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travisbenton's review against another edition
2.0
One of the corniest main characters I've ever come across
beetree's review
3.0
Dana mailed me this book all the way from Winnipeg (thanks, Dana!) along with a brief review in letter form. And I believe that I agree with his assessment, so here we go.
I guess that what I was expecting was a good story with a lot of insight that would provide some cool angles to our own age old question. And while I found that it was a good story and very entertaining (I polished it off in 3 days), there was nothing profound in it that really made me go "wow" and actually do any more deep thinking myself. This is probably because the context of the whole discussion (simultaneous extinction events on multiple worlds, for example) have no relevance to our current circumstances, where we are now.
Like Dana, the ending kind of made me go "whaaa!?" and I think took away any credibility the book had as a serious study. Yes, a big part of me did like the fact that it ended in a neat little package, but the other part was a little miffed because it didn't leave me with anything profound to think about.
So in conclusion, the book is groovy and a fun read (and hearing about places right down the road from me did grow on me) but not especially deep, and probably won't make you really think and question.
And now I shall pass it on!
I guess that what I was expecting was a good story with a lot of insight that would provide some cool angles to our own age old question. And while I found that it was a good story and very entertaining (I polished it off in 3 days), there was nothing profound in it that really made me go "wow" and actually do any more deep thinking myself. This is probably because the context of the whole discussion (simultaneous extinction events on multiple worlds, for example) have no relevance to our current circumstances, where we are now.
Like Dana, the ending kind of made me go "whaaa!?" and I think took away any credibility the book had as a serious study. Yes, a big part of me did like the fact that it ended in a neat little package, but the other part was a little miffed because it didn't leave me with anything profound to think about.
So in conclusion, the book is groovy and a fun read (and hearing about places right down the road from me did grow on me) but not especially deep, and probably won't make you really think and question.
And now I shall pass it on!
lintkaurea's review
3.0
Los libros de Sawyer empiezan a parecerme demasiado iguales. La idea inicial es buena, pero se acaba decantando hacia los mismos temas: inmortalidad, búsqueda de Dios, ascendencia, mentes en discos duros... El desenlace no es tan malo como cabría esperar y sorprende ligeramente, así que tampoco puedo decir que haya sido una decepción total.
kalem's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
fast-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
5.0
grid's review against another edition
3.0
I didn’t hate this. It ends pretty interestingly, but (to my tastes) basically where I would have started the actual story. I was pitched this book by another guy standing in line while waiting to buy some book at Minicon. I was essentially just told how the story begins (which is essentially the starting premise), and it’s a really good hook! I was intrigued, and only after dumping my pile of books in the trunk and looking at the schedule while walking back to the con that I realized the author was there, and doing a reading basically right at that moment.
I only rated this 3 out of 5 stars for a few reasons. I felt like the only really flushed out character was the main one. The wife in particular is basically just a sketch, and a weak stereotype at that. (This book wouldn’t pass the Bechdel test except that the wife has one scene with an alien we don’t actually find out is female until near the end of the book.) And the worst thing IMO is that a lot of pages in the middle of the book are devoted to the main character “coming around to” intelligent design. I admit I have no idea whether the author’s intent was to present an actual argument or not (this is fiction, after all), but it definitely came off that way in a few places, and that felt out of place given the context. I mean, I’m fine with the premise that the main character is convinced by a race of aliens that all believe it — that’s interesting! But we didn’t need page after page of the main character pointing out things we don’t understand as if that makes any sort of convincing argument to a scientist.
I only rated this 3 out of 5 stars for a few reasons. I felt like the only really flushed out character was the main one. The wife in particular is basically just a sketch, and a weak stereotype at that. (This book wouldn’t pass the Bechdel test except that the wife has one scene with an alien we don’t actually find out is female until near the end of the book.) And the worst thing IMO is that a lot of pages in the middle of the book are devoted to the main character “coming around to” intelligent design. I admit I have no idea whether the author’s intent was to present an actual argument or not (this is fiction, after all), but it definitely came off that way in a few places, and that felt out of place given the context. I mean, I’m fine with the premise that the main character is convinced by a race of aliens that all believe it — that’s interesting! But we didn’t need page after page of the main character pointing out things we don’t understand as if that makes any sort of convincing argument to a scientist.
kepheus's review against another edition
2.0
The constant Canadiana references made me gag a couple times, especially the frequent disparaging remarks about Mike Harris. Not that I care one whit about the Ontario PC Party, but it certainly dates and locates the piece far more than setting it in at the ROM.
There are some logical inconsistencies to the structure of the story as well. For instance, the aliens can monitor radio transmissions, but they can't borrow a satellite to get internet? Even in the early 90s, there was a wealth of data available online.
The end left me cold as well. For a book that raised a lot of questions and doubt to end literally with deus ex machina is incredibly disappointing and contrived.
The entire extremist subplot felt like padding to break up the monotony, though you could say the same about every character other than the main two. None step out from behind their function.
There are some logical inconsistencies to the structure of the story as well. For instance, the aliens can monitor radio transmissions, but they can't borrow a satellite to get internet? Even in the early 90s, there was a wealth of data available online.
The end left me cold as well. For a book that raised a lot of questions and doubt to end literally with deus ex machina is incredibly disappointing and contrived.
The entire extremist subplot felt like padding to break up the monotony, though you could say the same about every character other than the main two. None step out from behind their function.
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.