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Title: The Footprints of God : A Novel by Greg Iles ISBN: 0-7432-3469-3 Publisher: Scribner Pub. Date: 12 August, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.7 (54 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: Action-packed disaster of a novel
Comment: What can one say after finishing the last page? Although it's been done about a zillion times previously, the idea of a man-machine creation taking over the world could have been somewhat entertaining if the author had not wandered all over the place. The action/mystery parts - the chase, Rachel, fighting bad guys and bad girls - was the best.
The worst parts of the book - well, there were several. First there is the utter predictability of the plot. Mean old guys and gals at the NSA who murder on a whim, evil government and big business types, a Wizard of Oz talking head with whom one carries on discussions about metaphysics, the selection of the couple by the computer. And what in the world did the visions have to do with the narcolepsy? The Jesus connection was never explained and ridiculously, Jesus speaks in perfect King James lingo. Nay, Thou shalt not waste thy time reading this book from this moment forth!
The incoming missles, the last-minute wheeling and dealing with the President and evil Generals, the proclamation of love on the edge of destruction - enough already. To top it off, the visions that were so important to the story and provided a kind of structure to the novel as well as guide their journey were nothing more than wild imaginations we find out at the last. Philosophical mumbo-jumbo of the first order...even the science is bad. How can an entity understand emotions or any concept whatsoever without sensory input? And is the ultimate end of evolution the merging of female and male into one being? Avoid at all costs.
Rating: 3
Summary: I've Read Better
Comment: Iles makes an effort to reconcile several genres in this novel, but he doesn't quite pull it off. It's almost as if he said to himself: "All right, I'm going to write some science fiction -- which means I don't have to worry much about characterization. And everybody knows thrillers don't need interesting characters."
Wrong on both counts. Where the heck was his editor?
Iles tosses around some interesting ideas, but none that haven't been dealt with better by a variety of sf writers. But since he's "hot" right now, it's his book that will get the big sales, so matter what subject he takes on.
Alas, I get the impression "TFOG" was written with an eye toward a big movie deal. It sure reads that way.
Rating: 3
Summary: Starts like a Ferrari; ends like a Chevy
Comment: Greg Iles is a very gifted writer. As he has promised us, he will never write the same book twice. So one should expect a certain amount of unpredictability.
The initial premise of creating an Artificial Intelligence computer based not on reverse engineering the brain, but by "cloning" the human mind into a machine is fascinating. The technology described does not seem far off, so the idea seems doable.
I ran into problems (and I always run into problems with books that go this direction) when the main characters develop a "God" complex where they have mastered all knowledge and are all powerful. FOOTPRINTS reminds me of a 1970's movie where the computer takes over the world and no one knows how to stop the cybernetic creation. My eyes glaze over whenever a novel attempts to transcend the nature of man.
That said, FOOTPRINTS is well written and it does keep you reading. I just didn't buy it after a while.
You'll either like this one or hate it.
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Title: Split Second by David Baldacci ISBN: 0446530891 Publisher: Warner Books Pub. Date: 30 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $26.95 |
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Title: The Big Bad Wolf: A Novel by James Patterson ISBN: 0316602906 Publisher: Little Brown & Company Pub. Date: 17 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $27.95 |
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Title: Blow Fly: A Scarpetta Novel by Patricia Cornwell ISBN: 0399150897 Publisher: Putnam Pub Group Pub. Date: 13 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $26.95 |
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Title: The Hanged Man's Song by John Sandford ISBN: 0399151397 Publisher: Putnam Pub Group Pub. Date: 10 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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Title: Naked Prey by John Sandford ISBN: 0399150439 Publisher: Putnam Pub Group Pub. Date: 12 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $26.95 |
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