The Engines of God

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Summary: Technology meets archeology in a McDevitt masterpiece.
Review: The Engines of God gives a rare blend of traditional, space-faring science fiction and realistic anthropology. Humans have discovered a series of ancient and breathtaking monuments scattered throughout the immediate stellar region. But there is no sign of the monument makers. Humanity has also discovered three other worlds on which civilizations have arisen. Two have fallen. A third is teetering on the edge of destruction. On each of those planets is a mysterious, crude structure riddled with right angles. It seems to be the work of the monument makers, but the meaning behind the strange structures is elusive. Only when archeologist Maggie Tufu discovers the key to an ancient language from one of the past civilizations can humanity hope to uncover the secret of the monument makers. And the consequences are far graver and more daunting than anyone ever thought possible. McDevitt pulls off a masterful blend of fabulous technology and down-to-Earth reasoning. The reader is allowed to become lost in the wonder of cultures long past, without the burden of wondering how it is all possible. Classic science fiction sense-of-wonder and solid storytelling make The Engines of God a must-read.

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Summary: McDevitt tops A Talent for War
Review: Engines of God is gripping and may keep you up all night until you finish the last page. The idea of tracking down a lost race is not new, but McDevitt has a fresh approach, by marrying archeology to astronomy, and builds the thread of tension to an all time high. Despite not knowing what the mysterious Omega Clouds are all about, the story of the Monument Makers finishes beautifully and satisfyingly

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Summary: A WONDERFUL AND UPLIFTING SAGA OF DEDICATION AND SACRFIFICE
Review: ENGINES OF GOD IS WONDERFUL STORY OF GROUP OF ARCHAEOLOGISTS DISCOVERING A RUINS OF DEAD ALIEN CIVILIZATION AND DISCOVERING THAT THATHE ALIENS FATE COULD BE OURS! THIS NOVEL ALSO HAS TOUCHING LOVE STORY AND PLENTY OF THRILLS AND CHILLS TO SPICE IT UP.

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Summary: Wonderful Sci-Fi mystery!!!
Review: I LOVED _The Engines of God_. It was a wonderful mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat right up until the suspenseful finish. The plot was well woven togeather, and by the end of the book, the reader develops a close relationship with the main characters. There is a clear thread of mystery leading throughout the entire novel which enticed me and lead me on. I will definitely recommend this novel to all of my friends

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Summary: Bury your head in this one - You won't regret it!
Review: This is a darn good yarn. Wouldn't call it a first contact story as that has already happened, but it is a good SF mystery with a plausable story and ending. Enough questions remain for a good sequel to take place (Do it Jack, Thanks). Both fun and engaging

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Summary: Original, engrossing take on "First Contact" theme!
Review: "First Contact" is one of the most overworked themes in Science Fiction. It's getting tough for authors to find an fresh approach! Jack McDevitt succeeds in "The Engines of God". Like Clarke's classic "Rama" series, this new novel draws you in with weird, wonderful, creepy alien technology and architecture. Are the Monument Builders evil or or angels? Read and decide...

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Summary: Intriguing and enjoyable, this book was great!
Review: This book was a very enjoyable read. I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel. There were many unanswered questions that I'm waiting to find out about. This book takes a look at the notion that the Universe may be a very hostile place. Waves of energy periodically wipe out civilizations. What are their purpose? Jack, don't keep me waiting long!

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Summary: Interstellar Anthropology
Review: In the Engines of God, Jack McDevitt weaves together a series of familiar science fiction motifs to create a mystery novel on a grand scale. Like Arthur C. Clarke's classic Rendezvous with Rama, the story of a vast alien spacecraft that enters our solar system that enters our solar system, providing astronaughts with a brief glipse of otherworldly splendor before departing, McDevitt's novel is concerned with the potential wonders of interstellar anthropology.

The success of McDevitt's novel is in his strong depiction of the alien culture of Quaraqua, as seen through its artifacts and texts. His depictions of the translated fragments of their writings, and their artwork, ring with a poetic authenticity that is at once beautiful and mysterious.

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Summary: A Great Sci-Fi Archaeological Mystery
Review: "The Engines of God" is the first novel in the Priscilla Hutchins series. Reputed to be a good pilot, this series demonstrates just how unlucky she is in life.

In the 1st chapter we learn that we're not alone, at least we weren't at one time. A monument has been found on Iapetus, a moon of Saturn. A large portion of the novel is spent trying to figure out who they were and if they're still alive.

We learn that by 2200 Earth's climate has degraded to the point where a distant world is to be terraformed in order to make way for colonists. Priscilla has been sent to ferry a noted
archaeologist from Earth to Quraqua, the world designated for terraforming, where a team of archaeologists are working against a deadline to finish excavating a temple submerged beneath the sea. It is hoped that the dig will provide the necessary clues to discover the fate of the Quraquans and perhaps the Monument Makers as well.

Deadline you ask? Well it seems that corporate terraformers have a schedule to keep and granting the archaeologists more time is unacceptable. Why another week is a big deal in a 40 year process eludes me but I don't recall it being reasonable. The terraforming process involves nuking the ice caps to unleash a cataclysmic flood of water resulting in tsunamis over a 1000 meters high, so once the button is pushed there's no turning back. Of course, the archaeological team makes a discovery that compels them to work past the deadline...

Of course there's also this strange city that's been carved into Quraqua's moon. It's not really a city, just rocks that have been carved to resemble one. What makes it stranger is that there's no evidence that the Quraquans ever developed the technology necessary for space flight!

My one complaint would be that the characterization comes across a little weak (probably due to the large number of characters presented). Some characters take a couple hundred pages before you really get a good feel for them. However, the characters' attempt to solve the mysteries presented, all the while escaping from one life threatening situation after another, makes up for it. I never thought that a story based on archaeology could be so captivating (without resorting to ripping off Indiana Jones) but McDevitt pulls it off. It's a splendid genre melding sci-fi mystery!

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Summary: Good ride, LAME ending
Review: This is the first Jack Mc.Devitt book I've read. And let me say up first that I have read A LOT of sci - fi books, from Asimov, Clarke, Herbert, Doria Russell, Gentry Lee, and so on.

First of all, McDevitt can't make a good character development. They are just so flat and so unimportant. You care about them because you have there name printed in 400 or so pages, but not because you know about their life and their hardships.
The story, on the other hand, is very interesting and thought provoking. Although characters get usually entangled in silly avoidable situations, they do get the most action out of the plot.

Finally, the ending is just SOOOOO LAME. No explanation whatsoever to that which has kept our minds guessing and thinking since page 1. Although recently I discovered this is part of a series of books (not really, but they are interconnected), I doubt Mr. McDevitt will give us much insight to they all powerfull force in his next books, judging from the limited insights he has offered in "The Engines...". What a shame!