Rating: 
Summary: The Age of Reason?
Review: This is Jack McDevitt's first novel, and it shows, but Hercules Text is still a good read. What is lacking in this book is not story or characters, but just the refined style we read in McDevitt's later novels. The Hercules Text is apparently out-of-print. Perhaps now that McDevitt has become fairly successful, The Hercules Text will be reprinted.
Some reviewers compare The Hercules Text to Sagan's Contact, but I have to disagree: the two books resemble each other only insofar as each explores the ramifications and consequences of an extra-terrestrial communication. Contact explored much larger themes, in keeping with Carl Sagan's genius and vision. McDevitt writes a much more down to earth-and, in truth, more plausible-story that examines what would happen politically if an extra-terrestrial communication were discovered. The characters are not larger than life; they are not infused with Sagan's optimism. McDevitt's characters are scientists, bureaucrats, and politicians whom we can not only imagine, but whom we observe every day. The Hercules Text is, I believe, pretty close to what would actually happen.
And what happens is not grounds for optimism. The story is a little dated-the Soviet Union still exists-but the story would work just as well by substituting any of the other crazy, reactionary societies on the planet. The paranoia and hubris McDevitt writes into the American government is not a stretch either: just look at the behavior of the administration we have now.
If you believe that our species has successfully navigated through the Age of Reason toward some new intellectual enlightenment, then The Hercules Text should change your mind; if anything, we are still living in Sagan's Demon Haunted World.
Rating: 
Summary: Refreshing, knockout, intelligent story
Review: This is one of the first efforts of Jack McDevitt and surely one of his best. The story of the dull bureaucrat who struggles to balance politics, great minds and personal crises is an old one but here it is given a new twist - he emerges the reluctant hero. Yes, I loved CONTACT which was a great book and an even better movie in my opinion. But the relationship between cultures, especially the effects on humanity and how we define ourselves was better in HERCULES. Particularly interesting was the inclusion of a psychologist who provided excellent comments and insight. I am surprised that no one recognized or commented on the almost poetical nature of some of the translations. These are simply beautiful renditions of "alien" thought made understandable to humans. They lifted the novel from the very good to the great. The "group" consciousness idea was yet another good addition and makes sense considering the ant and the honey bee. All in all, a terrific read.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing, knockout, intelligent story
Review: This is one of the first efforts of Jack McDevitt and surely one of his best. The story of the dull bureaucrat who struggles to balance politics, great minds and personal crises is an old one but here it is given a new twist - he emerges the reluctant hero. Yes, I loved CONTACT which was a great book and an even better movie in my opinion. But the relationship between cultures, especially the effects on humanity and how we define ourselves was better in HERCULES. Particularly interesting was the inclusion of a psychologist who provided excellent comments and insight. I am surprised that no one recognized or commented on the almost poetical nature of some of the translations. These are simply beautiful renditions of "alien" thought made understandable to humans. They lifted the novel from the very good to the great. The "group" consciousness idea was yet another good addition and makes sense considering the ant and the honey bee. All in all, a terrific read.
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