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The Last Oracle (Sigma Force #5)

by James Rollins (Goodreads Author)

3.99 · rating details · 4,403 ratings · 330 reviews

In Washington, D.C., a homeless man takes an assassin's bullet and dies in Commander Gray Pierce's arms. A bloody coin clutched in the dead man's hand--an ancient relic that can be traced back to the Greek Oracle of Delphi--is the key to a conspiracy that dates back to the Cold War and threatens the very foundation of humanity. For what if it were possible to bioengineer

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Mass Market Paperbound, 462 pages

Published June 1st 2009 by Harper

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Feb 04, 2009

Jean rated it

· review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Sigma Force comes up against an unlikely combination of mysteries in this novel: autism and nuclear radiation. I found the plot of Last Oracle to be less tightly-constructed than previous Rollins novels. It took me a long time to get into it because it took so long for the plot to take any sort of shape. The characters were aimlessly following the clues given by a dead man and an autistic child for over half the book, with no clue as to what their goal was.

Oddly enough, I found ...moreSigma Force comes up against an unlikely combination of mysteries in this novel: autism and nuclear radiation. I found the plot of Last Oracle to be less tightly-constructed than previous Rollins novels. It took me a long time to get into it because it took so long for the plot to take any sort of shape. The characters were aimlessly following the clues given by a dead man and an autistic child for over half the book, with no clue as to what their goal was.

Oddly enough, I found all the characters (except perhaps Kat, Monk, & Kowalski) to be flatter than ever, even though I "knew" them from previous novels. Most of the new & secondary characters seemed either too over-the-top (especially Mapplethorpe) or too flat (Elizabeth and Rosauro) for me to care one way or another about their fates. The diabolically evil plot was a bit strange; it didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. There were too many holes for things to go wrong, to little connection between what they were doing and what they were trying to acheive (did they really think they'd come to rule the world by spreading chaos? Yeah, maybe, but there are too many variables on how that would turn out), and very little explanation of how the flashbacks to the 1950s related to their actions of the 1990s (I understand how they came to use the children eventually, but why did they steal them in the first place if they didn't come up with their current evil plan until so much later?)

The best part of the book was the Russian Bad Guys, though. They had more dimension than any other characters in that they were so committed to both the plan and the children even though those concerns came into conflict. You couldn't help but adore Pyotr and Marta and Konstantin. (I don't really know why Rollins included the little epilogue about Pyotr/Marta. It was very emotional and special, but I didn't see the purpose it served, other than Rollins hates to kill off his favorite characters.)

Speaking of killing off characters, we obviously get Monk back, big surprise there. It's a bit crazy how that happens, but that's the fun speculative part of the book: the harnessing of savant intuition and how far that power could stretch. OK. His relationship with the children was touching. He successfully came across as himself, just witout his memories. But I was disappointed that Rollins didnt give us any sort of reunion scene for us to witness Monk's initial reaction to finding out who he is.

I could suspend my disbelief for the speculative aspects of the story; that's simply part of reading Rollins' fiction. But I have come to expect a plotline that's more engaging and makes a little more sense within that specualtive realm. And while his characters have never been the most compelling, usually they at least serve satisfactorily, unlike this time. Well, it would appear that we'll get some more of the Gray/Seichan storyline next time, which so far has been the most dynamic character relationship. (I just hope Gray perks up a bit and becomes more interesting.) (less)

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Jul 30, 2008

Lori Whitwam rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: popular-fiction, techno-thriller

As with all Rollins' books, they are far to complex and interwoven to describe adequately in a review.

An elderly Russian man is gunned down outside the Smithsonian Castle in Washington, DC, right into the arms of Gray Pierce, a member of Sigma, a secret government agency that combines scientific brilliance and military skills. The dead man has an ancient coin in his hand.

From the US, to Russia, to India... The Americans, the Russians, the Indians and the Gypsies... all...more

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Jul 22, 2008

Logan rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: own-bought-ebook

I absolutely love the Sigma Force novels by James Rollins, and this one was no let down. He is everything Dan Brown wishes he could be. The stories are smartly paced, well researched, intriguing and funny and thrilling and full of heart. The characters are well crafted and we get so caught up in their personalities, even without boring side plots that reveal their relationships. This one picks up after a very intense cliffhanger, so if you're new to the series I wouldn't suggest starting wit...more

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Mar 17, 2009

Catherine rated it

· review of another edition

This is a thriller/mystery science fantasy novel about autistic savants used for the purpose of overthrowing world governments for the personal ambitions of an egomaniac and his mother. We are allowed to see the points of view of several characters, including at least one of the autistic savants, and as the plot unfolds we see many spy agencies involved on all sides.

