Customer Reviews

Decipher

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(18)
1 star:		(18)

 

 

Art Bell meets Indiana Jones = a blast. I think this is one of those books you'll either get it or you won't. Tons of science and mythology, Reilly action, Cussler adventure, all crammed into a Dan Brown puzzle plot.

Well-researched and chock full of interesting information - I really enjoyed this book. The characters were very real; Stel really did a good job, in my opinion, with the human element. It was thoroughly interesting and entertaining, my two primary criteria for fiction. Actually, I would give it a 4.5 (not 4).

The premise of the book seemed interesting enough to get me to part with my hard earned cash... What a waste! I couldn't go past the first 100 pages of this mammoth book of pretentious ignorant pseudo scientific mumbo-jumbo.

The "science" and "age old myths" suposedly "researched" by the author make a "Buffy and the Vampires" tv episode look brilliant and documented. The "chaos scientist" is in the same league as the character played by Jeff Goldblum in Independence Day and Jurassic Park, only even more "new age" and improbable.

Scientific and historical errors I could notice are so numerous in the few pages I read that I won't even try to list them. I do agree with other reviewers that this book would make a fine Bruce Willis film : just like "Armaggedon" where there was wind and gravity on the incoming asteroid!!!...

I like my science-fiction a bit mind-bending when it comes to reality. What I really admire about this story is that it actually dares to tie all the following TOGETHER: linguistics, geology, chemistry, mathematics, numerology, cryptology, archeology, precuneiform script, Atlantis, contemporary physics, the pyramids, chaos theory, Solar flares, ancient Mayan prophecies, the Book of Revelations, and unexplained worldwide cataclysms. Check it out.

I just finished reading Decipher by Stel Pavlou, and man, what a good book. Centering around the re-emergence of Atlantis, and a "worldwide cataclysm of biblical proportions", the book is a whorlwind tour of mythology, science, religion, history, and nature. Riviting and gripping, right till the end, filled with suspense, action, adventure and a whole lot of research, a well recommended read, especially for fans of Dan Brown and Jefferey Deaver.

Decipher is a fun 'little' thriller... pity it showed up in the US so late, it makes a great book to take to the beach.

Decipher is a great little thrill ride through physics, linguistics, religion, big business, archeology, mythology, and the end of the world. Stel Pavlou has pulled many diverse fields together, wrapped them in a tight, fast paced plot which takes the reader around the globe, added some great characters (and humor!), and produced a fine novel which keeps the reader gripped til the last page. Its also nice to see scientists portrayed as real, if sometimes quirky, people as opposed to the stereotypical characters seen so often in the media. Hope to see his second book soon!

...

I went on vacation and did canoeing for the first time in my life, it was a blast, and while I was there started reading a new book. For all those Dan Brown fans out there, I can't recomend Decipher by Stel Pavlou enough. It's along the same line and tone as Dan's books.

As a reader with a bit of a science background coupled with an interest in linguistics, I found this book to be a very interesting read. I enjoy reading scientific "what if" scenarios, and I appreciated the bibliography at the back. This book strings together a multitude of theoretical science, attaches a lot of mysticism, and connects it all through a cryptographic puzzle which I found entertaining. There are several points where you have to suspend belief (it IS a work of fiction, after all), but overall I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sci-fi along the vein of Crichton. I would also recommend it to anyone who enjoys the idea that ancient mythology is really a puzzle to be figured out by modern man, along the lines of the Da Vinci Code. There were some weaknesses in the plot, and I never could figure out why they dragged the 19 year old college student all over the place with them, but overall it was a fun read. I look forward to his next book!

Congratulations to Stel Pavlou for creating a fantastical world. A truly great adventure. Much has been made of the myths and the sheer amount of science in the book. But for me far and away the best part was the nano-technology that he put to use. Imagine that molecular sized robots can group together and swarm in biological synchronization (like flocks of birds) and become creatures that can then battle humans. Amazing! That aspect of the story intertwined with the myth of the Golem makes this book far and away ahead of its time. Why did we have to wait 2 years for it to come to America?

This is one of the best page-turners that I've read in a long long time. It's a totally engrossing story which moves at a very quick pace. The book reminded me of a lot of Michael Crichton's work, in particular the combination of a thriller with cutting-edge science. In fact, if I didn't know who had written it, I would have assumed that he had, so similar are the styles. Impressive considering that it's Stel Pavlou's first novel.

If you like Michael Crichton then this book is definitely for you. A thrilling read from start to finish! I look forward to reading his next novel.