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The Doomsday Equation: A Novel
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist and author of A Deadly Wandering comes a pulse-pounding technological thriller—as ingenious as the works of Michael Crichton and as urgent and irresistible as an episode of 24—in which one man has three days to prevent the outbreak of World War III.Computer genius Jeremy Stillwater has designed a machine that can predict global conflicts and ultimately head them off. But he’s a stubborn guy, very sure of his own genius, and has wound up making enemies, and even seen his brilliant invention discredited.There’s nowhere for him to turn when the most remarkable thing his computer beeps with warning that the outbreak of World War III is imminent, three days and counting.Alone, armed with nothing but his own ingenuity, he embarks on quest to find the mysterious and powerful nemesis determined to destroy mankind. But enemies lurk in the shadows waiting to strike. Could they have figured out how to use Jeremy, and his invention, for their own evil ends?Before he can save billions of lives, Jeremy has to figure out how to save his own. . . .
384 pages, ebook
First published February 24, 2015
About the author
Matt Richtel
21 books188 followersMatt Richtel is a best-selling author and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The New York Times based in San Francisco.
He co-created and formerly wrote the syndicated comic Rudy Park under the pen name Theron Heir. Since 2012, the strip is now written by its longtime illustrator Darrin Bell.
He co-created and formerly wrote the syndicated comic Rudy Park under the pen name Theron Heir. Since 2012, the strip is now written by its longtime illustrator Darrin Bell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
April 6, 2016
This book is a sci-fi/terrorist adventure novel.
I personally had a lot of issues connecting with the characters. Most of them, including the main character got on my nerves majorly. The plot was interesting but it did take far too long to get into this book.
The writing was captivating towards the end of the book and makes you want to know more.
Unfortunately, I just did not enjoy this book all that much. The main reason being the characters. The sci-fi aspect was perfect though I really enjoyed the world layout.
I personally had a lot of issues connecting with the characters. Most of them, including the main character got on my nerves majorly. The plot was interesting but it did take far too long to get into this book.
The writing was captivating towards the end of the book and makes you want to know more.
Unfortunately, I just did not enjoy this book all that much. The main reason being the characters. The sci-fi aspect was perfect though I really enjoyed the world layout.
February 22, 2015
The Doomsday Equation by Matt Richtel is a highly recommended techno thriller. 4.5 stars
Jeremy Stillwater may be caustic, annoying, and have difficulties connecting with other people, but he is a programming genius who has developed a algorithm that harnesses big data to predict large-scale human conflict. The only problem is that government/military officials and others have told him it doesn't work, leaving him plummeting from unbelievable success to abject failure. But did they tell him the truth. Now "his computer is predicting there is going to be a massive global conflict, engulfing the world in death and destruction—and that the calamity is imminent." The world is going to end in 3 days. April’s projected deaths are 75 million.
Jeremy, who is always connected in some way, is on the move with his tablet. He "needs to get someplace settled and run a test. He needs to check the List. The List is a set of 327 statistical inputs that, Jeremy believes, together describe the state of the world. Oil prices and population density and weather systems and all the rest." Jeremy is unsure is someone got in to his computer program and is trying to run a hoax on him or if his program is compiling the data points correctly.
His program collects data in three major areas. "One is Tantalum. The second is Conflict Rhetoric. The third is the Random Event Meter, known as REM." He notices that "there has been a sharp uptick, 14 percent, in the last few days, of the collective language of conflict, material enough for the computer to care. There’s been an even sharper rise in the Random Event Meter. It’s up 430 percent. Jeremy shakes his head, mostly annoyed, vaguely curious. The meter measures whether there has been some event or series of events that, in historic terms, would seem far outside the standard deviation. And the event can be anything." "He turns to the third variable, tantalum. That’s up 4017 percent. The precious metal is integral to the making of cell phones."
While Jeremy is trying to make sense of the data and run new tests, he notices that he may be being watched. As Jeremy tries to run diagnostic tests and look at the information his program is collecting, he is also on the run, always moving while it seems he is being followed. Despite his caustic nature, he does have people he cares about. Can he save them if this threat is real? And why are people setting lions free from zoos?