The author keeps the writing and the action interesting with odd twists and turns of the plot, miraculous escapes, ama...more

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Feb 20, 2011

Paul Pessolano rated it

· review of another edition

Sigma Force is back and facing another major world crisis that is being planned by sinister and evil men and women.It is not absolutely necessary to read the first book that features Sigma Force, "The Judas Strain", but it would probably be a good idea. "The Judas Strain" left a few unanswered questions that will be resovled in "The Last Oracle".

Rollins in his last two books has done an exceptional job of melding ancient history and present day events. ...more

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Dec 31, 2009

Lewis rated it

· review of another edition

Exploiting savant talents for military purposes is a fascinating yet horrifying prospect, which makes for a novel story. Kick up the intensity by making it exploiting the talents of autistic savant children who have been biologically altered to heighten their abilities, and you get Rollins' The Last Oracle. This fresh topic appealed to me from the very beginning and kept me turning pages quickly to see how things would turn out.

As you would expect with a Sigma novel, there is ample g...moreExploiting savant talents for military purposes is a fascinating yet horrifying prospect, which makes for a novel story. Kick up the intensity by making it exploiting the talents of autistic savant children who have been biologically altered to heighten their abilities, and you get Rollins' The Last Oracle. This fresh topic appealed to me from the very beginning and kept me turning pages quickly to see how things would turn out.

As you would expect with a Sigma novel, there is ample government secret agency involvement, espionage, and double crossing. The involvement of The Jasons was very intriguing. There is also a threat of radiation poisoning on a global scale. The reasoning behind the threat is even more interesting than the threat itself.

While The Last Oracle is a book in the Sigma Force series, you won't need any knowledge of the preceding books to enjoy and understand all that's going on. Rollins does an excellent job of giving the reader all he/she needs to follow the characters and the story without ever getting bogged down. A perfect example of this is a character named Monk, who was in an accident and presumed to be dead in a previous novel, appears in this book. The mystery surrounding his accident is integral to this plot, but you need no prior info to follow it.

The story offers much more complexity than having a single villain or even all the villains on one side or even in the same country. Fanaticism beyond reason is displayed on many sides. I enjoyed the varying levels of "bad" in the opposition in this book. While the story moves rapidly from one front to another (Washington D.C., India, Greece, Chernobyl), we do get to see the background and motivation that turns someone from being an ambitiously well-meaning patriot into a dangerous zealot, the road to believing that the ends justify the means. And, people do die, including some characters that you might not expect.

WARNING spoilers ahead. Linking the mythology of The Oracle of Delphi in Greece through the "untouchables" at the bottom of the caste system in India to the fabled mystic abilities of the Roma (Gypsies) made for some interesting reading. The way the story is presented also provides genetic reasons for the special abilities; one needs not believe in any mysticism to buy into the story. This next part won't make any sense unless you've read the book, but I also thought it was a nice touch that the epsilon was included in the mythology of the Oracle which provided a link to Sigma itself.

The ending is satisfying with just the right amount of closure and mystery that will continue into the next book.

Some of my favorite lines and descriptions are:
"...Nicholas had seen piles of discarded gas masks, lying in limp heaps like the scalped faces of the dead."
"Roots tangled out of the sandstone walls, like the gnarled faces of old men..."
"...windows shattered into broken fangs..." (less)

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Aug 08, 2009

Glee rated it

· review of another edition

If you like good mindless action reads, James Rollins fills the bill. His characters, while still pretty two-dimensional, are getting better as he writes more. If you like Indiana Jones type action, you'd enjoy this (and his previous books also). Real page-turners, usually has three or four subplots going, all built to come together in rip-roaring finishes.

If you need literature, this probably isn't it. I discovered him a while ago when he got a plug from local reviewer because h...more

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Jun 03, 2009

Charity rated it

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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 03, 2009

Nicole rated it

Shelves: reviewed

James Rollins' latest paperback The Last Oracle was released on May 11 and I even managed to get my gleeful hands on a copy a couple days before. I waited eagerly for the mass market to come out, as budget is of concern to me and I only buy mm or trade paperback...and I rarely get the time to visit the library nowadays. I'm loving the sparkly fire on the front cover too. This is the fifth book in the Sigma Force series.

