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Title: The Footprints of God : A Novel by Greg Iles ISBN: 0-7434-5414-6 Publisher: Pocket Star Pub. Date: 24 February, 2004 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.66 (85 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: Had some potential - Disappointing ending
Comment: I enjoy Greg Iles novels and couldn't wait to read this one, based on my excitement from reading books like the Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. However, I would avoid reading "Footprints" if your curiosity will let you.
The book starts off slowly but holds your interest. Then it takes off towards the middle and makes you curious as to how the MRI science and religious dreams will tie together. Then, the last third of the book is totally boring, too technical and loses the pace and direction I was expecting. A lot of military mumbo jumbo and science that wasn't worth trying to understand, then it just wanders off into more philosophy and theories. Nothing solid to justify the time I invested in this novel. By the time I reached the end, I didn't even care about the characters because I was so bored and was praying (no pun intended) for the ending to save me. In general, the characters were either uninteresting or over the top. The ending left me thinking "did I miss something?". I wasted a lot of valueable reading time on this one. Don't give up on the author, he has written many great books.
Rating: 5
Summary: Philosophy, Religion and Science in the Guise of a Novel
Comment: This is my first book by Greg Iles, and I loved it! I had recently purchased two of his earlier works based on the reviews and topic matter, but they are still in my large pile of uncompleted good intentions. However, I was so captivated by the title and subject matter of this story that I decided to read it first. I guessed that any author with as ambitious as goal as the subject of this book represents would either succeed brilliantly or totally disappoint me, and I was not disappointed.
This is a thriller that encompasses not only the standard action packed sequences of murder, political intrigue and military operations but also a discussion of such wide ranging topics as religion, the essence of our individuality, cutting edge science and information technology, the definitions of life and death, and obviously the existence of GOD. I am always looking for books in which I can become completely absorbed in the action while concomitantly expanding my knowledge and introducing me to new ideas. Then it is an added treat if the author's phraseology is clever and his use of the language also resonates with me. This book accomplished all those things, so I strongly recommend it with three caveats. First, it should be read when you want to be challenged to think about ideas and concepts, not when you are simply looking for a fast paced thriller. Some of this stuff is complicated, and as the author recognizes he has to walk a fine line in making it both understandable and technically believable. Second, from other reviews it is obvious that this is somewhat of a departure from the author's previous efforts. The stylistic differences (less character development and more cutting edge philosophical inquiry) have clearly disappointed some of Iles' devoted readers. Therefore, discard any preconceptions that you may have regarding the author other than with regard to his obvious talent. Third, certain elements of the book dealing with religious inquiry may offend individuals with deeply held religious convictions that I would label as Christian Fundamentalism.
It is difficult to do justice to the plot with a brief summary, but of course that won't keep me from making the attempt. The first person narrator for much of the story (alternating with third person descriptive narration) is Dr. David Tennant, a renowned M.D. and ethicist appointed by the President as the official representative of the White House with regard to the ethical implications of a supersecret scientific project in operation in North Carolina's Research Triangle. The project involves several Nobel Laureates in various disciplines attempting to create a supercomputer that would be an improvement upon the human brain. But the approach is unique and startling in its implications, and is a radical departure from previous attempts which have basically relied on raw speed, huge memory, and learning algorithms and fuzzy logic to create what is normally referred to as AI (artificial intelligence). Essentially, this project's to duplicate and improve upon an existing individuals and speed up evolution. Disturbing events increasingly occur, and when fellow scientist Andrew Fielding dies of what is officially reported to be a massive stroke, Tennant soon becomes convinced that Fielding was murdered. There is the complication that Tennant's only confidante is Dr. Rachel Weiss, his psychiatrist, who is very skeptical of his claims since he has been suffering apparently hallucinatory experiences which he believes are related to the project and she believes are related to the accidental death of his wife and young child. And this is just the backdrop to the story.
The complications are numerous and there are many intriguing characters, several of whom are extreme caricatures for maximum dramatic effect. The book races toward two interrelated climaxes. First, the personal attempt of David and Rachel to avoid their pursuers as they attempt to unravel the dual mysteries of David's hallucinations (which eventually involves literally following IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF GOD) and who is attempting to kill them. Second, can the project be stopped or redirected before a superior intelligence is created that may be able to subjugate mankind? (One subject of countless sci-fi fiction, from the earliest days of the genre to the present, has been the possibility that thinking machines may weaponize themselves.)
So if you want to read a fast paced story, probably gain some new scientific knowledge, and ponder the same questions as the ancient philosophers about GOD, our existence, good and evil, and whether we can exist independent of our physical body, all in the light of current scientific knowledge, then you should enjoy this book. But, it not a book for everyone; I encourage you to read some negative reviews to balance my strong recommendation.
Tucker Andersen
Rating: 5
Summary: chilling, thrilling, interestingly filling!
Comment: This book has so many appealing elements in it. You have a techology based thriller, and it also touches on ethical and moral questions that everyone ponders from time to time. The book also has characters that really pull you in, you pull for them and their survival, and are generally concerned for their well being. There are a host of characters, and you are forced to hear several different stories of the same events, and you are given options of who to trust. The book pulls you this way and that way, always keeping you guessing. There is also a love interest that makes you care even more that things work out for the main characters. While it is a 'sci-fi' type of book, the topics discussed are done so in a very believable manner, and with what is discussed, it is something we could see actually happeneing within the relativly near future. The author seemed to research things well, and it was written very well. It is easy to read, and keeps you turning pages as soon as you start.
I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone that is interested by thrilling mystery type of books, as well as people that also like techno-trillers based around feesable technology.
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Title: The Quiet Game by Greg Iles ISBN: 0451180429 Publisher: Signet Book Pub. Date: 10 July, 2000 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Sleep No More by Greg Iles ISBN: 0451208765 Publisher: Signet Book Pub. Date: 06 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Mortal Fear by Greg Iles ISBN: 0451180410 Publisher: Signet Book Pub. Date: 01 February, 1998 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Black Cross by Greg Iles ISBN: 0451185196 Publisher: Signet Book Pub. Date: 01 November, 1995 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Spandau Phoenix by Greg Iles ISBN: 0451179803 Publisher: Signet Book Pub. Date: 01 April, 1994 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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