Jeremy is an unlikeable protagonist, but you will believe that he is also brilliant and that something is going to happen. Since Jeremy doesn't have the answers, just the predicted outcome of events going on in the world, the tension ratchets up in the count down against the predicted time when the world is supposed to end versus Jeremy's attempts to make sense of the data and avoid whoever is following him. We also don't know if Jeremy is just paranoid or if he really is being followed.
Richtel does an excellent job keeping this high tech thriller up to date. Jeremy relies on all the devices many of us carry and use throughout the day. We are almost always connected and Jeremy reflects that new sensibility. There were plenty of twists in the plot and the ending took me totally by surprise. Well done!
With The Doomsday Equation there should be broad cross-over appeal for those who like science fiction or thrillers.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of HarperCollins for review purposes.
Jeremy Stillwater may be caustic, annoying, and have difficulties connecting with other people, but he is a programming genius who has developed a algorithm that harnesses big data to predict large-scale human conflict. The only problem is that government/military officials and others have told him it doesn't work, leaving him plummeting from unbelievable success to abject failure. But did they tell him the truth. Now "his computer is predicting there is going to be a massive global conflict, engulfing the world in death and destruction—and that the calamity is imminent." The world is going to end in 3 days. April’s projected deaths are 75 million.
Jeremy, who is always connected in some way, is on the move with his tablet. He "needs to get someplace settled and run a test. He needs to check the List. The List is a set of 327 statistical inputs that, Jeremy believes, together describe the state of the world. Oil prices and population density and weather systems and all the rest." Jeremy is unsure is someone got in to his computer program and is trying to run a hoax on him or if his program is compiling the data points correctly.
His program collects data in three major areas. "One is Tantalum. The second is Conflict Rhetoric. The third is the Random Event Meter, known as REM." He notices that "there has been a sharp uptick, 14 percent, in the last few days, of the collective language of conflict, material enough for the computer to care. There’s been an even sharper rise in the Random Event Meter. It’s up 430 percent. Jeremy shakes his head, mostly annoyed, vaguely curious. The meter measures whether there has been some event or series of events that, in historic terms, would seem far outside the standard deviation. And the event can be anything." "He turns to the third variable, tantalum. That’s up 4017 percent. The precious metal is integral to the making of cell phones."
While Jeremy is trying to make sense of the data and run new tests, he notices that he may be being watched. As Jeremy tries to run diagnostic tests and look at the information his program is collecting, he is also on the run, always moving while it seems he is being followed. Despite his caustic nature, he does have people he cares about. Can he save them if this threat is real? And why are people setting lions free from zoos?
Jeremy is an unlikeable protagonist, but you will believe that he is also brilliant and that something is going to happen. Since Jeremy doesn't have the answers, just the predicted outcome of events going on in the world, the tension ratchets up in the count down against the predicted time when the world is supposed to end versus Jeremy's attempts to make sense of the data and avoid whoever is following him. We also don't know if Jeremy is just paranoid or if he really is being followed.
Richtel does an excellent job keeping this high tech thriller up to date. Jeremy relies on all the devices many of us carry and use throughout the day. We are almost always connected and Jeremy reflects that new sensibility. There were plenty of twists in the plot and the ending took me totally by surprise. Well done!
With The Doomsday Equation there should be broad cross-over appeal for those who like science fiction or thrillers.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of HarperCollins for review purposes.
July 1, 2015
It's really hard for me to like a book when I don't like the protagonist.
The story follows Jerry Stillwater, a Mark Zuckerberg-type computer genius who has programmed an algorithm that is supposed to be able to track and predict blossoming conflict in the world based on multiple data inputs. He begins discredited and in disgrace following a failed demonstration to the Pentagon and a major falling-out with his primary business partner. But then his algorithm predicts a world-ending conflict and he finds himself caught up trying to figure out who is after him and his computer, while wondering if his algorithm is actually right.
