''Annihilation Factor'' is the second

science fiction novel This is a list of science-fiction novels, novel series, and collections of linked short stories. It includes modern novels, as well as novels written before the term " science fiction" was in common use. This list includes novels not marketed as SF ...

Barrington J. Bayley Barrington J. Bayley (9 April 1937 – 14 October 2008) was an English science fiction writer. Biography Bayley was born in Birmingham and educated in Newport, Shropshire. He worked a number of jobs before joining the Royal Air Force during 1 ...

, expanded from a 1964 short story ("The Patch") originally published in ''

New Worlds New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

''. It centres on the strains placed on a

galactic empire Galactic empires are a common trope used in science fantasy and science fiction, particularly in works known as 'space operas'. Many authors have either used a galaxy-spanning empire as background or written about the growth and/or decline of ...

by the appearance of the mysterious, planet-devouring "patch".

Literary significance and reception

Rhys Hughes Rhys Henry Hughes (born 1966, Cardiff, Wales) is a Welsh fantasy writer and essayist. Career Born in Cardiff, Hughes has written in a variety of forms, from short stories to novels. His long novel ''Engelbrecht Again!'' is a sequel to Mauric ...

describes the novel as stronger than ''

The Star Virus ''The Star Virus'' is the first science fiction novel by Barrington J. Bayley, expanded from a 1964 short story originally published in ''New Worlds''. The plot centers on the attempts of humanity, the star virus of the title, to break through ...

'' but "dated" and conventional, noting that the primary distinguishing feature comes from Bayley's decision to concentrate on the pressures of the disaster rather than its physical effects. He also remarks on the alienating effect of Bayley's downbeat ending.

John Clute John Frederick Clute (born 12 September 1940) is a Canadian-born author and critic specializing in science fiction and fantasy literature who has lived in both England and the United States since 1969. He has been described as "an integral part ...

described ''Annihilation Factor'', along with '' Empire of Two Worlds'' and ''

Collision Course {{wiktionary A collision course, also known as a ''kamikaze run'', is the deliberate maneuver by the operator of a moving object (or often in Sci-Fi a spaceship) to collide with another object. It is a desperate maneuver since it often damages ...

'', as "variously successful".

References

1972 novels 1972 science fiction novels Novels by Barrington J. Bayley Ace Books books {{1970s-sf-novel-stub