Rating: 
Summary: History at its best
Review: After every page in this book I wanted more. The book is well written and makes significant connections that make sense of history. The significance of Stonehenge and the explanation of the megalithic yard are totally believable and helpful in understanding how complex structures that predate writing can come into existence.
This book left me with so many questions unanswered, in such a positive way, that I went on the trail of additional books to help me dig deeper into current studies and understanding of history.
When you read it - I'll assume that you will enjoy it - then read "Rosslyn" and see where it takes you!
Rating: 
Summary: Machine of the Gods?
Review: By now I am quite familiar with Lomas's and Knight's writing strengths and weaknesses. Reading Uriel's Machine therefore was untainted pleasure.
Knight and Lomas theorize that the Great Flood did in fact occur, and moreover was the cataclysmic event in scientific civilization. They believe that prehistoric people's were more advanced than previously thought, and science at least of astronomy originated with them.
This whole work is one archeological detective story as they lead readers to stonehenge and other megolithic sites in Ireland, Wales, and England.
They cover an enormous amount of theories and legends, including the Biblical Enoch, and Watchers. In fact sometimes reading I forgot what the central argument/thesis they put forth was, this duo has a mild tendency to digress, (usually to some connection with freemasonry), but as I stated I have adapted to this writing style and read on soaking up the knowledge they splashed across the pages.
Each chapter concludes with a conclusion(like d'uh eh haha), which is a handy synopsis of all the points they made in the chapter chiseled down to their bare bones.This is another title by these authors I found intriquing, fascinating and educational. Want to investigate the ancient roots of science? Read this title.
Rating: 
Summary: Another book distorting/ignoring the evidence
Review: Don't trust anything they write about archaeology or geology until you check it for yourself in a reputable source. They get dates wrong, facts wrong, show that they don't actually know the material, etc. For instance, they ascribe the Scottish tsunami to a comet (one or more of 7) that they claim caused
>worldwide tsunami in 7640 BC. This in fact was caused by the second Storegga submarine landslide which occurred on the continental slope off the coast of western Norway, extending out into the Norwegian Basin and was almost certainly caused by an earthquake.
They write nonsense like "The earliest known buildings in the world are the megalithic structures of Europe. They are 1,000 years older than the cities of Sumer." But later they mention Catalhoyuk and state that it flourished between 7000 and 6000 BC. And of course there is Jericho, with walls and towers dating back to between 8000 and 7000 B.C. Page 60:
"In North Wales, beds of sand and gravel with geologically recent sea shells can be found on mountains such as Moel Tryfan which is over 400 metres above sea level, showing that North Wales was briefly covered by sea water at a point in the recent past." Obvious nonsense, but some people might believe it. They get it from a 1971 Creationist book, which in turn quotes (although we aren't provided with a quote) Geikie, A, Textbook of Geology', with no date. Sir Archibald Geikie's book cited here might be "A Class-Book of Geology", 3rd edition, MacMillan and Co.:
London, 1892 (p.179-180).
et's look at something a bit more recent:
The Need for Earth Heritage Conservation by the UK's Joint Nature Conservation Committee wrote about this: "Moel Tryfan, Gwynedd. This is a historically important site, 400 metres above sea level, that consists of sand and gravel containing fossils of sea-shells. It was cited as evidence for the biblical flood by the Diluvialists. Subsequently it was interpreted as a glacial deposit carried from the sea bed by an Irish Sea ice sheet during the last ice age, about 23,000 years ago. This has a bearing on the dimensions of the last Irish Sea ice sheet, the extent to which it may have depressed the Earth's crust, and the degree of crustal 'rebound' after glaciation. It is a subject of ongoing research." There are many more errors in the book. For instance, there were no 'grooved ware people', the Ainu are clearly not Caucasian (genetic evidence shows they are related to their neighbours), agriculture is older than Lomas and Knight state, their comments on Stonehenge seem to include elements they've made up, etc. A classic example of bad science.
Rating: 
Summary: Good fiction? Yes.
Review: Forty years ago Hawkins, an astronomer discovered the function of Stonehenge by using an IBM computer. That function was more incredible than all the fanciful notions dreamed up to explain the monument between the time it was abandoned during the early Bronze Age (around 1500 BC) and the early modern age of computers.
The Knight/Lomas attempt to throw a new brand of mysticism into one of the most amazing discoveries about the intellects of men we've usually considered primitive does nothing to discredit the achievement. This book has as much validity as the claims almost a thousand years ago that the structure was placed there by Merlin through the use of magic.
The men who've studied and dug beneath this shocking accomplishment of pre-history during the past centuries have uncovered the tools used to build it. Stone tools. Deer antlers. There's mystery here, but the mystery involves human determination, persistence and motive.