It's a common assumption that computer geniuses are anti-social loaners, either by preference or by circumstance, said circumstance usually being some sort of social disorder (Asperger's being a favorite). Jerry is certainly made in this mold; he often comes off like Scott Adams' "Topper" character in Dilbert: he always needs to be the one who is correct in any confrontation. He often IS correct, but that does nothing to endear him to other human beings. It also did nothing to endear him to me as I was reading. His interactions with other characters were quirky to begin with, but when it was mixed with unprovable paranoia they started to get annoying to read about.
The plot doesn't do anything particularly innovative, but it is a solid thriller idea. I couldn't help feeling the story overall borrows a lot from the basic idea underlying the TV show Person of Interest. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but as I said it limits the amount of uniqueness that would make this story stand out.
The story follows Jerry Stillwater, a Mark Zuckerberg-type computer genius who has programmed an algorithm that is supposed to be able to track and predict blossoming conflict in the world based on multiple data inputs. He begins discredited and in disgrace following a failed demonstration to the Pentagon and a major falling-out with his primary business partner. But then his algorithm predicts a world-ending conflict and he finds himself caught up trying to figure out who is after him and his computer, while wondering if his algorithm is actually right.
It's a common assumption that computer geniuses are anti-social loaners, either by preference or by circumstance, said circumstance usually being some sort of social disorder (Asperger's being a favorite). Jerry is certainly made in this mold; he often comes off like Scott Adams' "Topper" character in Dilbert: he always needs to be the one who is correct in any confrontation. He often IS correct, but that does nothing to endear him to other human beings. It also did nothing to endear him to me as I was reading. His interactions with other characters were quirky to begin with, but when it was mixed with unprovable paranoia they started to get annoying to read about.
The plot doesn't do anything particularly innovative, but it is a solid thriller idea. I couldn't help feeling the story overall borrows a lot from the basic idea underlying the TV show Person of Interest. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but as I said it limits the amount of uniqueness that would make this story stand out.
March 21, 2015
I wanted to read The Doomsday Equation because it was billed as "ingenious as the works of Michael Crichton". I'm going to have to highly disagree with that statement. The storyline had a lot of potential but the protagonist were just an annoying a-hole that was extremely rude to everyone around him. I hated him more than I cared about what happened in the story.
I actually put the book down halfway through and read another book before coming back to this one. Because the storyline had so much potential I thought I would try again and see if it got any better. A little over halfway through the action picked up and I was able to finish the rest of the it within 2 days but the ending was predictable and disappointing. Overall I wouldn't say I disliked the book but thought it was unsatisfying.
I wouldn't recommend this as there are too many well written techo thrillers out there to waste time on this one. Try Daemon by Daniel Suarez or Cyberstorm by Matthew Mather as alternatives.
I actually put the book down halfway through and read another book before coming back to this one. Because the storyline had so much potential I thought I would try again and see if it got any better. A little over halfway through the action picked up and I was able to finish the rest of the it within 2 days but the ending was predictable and disappointing. Overall I wouldn't say I disliked the book but thought it was unsatisfying.
I wouldn't recommend this as there are too many well written techo thrillers out there to waste time on this one. Try Daemon by Daniel Suarez or Cyberstorm by Matthew Mather as alternatives.
June 18, 2016
I picked up the book as it was about a geeky guy in Silicon Valley who can predict conflict. Sounded interesting. But the result isn't interesting.
The main character, Jeremy, isn't likable. He is a pompous jerk. Genius with code, lousy with people. But he has a girlfriend that understands him. This is where it begins to not work. The characters are cut outs of Bay Area trope. Genius coder is arrogant and can't deal with people. Marketing guy is a snake and portrayed as only in for himself. The lady from the Pentagon comes off as a simple method of misdirection and a push for Jeremy. Sort of. A shadowy religious group that wants to stir up trouble.
