Paul Cassel 2009-01-04

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

The criticisms of this book's portrayal of a large government funded science project are not only accurate - they are mild. I'm surprised that the author let it go at that. I mean the idea that roughly a dozen personnel man a huge project in total isolation doing their own laundry, frying up their own spuds and cleaning each others' toilets is silly beyond belief.

Add that this supposedly $40B project sits with no security except a fence which is easily broken down and you find a book difficult to read due to the forced eye rolling it induces. OK, that's out of the way.

The big issue among some reviews and also pushed strongly by the publisher is that this book is either anti-religion in general or anti-Christian specifically. The latter due to the zealotry depicted among Christian believers which leads to violence when they think they are in an actual war.

This isn't anti-Christian. It's fact. If you are a Christian, you can make a great deal of noise about love this or kindness that, but the fact is that to be a Christian is to believe that there will be a war at the End of Days between the Believers and the Blasphemers led by The Anti-Christ. That's what Christianity is. That's the POINT of believing - so you are on the side of the righteous, fight on Jesus' side and win, as your reward, a seat at His table.

This belief set has the obvious potential that true believers may mistake various signs that the End of Days is upon us and go to war with no Anti-Christ yet manifested.

So while I can't see much reality in the scientists or the theology in this book, it's a good exciting read (which really is the point, isn't it?) and to me, anyway, the depiction of the Christian movement is, if not complimentary, at least more realistic than the science part. If you read this book and are offended by the portrayal of the Christians, maybe you need to clean up your act rather than bleat at the author for depicting you properly.

Rolf Aderhold 2009-01-04

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

I have to admit that I do not understand the controversy about the book. In the beginning, Blasphemy is about power politics and how fundamentalist Christians, here embodied in a sleazy televangelist, can influence politics in D.C. Only then does the narrative shift to a point where the various characters stand for a certain necessity to believe, either in a god or in science. The fundamentalist pastor and the televangelist are unable to accept science, which only reflects the attitude of some Americans who are as unable to accept scientific findings such as the theory of Evolution.

Thus, the so-called anti-Christian message of the book is only a critical perspective on Christian fundamentalism and the disconcerting attitude of these fundamentalists who seem to be sure to know what is right (i.e. the will of God) and what is wrong (i.e. Scientific theories about the origin of the universe). Do not forget that even the Navajo chant cited in the middle of the book ponders the questions of existence. It also becomes clear that scientists who believe to know what is right (i.e. the theory of the Big Bang) and what is wrong (i.e. believe in God) must be regarded as critically. Many scientist prefer the idea that it is very hard to be certain of anything, as Kate explains in the novel. Kate admits that scientists have no clue why the Big Bang happened or how it came about and she explains about science's weird notion of time that forbids certitude. The overly clever Hazelius is as bad as the pastor or the televangelist.

As a reader from the north of Europe, I have to say that the anti-Christian debate does not concern me much. Religious fundamentalism is more at home in the US, where a war-mongering Born-Again-Christian such as George W. Bush could be re-elected due to his "Christian" values. This has irritated much of Europe. The theory of Evolution is taught at our schools, nor does Creationism play a role here. The idea that we cannot not know everything seems to be more acceptable here, so that the need for a god is less urgent. Therefore, the discussion about the book in the US is indeed a reflection of the attitudes of the people depicted therein. Both scientist and fundamentalists can find fault at the message of the book, and that is fine by me.

However, I must not forget to discuss the book itself. There are strange plot elements, such as the fact that the supercollider is operated by a boy's club of not more than a dozen people or that an alleged anthropologist is sent out to pacify the natives. Incidentally, the former anthropologist is not only an ex-FBI agent but also the ex-lover of the project's deputy director - a bit much of a coincidence. The scientists even brawl about the operation of the supercollider like children would about the use of s beloved toy. Sometimes, the whole effort seems to be a bit forced.

However, Preston's narrative usually flows easily and entertainingly, despite his use of one or two clichees to many. The book is a good read and has made many people think. For these reasons, Douglas Preston has awarded himself four stars and I agree. It is certainly not a great book, beyond par even compared to many Preston/Child novels, but better than average.

S_u_z_a_n_n_e 2008-11-21

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

How could someone who remember CERN this past summer and
not love this novel is beyond me.
It even helps you understand a lot about what CERN is all all about.
It's a shame we have to wait till next year before CERN is
turning it on again.
This is a GREAT NOVEL!!

Colette 2008-11-16

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

This book will definitely give you "food for thought". I thoroughly enjoyed it and could hardly put it down between reading. It's suspenseful, intriguing and downright scary. It's makes you fully realize how fanatical one of the most popular religions in our country (USA) can be. It is truly a fantastic read.

S. Turner 2008-11-15

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Blasphemy is a Douglas Preston novel that tells the tale of a group of scientists working on the Isabella, the newest and most powerful particle accelerator in the world. Along the way they encounter problems from the local Navajo, some Christian fundamentalists, and a machine that provides a great mystery.

With the excitement surrounding the new particle accelerator at CERN, this book caught my eye. It mixes a lot of up-to-date issues in our world. The constant moral and ideological struggle between science and religion. The politics of Washington from powerful lobbyists to shady backroom dealings. It finds a way to blend these cultural clashes that play out in our headlines everyday.

From a story perspective, I thought the first half was gripping. The characters were well developed (although heavily stereotyped) and the buildup toward the climax was great. Unfortunately, the second half of the book does "jump the shark" at times and gets really outlandish. I can give the book some leniency on the science issues as it is a thriller, but some of the personal relationships develop in a way that will have you rolling your eyes.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed it. It's an easy read that will keep you in suspense. The science in it isn't too deep and will surely peak the interest of any amateur physics fan. Most importantly though, it tells an interesting story of our cultural conflicts from the extreme perspectives of our society.

I'd also note that this book does not bash religion. I think it portrays scientists, politicians, and lobbyists in just as negative connotations. The book is about the extremes on each side of the ideological fence. It's about egotistical, greedy people poisoning their respected fields of study. But most of all, it's a fictional story with fictional characters. If every character in every book was toned down as to not offend a particular race, religion, ethnicity, etc; reading novels would be a bore.