Inside a supercollider, atoms are smashed together at such high forces that great masses of energy may result. However, as Douglas Preston explores in BLASPHEMY, it’s the butting heads of humans that may yield far more violence. With all the debate over stem cell research and the ethics of cloning, is there a better time for a thriller tackling the white-hot issue of science vs. religion?

Spun off from the supporting cast of TYRANNOSAUR CANYON, former CIA agent Wyman Ford has left the monastery behind in favor of opening his own investigation agency, trying to rediscover meaning in his life as a widower. His first big job comes courtesy of the U.S. government. As one would expect from such a client, it’s a big payday. Also as one would expect from such a client, he won’t be allowed to put it on his résumé.

Deep underground in the American Indian-owned land of the Arizona mesa, a group of scientists have built the world’s largest supercollider, which they’ve named Isabella. Upon its first test at full power, the visualizer gives off strange patterns, as well as an unexplained sentient message: “Greetings.” (Shades of Jerry in SPHERE!) Problem is, this intrusion from beyond prevents them from succeeding with their tests.

But the feds don’t know this, because the scientists don’t want to risk their careers, so Washington hires Ford to find out just what the hell is going on. They do so under the guise of utilizing his anthropology degree to calm waters with the local, skeptical Indian population, but know that his college fling with one of the scientists will give him the “in” that he needs.

Before long, Ford discovers that the machine claims to be God. If that’s true – and all signs point to yes – they’re sitting on the discovery of all time. Ironically, up top, the far-right-wing Christians think they’re doing Satan’s work by trying to disprove the creation theory. That’s not true, but it doesn’t stop a televangelist and a local nutjob pastor from spreading such rumors and assembling “God’s army.”

It’s refreshing to see a mainstream novel from a bestselling author make the hypocritical Christians the enemy rather than the whole of Christianity, as some of Preston’s peers have in recent years. The message of the novel actually is a pro-faith one – and yet a pro-science one as well – while railing against those so-called Christians who act not as they’d have others do unto them, but with racist, sexist and wholly hypocritical views.

Politics aside – and the book crackles with them – BLASPHEMY is, first and foremost, a thriller. In that department, Preston predictably delivers big. As with his past solo efforts, there’s a heavy dose of science fact, yet characters don’t just spout lab lingo just so the author can show off his smarts; they do it because it benefits the story and hurls it forward.

My only problem with BLASPHEMY is that it suffers from final-showdownitis, in which the climax is protracted in its build about a chapter or two too many. However, given the brevity of the chapters, this is a mild irritation at best. This novel may prove controversial, but the one thing that won’t be debated is the excitement – the suspense, the thrill of the chase, the even greater thriller of comeuppance and, most of all, the high of a 400-page escape, expertly executed. –Rod Lott

Buy it at Amazon.

OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THIS AUTHOR:
• THE BOOK OF THE DEAD by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
• DANCE OF DEATH by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
• TYRANNOSAUR CANYON by Douglas Preston
• THE WHEEL OF DARKNESS by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child