The worst part about it is the portrayal of the technology. Someone please get the author an iPad so he can learn how it works. The book is filled with scenes with Jeremy checking something on his iPad (specifically named) by moving a cursor across the screen! Ah, no. iDevices were very specific about not having cursors or any type of external pointing decides. He even says Jeremy has a wireless mouse for the iPad. Ack! Then there are times when Jeremy can connect to his servers without Wi-fi access. His flip phone has a touch screen. If this is supposed to be a book that has a lot of references to Silicon Valley, technology and the power of Big Data, make an effort to actually understand it.
In the end, I skimmed through the last few chapters to only understand how the algorithm (its not a single equation) deduced the end of the world. But I didn't care about the characters one bit.
The main character, Jeremy, isn't likable. He is a pompous jerk. Genius with code, lousy with people. But he has a girlfriend that understands him. This is where it begins to not work. The characters are cut outs of Bay Area trope. Genius coder is arrogant and can't deal with people. Marketing guy is a snake and portrayed as only in for himself. The lady from the Pentagon comes off as a simple method of misdirection and a push for Jeremy. Sort of. A shadowy religious group that wants to stir up trouble.
The worst part about it is the portrayal of the technology. Someone please get the author an iPad so he can learn how it works. The book is filled with scenes with Jeremy checking something on his iPad (specifically named) by moving a cursor across the screen! Ah, no. iDevices were very specific about not having cursors or any type of external pointing decides. He even says Jeremy has a wireless mouse for the iPad. Ack! Then there are times when Jeremy can connect to his servers without Wi-fi access. His flip phone has a touch screen. If this is supposed to be a book that has a lot of references to Silicon Valley, technology and the power of Big Data, make an effort to actually understand it.
In the end, I skimmed through the last few chapters to only understand how the algorithm (its not a single equation) deduced the end of the world. But I didn't care about the characters one bit.
August 27, 2014
I received an uncorrected proof version of this novel for free via the Goodreads First Reads program and would like to thank everyone who made that happen!
This book is a page turner for sure - the short chapters with cliffhanger endings made it very hard to put down! Although the main character is not the most likeable guy in the world he is a very believable character whose personality works for the story and he does evolve and have redeeming moments at the end. I loved the premise of the novel and the Biblical references as well.
The version that I read was an uncorrected proof and it definitely needs a lot more editing. There were a lot of typos and some repetitiveness, especially at the beginning where descriptions of computer program inputs and failed trips to the Middle East are rehashed over and over again but I am sure that they will have all the details ironed out by final publication time!
Overall this is a very smart, interesting thriller and I really enjoyed it!
This book is a page turner for sure - the short chapters with cliffhanger endings made it very hard to put down! Although the main character is not the most likeable guy in the world he is a very believable character whose personality works for the story and he does evolve and have redeeming moments at the end. I loved the premise of the novel and the Biblical references as well.
The version that I read was an uncorrected proof and it definitely needs a lot more editing. There were a lot of typos and some repetitiveness, especially at the beginning where descriptions of computer program inputs and failed trips to the Middle East are rehashed over and over again but I am sure that they will have all the details ironed out by final publication time!
Overall this is a very smart, interesting thriller and I really enjoyed it!
March 18, 2015
Computer genius Jeremy Stillwater has designed a computer that can
predict global conflicts and ultimately head them off. He's a
stubborn guy and has wound up making enemies and so he has seen
his brilliant invention discredited. There's nowhere else for him to
turn when a remarkable thing happens. His computer comes up with a
warning that World War III is eminent. Armed only with his own
ingenuity he goes on a quest to find the powerful force that is
determined to destroy mankind. I read this whole book and I think
that they should change the name from The Doomsday Equation to The
Doomsday Confusion. I'm still going around in circles.
predict global conflicts and ultimately head them off. He's a
stubborn guy and has wound up making enemies and so he has seen
his brilliant invention discredited. There's nowhere else for him to
turn when a remarkable thing happens. His computer comes up with a
warning that World War III is eminent. Armed only with his own
ingenuity he goes on a quest to find the powerful force that is
determined to destroy mankind. I read this whole book and I think
that they should change the name from The Doomsday Equation to The
Doomsday Confusion. I'm still going around in circles.
