The Hammer of Eden (Mass Market Paperback)

by Ken Follett (Author)
Key Phrases: seismic vibrator, state seismologist, seismic window, San Francisco, John Truth, Governor Robson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
The tension ratchets up quickly in this abridged reading of Ken Follett's thriller. Actor Anthony Heald--a movie (The Client, The Silence of the Lambs) and audiobook (Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil) veteran--uses a breathy, urgent delivery to spin the tale of ecoterrorist cultists and the unlikely heroes who must stop them before they hammer California with a major man-made earthquake. Follett has real contempt for his aging-hippie villains, which Heald gleefully communicates through lines of faux sagacity like, "Money makes you poor" and "Marriage is the greatest infidelity," and by having the head bad guy clear his conscience of a cold-blooded murder by reciting a nursery rhyme. (Running time: four hours, three cassettes) --Lou Schuler --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly
After 20 years of writing bestselling novels, Follett is enough of a pro to produce a reliable page-turner from a flimsy premise?as he does here. His working out of how a rural, socially radical California commune moves not heaven but earth to stave off the loss of their land to a government dam and the ensuing flood is smartly paced if nearly devoid of inspiration. What distinguishes it is not the communards' weapon, a stolen seismic vibrator generally used by oil companies to sound for liquid gold but also handy for starting earthquakes. Nor is it the mechanical progression of the plot, as the radicals, calling themselves the Hammer of Eden, escalate threats and consequent quakes in order to blackmail the state into halting the dam until the finale finds them about to devastate San Francisco. Nor is it the by-the-book chase of the terrorists by a headstrong female FBI agent who might have walked onstage from any of a dozen other thrillers. What does?other than its efficient telling?raise the novel above mundanity is the depth of characterization of its villains, a Follett forte since his splendid debut in Eye of the Needle. Follett devotes many pages to backstory, creating in Priest, once a smalltime hood and now the commune's leader, in Star, his hippie earth-woman, and in Melanie, a bitter young beauty who throws in with the commune, fully realized outcasts, crazed and desperate idealists whose actions are as believable as they are heinous. All else in the novel, including the perfunctory prose, serve only to push the story quickly through its paces, but Follett's troupe of lost souls makes it dance to a memorable, mournful tune. Agent, Al Zuckerman; major ad/promo; simultaneous Random House audio and large-print edition.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett; Other Printing edition (November 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449004589
• ISBN-13: 978-0449227541
• ASIN: 0449227545
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (145 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #291,292 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Plot holes big enough to drive a seismic vibrator through, June 8, 2005

By	D. Ross "http://directorblue.blogspot.com" (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The idea, at first blush, is bold and captivating. A fringe, cult-like group is determined to protect their commune, which is located in the backwoods of Northern California, from development. To do so, they need a credible means to force the state government to cease their incessant land-grabs. With the help of a geologist who's joined the commune, the cult leader (Priest) determines there may be a way to trigger earthquakes using a sonic mapping device known as a seismic vibrator.

Follett's talent is prodigious. He's almost capable of making us believe that this preposterous scenario is remotely plausible. But even his immense talent isn't enough to make up for the succession of plot holes big enough to drive a seismic vibrator through.

Example: At one point, Michael seems to be the only one in the state who hasn't seen Priest's picture on television. Because Michael encountered Priest early on in the story, he should have recognized him on TV and the entire FBI dragnet should have ended a lot sooner.

The puzzle pieces are all there, in formulaic fashion: The cute, female FBI agent. The cute, divorced male geologist Michael. The Manson-like cult leader Priest who, though illiterate, is able to evade the FBI repeatedly while driving a giant seismic vibrator that tops out at about 40 mph. I'm sure you can guess what happens.

If you're stuck inside on a rainy day and you happen to have this laying around (and nothing else to do), certainly go ahead and read it. Otherwise, learn macrame or origami. You'll drive yourself crazy second-guessing the characters and the author in this all-too-predictable bore-fest. Mr. Follett is far too talented to be producing works of this caliber.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Still a Follett Fan, March 23, 2000

By	Gary Levine (Owen Sound, Ontario) - See all my reviews

I am a long standing Ken Follett fan. I consider The Pillars of the Earth to be one of my all time favourite books. A magnificent, sweeping, all consuming tale, well worth a reread. Unfortunately, The Hammer of Eden falls far short of the mark. Like the slow low-rumblings of the seismic generator it chronicles, this story rolls on to an all too predictable conclusion. I felt like I was reading a hastily written treatment for a made-for-TV-movie; complete with shallow characters and trashy sex scenes. Too bad I started longing for commercials.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars What happened, Ken?, December 10, 1999

By	psychotropic (Silver River Valley) - See all my reviews

I've been a follower of KF's work since "Eye of the Needle" and have read nearly all his paperbacks. My favorite by far must be "Pillars of the Earth."

As many of these readers have pointed out, there are major problems with this novel. The most glaring of which is the plotline.

In the journalism industry, we are taught one basic rule about writing a story: do you understand your assignment to the extent that you could chat with your neighbor "over the fence" about it and have it make sense? If not, go back and do your research.

Okay, it breaks down like this: a bunch of forgotten hippies from the 1960's cause a series of earthquakes with oil-drilling equipment to stop the State of California from taking their commune, and a beautiful FBI agent must stop them to win fame, career advancement and love(!). That about right?

I'm from Northern California, and the area has a flavor all its own. KF captures some of it. (I especially liked the segment where the N. Cali residents justify staying in California with the imminent threat of another earthquake looming.)

But KF's strongest area is historical fiction focused on England and/or Europe. His war dramas also ring true with most readers.

This experiment with modern American culture tended to fall short, as did his previous work in this area, "The Third Twin."

Folks, if you need your KF historical thriller fix, pick up a copy of "London" - it's bland in places, but it will keep you going until KF decides to write again about his homeland.