jessica_flower's review against another edition
3.0
TW: lung cancer, chronic illness, grief, mentioned racist slurs, misgendering of an alien by humans
First-contact-with-aliens science fiction with a side portion of scientific-religious debates and social commentary in an unexpected (and Canadian) way. There’s a lot of science terminology and discussion in here. If you never paid attention in science class, either don’t read this or keep Google open as you read it. Even with that, though, the writing style is easy to get through.
This was originally published in 2000 . . . and it shows.
My actual rating is more 2 stars, but I’m bumping it up to 2.75 for this book because on the one hand, I’m proud of reading and completing a book out of my comfort zone.
On the other hand (and more importantly), I read this with my friends during a quarantine book club so we could stay connected while social distancing. I will remember it fondly for that reason, that it gave my friends and I such great memories while we talked about it and gave hilarious commentary on the abundance of astronomical terminology, a Canadian response to first contact with aliens and the level of detail regarding Toronto’s subway and bus systems.
I will also say that the ending may be polarizing, especially how you react to the MC making certain choices in the second half of the book.
First-contact-with-aliens science fiction with a side portion of scientific-religious debates and social commentary in an unexpected (and Canadian) way. There’s a lot of science terminology and discussion in here. If you never paid attention in science class, either don’t read this or keep Google open as you read it. Even with that, though, the writing style is easy to get through.
This was originally published in 2000 . . . and it shows.
Spoiler
(NO WAY would Hollus have been and continued to be misgendered like that in today’s world! Not on my watch! Also Jericho's past would've been dealt with in a more different way. )My actual rating is more 2 stars, but I’m bumping it up to 2.75 for this book because on the one hand, I’m proud of reading and completing a book out of my comfort zone.
On the other hand (and more importantly), I read this with my friends during a quarantine book club so we could stay connected while social distancing. I will remember it fondly for that reason, that it gave my friends and I such great memories while we talked about it and gave hilarious commentary on the abundance of astronomical terminology, a Canadian response to first contact with aliens and the level of detail regarding Toronto’s subway and bus systems.
I will also say that the ending may be polarizing, especially how you react to the MC making certain choices in the second half of the book.
mschlat's review against another edition
3.0
Note: I'm a Lutheran and a pretty firm believer that creationism and/or intelligent design is not science. Since the major theme of Calculating God is the scientific search for God, starting with some of the same arguments I have seen in intelligent design, my bias is probably important to my take on the book.
Sawyer is writing about what would happen if an alien came to Earth looking for additional evidence (a la intelligent design) that God exists. It's a great premise, but I did not like the execution. Large chunks of the book are dialogue between the alien and our protagonist (a paleontologist) about the evidence for God as a creator. Moreover, the alien has additional facts that, effectively, seal the deal. These parts feel more like diatribe than dialogue.
Sawyer ups the ante in some fairly blunt ways: our protagonist is dying of lung cancer (and thus is searching for some meaning after a life of disbelief in God). We also have some minor villains who happen to be Christian fundamentalist abortion clinic bombers. Subtlety is not the point.
Yet, I finished with some affection for the book. There's an earnestness in the searching and a clear passion for the discussion. Moreover, this is not intelligent design as a first step to a Christian faith. The God in Sawyer's book is not meant to be omnipotent, but a creator who can and does intervene from time to time. The conclusion is moving and hopeful and in my mind redeems some of the long dialogue scenes. And, after reading it, I was curious to see if discussions like the ones in the book could be fruitful --- not that I believe my mind would be changed, but I appreciated the intellectual honesty and forthrightness that I often see lacking.
Sawyer is writing about what would happen if an alien came to Earth looking for additional evidence (a la intelligent design) that God exists. It's a great premise, but I did not like the execution. Large chunks of the book are dialogue between the alien and our protagonist (a paleontologist) about the evidence for God as a creator. Moreover, the alien has additional facts that, effectively, seal the deal. These parts feel more like diatribe than dialogue.
Sawyer ups the ante in some fairly blunt ways: our protagonist is dying of lung cancer (and thus is searching for some meaning after a life of disbelief in God). We also have some minor villains who happen to be Christian fundamentalist abortion clinic bombers. Subtlety is not the point.
