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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
I fucking love science. I fucking loved this! Really accessible physics through metaphysics. Amazing woman protagonist. Beautifully crafted story. Stimulating and emotional.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A legendary take by a legendary author and scientist. It charts the values and frameworks by which humans live, and juxtaposes them against the vastness and wonder of our surroundings, on a macro and micro scale. Better than the movie.
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
As this book ages, its messages become ever more poignant. Gorgeous writing and a sense of Center.
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A great sci-fi, and ending on a sliver of hope amidst the vastness of the cosmos.
If you’re looking for a book full of laser fights and human-sized ant-shaped aliens and probes in dimly lit space ship laboratories, this is not the book for you.
This is not an alien book. This is a people book. Specifically earth-people. This is a book about earth. It’s also a book about aliens, and galaxies, and space ships, but at its core, it’s 400ish pages of human love, human compassion, human logic, and mostly, human faith.
The appearance of a Message from the sky, in the form of prime numbers, leads scientists all over the world to follow the instructions hidden in the math to build a machine unlike anything earth has ever seen. The building of the machine, the discussion of life forms beyond humans, beyond our wildest imaginations, brings up the most basic, and broad reaching, questions of our existence. Who are we? Why are we here? How are we here?
95% of this book is theology. How do humans, of varying faiths, arrive at the place in their hearts and minds where their theology, and belief of creator/created, germinates into worldview and faith practice? What is the role of creator? Who is the creator? Why doesn’t God shout out loud down from heaven, or write in the sky what we’re supposed to do? Following that logic, who do you believe God is? Do you believe He is good? Do you believe He created you, us, humans? Do you believe He only created earth to be inhabited, His little green step stool in the stars, and left all other planets barren?
The other 5% is a combination of TONS of scientific/physics/biology/astronomy terms, the main (female) character lamenting the fact that she’s the only female in a room of men, and a little dash of alien contact.
Pacing is about the same as the lord of the rings series, to me. Take that how you will. Overall, five stars.
This is not an alien book. This is a people book. Specifically earth-people. This is a book about earth. It’s also a book about aliens, and galaxies, and space ships, but at its core, it’s 400ish pages of human love, human compassion, human logic, and mostly, human faith.
The appearance of a Message from the sky, in the form of prime numbers, leads scientists all over the world to follow the instructions hidden in the math to build a machine unlike anything earth has ever seen. The building of the machine, the discussion of life forms beyond humans, beyond our wildest imaginations, brings up the most basic, and broad reaching, questions of our existence. Who are we? Why are we here? How are we here?
95% of this book is theology. How do humans, of varying faiths, arrive at the place in their hearts and minds where their theology, and belief of creator/created, germinates into worldview and faith practice? What is the role of creator? Who is the creator? Why doesn’t God shout out loud down from heaven, or write in the sky what we’re supposed to do? Following that logic, who do you believe God is? Do you believe He is good? Do you believe He created you, us, humans? Do you believe He only created earth to be inhabited, His little green step stool in the stars, and left all other planets barren?
The other 5% is a combination of TONS of scientific/physics/biology/astronomy terms, the main (female) character lamenting the fact that she’s the only female in a room of men, and a little dash of alien contact.
Pacing is about the same as the lord of the rings series, to me. Take that how you will. Overall, five stars.
challenging
informative
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Often held my attention with the primary plot but found myself struggling to focus during some of the more philosophical discussions. The debates around religion and purpose got a little heavy. But I find the concept and story pretty gripping.