it, I really liked it from the get go, and that's what keeps me reading anyway.

I've not heard of Altered Carbon, I'll have to look it up!

Altered Carbon is a must read. One of my favorite science fiction books.