The Footprints of God

I hated this book! I did not care about it and it took me months to finish it. Read his other books.

Greg Iles is a very cool author. I say this not just because he writes taut, intelligent thrillers that assure you're going to miss your train stop, but also because he's that rare author who writes true stand-alones. Where for many authors stand-alones are simply new courses through familiar territory, Iles is constantly pushing farther, trying his hand at everything from historical suspense to complex crime to speculative fiction. The Footsteps of God is the latter, a rumination on the intersection of religion and technology involved in the creation of a fearsome artificial intelligence. Of course, things go awry, and because Iles is very good, the situation grows very bleak indeed. But the suspense stuff is really a backdrop for an exploration of some fascinating philosophical questions, and that's where the real joy comes in.

In this nonfiction book, Greg Iles takes the current dependency of the world on computers to a whole new level. He adds some zen-like koans and religious underpinnings to one of the most astonishing and successful achievements of science written about in this book.The combined themes of scientific research and achievement, political intrigue, and moral/ethical conflicts come together in unexpected and unprecedented ways from the potential success of a special "secret" project which is sanctioned by the President.The book works itself through meandering mystrious discoveries and relationships and labyrinthine pathways, as the reader is provided more clues to the nature of "The Trinity Project" and what happens to those who oppose it. This book is jam-packed with mystery, high-tech computer advancements, and the egotistical megalomania that accompanies the hunger for ever more power and control. It is begins with the personal conflicts which Dr. David Tennat experiences, as he seeks psychological counseling from Dr. Rachel Weiss, a eminent Jungian Analyst, working for the University of North Carolina. He appears to be suffering stress-related dreams and visions associated with his participation in the research ... but the symptoms *could* also be side-effects of having participated in an MRI scanning of his brain, as a "guinea pig" participant in the research. He shares with his psychologist the doubts he has about the labelled "natural cause" of death of his research colleague, Dr. Andrew Fielding. Dr. Fielding had predicted he may be permanently elimiinated because of discoveries he had made about "The Trinity Project". As the two of them are drawn into learning more about Dr. Fielding's discovery ... things start to happen. Needless to say, this book is a non-stop reading experience.It is one fantastic and extraordinairy roller-coaster of a ride that comes to a very surprising and startling conclusion. It is most highly recommended. Erika Borsos (erikab93)

I suspect the fellow who didn't think this book was worth his time was looking for something a little ligher. This book is a page turner. It has energy, depth, excitement and damn good drama. As a Virtual Human Designer, I know this subject and Greg did his research. It's not really a question of "If" this kind of virtual human will arise, but "when". This book really entertains you while it makes you think and introduces a cutting edge vision of the future.

It is pure pleasure to read any Greg Iles novel. His beautiful prose enhances the intriguing plot with sharp and insightful narrative. Once again Iles has penned a winner with "The Footprints Of God". Dr David Tennant is appointed by the President as an ethics advisor to oversee Project Trinity, the creation of an artificial intelligence computer. When his good friend and associate on the project dies under suspicious circumstances David turns to his psychiatrist, Rachel Weiss. She is at first skeptical until an attempt to murder Rachel and David ends with the killing of another government agent. Soon the two are embroiled in a life or death search for proof of evil doings at Trinity before the world is held hostage by the entity it has created.In addition to a suspense filled thriller Iles has given the reader much to think about. His well crafted dialogues entice the reader to consider whether there can be such a thing as artificial intelligence and if so if it will it outpace its creators. He also delves into the origins of religious belief and its relation to the creation of intelligent life on earth. I found myself reading late into the night and wishing for more when I finished. Don't miss this one!