Summary of Spin

Spin, by Robert Charles Wilson, is a science-fiction novel set around the twenty-first century. The novel opens with a mysterious and powerful force, called the Spin, suddenly encasing the Earth in a “membrane” that slows down time. The Spin has blocked out all forms of communication, Rebecca Gurley and her brother Tyler, along with their friends Jason and Diane, must find a way to survive and figure out what the Spin is. While outside the Earth is eternally frozen, time inside speeds up—each year passes by in a matter of weeks. Despite this, the group manages to create a semblance of normal life for themselves. They also make contact with aliens who are living on the “counter” side of the Spin, and eventually learn the purpose of the Spin itself. In the end, they must decide how to confront the Spin, and the possible consequences of their actions.