Yet, I finished with some affection for the book. There's an earnestness in the searching and a clear passion for the discussion. Moreover, this is not intelligent design as a first step to a Christian faith. The God in Sawyer's book is not meant to be omnipotent, but a creator who can and does intervene from time to time. The conclusion is moving and hopeful and in my mind redeems some of the long dialogue scenes. And, after reading it, I was curious to see if discussions like the ones in the book could be fruitful --- not that I believe my mind would be changed, but I appreciated the intellectual honesty and forthrightness that I often see lacking.
corymojojojo's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed Calculating God a lot. For how light it is in tone, Sawyer tackles so many big and philosophical ideas about science, religion, and cosmology, to name a few. The general premise is killer and hooked me in immediately, and for the most part I never really got unhooked. The characters of Tom and his alien best friend Hollus is incredibly wholesome and really pleasant to read, and I genuinely felt sad for Tom’s battle with his mortality. Sawyer struck a really nice balance between humor and science (which is this case focused on paleontology, a wonderfully fresh discipline to learn more about), and not to mention the big cosmological answers to the universe like is god real, and if so what’re they up to? My only criticism is that the book kicks off with such a great premise that desperately begs for answers but then gets a bit lost in tangents like Tom’s health and the extremist plot, but thankfully gets back on track eventually with a great conclusion (if not a bit rushed). Lastly, Sawyers aliens were great: while they weren’t THAT alien, I liked how he explored how different two beings could think simply based on how many fingers they have or how their eyes work, and why that might mean they never discovered math, for instance.
elentikvah's review against another edition
3.0
I found this to be an interesting read; but I cannot give it an enthusiastic 2-thumbs up recommendation as the end of the book left me with a somewhat empty feeling. Personally, I think the people that are looking at this as an evolution/creationism debate are silly, as many of the stated "proofs" for God in the book are strictly crafted within the fictional world that allows these two alien races to visit Toronto in the first place. Ultimately, the proponent of evolution and the young-earth creationist will be unhappy with the conclusion...and I say good riddance. It is a scifi book for crying out loud! Allow the story to just that, a story...and if you think a few new thoughts along the way because of a question that was asked, then that's great.
fredicia's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book 2 years ago, but I was completely astonished by the amount of science behind the theory of god. Like the mathematical probability of ice and water and solar flares... Just wow. That was some intense philosophy and science all rolled into one. I don't think I've read anything quite like this book.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
A tough and complicated book. Sure it's near-future sf which is what I expect from Sawyer. But it is also a religious philosophy book concerned with the existence of God. And aliens in Canada. As always from Sawyer there is a twist or two and extra ideas. There was a lot of talking and it definitely slowed down the plot. But it read well enough and raised pretty good questions.
csdaley's review against another edition
2.0
I have been waiting to read this book for a long time. The concept sounded very interesting and Robert Sawyer can put together a sentence but man I didn't like this book. Started skimming about half way and then just gave up. I am going to have to go back to my old ways of letting books go early, I just really wanted to like this one.
My main problem with it was the pacing. The plot was a close second. I barely enjoyed the movie my dinner with Andre. Reading it was something I could have skipped forever. This seems to be a love it or hate it book. I didn't hate it but I also didn't find it that interesting or exciting.
My main problem with it was the pacing. The plot was a close second. I barely enjoyed the movie my dinner with Andre. Reading it was something I could have skipped forever. This seems to be a love it or hate it book. I didn't hate it but I also didn't find it that interesting or exciting.
publius's review against another edition
3.0
[An updated review]
I lucked out when I found Calculating God. It was one of those I’m-bored-and-I-have-nothing-to-read-so-I’ll-browse-the-shelves-and-randomly-pick-something finds.
I was in for a treat. Winner of the Nebula Award, Robert Sawyer presents an interesting thought experiment: what if Earth were discovered by an alien race, or rather, TWO alien races, and they informed us that, contrary to popular scientific belief, the universe and everything in it indicates that there is a god, a creator, a being greater than the laws of biology, physics, and chemistry, that this being had created the universe for a purpose, and we are all a part of that purpose.
What if?
The story itself is simple, and, as one reviewer put it, Sawyer is one of the more sympathetic sci-fi writers to the intelligent design community. An alien ship lands in front of the Royal Onterio Museum in Toronto and asks, not to “take me to your leader,” but to “take me to a paleontologist.” The paleontologist, of course, is an atheist, but confronted with his alien counterpart and investigating the concurrent histories of their races, begins a series of discussions about the laws of the universe. Are they mere coincidences, or is the alien correct.
