If you have watched Fatboy Slim's "Right Here, Right Now" you know what I'm talking about. It appears that story tellers of today are fascinated with the thought of moving sequences from one geography to another. With due credit to Dan Brown's excellent research skills to weaving exciting (and controversial) thrillers, I have a feeling that this guy likes to play it to the masses. Or it must be his publisher putting a gun to his head to make his books best sellers. His 'Da Vinci Code' fell flat without making it to the list of great books for the same reason.
The novel revolves around NASA, POTUS and a wannabe US President. The main characters Rachel Sexton, a promising young NRO analyst and Michael Tolland, a popular television oceanographer poorly supported in character by Corky, a physict and friend of Tolland play cliched roles of a Hollywood movie. But what's fascinating is that the novel throws light on the faux pas played by politicians and powerful bureaucrats in a leading democratic country fooling millions of people who eagerly await for a sensational discovery in the outer space. Brown's research on the highs and lows of political drama, the science behind space makes this book a wonderful reading. But like I said (barring one incident i.e., involvement of the NRO chief William Pickering in the NASA goof-up) this book gets predictable after a while. Ending is too good to be true which I rate it to be as good as the ending of a Mills & Boons story (Yes, I've read them too!!).
What I've observed about Dan Brown's book is that if you read his book you don't have to watch the movie. His detailing is great. Movies won't do justice to the books. He even ends it so politically right! Rating: 2.5 on 5!
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