Origin: A Novel (Robert Langdon)
#1 WORLDWIDE BESTSELLER - "Dr. Langdon is once again wrapped up in a global-scale event that could have massive ramifications on the world's religions. As he does in all his novels, Brown['s] extensive research on art, architecture, and history informs every page." --Entertainment Weekly Robert Langdon, Harvard professor of symbology, arrives at the ultramodern Guggenheim Museum Bilbao to attend the unveiling of a discovery that "will change the face of science forever." The evening's host is Edmond Kirsch, a forty-year-old billionaire and futurist, and one of Langdon's first students. But the meticulously orchestrated evening suddenly erupts into chaos, and Kirsch's precious discovery teeters on the brink of being lost forever. Facing an imminent threat, Langdon is forced to flee. With him is Ambra Vidal, the elegant museum director who worked with Kirsch. They travel to Barcelona on a perilous quest to locate a cryptic password that will unlock Kirsch's secret. Navigating the dark corridors of hidden history and extreme religion, Langdon and Vidal must evade an enemy whose all-knowing power seems to emanate from Spain's Royal Palace. They uncover clues that ultimately bring them face-to-face with Kirsch's shocking discovery...and the breathtaking truth that has long eluded us.
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Community Reviews
Most aspects of the AI plot were quite realistic. With just one more novel to catch up on in this series, this one is my favorite.
This was a fun romp through Spain. I always enjoy Brown's generous descriptions of international sites of note. Langdon is invited to a big 'reveal' by a former student and friend. At this reveal, the promise of finding out answers to two enduring philosophical and religious questions: Where did we come from and Where are we going? is made. The presenter is assassinated before the information can be revealed and Langdon embarks on a rapid search to access the rest of the presentation. Much of the novel oozes a thinly disguised distaste for technology. Side bars include a dying Spanish king and his playboy son, as well as the friendship of three high ranking religious leaders from Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Honestly, not as tense or spellbinding as Da Vinci Code or Angels & Demons, but fun nonetheless.
Usually I love a good Robert Langdon book. It seems odd to me that a professor gets into such physical peril and he's not Indiana Jones. Origin, just judging a book by its title, should have been an awesome book with crazy codes and patterns and running around beautiful cities.
Origin teased the questions: Where did we come from? Where are we going? Essentially, it was trying to cause "discussion" between evolutionist and creationists. Science vs. Religion. Because of this I thought we'd be in for one hell of a ride.
We weren't. Honestly, the best character out of this book was a computer named Winston. Edmond Kirsch is a futurist, and one time student of Langdon's, who believes he has answered the two questions the book poses. He is also a grandstander and apparent drama queen who always needs all eyes on him. He meets with the top three religious leaders from different religions to show them his presentation that will all but obliterate religion. Obviously, they are upset and then things started rushing along to a worldwide announcement and people dying left and right.
Somehow we get the upcoming King of Spain involved because his fiancee, Ambra, is now running around with Langdon trying to release the announcement to the world (Kirsch is.... indisposed) and set off this science vs religion firestorm.
But, we're not really running around, we're not really solving much, and the supercomputer Winston is doing the majority of the brainwork for Langdon. Yes, there's a guy out there killing people, but he seems very inconsequential. Once we get to the announcement, we seem to spend A LOT of time with Ambra and Langdon sitting on a couch just listening to something that isn't that spectacular and was really pretty obvious.
The end, I think, was supposed to have some jaw dropping revelations, but the only one I thought was pretty good was the Winston reveal. For some reason, that made me happy.
If you are new to Robert Langdon, professor-slash-action-hero, don't start here. Go back to the beginning and enjoy those. Perhaps skip Origin altogether.
Origin teased the questions: Where did we come from? Where are we going? Essentially, it was trying to cause "discussion" between evolutionist and creationists. Science vs. Religion. Because of this I thought we'd be in for one hell of a ride.
We weren't. Honestly, the best character out of this book was a computer named Winston. Edmond Kirsch is a futurist, and one time student of Langdon's, who believes he has answered the two questions the book poses. He is also a grandstander and apparent drama queen who always needs all eyes on him. He meets with the top three religious leaders from different religions to show them his presentation that will all but obliterate religion. Obviously, they are upset and then things started rushing along to a worldwide announcement and people dying left and right.
Somehow we get the upcoming King of Spain involved because his fiancee, Ambra, is now running around with Langdon trying to release the announcement to the world (Kirsch is.... indisposed) and set off this science vs religion firestorm.
But, we're not really running around, we're not really solving much, and the supercomputer Winston is doing the majority of the brainwork for Langdon. Yes, there's a guy out there killing people, but he seems very inconsequential. Once we get to the announcement, we seem to spend A LOT of time with Ambra and Langdon sitting on a couch just listening to something that isn't that spectacular and was really pretty obvious.
The end, I think, was supposed to have some jaw dropping revelations, but the only one I thought was pretty good was the Winston reveal. For some reason, that made me happy.
If you are new to Robert Langdon, professor-slash-action-hero, don't start here. Go back to the beginning and enjoy those. Perhaps skip Origin altogether.
Absolutely loved this. A little futuristic but also relatable. Great if you enjoy adventures with Robert Langdon.
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