March 15, 2015
Finished this thing only to see if it would get better ... it did not. Absolutely hated the main character. Author must have gotten royalties from Apple for each time he used the words iPad and iPhone.
May 8, 2015
The Doomsday Equation
Imagine a computer algorithm, a process of set of rules to be followed in calculations or to solve problems being able to not only solve the problem in a finite number of steps but also predict the future of the stock market, gas prices, the weather, oil prices and much more. What would happen if this algorithm could not only predict global outbreaks of conflicts with a certain amount of accuracy on regular basis? Jeremy Stillwater is a genius without many friends. His interpersonal skills are poor and need professional assistance and working and interacting with co-workers and people does not come easy to him. Strong minded, filled with his own thoughts, independent and definitely defending his latest algorithm which predicts that WWIII is just three days away. What will happen if he tells the people on earth that in three days there will be a huge amount of lives lost on a colossal scale. What happens as he rationalizes what he begins to see on his computer or IPAD screen? Someone has created a program that shows when things are heating up around the world and the colors like the colors used by the government to alert the public of high alerts or terrorist attacks are used to delineate when things are happening global wide. But, when telling his Silicon Valley financiers about what he has learned no one believes him. As a matter of fact he begins from the start to suspect someone has tampered with his computer and is trying to make him look bad. But, things progress and Jeremy slowly realizes that what he sees if real. With his own ally, Nik, he hopes to uncover who is behind this plot to destroy the world. His government watchdog handler, Andrea and girlfriend, Emily is skeptical and he does not know whom to trust.
As the reader gets to know Jeremy you begin to realize that he is quite paranoid, self-absorbed within his own realm of reality and definitely mistrusts everyone he meets and knows. Alienating those who might help him the only one that will deal with him is Nik. Jeremy sifts through his computer files, checks the data and realizes that someone or something else is involved and possibly it is not the world that is coming to an end but someone is after him but why and who? Added in there is a second plot line dealing with a group called the Guardian of the City. For whatever reason someone decides to free a lion from the San Francisco Zoo but as of yet this has not come to Jeremy’s attention. Researching more into the Guardian of the City I found a group called Neturei-Karta that the author sites in his notes at the end of the book and formed by a group of Orthodox Jewish People in 1938. They according to their name stand for the self-proclaimed guardians and will kill their enemy at all costs and anyway they deem fit.
Jeremy is frantically searching for the person or persons that are responsible for what he thinks will be a global attack. Trying to relate this to any figure in authority proved futile and dealing with both Evan, Harry and Andrea did not elevate his status and no one is taking him seriously. Evan created a company called the SEER and is suing him. Harry his mentor winds up dead and Jeremy assumes Evan is behind it all.
Author Matt Richtel created a character in Jeremy Stillwater that is definitely not the most likeable. His strange personality borders on bio polar at times and presenting the story through the eyes of the main character helps readers understand him better he seems like someone who if one more thing happens he will ignite and disintegrate. Throughout the novel he rationalizes his behavior and tries to convince everyone of what he thinks is going to happen and even reunite with his girlfriend Emily in strange ways. Jeremy thinks the world is about to come to an end and yet he starts to realize that something or someone just might be behind what is happening.
Trying to follow conversations that he has with others will not be easy and his people skills are way down there. He is a loner, enjoys his own company and definitely feels he needs no one in his life except when he deviates and seeks out Emily and her son Kent. Imagine the pressure he is feeling when thinking that this algorithm is right and is predicting that the world in three days will end with the outbreak of another World War. Reading the figures, seeing what he finds and learning more about how he is going to determine his course of action brings to light the technological advances that computers provide. But, when no one believes in him and the Pentagon tells him his algorithm is wrong, his backers and financiers shun his thoughts what happens will change his perspective as he learns about the Guardian of the City.
Then the plots intertwine and Jeremy witnesses something that sends him on a quest to find more than just answers as The Guardian of the City strikes and one man falls prey.
