Blab Crypto
Author Publishes Quantum-Themed Novel Zero Knowledge in Open, Live-Editing Format
A new science‑fiction novel, Zero Knowledge, is unfolding on the author’s own website, zeroknowledge.ink, where readers can follow the story chapter by chapter as it is written and refined in real time.
The project is a 97‑chapter saga that follows three MIT graduates who launch a quantum‑technology startup in the small Colorado town of Basalt. The plot hinges on a theoretical algorithm that could break the RSA public‑key system and other classical cryptographic schemes, potentially rendering Bitcoin and similar assets vulnerable if a sufficiently powerful quantum computer is built.
What sets Zero Knowledge apart is its open‑writing model. The first six chapters are freely available, and readers can highlight any line and leave a comment that is stored in a database and emailed directly to the author. Each comment is anchored to the exact text, so the writer knows precisely where readers find the prose confusing, where characters act inconsistently, or where scientific details fall short. The author’s goal is to adjust the manuscript on the fly, rather than waiting for a finished draft.
The workflow blends software‑development practices with creative writing. Every chapter draft is generated by an AI writing partner called Phin, using a beat outline and a “canon” that contains the story’s premise, characters, science, and ending. The author edits the draft, and Phin incorporates the changes back into the canon, refining the voice for subsequent chapters. The entire process is tracked in Git, the same version‑control system that powers modern software projects.
Stylistically, the novel is described as a hybrid of five well‑known authors: Andy Weir for technical clarity, Daniel Suarez for a sense of menace, Blake Crouch for pacing, Ernest Cline for momentum, and Matt Dinniman for ensemble dynamics. The author stresses that these influences are purely stylistic and not derivative.
Beyond the live‑editing platform, the author plans to integrate Zero Knowledge into a tool called AuthorMagic, which would allow other writers to adopt a similar open‑writing workflow. A subscription box that delivers new chapters directly to readers’ inboxes is also on the roadmap.
The narrative’s focus on quantum cryptography mirrors real‑world concerns. Quantum computers, if powerful enough, could run Shor’s algorithm to factor large integers and solve discrete‑log problems, thereby breaking RSA, elliptic‑curve, and other public‑key schemes. Post‑quantum cryptography, such as lattice‑based algorithms, is being developed to resist such attacks. Bitcoin, which relies on elliptic‑curve signatures, would be vulnerable if a quantum computer could break the underlying math.
By setting the story in a near‑future timeframe—possibly 2027 or 2029—the author invites readers to consider the practical implications of a quantum breakthrough and the industry’s ongoing migration to quantum‑safe protocols.
As of now, the website hosts six chapters and a comment system that requires a name and email for the first comment. The author receives instant email notifications when a comment is posted. The project is still in its early stages, with 91 chapters remaining and a total of 31 beats mapped out. A traditional print or e‑book release is still under consideration.
The open‑writing experiment demonstrates a new model for collaborative fiction, combining live reader feedback, version control, and AI assistance. It also offers a timely narrative that engages with the evolving field of quantum cryptography and its potential to reshape digital security.
The project is a 97‑chapter saga that follows three MIT graduates who launch a quantum‑technology startup in the small Colorado town of Basalt. The plot hinges on a theoretical algorithm that could break the RSA public‑key system and other classical cryptographic schemes, potentially rendering Bitcoin and similar assets vulnerable if a sufficiently powerful quantum computer is built.
What sets Zero Knowledge apart is its open‑writing model. The first six chapters are freely available, and readers can highlight any line and leave a comment that is stored in a database and emailed directly to the author. Each comment is anchored to the exact text, so the writer knows precisely where readers find the prose confusing, where characters act inconsistently, or where scientific details fall short. The author’s goal is to adjust the manuscript on the fly, rather than waiting for a finished draft.
The workflow blends software‑development practices with creative writing. Every chapter draft is generated by an AI writing partner called Phin, using a beat outline and a “canon” that contains the story’s premise, characters, science, and ending. The author edits the draft, and Phin incorporates the changes back into the canon, refining the voice for subsequent chapters. The entire process is tracked in Git, the same version‑control system that powers modern software projects.
Stylistically, the novel is described as a hybrid of five well‑known authors: Andy Weir for technical clarity, Daniel Suarez for a sense of menace, Blake Crouch for pacing, Ernest Cline for momentum, and Matt Dinniman for ensemble dynamics. The author stresses that these influences are purely stylistic and not derivative.
Beyond the live‑editing platform, the author plans to integrate Zero Knowledge into a tool called AuthorMagic, which would allow other writers to adopt a similar open‑writing workflow. A subscription box that delivers new chapters directly to readers’ inboxes is also on the roadmap.
The narrative’s focus on quantum cryptography mirrors real‑world concerns. Quantum computers, if powerful enough, could run Shor’s algorithm to factor large integers and solve discrete‑log problems, thereby breaking RSA, elliptic‑curve, and other public‑key schemes. Post‑quantum cryptography, such as lattice‑based algorithms, is being developed to resist such attacks. Bitcoin, which relies on elliptic‑curve signatures, would be vulnerable if a quantum computer could break the underlying math.
By setting the story in a near‑future timeframe—possibly 2027 or 2029—the author invites readers to consider the practical implications of a quantum breakthrough and the industry’s ongoing migration to quantum‑safe protocols.
As of now, the website hosts six chapters and a comment system that requires a name and email for the first comment. The author receives instant email notifications when a comment is posted. The project is still in its early stages, with 91 chapters remaining and a total of 31 beats mapped out. A traditional print or e‑book release is still under consideration.
The open‑writing experiment demonstrates a new model for collaborative fiction, combining live reader feedback, version control, and AI assistance. It also offers a timely narrative that engages with the evolving field of quantum cryptography and its potential to reshape digital security.
