Customer Reviews

The Labyrinth Key

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4 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(4)

 

 

One of the classical dichotomies of philosophy is whether the universe is ultimately matter -- materialism, or formless spirit-like energy -- immaterialism. To this discussion, modern science has added a third possibility: that the universe might ultimately be information. If this third possibility is true, then could the manipulation of information, by computers or otherwise, alter the structure of reality itself? What might the result of that manipulation be: the evolution of the human species into something that transcends the limits of physical existence, or the creation of the ultimate horror that could destroy this universe, and perhaps all other possible realities along with it?

In "The Labyrinth Key", Dr. Hendrix traces the idea of an informational universe back to the medieval Cabalists who, in their quest to understand God through the manipulation of numbers, may have stumbled upon the key that would allow man to actually become God. In their battle for informational superiority the U.S. and Chinese governments and their covert secret organizations, locked in a rapidly intensifying political and military confrontation, race to exploit these ideas in their attempt to create the ultimate informational weapon -- a quantum supercomputer, that could crack and control any information system, and therefore take total control of the planet. In this masterfully crafted tale that combines suspenseful whodunit mystery with medieval philosophy, speculative science, and the intrigue of international conspiracy, the disappearance and presumed death of a top scientist leads investigators through a tangled web of technology, politics and philosophy to what might become the fulfillment of the dream of the ancient Cabalists, or perhaps their worst fears come true.

Unlike many of Hendrix's previous works, "Labyrinth" is set in a world of technology that seems close enough to happen today. Indeed, many of today's top theorists argue that the future of humanity lies in the fusion of human biology with informational technology, and some -- but by no means all -- even argue that such a fusion is not only possible, but even an absolutely necessary step for the survival of humanity. Modern philosophy of mind has become obsessed with the idea that the brain is some kind of computer, and it is only a matter of technological evolution before the brain can actually become a computer. However, others would say that human survival depends upon maintaining a barrier between what is essentially human and what is essentially machine; that the whole point of evolution (or creation, either way) was to insure that the human mind did not become an oversized calculator. This is the underlying conflict played out in "Labyrinth," with each point of view represented by its own secret society and covert government operations, each trying to outmaneuver the other for control of the world's information systems, and ultimately for the control of humanity itself. But what if the ancient Cabalists were right? What if such a biotech fusion were to grant access to the very fabric of reality itself? You will have to read "Labyrinth" and decide for yourself whether humanity's obsession with technology -- to the point of wanting to become that technology -- leads upward to a Heaven of unimaginable bliss, or straight down the gravity well of psychotic delusion to the Other Place.

Filled challenging ideas and a fast-moving plot with a number of surprising turns, "Labyrinth Key" is a multi-dimensional thriller that should please not only fans of science fiction, but those interested in the philosophical aspects of technology, and those who just like a good suspense story. It even includes a question and answer section at the end, in which the author explains many of the ideas developed in the story. If you want a fascinating read that will leave it up to you whether the "good guys" of the "bad guys" won in the end, you won't want to miss out on this one.

Anyone with even a reasonable science or computer background will flinch quickly upon reading this. Hard to finish and Im sorry I did.

Half the book just made up "metaphysics" to fill gaps, and even a lot of that didnt hold logic against itself either.

Its as if a fantasy writer tried to write scifi, and to fill the gaps (which are huge in this book) they just made stuff up without bothering to see if it was believable.

Readers of William Gibson would likely enjoy this novel. The feel of this novel was very simliar.

I considered that a good editor might have been able to save this book. There were about 30 pages of very clear and well written text with good plot.
However, another 378 pages seemed to be added as filler. The filler was philosophy and halicinations/visions. Most of it seemed completely pointless and made absolutely no sense. If you are looking for action like Michael Crickton, don't purchase this book.

This is one of Hendrix's best books.
Sometimes I get annoyed by the spiritual psychobabel built into his model of "higher consciousness", but Hendrix is a good enough writer to
make even a sceptic give some thought to even his wilder ideas.
Hendrix has a cast of characters that weave in and out of his books and
keep them related, some of them alternative world takes on bits of the
same story. It makes the book more interesting if you read his previous
books.

Fans of conspiracy theories, deep 'philosophical' thinking about the nature of the universe, mysticism - you may be in for a treat. IF you can disregard a confusing rambling plot with uninteresting personae throughout.

