The Footprints of God [Mass Market Paperback]

Greg Iles (Author)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Pocket Star (1969)
• ASIN: B002NBXVFK
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (163 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Greg Iles was born in 1960 in Germany where his father ran the US Embassy medical clinic during the height of the Cold War. After graduating from the University of Mississippi in 1983 he performed for several years with the rock band Frankly Scarlet and is currently member of the band The Rock Bottom Remainders. His first novel, Spandau Phoenix, a thriller about war criminal Rudolf Hess, was published in 1993 and became a New York Times bestseller. Iles went on to write ten bestselling novels, including Third Degree, True Evil, Turning Angel, Blood Memory, The Footprints of God, and 24 Hours (released by Sony Pictures as Trapped, with full screenwriting credit for Iles). He lives in Natchez, Mississippi.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars thriller/sci-fi/techgeek book., August 19, 2004

By 

L. Tite "www.silverberry.org" (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Footprints of God (Mass Market Paperback)

My dad and I have fairly common tastes in reading material, so when he loaned me The Footprints of God with this recommendation, "Just keep an open mind. This one makes you think", I figured I would enjoy the book. Keep an open mind, indeed. The premise of the book is the creation of a quantum super-computer ... taking AI to the next level - perhaps a level we shouldn't be considering. While I didn't agree with much of the theological-speak in the book ... I don't have to agree with everything in a book to enjoy the story. That's what fiction is all about, right?

The powers behind the Trinity Project (the name of the research project developing the quantum super computers) force the main character, Dr. David Tennant, to flee for his life when he becomes aware of what Trinity might eventually accomplish - and the realization of what that might mean for the world. A computer who could think faster than the human brain .... decipher codes instantaneously .... if this computer was hooked up to the internet ... what could it be capable of?

All in all, a good book. At times the pace drags a bit, but I still read it in two sittings ..... it was a gripping thriller/sci-fi/techgeek book.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very well done, June 7, 2004

By 

John Howard "jrh1972" (Jacksonville, Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Footprints of God (Mass Market Paperback)

I had read and enjoyed several other book by Iles before this one, so I expected it to be good, however, I wasn't sure how well he would do with the subject matter which seemed quite a bit different from his previous novels. The story had the fast-paced feel of a thriller, with the in-depth subject matter of a good science fiction sotry, and I thought Iles handled this very well.

I was most impressed with how well Iles defined and explained the concept of God as it relates to the story. In most similar stories that I've read, this kind of thing usually comes off sounding pretty silly, but Iles handled it very well, without getting too incredibly abstract. I also really liked the concept that the Trinity computer when done would have to be something elegant and simple, rather than a complicated mess of machinery. I enjoyed the book all the way through for the interestig subject and the fast-paced storyline, but at the end, I was left a little unsatisfied by the conclusion. Not to say that it was bad, but I was hoping for something more spectacular considering events leading up to it.

I would recommend this book for any fans of Iles' or anyone who likes a good fast-paced story. I have read most of his previous novels and am very interested to see what he comes up with next.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking suspense, August 12, 2003

By 

S. Gould "gouldpjaks" (Woodmere, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Footprints of God : A Novel (Hardcover)

It is pure pleasure to read any Greg Iles novel. His beautiful prose enhances the intriguing plot with sharp and insightful narrative. Once again Iles has penned a winner with "The Footprints Of God". Dr David Tennant is appointed by the President as an ethics advisor to oversee Project Trinity, the creation of an artificial intelligence computer. When his good friend and associate on the project dies under suspicious circumstances David turns to his psychiatrist, Rachel Weiss. She is at first skeptical until an attempt to murder Rachel and David ends with the killing of another government agent. Soon the two are embroiled in a life or death search for proof of evil doings at Trinity before the world is held hostage by the entity it has created.

In addition to a suspense filled thriller Iles has given the reader much to think about. His well crafted dialogues entice the reader to consider whether there can be such a thing as artificial intelligence and if so if it will it outpace its creators. He also delves into the origins of religious belief and its relation to the creation of intelligent life on earth.

I found myself reading late into the night and wishing for more when I finished. Don't miss this one!