Hi,
Dan Brown is the author of ‘The Da Vinci Code’. Mentioning the name of this one book is enough introduction for the author. Dan Brown’s novels are based on real life institutions and organizations and generally the technologies that are described and every other thing except the story are true. He generally chooses covert organizations to base the stories of his novels and this time too, he has done exactly the same. But the trademark Dan Brown punch is somewhere missing in this novel, still it makes for a very disturbing read (for that I mean it is one hell of a story!).
The Story and Characters
Rachel Sexton is daughter of Senator Sedgewick Sexton who is the front runner and a very strong candidate for Presidency of USA. Rachel works for NRO (National Reconnaissance Organization).
Now let’s come to the outlines of the story. NASA has found proof of extraterrestrial life – that too on earth. They have found a large meteorite buried in Arctic Ice (Milne Glacier) on North Pole. When the rock is studied by NASA scientists and other civilian scientists they come to a unanimous decision that this rock is not something they had ever seen on Earth (which makes it pretty obvious to assume that it is not from Earth i.e. from Space somewhere, but read the words in bold once again!!).
In that rock they have found some fossils which also point to a kind of species that has never been observed on earth and the existence of such species on Earth is a question of debate!! This makes it obvious that the species are not from Earth, hence, from some other planet.
Rachel Sexton is sent to the site of meteorite by current President Herney – to observe everything and make a gist of it and report to the White House Staff. Rachel tells the historical news to the staff and everyone is excited. But after everything is said and done and it’s time to enjoy the glory – Rachel and three other civilian scientists with her discover something that will shake the whole world. It will become a historical fraud and people with power will try to shut the mouth of Rachel – the only way to do it will be to kill her and three civilian scientists.
Comments
I did not tell the whole story because I guess upto some extent it will spoil the interest of people who have not read it yet. People who have read it know already what I am talking about!
The moment Rachel discovers the fraud and sends the information to Senator Sexton the story actually stops because the news will be made public now. So that’s one thing for sure because nobody kills the strongest Presidential Candidate – not even Delta Force!! So, what is left is nothing but a survival run for life and a long vain chase. Generally in Dan’s novels the story ends in last 10 pages i.e. the punch is delivered just as the story is about to end. Here in it was delivered must earlier. For people who have read there share of fiction don’t really read the chase sequences (i.e. until it is USP of the story, here in the USP is the great fraud committed by influential people and not the chase so one can easily skim through it, because once you know the fraud is unveiled, it is logical that the person who unveiled it is not going to die!) because they know the end. But for beginners I think it will be worth-your-money novel.
Still, it is a good novel, makes for a nice read during a long journey and times like that. But the concept is shaking. I guess this novel need to be read and one needs to think seriously about the kinds of things this story suggests.
Happy Reading,
Khagesh Gautam