Science Fiction Writer
ROBERT J. SAWYER
Hugo and Nebula Winner

SFWRITER.COM > Novels > The Downloaded

The Downloaded

by Robert J. Sawyer

Just released! Rob's 25th novel!

Trade Paperback • ISBN 978-1-989398-99-9 • US: $14.95 • Canada: $19.95

Get The Downloaded in print, as an ebook, or as an audiobook here.

Starred review in Publishers Weekly
One of New Scientist’s best SF novels of the month
One of Parade’s best new books of the week
On the CBC Books Summer Reading List
#1 Calgary Herald Fiction Bestseller

In 2059 two very different groups have their minds uploaded into a quantum computer in Waterloo, Ontario.

One group consists of astronauts preparing for Earth’s first interstellar voyage.

The other? Convicted murderers, serving their sentences in a virtual-reality prison.

But when disaster strikes, the astronauts and the prisoners must download back into physical reality and find a way to work together to save Earth from destruction ...

“Robert J. Sawyer’s new novel is a potent distillation of everything that makes science fiction so addictive. In the space of a concise and tightly-plotted story, The Downloaded explores a broad swath of future history and absolutely sizzles with fascinating ideas. You want space travel, a ruined Earth, virtual worlds, a cast of relatable characters, and a glimpse into the labyrinth of human destiny? Look no further: this book has all that and more.”
—Robert Charles Wilson, Hugo Award-winning author of Spin

More about The Downloaded

The Downloaded Winnipeg Book Launch

Robert J. Sawyer’s May 2024 cross-Canada book tour for The Downloaded included stops in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Kitchener, Salmon Arm, and Winnipeg. Each event was different in character — a big auditorium, a cozy bookstore basement, a jazz café, a public library, a writers’ festival, and, in Winnipeg, the atrium of the great independent bookseller McNally Robinson. The good folks there live-streamed that event, which included a brief reading from the novel and a lively Q&A session, and have now put the recording of it up on YouTube. Here it is:

Saskatchewawn Festival of Words

The Saskatchewan Festival of Words in July 2024 had two main-stage featured interviews: one with Brent Butt, the creator of Corner Gas, and the other with Robert J. Sawyer about The Downloaded, conducted by Rob's publisher, Edward Willett of Shadowpaw Press:

Interviews about The Downloaded

Rob on CBC Radio One’s flagship books program The Next Chapter
with Ali Hassan (18 minutes):

A great interview on QR Radio Calgary (12 minutes):

Print interview with Rob in Locus, the science-fiction trade journal:

The Winnipeg interview that put The Downloaded
on the bestsellers’ list for a second week (12 minutes):

Very insightful questions in this interview by Michael Elves
on the University of Manitoba campus station (29 minutes):

Canada Talks with Jeff Sammut (20 minutes):

A video interview for the online SF magazine MetaStellar (72 minutes):

Dan Skinner interviews Rob about the science in The Downloaded.
As Rob says, “We science-fiction writers get to open our Christmas
presents early and play with these toys before they’re out there for
the general public.” (23 minutes):