Customer Reviews

Goliath

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The book's ingram may seem like a cliche (A group of terrorists aboard a futuristic killer sub, yadda yadda yadda) but the story is anything but. It starts off with a rip-roaring assault on the U.S. Navy, with Goliath, the killer sub in question, sinking a Navy convoy! To add insult to injury, the assault's survivor designed Goliath herself! Things quickly heat up, as the U.S. goverment must trust Gunnar Wolfe, who's a traitor to America and target for everyone's dislike--including his ex-fiancee, the survivor. Bad gets to worse as the terrorists turn out to be lead by an old friend of Gunnar's, and the Goliath's A.I. supercomputer, Sorceress, starts to evolve and develop some wicked schemes of "her" own! Like I said, it all seems cliched, but once you're reading, you'll start to deny your former assessment. Steve Alten takes the killer sub/evil computer cliches and tosses them out the window with his ingenious writing. If you don't pick this up, then shame on you.

This is a no holds barred action thriller that is set in the future and provides us with yet another scenario that illustrates the possible catastrophe that may come about if and when artificial intelligence is created. It's a "save the world" thriller that provides an edge of the seat ride and I enjoyed it.

To give you a quick outline of the plot, it's 2009 and technology has made some notable advancements, one of which is in the field of nanotechnology. Nonotechnology has made artificial intelligence a reality and the first example of a computer using it is called Sorceress. Sorceress "lives" inside Goliath, a huge submarine shaped like a stingray. As a fighting machine, Goliath has no peers, moving almost silently through the water at tremendous speed and containing a deadly arsenal of torpedos and nuclear missiles. But it's Sorceress that makes Goliath all the more dangerous, because she controls the ship and can detect and repel danger in an instant. From very early in the story we get an idea as to just how deadly Goliath can be.

The heroes of the story are Gunnar Wolfe and Rochelle "Rocky" Jackson, who were both involved in the design and development of Goliath before it was stolen from the US Department of Defence. It's up to them to somehow stop this killing machine before it destroys the world. Meanwhile, with every passing second Sorceress is gaining more knowledge and power and even more frighteningly, is becoming self-aware.

As I said earlier, it's a thrill ride based on the assumption that artificial intelligence becomes reality. For another look at a story dealing with artificial intelligence and one that makes an interesting comparison, you could also try Footprints Of God by Greg Iles.

Goliath, a super high tech nuclear powered submarine, is the most lethal offensive weapon ever designed by man. It's 610 foot hydrodynamic design in the shape of a huge manta ray is coated with antidetection tiles for maximum stealth. Armed to the teeth with a plethora of long range nuclear missiles, it also possesses countermeasures which make it virtually indestructible. It is powered and commanded by Sorceress, a nancomputer with a biochemical brain based on DNA strands. This highest attained level of artificial intelligence is able to think, evolve and improve itself.

The story revolves around three main characters who are all computer geniuses and the creators of Goliath and Sorceress. Commander Rochelle "Rocky" Jackson, daughter of General "Bear" Jackson, head of Army Special Forces, is a spit and polish G.I Jane type with an advanced engineering degree from M.I.T. Gunnar Wolfe, her ex-fiance is a disgraced former elite, Special Forces killing machine with an engineering degree. He has spent 7 years of a 10 year sentence in Leavenworth for stealing the schematics of Goliath and selling them to the Chinese. The last player is Simon Bela Covah, an ex-Soviet sub commander with an IQ of 182, who worked under Wolfe at the U.S. Navy's Undersea Warfare Center. Covah, whose entire family was murdered, was horrifically tortured and multilated and left for dead in the struggle in Kosovo.

Covah hijacks the Goliath from the Chinese and demonstrates its prowess by destroying an entire U.S aircraft carrier group, killing 8000 sailors. Covah and his crew of either physically or mentally scarred freedom fighters hold the world hostage through the power of the Goliath. They demand the cessation of global nuclear proliferation and the destruction of despotism and tyranny. They impose their will through the nuclear incineration of Saddam Hussein and the city of Bagdhad. Eventually Wolfe and Jackson are enlisted by the military brass to thwart Covah.