As for the Knights Templar claims by the authors: The history of the Templars is well documented. They are worthy of awe. The Templars need no modern-day fanciful fictions to add to their place in history. No Foucault's Pendulums need obscure a strange group of men who dedicated themselves to what they believed until all who could be captured were excommunicated and executed.
I'd suggest readers interested in these subjects read Hawkins (about Stonehenge). If there's interest in the Templars read the actual histories. You won't get anything approaching magic, but you won't need it. You'll come away as intrigued and mystified as you would have if you'd read (and believed) this book. But the foundation for your awe will be justified.
The main problem with this book is that it's written by two men who haven't dug under Stonehenge and haven't observed the function for themselves. An electrical engineer and an advertising man. Go to the experts and don't bother with this book.
However, if you happen to be blessed with the ability to become excited over fabrication and fantasy, buy it. This book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Research!
Review: I loved the book! The comets and the ancient sites are very well researched and well linked to give excellent evidence in support of the authors point. The link between modern Freemasonry and the ancient societies presented is moderate to weak but this does not distract from the excellent points that the book makes. Again, highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Plagiarism
Review: Knight and Lomas have lifted the idea of a comet hitting the Earth and causing a great flood straight out of Ignatius Donnelly's Ragnarok : the Age of Fire and Gravel. How dishonest of these authors. They don't even mention Donnelly's work in their index or bibliography. That alone should call into question everything they claim to be scientific.
A flood of nonsense. You are better off reading Stephen Jay Gould.
Rating:
Summary: Great stuff
Review: My first encounter with Knight and Lomas. I must admit that they wrote very well and clear and it is not hard to understand their arguments.
Their conclusions about the megalithic yardis amazing indeed. However, I struggle to understand how they can look with naked eyes using the megaliths to predict any future impact. Well, let me put it this way, is the machine accurate enough to help in such prediction? I can accept the fact that the machine is accurate enough to predict equinoxes, soltices or even eclipses. To predict impact of comet and Earth might be a bot too far fletching.
Other than that, it is a very good read, not difficutl at all for non mathematicians! Great stuff!
Rating:
Summary: Proof of the "Great Flood"...
Review: Science has always been a controversial subject, but with "Uriel's Machine", Christopher Knight & Robert Lomas may wellchange the entire way that science is viewed by the world as a whole. Starting a Biblical times, this books proves that the "Great Flood" depicted by Noah in the Old Testament likely did happen, and was result of several cometary impacts upon the Earth. What happens after the flood is much more shocking that I could have ever imagined. The book goes on to prove that mankind did indeed survive the flood, and as a way to ensure that they could be prepared for another impact were it to come built very complex astronomical devices such as the great Pyramids, Stonehenge, and another device which the book takes it's title from. An interesting, and unique way of looking at the subject.
Rating:
Summary: FASCINATING EVIDENCE OF ANCIENT WISDOM SECRETLY PRESERVED
Review: This book proposes a revised version of events in the development of human civilisation, illuminated by the latest evidence and intelligent new ideas. Through their insider's view of the Freemasons, and several years of research, the authors analyse ancient traditions in order to expose fascinating novel insights into key stages in human history. The topics presented are thoroughly researched, and the arguments are objective, logical, structured, clearly presented and easy to follow. There is an intelligent balance of detail and relevance in the information presented. Substantial scientific data are cited to support the case that the biblical flood was an authentic historical event, with a clearly identified cause dated to the relevant period, and global cataclysmic effects that can still readily be seen today. An impressive ancient understanding of geometry, astronomy, navigation, the measurement of time, and other sciences, is revealed in the legacy of our distant ancestors. Persuasive documentary and archaeological proof is presented, together with interesting anecdotal evidence, to suggest how pre-historic wisdom was acquired and carefully handed down by secret organisations. An intriguing series of events are described, from the knowledge taught to Enoch by the angel Uriel, through the construction of megalithic monuments, to the creation and shaping of nations and religions, and the formation of modern secret societies - even the mysterious agenda of the New World Order. The book culminates in some astonishing observations on the influence of ancient traditions on today's modern civilisation. Royal and aristocratic bloodlines are traced back to high-priests from the ancient middle-east. Their secret knowledge is guarded by an elite Masonic brotherhood, organised by some of the world's most influential people. It seems that a sacred ideology - established in a legendary ancient era when gods lived on Earth among men - may be about to return to govern the world. Such an intriguing and though-provoking text will enrich and broaden the outlook of anyone interested in reading about popular topics relevant to history, religion, conspiracy theory, or secret societies.
Rating:
Summary: Solid work that takes us forward
Review: This is a first class book that considers all the available evidence rather than picking and choosing. Some self-opiniated critics say otherwise but you can ingore that because they usually have their facts wrong as they nitpick at minor points. It all checks out and I'm really impressed - for example I find that Encyclopaedia Britannica confirms 10,000 year sea shells in North Wales.
Well worth 5 stars!
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