Anybody else will likely be thoroughly annoyed by this book. The author thinks that mixing up kabalistic hocus pocus + crypto + quantum computing gives a convincing argument for godhood/doomsday superweapon /ubercomputer. Enough to base a book on, anyway. It doesn't work out and it doesn't help that the characters are 0-dimensional at best, beneath cliche. The last 50 or so pages were especially rambling, with long paragraphs of pseudo-mystical nonsense.

The author kept his options open by drafting in too many concepts, rather than concentrating his plot on a few chosen subjects. You have evolution theory, crypto, quantum, nanotech, DNA, number theory, mystical writers from the Renaissance, memory palaces and virtual reality. It's all there, kinda. Well, minus the science. Pretty badly written for an English lit teacher too. Throw in a number of sketchily outlined conspiring factions and undifferentiated good/bad guys that all seem to know all about medieval mystics and you have a mess. Like Foucault's Pendulum, you get a strong sense that the writer wants you to sense how cultured he is. Oh, and at least Clancy knows how to build up his books to a big suspense at the end. This doesn't, but tries miserably anyway.

One justification given for drafting in the medieval crypto-mystics as relevant to modern cyberwarfare is that "a mathematician in the 1600's would have learned a lot from reading some of the lost writings of early Greek scholars". Sorry, that doesn't cut it - Europe was just coming out of centuries of dark ages, had lost a lot of the earlier Greek knowledge and was just starting to find its scientific legs again. Not at all the relationship we now have with Renaissance science. But typical of the book's pseudo-scientific babble.

The Labyrinth Key has quite a few heady subjects that it tries to expose to the reader. If you just want a good story without too much thinking involved, this isn't the book for you. But if you have even a passing interest in mathematics, philosophy, quantum physics, and crypto-history, then you'll actually enjoy the long story gaps which are spread throughout the book. They may be gaps in the story-line, but they are filled with the other elements, to the brim, and keep you thinking. There are many passages which are pretty hard rows to hoe, and despite Hendrixs' background as a scientist and scholar (or maybe because of his background), he doesn't really do a very good job of explaining some of the jumps from material to spiritual. You get the feeling that HE knows what he's talking about, but let's the reader down a bit because the reader is a bit left out. He's almost TOO MUCH of a scholar to be a good writer... he has all this wonderful and wide-ranging knowledge of his subject, but can't quite encapsulate it for use in the story. The biggest failing is that he repeats himself many times... I found myself saying out loud, "Ok, ok, I GOT it!" when I'd start to read yet another passage concerning the quantum relationships of the characters.

Despite these short-comings, I liked the story and he did a fair job on characterization. I recommend the book to the "high thinkers" out there. He does need to write for his audience, though, and not for himself.

The modern arms race goes way beyond the obvious weapons of mass destruction. The contest between countries involves economic skirmishes and technology wars. The current battle focuses on which nation's research computer scientists will create the quantum computer and code breaker. The prime contestants are China and The United States, but the Americans have the edge because the world's leading expert on computer code breaking Dr. Jaron L. Kwok works for the latter's National Security Agency.

Kwok is stunned that his wife Cherise is divorcing him most likely because he has failed to live up to what others expect from him including her as she detested his obsessive "infojunkie tendencies". However, while he was mulling over his personal life in Hong Kong, something happens and he vanishes. The NSA believe he was assassinated, but they and the Chinese send agents not only to learn who murdered him, but more important to find what he discovered. For if the rumors prove true that he has completed the quantum computer and whoever possesses it has the edge in international relationships.

From Hong Kong to China to the United States to virtual reality hyperspace, this tale cleverly combines science fiction elements within an action-packed thriller. The terrific story line travels globally, but still moves faster than a computer can calculate a simple sum. As Mr. Hendrix uses quantum physics to logically support his plot, the author also provides interesting theories about cause and effect leading to horrific events that leaders would prefer to ignore (culpability is the other guy). As usual Mr. Hendrix provides a deep scientifically based thriller that will stir the cerebral in readers.

Harriet Klausner

I had the pleasure of reading this book in manuscript, so thtat I could offer a blurb for the dust jacket. Here's what I had to say:

"Stephen Hawking meets Tom Clancy! Quantum physics and international intrigue combine in the best novel yet by the finest new SF writer of the last decade. Howard V. Hendrix's _The Labyrinth Key_ is the book everyone will be talking about this year, not just in science-fiction circles, but also in the halls of power in Washington."

-- Robert J. Sawyer
Hugo Award-winning author of _Hominids_

This is one of the most pretentious pieces of junk (want to avoid Amazon editors) I've read in quite some time. This novel has gotten a lot of good reviews. Why, is beyond me.

Save yourself of a few wasted hours and skip this.