Blasphemy
by Douglas Preston
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On Amazon, this book didn’t rate very well. Here’s the chart I copied today:
Out of 102 Reviews:
5 stars - 28
4 stars - 22
3 stars - 15
2 stars - 23
1 star - 14
When I looked at it a few weeks ago, there were less 5 star ratings than today. After the ratings, I scroll down to read the reviews and I see “obvious holes” in the plot. Even so, I want to read the book. When this happens, I opt for audio and find a copy at the library. I’ve never read a Preston ...more
Out of 102 Reviews:
5 stars - 28
4 stars - 22
3 stars - 15
2 stars - 23
1 star - 14
When I looked at it a few weeks ago, there were less 5 star ratings than today. After the ratings, I scroll down to read the reviews and I see “obvious holes” in the plot. Even so, I want to read the book. When this happens, I opt for audio and find a copy at the library. I’ve never read a Preston ...more
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Read in February, 2008
The book started out a little slow, but kept my interest. The premise is that the govenment has built a superconductor beneath the mesas of Arizona to recreate the "Big Bang". This is seen as an opportunity by the opponents of the president during the election year to rally the religious conservatives. This sets up a (literal) battle between the Creationists and science, especially as the scientists in charge of the project believe they have been speaking with God through the superc...more
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Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
Quick Read, Thriller, Bestselling fiction
The first few chapters of this book struck me as a little over the top and there was too much techy mumbo jumbo. I feared the whole book would take on a very science fiction computer genius tone and I would be bored out of my mind. Happily, this did not happen. The main character, Wyman Ford is very intriguing and you really start to get into the story through his eyes. The title, "Blasphemy" comes from the fact that the main plot line concerns a group of scientists trying to more or l...more
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Read in January, 2008
Very good, and carries quite a bit more resonance than Preston's first two solo novels. I've read a few reviews by irate Christians who claim it is an attack on their faith, but they are completely missing the point and somehow have the absurd idea that a piece of fiction's worth is somehow connected to whether the fictional characters within confirm one's faith or not (see The Da Vinci Code or The Golden Compass).
Unfortunately, today a lot of Christians do believe, like most of the Christi...more
Unfortunately, today a lot of Christians do believe, like most of the Christi...more
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Read in February, 2008
I really enjoy the joint efforts by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child - thrillers, mixing in bits of interesting science and history.
Blasphemy is one of Preston's solo efforts (I've read several), and it's a fast-paced page turner. Unfortunately, about half-way through the ending became pretty predictable. Parts of the plot were a bit of a stretch, but I usually give a bit of leeway when reading thrillers.
Not one of his better works (joint or otherwise), but all in all, a decent "...more
Blasphemy is one of Preston's solo efforts (I've read several), and it's a fast-paced page turner. Unfortunately, about half-way through the ending became pretty predictable. Parts of the plot were a bit of a stretch, but I usually give a bit of leeway when reading thrillers.
Not one of his better works (joint or otherwise), but all in all, a decent "...more
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Read in January, 2008
Blah blah blah blahsphemy. This is a completely predictable potboiler. As for all the hooplah about the anti-Christian sentiments...well, it's anti-fundamentalist Christian, sure. I certainly have no problem with that.
The scarier concept is the idea of creating a new religion out of science. I was amazed that none of the "scientists" in the novel were the least bit perturbed at this concept. Umm, duh, the minute science becomes religion, IT IS NO LONGER SCIENCE!
Science as...more
The scarier concept is the idea of creating a new religion out of science. I was amazed that none of the "scientists" in the novel were the least bit perturbed at this concept. Umm, duh, the minute science becomes religion, IT IS NO LONGER SCIENCE!
Science as...more
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Read in February, 2008
I give this five stars for the intelligence, great plotting, and forward thinking alone. Oh, and the suspense. I finished it in two nights, I think.
But, in short... science is the new religion was the point, I think. :) BUT wisely, the author showed that it IS, after all, a belief system-- just like any other religion. Most science types don't like to see it that way. For that alone, it deserves 5 stars. :) This one is worth a read. After all, the Hadron Collider is being built as we speak.....more
But, in short... science is the new religion was the point, I think. :) BUT wisely, the author showed that it IS, after all, a belief system-- just like any other religion. Most science types don't like to see it that way. For that alone, it deserves 5 stars. :) This one is worth a read. After all, the Hadron Collider is being built as we speak.....more
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Read in April, 2008
We thought Dan Brown was a smart author??? Preston expects a lot out of his readers. This is a science versus religion book and I was really challenged intellectually. I learned a lot about quantum physics and scientific theories. But it was such a fun and interesting read I hardly noticed how smart it was. Totally believable with kind of a crazy ending, but I really enjoyed this. I picked it off the "New Fiction" table at the library because the cover looked cool. Totally wort
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Read in April, 2008
I REALLY had to struggle to get through this one. I kind of like sci-fi things, I enjoy politics, and I can dig an interesting debate on the role of religion in society. I also enjoy pizza, ice cream, and a juicy hamburger, however, those three things should never be mixed together. And that's what I learned from Blasphemy: the ingredients in his story made for a boring book. The ending wasn't that bad, but having to endure the first 3/4s of it was too much. Blasphemy indeed.
