Dan Brown Origin revisited

Dan Brown Origin revisited

God created man in his own image. And man, being a gentleman, returned the favor…

And yes, Dan Brown, most certainly, has extended us this fervour with his latest title, Origin. And here goes my maiden book review. Let’s be clear at the very outset, I may not adhere to the norms (?) that go with the conventional book reviews and secondly, I am clear, Dan Brown’s readership doesn’t depend on my viewpoint! That frees me as a book reviewer and writer.

Right from the word go, Dan Brown thriller is all here to ‘shatter the foundations of religions that have been haunting human race ever since its dawn’. The author does a remarkable job in delivering what he has set out for, ‘shaking foundations to the core’. As it’s an outspoken thriller, Origin is gripping and enthralling that keeps your curiosity alive till the last page of the book. ‘What Next?’ Brown doesn’t let you down on this.

Brown must have given a rise to the new genre of fiction called ‘Brown Fiction’. Not-so-avid readers of fiction are rather glued to ‘Brown Fiction’. This is because Brown gives his readers not only that intellectual feed but also at the same time, he weaves rationalism with imaginative excitement.

True, Brown doesn’t write just another thriller but he raises many important questions in his fictions like he does in Origin, Where do we come from? Where are we going? As the storyline goes, a computer scientist, rather a futurist has impeccably planned to present his scientific discovery, that is not only slated to be a milestone but a sharp weapon to cut into pieces all so-called faiths that have thrived on weakening of human mind. The whole fiction revolves around attempts to ‘suppress’ the discovery and heroic efforts of his lead Character Langdon, the Harvard professor of  Symbology and Spanish museum director Ambra Vidal, the museum  director to make this presentation public after the assassination of the futurist Edmond Kirsch.

As Brown hero Langdon is rather a symbology professor, the author has coded and decoded a number of puzzles. Brown does give quite some instances of his literary profundity and there is a lot of enigma that goes with the reference of mysterious English poet William Blake. Blake is rather known as for his mystical and symbolic writings. Belonging to an early generation of Romantic poets, Blake was the best fit in Brown’s anti-faith frame.

The refrain of Blake’s line 'The Dark Religions are departed & sweet science reigns' unlocks many mysteries.  

Brown’s character sketch is amazing where his hero Robert Langdon is rather humane while Kirsch is logical superhero. Ambra has distinct thought process as she is not carried away by her engagement to the Prince while Bishop Valdespino is susceptible to readers’ rage all the while. And Artificial Intelligence Winston appeals to your emotional quotient.

While the book has atypical convincing descriptions of scientific discoveries, many narratives aligning with the mainline plot may appear lengthier. Nevertheless, what could be the most striking feature of the Origin is his paradox, where he denounces organised religions and at the same time, makes science as mysterious and magical like fairy tales. Portrayals of the Barcelona museum, Kirsch’s scientific lab, his library and details of presentation are scientifically fascinating and creatively clinical. As he proves, Brown is the writer first, who is here to entertain you and leaves it to you if you want some excitement or a heavy baggage of thought. 

With Brown, science is mystical, religion is questionable and atheism, agnostic.

-KanChan