Origin, Dan Brown

Dan Brown, the master of plot, has managed to write one of the most thought-provoking books I've read in a while. Any book that can do that gets high praise from me, no matter how skilled the writing. Let's face it, his books read more like movie scripts than actual books. However, they never fail to interest me with their heavy dosages of science, religion, and art; and there is no shortage of that in Origin. Along with Angels and Demons, I'd say this one is the best in his catalog, and might even be the best after a re-read. 

This time the action happens in Spain, mainly in Madrid and Barcelona. A prominent scientist is murdered in an attempt to reveal to the world the answer to age old questions like where did we come from and where are we going? World-renown symbologist Robert Langdon gets some help from a supercomputer and the Spanish prince's fiancé to retrieve the scientist's presentation before the murderer can catch them. The key to finding it lay in the works of poet William Blake and architect Antonio Gaudi, who feature a lot in the book. 

The answers to Edmond's questions would seemingly threaten all the major religions, so a lot of speculation is made in the media about who did it and what Edmond was going to say. In my opinion the revelations shouldn't change much of anything in the science vs. religion debate. Langdon put it best himself: even if all life was created by the laws of science, who invented the laws? In that sense I don't see Origin as being a threat to established religion at all; it only foresees another paradigm shift in science that institutions like the Catholic Church will have to adapt with. 

 

**Spoiler Alert** 

 

I wonder how many readers agree that Winston edited Edmond's tape to manipulate the where are we going segment of his presentation? Winston wanted to be thought of as a God for technology, so he made Edmond a martyr for his new "religion"- that was his motive for the murder. He couldn't have done this without killing him. It also didn't make much sense that Edmond would consider technology a kingdom of biology when technology doesn't meet any of the requirements for the definition of life. It's just not something a top scientist would say (you'd be hard-pressed to find a real one saying that). Furthermore, the bishop had mentioned that the version Edmond had shown him and the others had an entirely different outcome- one in which our species abruptly ended, and had nothing to do with technology. I think the whole plot was a way for Winston to glorify the technology he was born from, by making it appeal to progressive spiritualists who are tired of the old religions. The catch is that Winston himself displays signs of being "alive", but machines just don't act this way in the real world. Not yet, anyway. And the irony of course is that Winston can only create a religion by committing a sin.