So with all the historical fiction I write reviews on why, do yo...moreJames Rollins' latest paperback The Last Oracle was released on May 11 and I even managed to get my gleeful hands on a copy a couple days before. I waited eagerly for the mass market to come out, as budget is of concern to me and I only buy mm or trade paperback...and I rarely get the time to visit the library nowadays. I'm loving the sparkly fire on the front cover too. This is the fifth book in the Sigma Force series.

So with all the historical fiction I write reviews on why, do you ask, am I such a fan of James Rollins, when he writes action/adventure/thriller fiction?? WELL first of all, I'm a bit if a nerd and excelled in science and computer classes in my high school and university education (I have a B.Sc. degree in psychology). I love karate and action or science fiction films even prefer them over romantic comedies...I'm all for over the top special effects and I prefer to watch movies on IMAX screens. Plus I need to mix up the historical fiction with something else.

I am a dedicated follower of Rollins and own and have read most of his books (excepting Indiana Jones and Jake Ransom). Did you know Rollins' The Judas Strain won the Harper Collins March Madness competition out of 60 different titles at the start??? As you can see here there was some very stiff competition. What I love about his novels besides the fast-paced action is that he really develops his characters and relationships between characters...he always weaves his plot around scientific theories, which can sometimes be bizarre or obscure, and controversial topics. He always includes elements of emotional drama, humor, romance and edge of your seat thrills.

****************
In Washington, D.C., a homeless man takes an assassin's bullet and dies in Commander Gray Pierce's arms. A bloody coin clutched in the dead man's hand—an ancient relic that can be traced back to the Greek Oracle of Delphi—is the key to a conspiracy that dates back to the Cold War and threatens the very foundation of humanity. For what if it were possible to bioengineer the next great prophet—a new Buddha, Muhammad, or even Jesus? Would this Second Coming be a boon . . . or would it initiate a chain reaction that would result in the extinction of humankind?

Vital seconds are ticking rapidly away as Pierce races across the globe in search of answers, one step ahead of ruthless killers determined to reclaim the priceless artifact. Suddenly the future of all things is balanced on the brink between heaven and hell—and salvation or destruction rests in the hands of remarkable children.
****************

I thought The Last Oracle ventured into a new emotionalism from Rollins, which was especially chilling at times. Autistic savant children have been augmented to enhance their abilities and exploit them in the service of a Russian scientific research team to bring about a new Russian Renaissance. The children have significant roles in the narrative and you cannot help but feel a strong sympathy for them...and there is one particular climax where I sobbed my heart out. A character who has been in most of the books in the series we find out may not be dead after all, although we were given this clue at the end of The Judas Strain, and with his life being stolen from him and no memory of who he was, he strives to save the children from an inescapable fate. The main team of characters, Painter Crowe, Lisa Cummings, Kat Bryant, Gray Pierce and Joe Kowalski, are more emotionally vulnerable and complex, they are given additional facets to their personalities, so that the individual is emphasized just as much now as the Sigma team.

The novel starts in A.D. 398 at The Temple of Delphi. We are given a quick glimpse into the significance of the temple, which was a particularly effective way of beginning the book. This is not Rollins' usual style - including a historical POV - and just shows how he has grown as an author, really broadening the scope of his writing. Rollins balances very well the historical elements, scientific details and ethical discourse. The only few things that stuck out as odd to me was a question posed by Gray Pierce, which I though since he was supposed to be a genius he should already know but these questions are used as a tool by Rollins to explain in more detail scientific theory. There is a spelling mistake on page 451 that is kind of funny...did you catch it??

James Rollins' next book, The Doomsday Key, to be released in hardcover on June 23, 2009.

My Rating: 4.5

http://myobsessionwithbooks.blogspot.com...(less)

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Jan 11, 2011

Michelle♥ rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: sigma-force-series

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. To be honest, I was sorely disappointed with this one! I have been waiting for Rollins to write about the Greek mythology genre and when I saw the cover of this one, I nearly flipped with joy. Unfortunately, past the cover gets a little boring...

It was more about savant autistic children and Russians limitless power over them and their tumultuous power of radiation.

Snore!

I mean, yeah it was interesting to see all the pictures in the book, but I was more interested ...more

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Nov 18, 2011

Norman rated it

The only other writers that makes me fly across the pages are Agatha Christie and Gail Carriger. James Rollins reminds me of my father, who instead of guided me in swimming, threw me into the water. His characters make no apologies about what they did and do, which makes his novels all the more gripping.

