About this title: When an alien arrives on Earth (specifically, in a Toronto museum) to investigate a series of cataclysmic events from Earth's past that seem to parallel similar, even identical, events on her own planet, a paleontologist finds himself drawn into an interstellar debate over the existence of God.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Mass-market paperback
Publisher: Tor Classics
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780812580358ISBN:0812580354
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. Nice soft cover, lightly read, light shelf wear to cover, light creases on spine, light aging to pages, stk #2034h9. Mass market (rack) paperback. Glued binding. 352 p. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Mass-market paperback
Publisher: Tor Classics
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780812580358ISBN:0812580354
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. Light edge wear to soft cover. Light hint of page tanning from age. Mass market (rack) paperback. Glued binding. 352 p. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: MASS MARKET PAPERBACK
Publisher: Tor Science Fiction
ISBN-13:9780812580358ISBN:0812580354
Description: Very Good. 0812580354 Mass Market Paperback, Condition: Very Good; this book is in very good condition with light curve to the spine / light reading creases to the covers. read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780812580358ISBN:0812580354
Description: Very Good. No Jacket. Light wear to corners and edges. some creasing to spine. text appears unmarked, binding is tight. overall nice copy. read more
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Acceptable. Former Library book. Shows definite wear, and perhaps considerable marking on inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Edition: First edition. FIRST SOFTCOVER PRINTING JULY 2001
Binding: Mass-market paperback
Publisher: Tor Classics
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780812580358ISBN:0812580354
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. Mass market (rack) paperback. Glued binding. 352 p. Audience: General/trade. THIS USED SOFTCOVER FIRST PRINTING EDITION CAME FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION. COVERS HAVE MINOR EDGE AND CORNER WEAR. BINDING IS TIGHT. STORY PAGES ARE FREE FROM MARKS AND TEARS. read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: TOR Books, New York, New York, U.S.A.
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780812580358ISBN:0812580354
Description: Very Good. No Jacket. 16mo-over 5¾"-6¾" tall. The book is very solid with unmarked pages. The cover has minor shelf & edge wear. The spine has a light crease. read more
Edition: First Paperback Edition
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Tor Science Fiction, New York, NY
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780812580358ISBN:0812580354
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Tom Doherty Assoc. Books
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780812580358ISBN:0812580354
Description: Very Good. Science fiction thriller delivers a powerful and resolutely human speculation about genetics, human origins, and the existence of faith and God. Very good cond. read more
Description: Good. The provocative new science fiction thriller from the Nebula award-winning author of The Terminal Experiment. Robert J. Sawyer, delivers a powerful and resolutely human speculation about genetics, human organs, and the existence of faith and God. read more
Binding: Mass-market paperback
Publisher: Tor Books, New York
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780812580358ISBN:0812580354
Description: Fine. No dust jacket as issued. (061107) 1st Mass Market Paperback edition is in Fine condition with extremely light overall wear. Mass market (rack) paperback. Glued binding. 352 p. Audience: General/trade. read more
Edition: Fifth Printing
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Tor Books, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780812580358ISBN:0812580354
Description: Good. Brief summary of content available upon request by e-mail. read more
Binding: Mass market pb
Publisher: TOR BOOKS, NEW YORK
Date Published: JULY 2001
ISBN-13:9780812580358ISBN:0812580354
Description: Fine. No dust jacket, as issued. Very slight edge and cover wear, . First printing. 338 p. ; Creationists rarely find sympathy in the ranks of science fiction authors--or fans, for that matter. And while Robert J. Sawyer doesn't exactly make peace with evangelicals on the issue, Calculating God has to be one of the more thoughtful and sympathetic SF portrayals you'll find of religion and intelligent design. But that should come as no surprise from this crafty Canadian: in the Nebula Award ... read more
"I listened to this one- and enjoyed the voice changes Jonathan Davis utilized (I know some ppl felt them annoying). Some reviewers have categorized this work as trite, stereotypical and unimaginative. I disagree completely. I believe Mr. Sawyer has truly sat with his topic long and hard and given us a worthy, exciting alternative perspective while acknowledging our own pasts. My own storyline concern relates to Hollus and her children, but it's rather small. I laughed, cried, and pondered over this work."
"In Calculating God, Sawyer takes the notion of "everything happens for a reason" and gives it depth. It was the ending that really caught my attention, and I often think about it when contemplating God.
I read this as a teenager and was so smitten that I actually wrote the author a letter, thanking him for his book. I'm sure it was a silly letter, but that's how much I was moved. I'm only giving the book 4 stars, however, because knowing myself at that time, it probably wasn't as amazing as I thought then. But it deserves a second read, one where I can use the power of perspective to give it the review it deserves."
"The book opens with a ship descending on Toronto and an alien stepping out to ask directions to the nearest paleontologist, who happens to be Jericho at the Royal Ontario Museum. And I found that to be the most dramatic image of the story. The alien (Hollus, a spider-like creature) wants to look through earth's fossil record to discover God's plan (The existence of God is a scientifically proven fact on the alien world.). That's the story in a nutshell. There's subplot involving creationists and another involving cancer, but most of the book follows the conversations between Jericho and Hollus as they discuss life on other planets, the nature of evolution, and why God's place in the universe is necessary. As usual, Sawyer's ability to delve into the questions brought about by his books' unusual premises is totally captivating (I read the whole thing in two days.), but it's light on human plot."
"The book was a good read. I went to the University of Toronto for undergrad and so got a special enjoyment out of the references to 'Philosopher's Walk' and other points of reference in the location of the book. I found the discussion of the various paleontology specimens and debates interesting, wondering to myself - how much of this is true. The descriptions of the aliens was wonderful, but I wanted to know more. The book covered too much! In the last 50 pages, time travel, cryopreservation, supernova explosion and genetic engineering are all discussed. The writing felt very hurried and was told entirely as first person (Tom Jericho) who alternated between very philosophical and very superficial in his reflection.
All this said, I'm looking forward to reading more of Robert J. Sawyer."
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