The God Frequency

by Douglas Hemme

Brilliant engineer and ham radio operator Antwan devises transceivers capable of exceptional accuracy. Eager to test his innovation, he recruits geophysicist student Lauren, who together unwittingly stumble upon a singular frequency that seems to defy the very laws of physics. Intrigued and bewildered, they seek the expertise of retired professor and amateur radio astronomer, Dr. Daniel Sullivan, who confirms their discovery.

The trio decides to unveil their findings to the world through a TED talk, where Dr. Sullivan dubs their discovery "the God frequency" for its apparent omnipotence, igniting a media frenzy and capturing the attention of government entities wary of the implications. In response, the government confiscates Antwan's transceivers and begins the process of regulating the newfound frequency anomaly and technologies to access it under the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission

Unbeknownst to Dr. Sullivan, the God frequency has attracted interest beyond scientific circles. A foreign agent intent on obtaining the frequency and an extremist with a dangerous vendetta separately take up pursuit. As the two threats converge, chaos ensues with Dr. Sullivan at the center. Just as tensions rise and intentions clash, a vigilant government agent is compelled to spring into action.

In "The God Frequency," a thrilling sci-fi narrative intertwines ingenuity, intrigue, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge as three unlikely allies navigate a perilous environment where the mysteries of the universe clash with human ambition and governance.
"The God Frequency is one of the year's best thrillers." - BestThrillers.com

"The God Frequency by Douglas Hemme pulses with energy, blending science fiction and high octane action in a story that grips and entertains." - Literary Titan

214 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2024

About the author

A U.S. Navy veteran raised in a military family, Douglas has lived and worked in various locations throughout the continental United States, finally settling with his family in Arizona. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee, and has held many supervisory positions in manufacturing and electric power industries, from his origins as a naval nuclear reactor operator, to Senior Reactor Operator, electric grid transmission operator, and is currently in supervision of electric grid operations for a major power utility.

Reviews

[Maurizio Codogno]

Vorrebbe ma non può

[Disclaimer: Ho ricevuto il libro grazie al programma Early Reviewer di LibraryThing]
Il guaio di questo libro è che vorrebbe essere hard SF ma non ce la fa. Per me, la fantascienza hard è quella in cui si parte da ipotesi probabilmente impossibili e si comincia a costruire una cornice il più possibile scientifica che a partire da queste ipotesi crei un mondo plausibile. Qui troviamo invece pesanti spiegazioni su come funzionano i CB (o come si chiamino ora le trasmissioni radio amatoriali): pare quasi di leggere un manuale. Hemme avrebbe potuto tirar fuori qualche spiegazione più o meno scientifica su come funziona la Frequenza di Dio, ma non l'ha fatto; i personaggi sono piatti, e interagiscono esattamente come da manuale; persino la conclusione non ha in realtà molto senso, neppure date le premesse portate avanti nel testo. Peccato, perché l'idea da cui il libro è partito poteva avere sviluppi interessanti.

(Douglas Hemme, The God Frequency, self published, pag. 214, € 3,83, ISBN (cartaceo) 9798991467124 - se acquistate il libro dal link qualche centesimo va a me)
Voto: 2/5

[Patrick S.]

The book starts off well with an introduction to our main character Antwan. His character description and setting is the fun "guy in his garage" character like Matthew Broderick in WarGames. The smart kid who, by his own gumption, comes up with a discovery and invention that will revolutionize the world. The main character and his surfer friend don't waffle throughout the book as decent characters. Where the story suffers is in the narrative of the story. It suffers from "author interest".

The author appears to know a thing or two about HAM radio, radio frequencies, and that type of niche community where he's clearly knowledgeable. The story goes long and wide on frequencies and radio signals and all the nomenclature, but it fails to take the audience along for the ride. Some of the fun in these types of books is learning the tech and keywords, thinking how Michael Crichton informed his readers of these new tech fields in his stories. However, you have to either have a character in the story you can explain things to, which is not here, or you have to be ok with explaining the terms and importance to your audience and hope they're ok with reading it. I'm ok being informed as I read (although I admit I like when the explanation occurs in the story rather than to the audience) and the author fails to inform me what's going on or even why the "God Frequency" is important or what it does or what the applications are. There is some of that but it's not enough to capture me in the story or with what the author tries to do with the rest of the story.

The inclusion of the co-character Lauren is a good edition and there are some fun quirky character-driven moments. However, they are few and far between and what's in between is more technical jargon and experiments I don't understand what's happening. Dr. Sullivan's edition doesn't have much relevance and he seems just to be able to get the two main characters on stage for a TED talk that goes viral. His reward in the end feels totally unearned.

