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Blasphemy (Wyman Ford, Bk 2)
Blasphemy - Wyman Ford, Bk 2
Author: Douglas Preston
Physicist Gregory North Hazelius sold the concept of creating a humongous forty billion dollar 'superconducting supercollider particle accelerator' based on finding a new source of energy. He knows not to tell anyone about his personal secret agenda behind why he pushed the Isabella project as it is called he plans to duplicate the Big B...  more »
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PBS Market Price: $9.20 or $5.30+1 credit
ISBN-13: 9780765349668
ISBN-10: 0765349663
Publication Date: 12/30/2008
Pages: 576
Rating:
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 114

3.6 stars, based on 114 ratings
Publisher: Forge Books
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Blasphemy (Wyman Ford, Bk 2) on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I love this author and have read almost all of his fiction. But this is not Preston's best work. The storyline itself is intriguing, as is the science involved, but his villains are the basest sort of caricatures, as are the bureaucrats. Preston's story comes across heavy-handed in its disdain of religion, which I imagine is off-putting to all but the most fanatical anti-religion adherents. It's almost as if the author--through the story as a whole--engages in the same sort of mindless judging and finger-pointing about religion and faith that he accuses the Christian right of doing to those who aren't believers. Beyond that, the ending was quite a disappointment. If you've never read Preston, don't start with this one.
Sleepy26177 avatar reviewed Blasphemy (Wyman Ford, Bk 2) on + 218 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Isabella is the most powerful machine ever built. She's so powerful , that when turned on the lights in Las Vegas sligthly dim, she's a secon-generation superconducting supercollider particle accelerator. She's the one to prove the Big Bang and it's energy levels, she's there to explore exotic ideas for generating power.

When Isabella has her first test-run on 100% of power scientists are puzzled about a greeting-message. Someone must have broken into the system and hid a malware program in to 40 billion project. But who and why ?
The scientists become more quizzed when Isabella answers with intelligence. When she responses to dorect questions with an direct, specific answer. Who are they talking to ? And is it possible that Isabella is who he claims to be ? Namely being God.

Things soon get out of control when Russ Eddy eavesdrop a talk between two of the non scientist members of the small Isabella team. Pastor Eddy fears Isabella is the beginning to the Armageddon and the leading scientist Gregory North Hazelius is the Antichrist. He sends out 2000 emails to 2000 Christians and releases a chain reaction of unexpected extent. The Christians arrive at the underground "hive" to ambush the project and the scientists. Lead by a maniac and heavy armed they don't stop for a single soul. Who doesnt belong to them simply dies.

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I am not too impressed by the book. Mainly there is no main character. Or there is one but a very one-dimensional one. The idea of a machine talking as a higher intelligence isn't exactly new so I always thought I knew what is going to happen and wasn't a bit surprised when exactly happened what happened. It cleary lacks of consistence and is poor in execution.
Read All 16 Book Reviews of "Blasphemy Wyman Ford Bk 2"

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reviewed Blasphemy (Wyman Ford, Bk 2) on + 177 more book reviews
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The underlying science is solid and well-researched, which is important to me in a sci-fi novel. Preston's pacing is excellent and made it very hard to put the book down.

He offers an action-packed plot which shows us the dangers of allowing religiosity to persist unchallenged, (although his religious characters are a bit one-dimensional). While doing so, he manages to invent a God that even an atheist could believe in, and demonstrates how strong the pull to believe in something can be. Through the magic of suspension of disbelief inherent in reading fiction, I found myself wanting this God to turn out to be real.

If you read Stephen Hawking, Richard Dawkins, and Stephen Wolfram (and I highly recommend you do), you will enjoy this one. If you're looking for intense characterization, romance, and unexpected plot twists, this one is not for you.
reviewed Blasphemy (Wyman Ford, Bk 2) on + 173 more book reviews
This book follows the same kind of story arc as many of the Preston / Child books - in fact the characters are far to similar to the stereotypical roles that appear in others. However, it's an interesting premise and an entertaining book. Preston calls into question what shapes belief and religion....whether you agree or disagree, there is plenty to consider as you read. Recommended for Preston/Child fans.
BetsyP avatar reviewed Blasphemy (Wyman Ford, Bk 2) on + 566 more book reviews
Contemporary suspense/thriller by Douglas Preston. Wyman Ford, ex-monk, ex-CIA agent, widower, and private contractor is hired to find out why a multi-million dollar project in Arizona is floundering.

In Arizona, in the middle of the desert, government project, Isabella is stalled. Isabella is a huge atom-smasher, scientists hope will help uncover the scientific secrets of the beginnings of the Universe.

The scientists are having difficulty getting Isabella to work, the Native Americans protest the project, and the Christian Conservative community feel Isabella is Blasphemy.

I enjoyed the book. But I was able to figure out some of the plot.
nccorthu avatar reviewed Blasphemy (Wyman Ford, Bk 2) on + 569 more book reviews
Good story except he gets a bit fogged with the ending. An OK Read
Readnmachine avatar reviewed Blasphemy (Wyman Ford, Bk 2) on + 1435 more book reviews
Didn't finish. Probably not a bad book, but it suffers from being pretty much a clone of Preston & Childs' "Mount Dragon", with a vast and sinister Secret Project in the Arizona, staffed by a group of miscellaneous wackos, all with secrets of their own, which will go awry with earth-shattering results.

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