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Read in March, 2008
This book seems like one that Michael Crichton and Dan Brown could have gotten together to write. Just a little bit of religious element and super fast pacing for the Dan Brown fans, and the cautionary science favored by Crichton. It truly was a breezy read, even as it tried to touch on higher metaphysical concepts. Fascinating stuff that might make you think deep thoughts, but that you'll more likely enjoy for the action packed thrills.
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Read in February, 2008
Another good solo outing from my favorite book writing duo of Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child.
It reads a lot like their book Mount Dragon from about 10 years ago, but mostly because of the setting the story takes place in. I liked this book a lot, but the political/religious message he kept trying to hammer home got a bit tired by the end of the book. That said, it was still a great read and I look forward to his next effort.
It reads a lot like their book Mount Dragon from about 10 years ago, but mostly because of the setting the story takes place in. I liked this book a lot, but the political/religious message he kept trying to hammer home got a bit tired by the end of the book. That said, it was still a great read and I look forward to his next effort.
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I'm a huge fan of the Preston/Child novels, and of their solo novels. This is Preston's latest solo novel, and it's probably his best yet.
This book really explores the science vs. religion debate in America, and what could happen if the religious wackos (read: "Christians" who attack anybody who doesn't agree with them) decided to go ballistic against science. Controversial, gripping, and thoroughly enjoyable. Read it.
This book really explores the science vs. religion debate in America, and what could happen if the religious wackos (read: "Christians" who attack anybody who doesn't agree with them) decided to go ballistic against science. Controversial, gripping, and thoroughly enjoyable. Read it.
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone
This is a rapturous book which is entertaining and thought provoking. Despite a few plot implausibilities I really liked the concept and the characters, some of whom I can watch on Christian TV channels. The rest are a mix of Arizona Indians, and particle physicists. Why not make up a new religion? It can't be any worse than the ones we practice now. A bunch of godless atheists JUST may be the ones to find her.
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Read in April, 2008
Blasphemy had a really good premise, but lost a bit in the execution. The characters were really underdeveloped stereotypes and their actions were pretty predictable because of it. I wish Preston had taken this in a different direction. I had suspicions about the ending from the first twist (don't want to give anything away) but I was hoping I was wrong and the explanation would be more supernatural.
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Read in February, 2008
This book was a real quick read and held my attention for the most part. It was suspenseful at times but the ending was almost apparent about two-thirds through the book. The biggest downer was the charaterization of christians and the depths that the author went to vilify them. The book is called Blasphemy though so read at your own risk. I still like Doug Preston just not this book as much...
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Read in January, 2008
The book is well named! Just as his fellow writer says on the back of the book: "... finally gone too far. One way or another, I'm afraid he may burn for this book."
I love the anti-fundamental Christian slant to the story, but was pleasantly surprised when he put the new science/ religion in the same category at the end... very appropriate.
It was a quick, and really good read.
I love the anti-fundamental Christian slant to the story, but was pleasantly surprised when he put the new science/ religion in the same category at the end... very appropriate.
It was a quick, and really good read.
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Read in April, 2008
This book definitely gives some food for thought. If you're easily offended (i.e. DaVinci Code made you want to have a book-burning), you probably shouldn't read it. I recommend looking closely at the reviews on the back cover...good for a laugh if you pay attention. Fast-paced, lots of action, interesting scientific detail without completely losing you in the description.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in February, 2008
This is classic thriller format...lots of action, lots of dialogue, short chapters, no character development and a cataclysmic problem which affects many people. state of the art particle reactor promises to set back the frontiers of science if it doesn't explode first. ok for an airplane ride if you can find it in paperpack. It's not worth the $25.95 hardback price.
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Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
atheists who want a feel good read and fundamentalists who want to feel that burning heat.
THe usual cast of characters: scientists, religious fanatics, Navajo reservation spirit folks, fundamentalists, government hacks, preachers, lobbyists... all mashed up into a "sci-fi" cum religious tract. But still fun. There's not much there there, but it's packaged well to debate religion and posit science as the new religion.
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Read in January, 2008
This is a fast-paced easy read with an exciting premise. What happens when scientists working on a super collider bring it up to full power? A voice comes online, claiming to be God. The book includes an assault on the scientists by fundamentalists as well as provocative ideas and a satisfying climax. A great book.
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.39 (192 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.39 (192 ratings) number of reviews: 62popular shelves
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quote
"You think of yourself as an "individual person", with a unique and separate mind. You think you are born and you think you die. All your life you feel separate and alone. Sometimes desperately so. You fear death because you fear the loss of individuality. All this is an illusion. You, he, she, those things around you living or not, the stars and galaxies, the empty space in between- these are not distinct, separate objects. All is fundamentally entangled."
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