Learning about Janine and how she became part of the Guardian of the City is revealed in Chapter 15. What happened to her and her mother explains why she found solace within this group and much more. A quote from the Book of Genesis explains it even more in page 108 and 109. But, what she is charged to do and why will change everything for not only her but Jeremy too. The history of the guardians is revealed on pages 159- 160 and the lies, deceptions and betrayals start to become clearer to Jeremy.
What is SEER and just what is Evan up to? What does Harry’s message mean about the log cabin and AskIT. What part does Andrea play and whey about Evan? Why does Andrea’s boss disappear or is he really dead?
Why is tantalum involved and what does this have to do with Iran? But, finding Evan and meeting with him would do more than enlighten him and learning that this had something to do with top-secret effort to attack Iran using a bomb siphoned from Russia would change the complexion of everything. But, when you hear what Evan relates, the real reason why. Explaining that “ Potemkin went to Carlos Fox the billionaire Mexican chip manufacturer, and Raj Arooth, the venture capitalist,’’ and others even higher up. Using the algorithm to work backward meaning: rather than putting business first to emphasize profits= they’d discover what economic models would lead to peaceful outcomes in imperiled regions.” Creating what he called a Peace Machine. Reverse engineering peace by creating economic hubs in places with the deepest traditions of conflict.” Imagine technology that could predict the future of conflict! Listen as Evan explains it to Jeremy and the light begins to shine and he realizes just why Harry was killed, Andrea’s part and who right in front of him has another agenda that he did not see.
As the link between the Guardian of the City and the entire situation comes to light and what the job of this person was in regard to Jeremy the author enlightens readers as to what the Pentagon really wanted and why Jeremy was never sent to other countries to test out his work. But, Jeremy as one-person states is only as we can tell out for himself, wanting the glory and learns the true meaning of being uses. The harsh truth is given as Jeremy learns the reality of his key fob, who this group really is and that the Guardians are everywhere.
How far will they go to get what Jeremy carries with him? How far will Jeremy go to protect the two people he cares about the most? What does Tw1nkleKent1201 mean? What does this have to do with the State of Israel? The ending will leave you with some unanswered questions and wondering what is going to happen next to Jeremy and where the Guardian will strike next. What does the lion symbolize and why free them? As we learn the Lion of Judah is the symbol of the tribe of Israel and to Christians, the lion is Jesus who came form the tribe of Judah. How all this comes together you will have to learn for yourself and the end result as to whether the algorithm works will come when you hear Jeremy’s final thoughts and learn the answer by reading Doomsday Equation for yourself. A powerful story and a difficult plot to unravel at times as many will either root for Jeremy or some might hope he falls.
Fran Lewis: Just reviews
Imagine a computer algorithm, a process of set of rules to be followed in calculations or to solve problems being able to not only solve the problem in a finite number of steps but also predict the future of the stock market, gas prices, the weather, oil prices and much more. What would happen if this algorithm could not only predict global outbreaks of conflicts with a certain amount of accuracy on regular basis? Jeremy Stillwater is a genius without many friends. His interpersonal skills are poor and need professional assistance and working and interacting with co-workers and people does not come easy to him. Strong minded, filled with his own thoughts, independent and definitely defending his latest algorithm which predicts that WWIII is just three days away. What will happen if he tells the people on earth that in three days there will be a huge amount of lives lost on a colossal scale. What happens as he rationalizes what he begins to see on his computer or IPAD screen? Someone has created a program that shows when things are heating up around the world and the colors like the colors used by the government to alert the public of high alerts or terrorist attacks are used to delineate when things are happening global wide. But, when telling his Silicon Valley financiers about what he has learned no one believes him. As a matter of fact he begins from the start to suspect someone has tampered with his computer and is trying to make him look bad. But, things progress and Jeremy slowly realizes that what he sees if real. With his own ally, Nik, he hopes to uncover who is behind this plot to destroy the world. His government watchdog handler, Andrea and girlfriend, Emily is skeptical and he does not know whom to trust.