If we are to believe Rollins' world, then nothing in the history is truly what they were written down. This, coupled with the author's countless references sometimes throw an incident ...more

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Jul 30, 2011

Scott rated it

· review of another edition

I've been a fan of James Rollins for a long time and his stories have never disappointed me. This one is no exception. I was a little surprised that people didn't seem to like it as much as some of his other novels, but I found it to be one of his best. The sigma characters are very easy to like and the more stories you read about them, the more interesting they become. This book in particular had a fantastic series of intertwining plots that all play a part in the outcome of the mission. V...more

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Apr 21, 2011

Philip Cook rated it

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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 04, 2011

Danny Bernier rated it

Like all of James Rollins' books this was an exciting and adventurous read. Character development is on par with most of his other books. Which is to say a bit lacking. We are supposed to become attached to the characters and many details are left to the reader to "know" from past books. The storyline was very good with a nice surprise ending. Like all of his books this one follows a simple save the world formula. There are many interesting facts in this book both scientific and geogra...more

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Jul 17, 2011

Liz rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: james rollins fans

Recommended to Liz by: dad

Shelves: fiction, mystery-suspense

Things go awry when there is a planned take over of the world through a nuclear disaster. A group of Autistic Savants are harbored under a dome and increasing their abilities by a group of scientist. Sigma, an American group, are involved and set out to free the children after they are caring for one of them. A young girl, Sasha, is an autistic savant with a metal implant behind her ear. She scribbles out pictures and points the group in the right direction. They travel to India then to Rus...more

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Jan 27, 2012

Kim rated it

· review of another edition

This was the first James Rollins book I read and glad it was the first. The book hit a core in me as I read the story as it dealt with children, autistic or savant or just the fact they were children is unknown. It was tightly weaved with science and history which made it tie together. It was like watching a movie in slow motion but included thoughts and small details that might be missed on the big screen. It moved me like watching a good movie as I cried by page 410 and hadn't read a book ...more

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Jul 06, 2009

ScottK rated it

· review of another edition

The Sigma Force books are one of my Guilty pleasures. I have loved each and every one. I think I loved Map of Bones best, but this one was a very close second. Very Alpha maleish with names like Painter Crowe and Gray Pierce. Everyone of them could kick my ass with their little fingers alone ( even the girls which is pretty freakin' sad).

Granted the books are not great pieces of literature, but sometimes it's just good to get lost, and swept away by stories and plotlines, that have...more

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Aug 20, 2011

Hugh The Curmudgeon rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: action-adventure, good-read, historical-mystery-meets-modern-sci, audio-book

The excitement continues as Sigma Force is yet again sent to unravel the mysteries of the world before all hell breaks loose. This story involves the Team of Gray and Joe Kolwalski and that ever more sexy, ever more deadly super assasin/spy Seichan. What ever happens, don't step on Joe's shoes!

This is my favorite of the Sigma Force Stories. We get to learn more about Gray's life and his parents as he fights the long good-bye (Alzhimer's) with his father and the question of what re...more

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Jul 04, 2011

Keith rated it

· review of another edition

What do Gypsies, The Oracle of Delphi, bio engineering, Chernobyl, autism and the diverse world of espionage all have to do with each other? Well at first blush I’m tempted to say “not much” but after reading this book I’m confident in saying: “nothing at all”. Although I like “spy craft” novels and I’m fascinated by historical fiction and science fiction, mixing them all together in this story just doesn’t work. Once again I’d like to say that unless believable or at least sympathetic charac...more

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Feb 25, 2010

Craig rated it

· review of another edition

Recommended to Craig by: ovenman6@yahoo.com

Very entertaining international, save the world novel based on deranged Russian old guard die hards that try to use the nuclear waste from a lake in Russia and Chernobyl to kill the Artic Ocean and bring about a new world order by using survivors of Hitler's and Dr. Melgele's gypsy sevant twin's ability to preform previously unheard of feats of mental telepathy. The United States National Security personalities (and a Gypsy Sevant child) saves the day. Gypsy (Indian Hindu decendents) are linke...more

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Apr 08, 2009

Josh Knoll rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2009, thriller

This is the 11th James Rollins novel I have read, and I still never tire of picking up one of his books and letting him take me on an adventure. This one actually has become one of my favorites because of the subject matter involved. As a special education teacher, I have worked with autistic children. It's these children who are placed clearly in the center of this story's action and ideas. It's truly fascinating to see how Rollins weaves the actual abilities of these children, real-world event...more

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Jan 24, 2012

Sangita rated it

· review of another edition

Will definitely recommend this book.This a fiction based on a very interesting premise where its believed that Oracles of Delphi had a special genetic capabilities which helped them see the future.And how there are certain gypsy clans in today's time with similar capabilities. Book is about different factions trying to control these capabilities to their advantage.

