gettygirl's review against another edition
3.0
Is this a bad book? No.
Is this book a tad over the top? Yes.
Although The Footprints of God is unlikely to become famous as great literature, it is quite well written and enjoyable. I feel that the story hits many currently prominent tropes of mass market paperbacks (in this case, a supercomputer, the military-industrial complex, nuclear weapons and Jesus Christ). I did feel it stretched the boundaries of imagination, especially when the main character, who has intimate knowledge of the last days of Jesus Christ is shocked to find out the date of Easter, but with a healthy suspension of disbelief, I turned this book into an fun few hours curled up with some tea. And sometimes, that's what it's all about.
Is this book a tad over the top? Yes.
Although The Footprints of God is unlikely to become famous as great literature, it is quite well written and enjoyable. I feel that the story hits many currently prominent tropes of mass market paperbacks (in this case, a supercomputer, the military-industrial complex, nuclear weapons and Jesus Christ). I did feel it stretched the boundaries of imagination, especially when the main character, who has intimate knowledge of the last days of Jesus Christ is shocked to find out the date of Easter, but with a healthy suspension of disbelief, I turned this book into an fun few hours curled up with some tea. And sometimes, that's what it's all about.
jmichelle518's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ctiner7's review against another edition
5.0
Greg Iles is an amazing author. Always has something new and exciting to read about.
menfrommarrs's review against another edition
3.0
While reading this book your beliefs will be challenged. The debate might sway you, then turn you around again.
The likeability of the hero is dubious, then he is an okay guy, then he's not, then he is, then...well just what SHOULD you think?
Extend your checkout days at the library. This will give you time to think things over, maybe discuss it with a loved one (or better yet a stranger..you don't want your loved ones to know what you are contemplating yet).
The likeability of the hero is dubious, then he is an okay guy, then he's not, then he is, then...well just what SHOULD you think?
Extend your checkout days at the library. This will give you time to think things over, maybe discuss it with a loved one (or better yet a stranger..you don't want your loved ones to know what you are contemplating yet).
weaselweader's review against another edition
4.0
Some incredibly exciting new details on a time-tested plot!
The bad news is - this has all been done before! Not once! Not twice! Lots of times! Top secret government agency is staffed by a few megalomaniacs with some variation on a plot to take over the world. Whistleblower catches on. Bad guys realize that whistleblower is onto them. Whistleblower takes it on the lam fleeing for his life with a sex or love interest in tow. Good guy, previously a mild, meek mannered individual discovers that he has the combined survival and killing skills of a Green Beret, a Navy SEAL, a Ninja and a Marine Commando! Hero proceeds to wreak havoc on the insane plans of the megalomaniacs and saves the world! Tale concludes on happy ever after love-making, of course.
The good news is that the devil is in the details! Despite the basic "been there, done that" nature of the plot, Iles has produced a lightning fast-paced tale with some incredibly novel twists and turns and philosophical musings that make this a compelling page turner lying somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle between soft sci-fi, hard sci-fi and pure techno-thriller!
The plot? Dr. David Tennant, an ethicist from the University of Virginia medical school has been appointed by the White House to work with the top-secret Trinity artificial intelligence project. Incredibly high resolution molecular copies of the brains of the participating Nobel laureate scientists obtained through advanced magnetic resonance imaging scans will provide the basis for the quasi-human operating system of a new quantum computer with speeds and capabilities several orders of magnitude beyond current computers. When Tennant attempts to put the project onto a temporary hold because of neurological side effects caused by the MRI scans, such as his own narcoleptic seizures, the team fractures and it becomes clear that the power hungry owners of the project will stop at nothing to bring Trinity to completion! Tennant and his psychiatrist, Dr Rachel Weiss, flee for their lives and the chase is on. This thriller comes to a conclusion with Tennant attempting to reason with a "live" Trinity computer who needs to be convinced of a reason to trigger the self-destruct mechanism on nuclear missiles that are now racing towards their targets in the USA!
