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)

Great story

What a great story. Story? This is a very good approach to the big question, Is there a God or not. Packed into a very moving life story it keeps you listening to the last minute.

Way too Deux Machina

This book it childlike, low brow and using the god out of the machine technique too much.

One of my favorites!

CAnt understand why this isn’t a movie by now!(?)… great story and that’s what it’s all about in order to be entertained.

This book was annoying

This book annoyed me because assumptions created, like a civilization achieving virtual life, were conclusions that arrived without any basis within the plot. Very weak.

A quiet and introspective read

I liked the matter of fact tone and approach to the extraordinary circumstances such happenings would give rise to. The discussions and dialogues all rang very true, although some of the main character’s conclusions seem to be reached and motives settled on sigh precious little evidence.

A good expenditure of the credit. And one s heartily recommend,

Thank you.

This is a book I didn’t know I needed. I cried and hoped for humanity’s future.

Clever Twist

Great story idea. Left open the possibility of a sequel. Some of the revenues are funny to hear now in 2024. VHS tapes, and the bad guy wanting to destroy science, in the name of God, being a southern hillbilly, considering all the events surrounding the " religion of peace " both here and in Europe. Funny how that works.

Fabulous book!

This is the first book I read from Robert Sawyer and definitely not my last. The author explores a topic most are afraid to write about. He does an excellent job showing both sides of the coin. Religious/moral beliefs and science blend well in this thought provoking book.

Pleasantly Surprised

Any additional comments?

I really liked this book. It's the first Sawyer book I've listened to and was pleasantly surprised. Being a scientist myself and familiar with gene sequencing, DNA, evolution and the master design theories, etc. I have to say Sawyer did a great job.
Add the Aliens to the mix and you have a great vichyssoise!
If you are a 'thinker' or let's say are able to think for yourself that which others think you should think similarly, you too will enjoy it. If you are a steadfast follower of some ideology that leaves no room for personal interpretation I suggest you don't bother.
It makes a nice change to have a science fiction book written as an antithesis to most others in this genre and do so without imposition. The book isn't trying to change your mind or for that matter your beliefs, it simply offers a rather unique viewpoint between people of Earth and other planets, and not one that one might think initially.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. Wasn't crazy about Jericho's illness...that bit was sad but also part of life isn't it. But it worked for this book. Sawyer is somehow in the stew pot with Crowley, Hawking, Darwin, and Pope Francis. It's up to you to figure how what you think of the taste. Me? I thought he got all the condiments just about right.
I believe I will now try another of his dishes: Hominids!

Calculating...whether to purchase or not?

Robert J. Sawyer is an excellent author and I applaud his attempt to address a religious notion, using science fiction as this vehicle. I enjoyed the foreword where he describes his reasoning and thought the the idea was very unique. That being said, I think this book treads the middle ground and shouldn't infuriate religious or the completely non-religious individual, but also doesn't inspire either side with any real profundity. It was a good listen, but often times got mottled down with the simplistic conversation of the main character and his alien counterpart. The ending provided a well needed change of pace that made the book a nice pick, but far from outstanding. Worth 1 credit but don't expect to be overly wowed!