Blasphemy
by Douglas Preston
(Click here)
Book Summary Information
Author: Douglas PrestonEdition: Hardcover
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 2008-01-08
ISBN: N/A
Number of pages: 416
Publisher: Forge Books
Book Reviews of Blasphemy
Book Review: CD review - both the story and the reading have their ups and downs...
Summary: 4 Stars
This story has its problems. However, I still found myself wanting to know how it ended. 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... entertain.
You know the plot. A grand particle accelerator has been constructed on the Navaho reservation at a cost of $40 billion. 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. Turns out, there is an apparent software bug that affects data collection at 100% power. Oh, and this software bug gives itself a name... God.
Others outside the project give a name to the particle accelerator's chief scientist... 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. 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. Did anyone else think it sounded just a little too much like "The Comic Book Guy" in the Simpsons? I actually had to check that it wasn't the same person doing both voices.
The CD version also had a short interview with author Douglas Preston. 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. Ron Hubbard in developing this plot.
This story did not put evangelical Christianity in a very good light. I think Preston will be blasted for this. Of course, if the shoe fits...
Summary of Blasphemy
The world's biggest supercollider, locked in an Arizona mountain, was built to reveal the secrets of the very moment of creation: the Big Bang itself.
?
The Torus is the most expensive machine ever created by humankind, run by the world's most powerful supercomputer. It is the brainchild of Nobel Laureate William North Hazelius. Will the Torus divulge the mysteries of the creation of the universe? Or will it, as some predict, suck the earth into a mini black hole? Or is the Torus a Satanic attempt, as a powerful televangelist decries, to challenge God Almighty on the very throne of Heaven?
?
Twelve scientists under the leadership of Hazelius are sent to the remote mountain to turn it on, and what they discover must be hidden from the world at all costs. Wyman Ford, ex-monk and CIA operative, is tapped to wrest their secret, a secret that will either destroy the world.or save it.
?
The countdown begins.
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