Armed with that disconcerting information (and a little help from a grand unifying theory), the alien informs Jericho, almost dismissively, that 'the primary goal of modern science is to discover why God has behaved as he has and to determine his methods.' A shocked Jericho finds that not only does life exist on other planets, but that every civilization in the galaxy has experienced extinction events at precisely the same time. Landing at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, the spacefarer (named Hollus) asks to compare notes on mass extinctions with resident dino-scientist Thomas Jericho.

But the arachnid ET hasn't come aboard a rowboat with the Pope and Stephen Hawking (although His Holiness does request an audience later). The book starts out like the setup for some punny science fiction joke: An alien walks into a museum and asks if he can see a paleontologist. But that should come as no surprise from this crafty Canadian: in the Nebula Award-winning Terminal Experiment, Sawyer speculated on what would happen if hard evidence were ever found for the human soul in Calculating God, he turns science on its head again when earth is invaded by theists from outer space. 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. 'synopsis' may belong to another edition of this title.Ĭreationists rarely find sympathy in the ranks of science fiction authors-or fans, for that matter. A fine read an intellectual thriller with real bite.” - Edmonton Journal “Sawyer has created a very interesting figure in Tom Jericho, whose scientific mind is the battleground of ideas in the novel.

Their debates, and their growing friendship, drive the narrative in this fast-paced, morally and intellectually challenging story of ambitious scope and touching humanity. Tom Jericho, the human scientist with whom he ends up working, is convinced there is no God. An alien being emerges and says, in perfect English, “Take me to a paleontologist.” Hollus is traveling from star to star on a quest to scientifically prove that God exists. It is safe to say that Sawyer has accomplished both with Calculating God.” - Rocky Mountain NewsĪ spaceship lands outside the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. “For fiction to be called literature, the story should stay with readers and keep them thinking about it long after the book has been put away.

Calculating god sawyer