Is there a “creator” behind it all?
I found the Calculating God intriguing, full of thought provoking dialogue. It’s not for the reader who is looking for escape in swashbuckle, laser swords, or space battles. Instead, it focuses on the science and the philosophy that might hold up a place for a rational mind behind the universe. In other words, God. What makes it work is Sawyer’s deft application and understanding of science and his relevant application to the thought experiment. While I am not myself a scientist, science has always represented a look at “how things work” for me, and never ceases to impress with explanations of the natural world, and Sawyer plays right to that interest.
Calculating Godwastes not time on complicated plot twists or sequences, but manages to deal with important questions as diverse as the purpose of life, the problem of pain, death, and loss of loved ones, all against a backdrop of the scientific laws upon which the universe depends. C.S. Lewis might find it interesting, even if a little outside his genre.
Sawyer’s main leaps, and creative license, is in a “fifth force” that he suggests is yet to be found by human scientists, but as far as I know we have not yet found, as well as the successful development of a grand unifying theory of everything. I believe this refers to a theory that will explain both gravity (forces of the very big) and quantum mechanics (forces of the very small). Our present understanding has neither, but both conveniently move his story along. This is Sawyer’s contribution, as well as his deus ex machina to finding the real deus in the universe.
If you enjoy this, you might also enjoy Finding Darwin’s God: A Scientist’s Search for Common Ground Between God and Evolution (P.S.) by Kenneth R. Miller, as well as Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge and The Diversity of Life (Questions of Science) by Edward O. Wilson (though the three do not necessarily agree with each other and all are non-fiction).
I lucked out when I found Calculating God. It was one of those I’m-bored-and-I-have-nothing-to-read-so-I’ll-browse-the-shelves-and-randomly-pick-something finds.
I was in for a treat. Winner of the Nebula Award, Robert Sawyer presents an interesting thought experiment: what if Earth were discovered by an alien race, or rather, TWO alien races, and they informed us that, contrary to popular scientific belief, the universe and everything in it indicates that there is a god, a creator, a being greater than the laws of biology, physics, and chemistry, that this being had created the universe for a purpose, and we are all a part of that purpose.
What if?
The story itself is simple, and, as one reviewer put it, Sawyer is one of the more sympathetic sci-fi writers to the intelligent design community. An alien ship lands in front of the Royal Onterio Museum in Toronto and asks, not to “take me to your leader,” but to “take me to a paleontologist.” The paleontologist, of course, is an atheist, but confronted with his alien counterpart and investigating the concurrent histories of their races, begins a series of discussions about the laws of the universe. Are they mere coincidences, or is the alien correct.
Is there a “creator” behind it all?
I found the Calculating God intriguing, full of thought provoking dialogue. It’s not for the reader who is looking for escape in swashbuckle, laser swords, or space battles. Instead, it focuses on the science and the philosophy that might hold up a place for a rational mind behind the universe. In other words, God. What makes it work is Sawyer’s deft application and understanding of science and his relevant application to the thought experiment. While I am not myself a scientist, science has always represented a look at “how things work” for me, and never ceases to impress with explanations of the natural world, and Sawyer plays right to that interest.
Calculating Godwastes not time on complicated plot twists or sequences, but manages to deal with important questions as diverse as the purpose of life, the problem of pain, death, and loss of loved ones, all against a backdrop of the scientific laws upon which the universe depends. C.S. Lewis might find it interesting, even if a little outside his genre.
Sawyer’s main leaps, and creative license, is in a “fifth force” that he suggests is yet to be found by human scientists, but as far as I know we have not yet found, as well as the successful development of a grand unifying theory of everything. I believe this refers to a theory that will explain both gravity (forces of the very big) and quantum mechanics (forces of the very small). Our present understanding has neither, but both conveniently move his story along. This is Sawyer’s contribution, as well as his deus ex machina to finding the real deus in the universe.
If you enjoy this, you might also enjoy Finding Darwin’s God: A Scientist’s Search for Common Ground Between God and Evolution (P.S.) by Kenneth R. Miller, as well as Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge and The Diversity of Life (Questions of Science) by Edward O. Wilson (though the three do not necessarily agree with each other and all are non-fiction).
rora114's review against another edition
3.0
Good. Great plot. The science was... interesting, but over my head at quite a few points. Still, overall a book that I'm very glad to have listened to.