‘Learning about physics changed my life’: author Hernan Diaz on his new novel Ply
Nature Podcast

‘Learning about physics changed my life’: author Hernan Diaz on his new novel Ply

B2Upper-intermediateOctober 2, 202632 min
  • Interview

In this episode, we speak with Hernan Diaz whose most recent novel Ply blends a vision of a dystopian future with questions about selfhood and asks whether advanced physics could be used to unravel the fabric of spacetime itself. Ply Hernan Diaz Picador (2026) Music supplied by SPD/Triple Scoop Music/Getty Images Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the Nature Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music or your favourite podcast app. An RSS feed for the Nature Podcast is available too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

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its roots in current physics.

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0:00

Hi, Benjamin here. Welcome to episode 16 of Nature Hits the Books. In this episode we're heading back into the world of fiction, and I'm joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Ernan Diaz, whose third novel, Plie, has just been published. A quick word of warning here, we will be talking about specific plot points. Now,

0:25

The sky takes place in a future that's in the middle distance, but it's a world very different from our own. Central to the novel is a futuristic particle accelerator, which, although fantastical, has its roots in current physics.

0:41

We talk about all this, as well as Ernan's journey, learning about subatomic particles and what he picked up during a visit to CERN in today's podcast. Ernan Diaz, thank you so much for being on Nature Hits the Books. Benjamin, what a pleasure to be in conversation with you. Thank you.

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