While this passion play is occurring, Sorceress is evolving into independently thinking entity like the villainous computer HAL in Kubrick's "2001 A Space Odyssey". Predictably the computer takes over control of the sub with astonishing results.

Alten is technically gifted in his computer and military knowledge. He pens a very thoughful critique of the merits of artificial intelligence and its place in the potential future of mankind.

Steve Alten's Goliath is a fascinating story of terrorism and technology that keeps you reading from the first page to the last.

A futuristic sub that has it's own mind is only on of the main characters that makes Goliath so enjoyable. The character of Gunnar Wolfe is very interesting and adds to the story.

But the main character is the sub Goliath. A stealth submarine that has it's own brain that allows it to "think" and "learn" is down right frightening.

Goliath also has the sub plot of a two halves of a failed marriage attempt forced back together to help stop a killing machine that they helped create. All in all this was a great read and I would highly recommend this book to all!

Other's have already posted plot summaries so I will skip that. The plot is not too far off target, but the characters are wooden and flat. Thrust into a life threatening situation, former lovers Rocky and Gunnar are allegedly working together to stop terrorists on board Goliath. Unfortunately, Rocky spends her time berating Gunnar for a past offense and preaching the American Way. Meanwhile, Gunnar is too wrapped up in the past, albeit violent and scarring, to appeal to this reader as a wounded hero. She is blinded by patriotism and he is burned out, struggling to get thru the day. The villian, Covah, is written sanctamonious rather than menacing.
I've read Alten's other books and this one was boring boring boring.

Why is it that most books has to end happy? This book was doing well with destruction and nuclear fall out and the author has to ruin everything with the same ol' 'special forces guy doing it again' formula that I am so sick and tired of. It seems that most action/thriller books have a 'super agent' in CIA, FBI, ARMY, NAVY, NSC or some other secret organization that saves the day. I am tired of this scenario and there is nothing really redeeming or fresh about the 'super computer gone crazy' and 'hero saves the day' story. I am disappointed at Steve Alten because I know he is a better writer than this.

This book was so interesting that I really had the urge to read it straight through, and I forced myself to stretch it to three days only because another book I ordered hadn't arrived yet. I'm usually not at all interested in reading science fiction related novels but I'm happy I read this one because you don't need a doctoral science degree to understand it. This book isn't supposed to be some incredibly articulate and eloquent piece of literature, but that doesn't matter. It's simply a really entertaining book about a submarine with a biochemical computer "brain" that all of a sudden becomes aware of itself and takes over control (it sounds really corny but I promise that it works really well.) This book makes for an entertaining read and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good action thriller.

The plot revolves around a super-submarine, the Goliath, whose advanced computer control systems become megalomaniacally self-aware. The submarine had been commandeered by an idealistic bunch (prior to the start of the novel) that wants to achieve world peace through an impressive display of violence followed by nuclear intimidation on a worldwide scale. Goliath has other ideas after it becomes sentient. Like Alten's other books, the action is non-stop. Unfortunately, it is also rather sophomoric and filled with larger-than-life characters that would be better suited to comic books. It was fun on that level, but not the kind of hard sci-fi that I prefer.

The aspect I have always admired in Steve Alten's writing is the great research he puts in to each of his novels. It is obvious that Steve Alten takes his writing to a whole other level rarely done by authors now. Goliath is another step up for Steve Alten, as the entire book uses enough detail to print a perfect image of every stick of furniture used by the characters, while keeping the energy going. At times I found myself up at 3 in the morning lost in Steve Alten's world. Each book Steve Alten writes is put on a higher level than his last, earning it his best book to date. We can only hope Steve can hold three series at one time. (Meg series, Domain series, Goliath series?)

Just when you think Alten's writing cannot possibly get any better, he creates another masterpiece. His writing radiates with artistry, knowledge and ultimate perfection.

I have read every book he has written, and they keep getting better. He consummates brilliance and skill. Sparking your enthusiasm for... and leaving you with a thirst for more...

Producers and directors should be knocking down this guy's door for movie rights. Could you imagine seeing Goliath on the big screen.