false 18431 0440241359 9780440241355 4941 562 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166913264m/18431.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18431.The_Rule_of_Four 11111 Ian Caldwell 6153 712 3 0 false Tue Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Jul 14 20:37:27 -0700 2009 Tue Jul 14 20:51:01 -0700 2009
At the center of "Rule of Four" is the Hyperotomachia Poliphili. Five centuries old, filled with violent drawings and a nearly inscrutable plot, this book has long fascinated academics who know of one simple message encoded in the text and who wonder at its deeper meaning. Along comes Paul, a Princeton undergraduate, who seems born to attack this mystery.

But as Paul's work proceeds, his work threatens the careers, romancess and friendships of those around him. And then people start getting killed, and we find ourselves with two mysteries on our hands. What does the book mean? And who is behind the violence?

I heard about this book a few years ago through my high school alumni network - authors Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason were two years ahead of me in school. It didn't interest me at all. But when my dad discovered it and recommended it as a "smart Davinci Code" I decided to give it a chance. I'm glad I did.

This isn't the deepest, greatest book ever written, but it is an enjoyable book, well written, and a fun, fast read. I'm sad to say that smart, fun novels seem like a rare commodity these days.]]>