Books has many subplots running through it which takes you through US,Russia,India in the mean time giving you loads of i...more

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Jul 24, 2009

Jennifer rated it

· review of another edition

Okay, I have just spent 2 weeks indulging in a little pool-side reading. Someone recommended these as sort of science geek meets special ops type adventures. They're pretty good. By the 4th one I was definitely anticipating the formula, but how critical can I really be? I keep reading them.
The men are all good looking (good or bad), the women are all strong (and hot) and the children are all above average. (Any Prairie Home Companion fans out there?)
The fourth one I liked the best s...more

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Jul 12, 2010

Christine rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2010-reads

In this, the fifth in Rollins' Sigma Force series a group of scientists from various countries collaborate in a spine tingling bioengineering experiment to try to produce to next great “prophet”. This one, rather than promising salvation, was to bring the world to its knees. Mr. Rollins' books are always filled with page turning adventure but this one had a interesting back story as well. As much as I enjoyed finding out what has happened to the members of Sigma Force since The Judas Strain I wa...more

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May 07, 2010

Amanda rated it

· review of another edition

I enjoy Rollins' work. Again they are thrillers, so I read them mostly as a quick fix sort of thing. I didn't realize this one was part of the "Sigma Force" series and got a little annoyed by the constant references to past books. I suppose this is what gets people to read the other books though.

When I first started reading it, I had a little hesitancy because of the idea of this "hidden order", reminded me too much of about 20 other books. Then the story moved o...more

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Nov 14, 2011

Macjest rated it

· review of another edition

I love books like this that incorporate history into them. Rollins does that as well as keeping the book in modern times with situations that make you wonder "what if?" Here's a little excerpt from amazon.com:
The story concerns a group of autistic savant children who have been bred and surgically altered to improve their savant skills. A rogue Russian senator has plans to create a nuclear disaster that will vault him to global power, and he plans to use the children's talents in h...more

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Jul 27, 2011

John added it · review of another edition

James Rollin's "Sigma Force" novels are getting more and more complex. This one, the fifth in the series, was not at all easy to follow, and it seemed quite long. That said, I still enjoyed it a lot...just took a bit more effort for the payoff than your average novel. Also, so loose ends from the previous books are tied up, which is nice, but which requires you to have actually read the previous books in order to get the most out of this one. Looking forward to reading the recently...more

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Mar 04, 2010

David Sakmyster rated it

· review of another edition

Rollins and Sigma Force up to the task again! Really liked this one, and as usual, Rollins hits on some of the same ideas I'm exploring in the novels I'm writing - this time, Remote-Viewing. Fortunately didn't make it the centerpiece of the story like I have with my 'Morpheus Initiative' series, but it was great to see how he handled the subject as well. And it was, as usual for Rollins, a great thrill-a-minute ride, full of fascinating historical information and fun characterization. I like...more

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Aug 07, 2011

Rachael McDiarmid rated it

· review of another edition

This was my first James Rollins and I must admit I had trouble at times with it as I don't usually read this genre. The story was too out there for me, and I kept losing track of who's who and what they were doing and why, but I kept turning those pages and made it through to the end. There were some interesting concepts but the disturbing thing was his notes at the end saying these things were already happening in the world. Frightening really. I'm assuming this guy has a fan base of sorts b...more

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Jul 28, 2011

Thk rated it

· review of another edition

A more James Bondish affair compared to Judas Strain, the build-up in this book seems a bit longer than the former, although the ending is surprisingly good. Rollins is good at doing exposition of multithreads, but however, one of them, which brings back a surprise character, tend to be a bit draggy. Or perhaps I am just trying too hard to finish this book fast! I like the way Rollins integrate various factual events to push his fictional story, some of which I have come into contact before, and...more

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About James Rollins

James Rollins is a thriller writer like no other. He unveils the unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets that drive the destiny of mankind from behind the scenes. And he does it on a 200 mile an hour roller coaster ride that will leave you shattered, scared, and breathless.

James Rollins is the author of seven thrillers in the bestselling Sigma Force series (Sand

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The Last Oracle (Sigma Force #5)

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