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Blasphemy by Douglas Preston was so well-written that it took me only two days to finish. I think Preston does a great job with this book in showing that we really don't know as much as we think we do about this world. Preston always seems to write something that is well worth the reader's time, and this includes the books he co-writes with Lincoln Child. It seems like lots of people are bashing this book on the basis that it is "anti-Christian." I would argue that Preston is bashing anyone who takes their beliefs to the extreme, both in religion and in science. Overall, great job on this book Mr. Preston.
Here Goes ***** Warning - Spoiler Alert ***** The US builds a super collider but as it nears full power funny pictures appear on the monitor ("an infinite curvature of space" lol)and "Greetings" appear. Humans must stop the "heat death" of the universe in a gazillion years and simultaneously learn that "everything in the universe is connected". Instead, it's canned dialogue and a plot as predictable and phony as they come. From the numerous promos I was pexpecting a combination Phenomenon of Man and The Singularity is Near. How many caricatures can an author pack into a story. The CIA guy ends up weary and contemplative - just like he started. God, by the way, speaks perfect modern English although in a dry, academic manner. The divine "message" is about science replacing religion and the next level of human development.
and women with frying pans defeat a batallion of soldiers and break into the supposedly impenetrable area to destroy the machine and the anti-Christ (genius scientist). After numerous delays (no reason given to the DC guys) in goes a tired former CIA agent/monk to investigate and, by the way, make peace with the Indians nearby. Let's see.venal televangelist, evil missionary (all religious folks here are venal), the nefarious lobbyist, the rough-talking Pres, mad scientist, former CIA guy & a love interest.a pantheon of default values. (LOL) Meanhwhile, fundamentalists believe that the collider is the vanguard of Armageddon and in the hokiest action scene ever written, idiots with knives and clubs, boys with sling shots (.). You guessed it - it's God who, for some reason, resides in an atom smasher. After a few flurries, American Indian woes, philosophical mumbo jumbo and a death, the group of scientists decide it's God and not malware and engage in a rather stilted conversation. In the end, the hard-headed scientists are converted and became spokemen for the God of the Machine (sorry - too good to pass up). My Grade - D
The superficiality of the book "Blasphemy" is of course a factor not in its favor. One recognizes that science is not currently a religion, but the book emphasizes really how close it is to becoming one. On the other hand, one sees that the author is able to weave a number of story strands together in a competent and entertaining way. The question that is central to all of these strands is the nature of religion, and the meaning of religion in the lives of people today as a transformative agent. It is even sufficiently easy to view religion as a weave of words that allows a religion of science to have a "God". The author is able to effectively show the curious ambiguity of language that allows us to bend our religions from the corrupt to the sublime in the tiny space of a heartbeat.
It is hard to tell in some ways what Preston's message might be.I won't go into details so as not to spoil the book for people who have not read it, but the book is really about God, the meaning of life and maybe even science versus religion. He would then present some rather appealing ideas.Suffice it to say, I have an educational background in science, engineering and the law and do not find that science and religion have to be at odds. I find myself all over the place about it.I found that the book started off very slow and is a choppy read in many ways, but reads better nearer the end. This is a novel by Douglas Preston.Looking through the reviews on amazon.com, one sees a spectrum of opinion. I think that Preston might even agree with me that God is behind what science is discovering; he might also agree with me that we should be careful about how we interpret what we read in the Bible. But then he would back off a little and I'd continue.
Again, it is hard to tell exactly what viewpoint Preston meant to support, but it seems he leans toward the new religion depicted, if anywhere.I got mad at Preston at several points in the book - parts of the book seemed divisive and unfair.
Preston depicts certain Christians in a truly bad light in the process and may even suggest in some way (I think unfairly) that most are like them.
Maybe evolution is another of these unfolding thoughts or part of a bigger one.
This is one of those kinds of books.
Maybe the Big Bang and the expanding universe is how we perceive an unfolding thought of God.
The "alternative" presented in the book seems to be based on a sham, but then it is hard to say if that is truly the case as well.
Read the book, and this will make sense.
That seems easier to me to accept than the alternatives.
I think that I am just more respectful of more traditional religious beliefs (even if I disagree) and those who hold them.Take a look at the book if this sort of thing sounds to your liking.
However, I still found myself wanting to know how it ended. the Antichrist.Things come to a very, very, fiery head, very quickly.What I liked was the discussion of the universe, physics, the madness of zealotry, and the fast pace of the novel. Things aren't going as planned, and the President's science advisor has sent in a spy to see why the accelerator isn't up and running. I actually had to check that it wasn't the same person doing both voices. entertain.You know the plot. A grand particle accelerator has been constructed on the Navaho reservation at a cost of $40 billion. This story has its problems. Did anyone else think it sounded just a little too much like "The Comic Book Guy" in the Simpsons.
Ron Hubbard in developing this plot.This story did not put evangelical Christianity in a very good light. What I didn't like was the nonsensical lack of security at the site and the paucity of personnel (especially support personnel), the ability of Pastor Eddie to marshall an army of believers to a remote site on the reservation in hours, and the whole immolation scene.I also have to admit that I was bothered by the voice that reader Scott Sowers gave to chief scientist Hazelius. I think Preston will be blasted for this. Oh, and this software bug gives itself a name. And whenever it is difficult to put a "book" down (or, in my case, turn the CD player off), the story is doing what it is supposed to do. The CD version also had a short interview with author Douglas Preston.
Turns out, there is an apparent software bug that affects data collection at 100% power. God.Others outside the project give a name to the particle accelerator's chief scientist. There was little information provided here, except that Preston claimed he originally was a physics major in college before switching to English, and that he was inspired by L. Of course, if the shoe fits.
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