Blasphemy by Douglas Preston Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Blasphemy
Book Review: A good read but no need to be outraged
Summary: 4 Stars
I have to admit that I do not understand the controversy about the book. In the beginning, Blasphemy is about power politics and how fundamentalist Christians, here embodied in a sleazy televangelist, can influence politics in D.C. Only then does the narrative shift to a point where the various characters stand for a certain necessity to believe, either in a god or in science. The fundamentalist pastor and the televangelist are unable to accept science, which only reflects the attitude of some Americans who are as unable to accept scientific findings such as the theory of Evolution.
Thus, the so-called anti-Christian message of the book is only a critical perspective on Christian fundamentalism and the disconcerting attitude of these fundamentalists who seem to be sure to know what is right (i.e. the will of God) and what is wrong (i.e. Scientific theories about the origin of the universe). Do not forget that even the Navajo chant cited in the middle of the book ponders the questions of existence. It also becomes clear that scientists who believe to know what is right (i.e. the theory of the Big Bang) and what is wrong (i.e. believe in God) must be regarded as critically. Many scientist prefer the idea that it is very hard to be certain of anything, as Kate explains in the novel. Kate admits that scientists have no clue why the Big Bang happened or how it came about and she explains about science's weird notion of time that forbids certitude. The overly clever Hazelius is as bad as the pastor or the televangelist.
As a reader from the north of Europe, I have to say that the anti-Christian debate does not concern me much. Religious fundamentalism is more at home in the US, where a war-mongering Born-Again-Christian such as George W. Bush could be re-elected due to his "Christian" values. This has irritated much of Europe. The theory of Evolution is taught at our schools, nor does Creationism play a role here. The idea that we cannot not know everything seems to be more acceptable here, so that the need for a god is less urgent. Therefore, the discussion about the book in the US is indeed a reflection of the attitudes of the people depicted therein. Both scientist and fundamentalists can find fault at the message of the book, and that is fine by me.
However, I must not forget to discuss the book itself. There are strange plot elements, such as the fact that the supercollider is operated by a boy's club of not more than a dozen people or that an alleged anthropologist is sent out to pacify the natives. Incidentally, the former anthropologist is not only an ex-FBI agent but also the ex-lover of the project's deputy director - a bit much of a coincidence. The scientists even brawl about the operation of the supercollider like children would about the use of s beloved toy. Sometimes, the whole effort seems to be a bit forced.
However, Preston's narrative usually flows easily and entertainingly, despite his use of one or two clichees to many. The book is a good read and has made many people think. For these reasons, Douglas Preston has awarded himself four stars and I agree. It is certainly not a great book, beyond par even compared to many Preston/Child novels, but better than average.
Book Review: A masterpiece of marketing (but not writing)
Summary: 2 Stars
Note to self: in the future be wary of novels where the dust jacket contains boffo reviews only from fellow novelists. If I'd used my own money on this instead of a Borders gift card, I'd be feeling bamboozled. Preston leads the reader into thinking he's being really brave by taking on the evangelists and daring to advocate science over religion, but in the end he doesn't have the courage of his convictions. And the characters are right out of central casting- the crazed country preacher, corrupt televangelist, oily politicos, even a lobbyist named Crawley. The author also appears to have little or no experience of military and law enforcement personnel.Book Review: A sad day for preston/child fans...
Summary: 1 Stars
The day's of Relic, Cabinet Of Curiosities and Still Life With Crows are clearly long gone. I can't figure out how two authors could produce such terrific books when they collaborate, yet produce such train wrecks such as Blasphemy when working solo. This horrible book fails on so many levels. The plot is silly and far fetched. Nothing in the story is believable. A fanatical pastor emails a chain letter about finding the Antichrist and gathers an army of thousands in a few hours? COMMON!!!! I know that when you read Preston/Child most thoughts of reality must be checked at the door, but this is just too much. It's easy to look past plausibility when the story embraces you with interesting personality's and creative dialog, but this is non existent here. The characters are stiff, predictable and just plain boring. By the time I got to the end I could care less about who lives, who dies, or how it all ends. I am sad to say that I can't bring myself to purchase another book from Doug Preston unless Lincoln Child's name appears on the binding. Don't waist your time or money.Book Review: A so-so read
Summary: 3 Stars
With all the hype about this story I was really ready for a great read. It just didn't have the suspense and excitement Preston's books usually have (especially when he partners with Douglas.) The words "God" spoke weren't nearly as earth-shattering or enlightening the top as I was led to believe they might be. And the "bad guy" became obvious about 2/3 into the story. No shocking ending, no real suspense, just an interesting plot that keeps you reading for the heck of it.Book Review: A superb thriller that is DEFINITELY destined for mixed reviews!
Summary: 4 Stars
Isabella is a giant superconducting supercollider particle accelerator, the most expensive and probably the largest scale scientific experiment ever devised by man, designed to examine the state of the universe at the very moment of its creation, mere millionths of a second after the explosion of the Big Bang. Isabella is supposed to be the poster child achievement of a president in the final months of his first term in office so it's a major political concern when it consistently fails to operate as it's supposed to. Presidential science advisor, Stanton Lockwood, sends in ex-CIA agent Wyman Ford undercover as an anthropologist to root out the problem and report back. So what would one expect from the pen of the likes of best-selling author Douglas Preston - nothing less than the supercharged, high speed, dynamic, breathless thriller that he has consistently produced for his fans. "Blasphemy" doesn't let them down!
If one bothers to look at a novel like "Blasphemy" with a literary eye, an English major might suggest the over-riding them is "conflict" - the perennial dispute between science and religion (fundamentalist right wing Christians led by bible-thumping southern televangists call the scientists "secular humanists" who believe that the universe was created by accident without the guiding hand of an all-powerful God); the ongoing difficulties between North American aboriginal peoples and white politicians with the endless string of broken promises, broken treaties, land disputes and governance problems; and, of course, the endless conflict between big budget science and the exigencies of modern life's demands on politics and politicians.
I enjoyed Preston's homespun philosophy and his attempt to portray the possibility that science may ultimately BE the modern religion of choice. His suggestion that the Big Bang was not in conflict with creationism and the existence of God, that the Big Bang was only the obtuse and perhaps ultimately inscrutable method chosen for creation by a God whose motives and philosophy are beyond our ken, certainly matched my own thinking. But Preston certainly will not have created any friends among the fundamentalist Christians. His portrayal of their religion as a collection of fanatical wild-eyed zealots willing to label even Roman Catholics as idolaters destined for the endless torment of Hell because of their reverence for Mary was perhaps a trifle overbearing.
If this review can help, I'll make a suggestion. If you class yourself as a member of the fundamentalist Christian movement in North America, do yourself a favour. DO NOT READ THIS BOOK! It will only give you an ulcer.
That said, Preston has produced one heck of a thriller that doesn't fail to pull its readers from one page to the next for even the briefest second. Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss