Dark Integers and Other Stories

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Dark Integers and Other Stories is a collection of five science-fiction short stories by Australian writer Greg Egan, published March 25, 2008 by Subterranean Press. The book runs 232 pages and includes stories such as Oceanic, Luminous, Dark Integers, and Riding the Crocodile. Some stories are linked: Luminous and Dark Integers share ideas, with Dark Integers set ten years after Luminous. Riding the Crocodile is set in the same universe as Egan’s Incandescence but takes place about 300,000 years earlier.

Reception highlights
- The collection is seen as a good bridge between Egan’s older and newer work, with some stories ranging from solid to excellent.
- Oceanic is praised for marrying character and idea, with a sociological focus that goes beyond math.
- Luminous and Dark Integers are admired for their concepts but criticized for heavy plotting and less emphasis on characterization; some readers find the ideas may rely on infodumping.
- Reading the book’s introduction can help readers follow the stories’ conceits.

Critical notes
- Some reviewers, like Rich Horton, view the collection as a strong sampler that links different phases of Egan’s career.
- Others, such as Karen Burnham, note that the stories can overwhelm with exposition, though they acknowledge the overall provocative ideas.
- Some critics see potential in adapting the ideas to radio or film.

Awards and recognition
- Oceanic won the Hugo Award for Best Novella in 1999.
- Luminous (nominated for Hugo Best Novelette in 1996) and Dark Integers (nominated in 2008) were recognized in Hugo discussions.
- Oceanic (2001), Luminous (2003), and Dark Integers (2010) all won the Japanese Seiun Award.
- Oceanic was a finalist for the Aurealis Award in 1998 and received other nominations in the late 1990s.
- The collection placed sixth in the Locus Award reader poll in 2009.