book data
86 ratings, 3.74 average rating, 15 reviews
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published
September 20th 2002
by Thomas Dunne Books
binding
Hardcover, 400 pages
isbn
0312280750
(isbn13: 9780312280758)
description
MANKIND HAS HAD 12,000 YEARS TO DECIPHER THE MESSAGE,WE HAVE ONE WEEK LEFT......There is a signal emanating from deep within the ice of Antarctica. At...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 120)
Read in November, 2008
I learned from this book that I won't read another of his books. He used a scientific platform, which I initially found interesting, to basically spew his anti-religion ideas. Yeah. No, thanks. I didn't even finish this book because it was a cheap knock-off of Jurassic Park with different technology. The characters - were they supposed to be likeable? And easy to follow? Meh. I should have known the instant archaeologists started barbequeing thousands of years old mammoth meat that had b...more
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Read in September, 2008
recommended to David by:
John Reymanrecommends it for: fans of Neal Stephenson, Asimov, and Heinlein.
Decipher is a real treat; intelligent, well-researched, fast-paced, and thrilling. If this is Pavlou's first novel, I can't wait to see what he came up with for his second and third outings (Gene and Code Zero, apparently).
Decipher ties together myth, linguistics, archeology, physics, and much more to spin a near-future tale of a race to save the planet from annihilation. Pavlou obviously spent a great deal of time researching this book, but only rarely does that ...more
Decipher ties together myth, linguistics, archeology, physics, and much more to spin a near-future tale of a race to save the planet from annihilation. Pavlou obviously spent a great deal of time researching this book, but only rarely does that ...more
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Read in August, 2007
i really would like to give this 2.5 stars, because i'm somewhere between liking it and it just being ok.
3 stars for: a great premise. a nice renaissance approach, if you will, by incorporating linguistics, geology, physics, religion, history, astronomy, etc., in attempting to solve the core dilemma. very compelling to someone with diverse interests, such as myself.
2 stars for: mediocre, uneven writing. periodically cheesy dialogue, simplistic and predictable relationships, and as anot...more
3 stars for: a great premise. a nice renaissance approach, if you will, by incorporating linguistics, geology, physics, religion, history, astronomy, etc., in attempting to solve the core dilemma. very compelling to someone with diverse interests, such as myself.
2 stars for: mediocre, uneven writing. periodically cheesy dialogue, simplistic and predictable relationships, and as anot...more
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The review of this book prompted my buying it. Though the ending disappointed (did Pavlou seek a movie deal?) it is no less worth reading. Indeed, before I read it, I lent it to a friend, who recommended to his friends, who recommended it to their friends, and on it went- leaving me to wonder if I'd ever get it back so that I could read it!
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The begining of the book is amazing- you can't tell where the fact ends and the fiction begins as you listen in on conversations of ancient history conspiracy theory and nanatechnology and so much more, and what it means for the not so distant 2011. It has been a few years since I've read it, so I can't remember in detail all the amazing topics it broached, but I remember being in geeky love with the first half or so of the book. Hi-tech science, obscure ancient history, tying them together with...more
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Read in January, 2006
Fun book. It is a bit in the style of the "Hey, lets cash in on Davinci Code ancient mystery" book, but manages to eclipse the genre and move into pretty much straight up sci-fi. The premise is a little weak, but no more so than "Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull'. The "puzzle" is a pretty good one, with lots of little surprizing twists and turns. This is a good book for a long flight or to read during your commute on the Metro. Good characters, at times a little ...more
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This is another entry in the psuedoscience with famous artifact genre that has taken off even more in the post Da Vinci Code world. However, it's a pretty bad one. It tries to do way too much and ends up being a Baatan Death March of new plot devices, most of them feeling quite forced. It was tough to get to like any of the characters, and the story feels like it ends five or six times, but keeps getting more and more absurd until the ridiculous climax. It's not a complete waste of time, but the...more
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Read in March, 2006
recommends it for:
anyone disappointed in The DaVinci Code
If you want to read a book that actually fulfills the literary promise of the extremely disappointing "DaVinci Code" should read this one instead. It has everything: world mythology, futuristic premises, fascinating connections between past and the present civilizations, very satisfying historical accuracy, and interesting characters who are not entirely two dimensional.
This novel would make a truly amazing movie, and I can't believe some Hollywood visionary hasn't bought the righ...more
This novel would make a truly amazing movie, and I can't believe some Hollywood visionary hasn't bought the righ...more
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Read in January, 2008
Less than halfway through the book, and I'm tired of it. It's an interesting premise, but poorly written. Overloaded with techno-babble and scientific and historical "facts" that don't strongly relate to the main story. Too many under-developed characters that are too hard to keep track of as it bounces from plot-line to plot-line. I doubt I'll finish the book.
UPDATE - I actually finished it. I can't believe I wasted my time on this dumb book.
UPDATE - I actually finished it. I can't believe I wasted my time on this dumb book.
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loved this book. The first 50 or so pages are difficult to get past if you have problems with someone trying to disprove religion. These pages are important to the story and he is not derogatory towards religion he just has some interesting ideas on the history that could have happend. After these first pages it is a high paced high adventure page turner. I love it and would read it again.
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I read this book a couple of years ago, after picking it up in a thrift store. It was great. It kept my mind involved. I would recommend it. I just remembered the author's name, and look forward to reading his other books!
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This book was great! A secret under the ice in Antartica leads to a race against time to save the world from total destruction. My kind of book!
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readers of atlantis-type stories would like this one. wish this guy wrote more books!
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Overall a good story, perhaps just too many details that were not really necessary
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in June, 2007
really fun. kinda cheesy at times,really cool science stuff.
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