Decipher

Having picked this up at my local bookstore in the $2 sale bin my expectations weren't exactly high, going in I was expecting the equivalent of a B grade movie, lacklustre action to cover up the lack of substance and story structure. I was pleasantly surprised however that wasn't the case at all. Rather, whilst there is a bit of a Dan Brown aura about the story structure, this was in fact vastly better than his books and a very enjoyable science fiction/archaeological thriller.

Written in 2001 and set in 2012 the novel follows the idea that the earth is about to be potentially destroyed by heightened activity within the sun. Both America & China have discovered historical artifacts which lead them to believe there is something going on show more at several historical sites around the world which may be somehow linked to the phenomena occurring with the earth & sun's interactions.

I found the story structure was excellent and the way the author mixed in scientific & historical fact with fiction was well done leading to an aura of wonder around circumstances as they unfolded. I always enjoy when a book leads you to more reading also such as determining which information is fact and which were fictionalised, to this end the author also includes a bibliography of research used in the book. show less

In a gripping, fascinating and thoroughly entertaining 800 page paperback, Stel Pavlou pieces together the myths and legends of hundreds (yes hundreds) of civilizations across the globe and constructs what is probably the most believeable reconstruction of the Atlantis myth I've ever read. In amongst these myths Pavlou has added linguistics, solar and quantum physics, archaeology, geology and a plethora of other disciplines that are required knowledge in the solving of this truly global disaster that he unfolds before us.
Yet he does this, all in the frame work of an epic adventure story that frankly is better than any Tom Clancy novel I've ever read, and supercedes even Michael Crichton. And this is the guy's first book. It's enough to show more make you sick, if like me, you have aspirations.
Decipher isn't everybody's cup of tea. Not everybody likes science fiction or adventure stories. But if you like to be captivated by ideas while riding an express train to adventure, this is the book for you. It is little wonder it was nominated for a Best New Talent Award by W.H.Smiths this year, show less

Very enjoyable, fast paced. I really enjoyed this book. However, you'll have to suspend disbelief a little and just submit to the ride in order to appreciate it. Whilst reading this, I constantly felt as though I were watching the scenes as if they were designed and written as a screenplay for a movie; which incidentally would be great fun.

My friend Matt and I started this crazy book on the long drive from Seattle to Anchorage AK in the summer of 2007. We got about half way through and I ended up with it on my bookshelf. If you thought The Da Vinci Code was bad, then this book by far, will blow you away. It is so ridiculous. Pavlou takes every possible conspiracy theory, paranormal activity, cultural/urban myth and blends it into a doomsday adventure book, chock full of alien cultures, secret histories, mind reading, hidden technology, pseudo-science and paranormal hoopla. In a way, this alone makes it entertaining and interesting, but I fear for those readers who fall for the absolute absurdity this book dishes out as plausible plot lines. I know I should finish it but show more its so hard to do it without someone there to laugh at it with me. If you have any respect for your own intelligence pass this book up and buy something less contrived. However, if your a skeptic looking for a good laugh, this may fit the docket. show less

This was a great book, and really well written.

The basic premise is that there is a signal emanating from under the ice in Antarctica. But to who and what the signal transmitting means remains a mystery. Ancient monuments all over the planet, from the Pyramids of Giza, in Egypt, to Mexico, right through to ancient sites in China are reacting to a events caused by something, but not on earth, out in space.

It seems that the signals being broadcast from under the ice are from the long lost civilisation of Atlantis. But it seems that these are just a prelude to something much greater. Could it be that the ancient city is one great machine and if so what could be its use or its purpsoe.

It is the year 2012, the year that the Mayans predicted show more the world would end.

This is a wonderful adventure novel, in the true sense of the word. Kind of like a mix of Indiana Jones and Stephen Hawking.

The novel deals with a group of characters that are all specialists in their fields, from geologists to physicists, and the main character Dr. Richard Scott, who is a linguist.

The novel takes the reader on a very complex journey that weaves not only ancient languages together, the history of religions and myth, together with solar physics and archaeology. It's very intricate and anyone who can't juggle more than two ideas together at the same time should probably skip it.

To make up for this complexity, the language choice of the book is deceptively simple. show less

Waaay too long. If Crichton (RIP) had written it, it'd be excellent. The story's way too convoluted. It's basically about the sun emitting a burst of energy that destroys everything in its path. But the people of Atlantis, 12,000 years ago, knew how to take all that energy, "freeze" the earth, then eject that energy back into space. Rather silly and again, very complex. Quite disappointing.

Under rated book. It has some fantastic ideas regarding 2012 and although Dan Brown-like, it's actually much better. It was fast paced and a generally engaging read.