Calculating God

By: Robert J. Sawyer

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Robert J. Sawyer

Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

In this Hugo-nominated novel, an alien walks into a museum and asks if he can see a paleontologist. But the arachnid ET hasn't come aboard a rowboat with the Pope and Stephen Hawking (although His Holiness does request an audience later). Landing at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, the spacefarer, Hollus, asks to compare notes on mass extinctions with resident dino-scientist Thomas Jericho. A shocked Jericho finds that not only does life exist on other planets, but that every civilization in the galaxy has experienced extinction events at precisely the same time. Armed with that disconcerting information (and a little help from a grand unifying theory), the alien informs Jericho, almost dismissively, that the primary goal of modern science is to discover why God has behaved as he has and to determine his methods.

BONUS AUDIO: Author Robert J. Sawyer explains how the creationism vs. evolution debate informed the writing of Calculating God.

• 2009 Audie Award Winner, Science Fiction/Fantasy

©2000 by Robert J. Sawyer (P)2008 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Is Sawyer Canada's answer to Michael Crichton? Very possibly yes." ( Montreal Gazette)
"Jonathan Davis...is one of our very best narrators and this is a fine performance. I was rapt the entire time, and even near tears at one moment in the book." (sffaudio.com; named an SFFaudio Essential)
"Jonathan Davis portrays a thoughtful and quietly introspective Jericho....As the conversation with Hollus continues, Davis keeps a steady pace and reflects the intellectual engagement of both characters. He presents the alien's speech as lightly studied, a fitting style for a non-English speaker who coordinates his speech between two mouths." ( AudioFile)

Stuck it out till the end no matter how the story seems to you.

If you have strong beliefs about God science creation evolution or space time. But it is a different kind of tale that is mostly enjoyable . And ending is we quite the thinker.

Even the non-believer questions

I heard about the book on a podcast. have to say I was not disappointed. I wasn't sure what to expect but I enjoyed the debate of morals, ethics, science, and the point of realizing that intellegent design doesn't mean the god everyone talks about in bibles.

I will have to check out his other books.

A wonderful musing on science and religion.

Such a reverential view of life and its meaning...on the grandest of scales. And a reminder that more knowledge equals more awe. Would loved to have heard/read this in my teens.

Like the idea of God it leaves something to be desired.

GOOD BOOK!
I think I remember some of the reviews saying this book upset Atheists and Theists alike; but I'm not sure why? I don't think either party is portrayed "negatively". Though I suppose neither side gets heir way either?
I enjoyed the book thoroughly and think it's worth your time it does provoke one to think outside their party lines but does not put the exclamation that I thought it might have had the book made a more dramatic conclusion.
I do recommend the book though it was very well read and a fascinating thought experiment into the "what if".

Billions and Billions of Stars

If you are one of those that like thinking and discussing space and what might be out there then, I believe this is for you. If you like Carl Sagan and listening to him pronounce Billions this book is down your alley.

God is in the title and the main character struggles with his non-belief, but mostly I found the book to be more about the universe and how it might have been created. Carl Sagan and Stephen J. Gould are mentioned several times in the book. While the question of God and Intelligent Design are mentioned often, Heaven, Hell and Souls are rarely mentioned and Jesus is never mentioned.

I found the book to be reminiscent of Asimov's writing, with some Greg Bear and Larry Niven thrown in and a Arthur C. Clarke ending.

90% of the first half of the book takes place in the paleontologist's office. The paleontologist and the alien discuss space, stars, nova's, planets, the big bang, intelligent design, God and other races. There was very little action. There are some moments in which you chuckle, but there are no John Scalzi LOL moments.

I liked the book very much, it took me back to my teenage years when I used to stare at the stars and wonder.

I liked to commend RS for writing about such a controversial topic and having the guts to go against the norm. As explained in his introduction, scientist these days seem to have become to rigid in there beliefs. One of my favorite things about science that I learned in the eight grade was that a Theory means unproved and so scientist should have open minds. I have always believed in evolution, yet it is still a Theory, and no one should be ridiculed for not believing.

This is my fifth book by Sawyer and I have yet to be disappointed. My favorite RS book so far is "Flash Forward".

Fascinating

What a fascinating story - unique, thought-provoking and thoroughly absorbing. Loved the narration, too.

Gets you thinking

When ever I like a book enough to buy the hard copy I give the book 5 stars. I bought three copies, one for my bookshelf, and one each, for my son and sister. The book is very thought provoking. I know it will cause us to have some good discussions.

The narration by Jonathan Davis was wonderful and easy listening.

Honestly, I have not read any science fiction before. I enjoy "Calculation God" so I researched Sawyer's other books. I just finished listening to his novel "Hominids". I believe he won the Hugo Award for this book. It is also very enjoyable.

Thanks to Sawyer I have become a fan of science fiction.

Davis also narrates Hominids and again it was very well done.

Intelligent Conversation with Aliens

I've always been a fan of reading science fiction because the universe is so grand with infinite topics to discover. The debate of creationism vs. evolution has always been a heated battle. There are too many emotions behind this topic where it becomes a yelling match. Robert J. Sawyer brought this controversy subject in a well written book in "Calculating God."

Not to give any spoilers, but aliens has landed on Earth and one of them walks into a museum and starts to talk to a paleontologist. Their conversation is mostly about God and the Universe. The Extra Terrestrial believes in a higher power being and the scientist is an atheist and he is also dying from cancer.

I really think the author is brilliant by combining the too topics together in an Intelligent conversation with aliens. It is a bit ironic that the ET believes that the universe was made from God and the human believes in cells and atoms, but it doesn't becomes a shouting match between their differences.

Science fiction could be the only way to structure this debate in a well form topic.

RJ Sawyer ROCKS!

All of Robert's books are fantastic! I love how he uses science with a twist to enforce his tales.
I expected Calculating God to be one sided. I came in with one expectation, and left unsure of how I think. I believe that meeting a being from another world would radically shake up our thoughts of God, but I did not expect the twist RJS puts on this.
Well done!

WONDERFUL LISTEN

This challenged me on all fronts. I have lots of education, but learned something new with every chapter. When I recommended the book to our librarian she automatically thought it was a religious book and I assured her that this is a BOOK TO OPEN UP YOUR MIND.
I am grateful to Robert Sawyer for his story of so many possibilities to consider and events to reflect on and visions to stimulate the imagination.