Finally, the plot point, also teased in the book's summary, is that threats emerge and chaos ensues. Not quite. There's a very cringey and low-effort attempt made to have some religious nut send a hitman out to take out our characters because he believes calling it "The God Frequency" is blasphemous. A foreign government operation would have been more believable. And that fact that Antwan helps the government that is stealing his tech and science before a court forces the feds to turn it back over (which wouldn't ever happen) doesn't provide the tension that could be used here. In fact the whole section from the government capture to the end is way too quick and not much happens even with the hitman. The final portion of the book fizzles out with the end reward. It doesn't seem like the author wanted to let the audience know what possibilities could come about or what the new future of life with the God Frequency would result in. What the book turns out to be is really a HAM radio geek (said with all the love) wrote a fanfiction account of something that would be fun to find but only on the tech side of figuring it out but couldn't quite develop the story surrounding it. I'm confused at what happened and why it was important. Not an awful book but limited on enjoyment. Final Grade - D

[Book Reviewer]

The God Frequency by Douglas Hemme pulses with energy, blending science fiction and high-octane action in a story that grips and entertains. Antwan, a passionate ham radio operator, makes an electrifying discovery: technology that taps into a frequency beyond the known laws of physics. Fascinated and eager, he pulls geophysics student Lauren into his orbit, soon joined by radio astronomer Dr. Daniel Sullivan. Dr. Sullivan names this breakthrough "The God Frequency,” setting off a storm of interest and danger. As shadowy forces race to seize control of this powerful technology, the stakes are clear: in the wrong hands, The God Frequency could spell catastrophe for humanity. Antwan, Lauren, and Dr. Sullivan, aided by an unlikely ally, must prevent that from happening.

Hemme crafts a narrative that seamlessly intertwines scientific intrigue with adrenaline-fueled suspense, evoking the feel of Michael Crichton’s novels or the nail-biting intensity of the Mission Impossible films. The pseudo-scientific concepts, pivotal to the plot, are presented in an accessible and engaging way. Hemme’s skill lies in his ability to simplify complex ideas without sacrificing the story’s pace or excitement, allowing readers of all backgrounds to grasp the mysteries of The God Frequency. Yet, as crucial as the technology is, it serves more as a catalyst for the relentless action that dominates the novel’s latter half. Antwan’s invention, while scientifically intriguing, becomes a springboard for Hemme’s pulse-pounding sequences, where extremists, spies, and foreign operatives close in. The author expertly orchestrates these moments, painting scenes with cinematic clarity and infusing each confrontation with snappy dialogue and palpable tension. As the action escalates, Hemme keeps readers on edge with cleverly executed twists and a cast of well-defined characters whose motivations and growth keep the story grounded. The chemistry between Antwan, Lauren, and Dr. Sullivan makes their fight to protect the technology feel both urgent and personal. Their journey is as thrilling as the stakes they face, each scene crackling with energy and suspense.

In the end, The God Frequency stands as an exhilarating sci-fi adventure, perfectly suited for fans craving a mix of speculative science and heart-racing action. Hemme leaves readers hopeful for more stories set in this vibrant, danger-filled universe.

[Joan]

Review of eBook

Electrical engineer Antwan Richard has a passion: analog, mixed-signal, and radio-frequency integrated circuits. He’d ventured into amateur radio to talk with astronauts in space in real time; he’d collected receivers and transceiver radios and scanners and eventually decided to build his own transceiver and continue his work.

This led to the discovery of a unique frequency, an anomaly which, defying physics, was capable of being instantly received anywhere. By now, Antwan was working with Lauren McCartney and Doctor Daniel Sullivan. A TED-style conference is arranged to present Antwan’s findings and suddenly his frequency has a name:

The god frequency.

=========

Technology is woven throughout the telling of this intriguing tale, but readers are likely to find themselves pulled into the story from the outset. Realistic, believable characters, a strong sense of place, and a unique premise all work together to create a captivating tale of invention and discovery.

As might be expected, the TED-talk leads to government agencies stepping in to regulate the discovery and to keep it from foreign interests. The efforts of a foreign agent and an extremist add excitement and fast-paced action to a story that considers how scientific discovery clashes with governments and determination.

Amateur radio operators are sure to find appreciate this story; readers who enjoy science fiction should also find this to be an appealing tale.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Readers program and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Neena]

Hemme’s high-stakes latest blends the intrigue of science fiction with the gravity of ethical inquiry. Antwan, a brilliant yet reluctant engineer, stumbles upon a mysterious frequency that defies the laws of physics, thrusting him into a dangerous battle for control over his discovery. Partnering with Lauren, an ambitious geophysics student, their breakthrough attracts the attention of Dr. Daniel Sullivan, a retired professor eager to unlock its potential—but also sinister forces poised to exploit it.

Hemme keeps the pacing brisk, weaving a web of secrecy, danger, and moral dilemmas that pull readers deeper into the heart of the story. Antwan’s internal struggle is particularly compelling; as the reluctant hero, he wrestles with the consequences of his discovery, reflecting the larger question of how far society should push the boundaries of science. Hemme expertly balances adrenaline-pumping action with reflective moments, giving the story emotional depth.

The novel raises profound questions about the responsibilities tied to discovery, the fear of the unknown, and the looming threat of technological misuse. A sharp, compelling SF thriller that leaves readers questioning not just the limits of science, but the boundaries of human responsibility in a world teetering between discovery and destruction.

[Kenneth Arnold]

An interesting story from a scientific point of view but not much else. The book is fairly short (about 5 hours in audiobook format). It describes the discovery, proof and consequences of the discovery. It describes the practical applications of the discovery but the story doesn't actually include the development of the applications.

[Don Parriott]

This was a good idea with lots of potential but the author didn’t use any of that potential. Short and simplistic.