Some pretty meaty stuff in this novel for those that like their sci-fi good and hard! Aside from the computer itself, there's MRI scans that can produce 3-D images of the brain with resolution to the molecular level; satellite based weaponry; holographic storage of memory written by lasers into the structure of stable crystals; and, the hypothesis of the existence of anti-space as a possible solution to the ongoing puzzle of spooky action at a distance and quantum entanglement. Those readers that prefer their sci-fi to lean more in the soft, philosophical direction will be pleased to know that the entire novel is a cautionary tale on the ethics of the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence with some very compelling, extended discussion on the very nature and existence of God and evil.
Enjoy! Iles has produced an exciting novel that deserves a place in the library of any thriller lover!
Paul Weiss
The bad news is - this has all been done before! Not once! Not twice! Lots of times! Top secret government agency is staffed by a few megalomaniacs with some variation on a plot to take over the world. Whistleblower catches on. Bad guys realize that whistleblower is onto them. Whistleblower takes it on the lam fleeing for his life with a sex or love interest in tow. Good guy, previously a mild, meek mannered individual discovers that he has the combined survival and killing skills of a Green Beret, a Navy SEAL, a Ninja and a Marine Commando! Hero proceeds to wreak havoc on the insane plans of the megalomaniacs and saves the world! Tale concludes on happy ever after love-making, of course.
The good news is that the devil is in the details! Despite the basic "been there, done that" nature of the plot, Iles has produced a lightning fast-paced tale with some incredibly novel twists and turns and philosophical musings that make this a compelling page turner lying somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle between soft sci-fi, hard sci-fi and pure techno-thriller!
The plot? Dr. David Tennant, an ethicist from the University of Virginia medical school has been appointed by the White House to work with the top-secret Trinity artificial intelligence project. Incredibly high resolution molecular copies of the brains of the participating Nobel laureate scientists obtained through advanced magnetic resonance imaging scans will provide the basis for the quasi-human operating system of a new quantum computer with speeds and capabilities several orders of magnitude beyond current computers. When Tennant attempts to put the project onto a temporary hold because of neurological side effects caused by the MRI scans, such as his own narcoleptic seizures, the team fractures and it becomes clear that the power hungry owners of the project will stop at nothing to bring Trinity to completion! Tennant and his psychiatrist, Dr Rachel Weiss, flee for their lives and the chase is on. This thriller comes to a conclusion with Tennant attempting to reason with a "live" Trinity computer who needs to be convinced of a reason to trigger the self-destruct mechanism on nuclear missiles that are now racing towards their targets in the USA!
Some pretty meaty stuff in this novel for those that like their sci-fi good and hard! Aside from the computer itself, there's MRI scans that can produce 3-D images of the brain with resolution to the molecular level; satellite based weaponry; holographic storage of memory written by lasers into the structure of stable crystals; and, the hypothesis of the existence of anti-space as a possible solution to the ongoing puzzle of spooky action at a distance and quantum entanglement. Those readers that prefer their sci-fi to lean more in the soft, philosophical direction will be pleased to know that the entire novel is a cautionary tale on the ethics of the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence with some very compelling, extended discussion on the very nature and existence of God and evil.
Enjoy! Iles has produced an exciting novel that deserves a place in the library of any thriller lover!
Paul Weiss
gracenow's review against another edition
5.0
This is my third reading of this book, excellent. Thought provoking.
disabledreamer's review against another edition
3.0
It is a decent read the ending is by far the best part. Overall better than the title suggests yet not a thriller to the point of not putting it down till you finish it.
rhys123's review against another edition
4.0
I actually loved this book. It went above and beyond my initial expectations. The plot was spectacular with the surprises here and there. I was fascinated by the entire concept. Spirituality and Science came together in such a unique manner. I honestly wonder how close to the truth this hypothesis could be.
thestarman's review against another edition
2.0
The A.I. doesn't