As the reader gets to know Jeremy you begin to realize that he is quite paranoid, self-absorbed within his own realm of reality and definitely mistrusts everyone he meets and knows. Alienating those who might help him the only one that will deal with him is Nik. Jeremy sifts through his computer files, checks the data and realizes that someone or something else is involved and possibly it is not the world that is coming to an end but someone is after him but why and who? Added in there is a second plot line dealing with a group called the Guardian of the City. For whatever reason someone decides to free a lion from the San Francisco Zoo but as of yet this has not come to Jeremy’s attention. Researching more into the Guardian of the City I found a group called Neturei-Karta that the author sites in his notes at the end of the book and formed by a group of Orthodox Jewish People in 1938. They according to their name stand for the self-proclaimed guardians and will kill their enemy at all costs and anyway they deem fit.
Jeremy is frantically searching for the person or persons that are responsible for what he thinks will be a global attack. Trying to relate this to any figure in authority proved futile and dealing with both Evan, Harry and Andrea did not elevate his status and no one is taking him seriously. Evan created a company called the SEER and is suing him. Harry his mentor winds up dead and Jeremy assumes Evan is behind it all.
Author Matt Richtel created a character in Jeremy Stillwater that is definitely not the most likeable. His strange personality borders on bio polar at times and presenting the story through the eyes of the main character helps readers understand him better he seems like someone who if one more thing happens he will ignite and disintegrate. Throughout the novel he rationalizes his behavior and tries to convince everyone of what he thinks is going to happen and even reunite with his girlfriend Emily in strange ways. Jeremy thinks the world is about to come to an end and yet he starts to realize that something or someone just might be behind what is happening.
Trying to follow conversations that he has with others will not be easy and his people skills are way down there. He is a loner, enjoys his own company and definitely feels he needs no one in his life except when he deviates and seeks out Emily and her son Kent. Imagine the pressure he is feeling when thinking that this algorithm is right and is predicting that the world in three days will end with the outbreak of another World War. Reading the figures, seeing what he finds and learning more about how he is going to determine his course of action brings to light the technological advances that computers provide. But, when no one believes in him and the Pentagon tells him his algorithm is wrong, his backers and financiers shun his thoughts what happens will change his perspective as he learns about the Guardian of the City.
Then the plots intertwine and Jeremy witnesses something that sends him on a quest to find more than just answers as The Guardian of the City strikes and one man falls prey.
Learning about Janine and how she became part of the Guardian of the City is revealed in Chapter 15. What happened to her and her mother explains why she found solace within this group and much more. A quote from the Book of Genesis explains it even more in page 108 and 109. But, what she is charged to do and why will change everything for not only her but Jeremy too. The history of the guardians is revealed on pages 159- 160 and the lies, deceptions and betrayals start to become clearer to Jeremy.
What is SEER and just what is Evan up to? What does Harry’s message mean about the log cabin and AskIT. What part does Andrea play and whey about Evan? Why does Andrea’s boss disappear or is he really dead?
Why is tantalum involved and what does this have to do with Iran? But, finding Evan and meeting with him would do more than enlighten him and learning that this had something to do with top-secret effort to attack Iran using a bomb siphoned from Russia would change the complexion of everything. But, when you hear what Evan relates, the real reason why. Explaining that “ Potemkin went to Carlos Fox the billionaire Mexican chip manufacturer, and Raj Arooth, the venture capitalist,’’ and others even higher up. Using the algorithm to work backward meaning: rather than putting business first to emphasize profits= they’d discover what economic models would lead to peaceful outcomes in imperiled regions.” Creating what he called a Peace Machine. Reverse engineering peace by creating economic hubs in places with the deepest traditions of conflict.” Imagine technology that could predict the future of conflict! Listen as Evan explains it to Jeremy and the light begins to shine and he realizes just why Harry was killed, Andrea’s part and who right in front of him has another agenda that he did not see.
As the link between the Guardian of the City and the entire situation comes to light and what the job of this person was in regard to Jeremy the author enlightens readers as to what the Pentagon really wanted and why Jeremy was never sent to other countries to test out his work. But, Jeremy as one-person states is only as we can tell out for himself, wanting the glory and learns the true meaning of being uses. The harsh truth is given as Jeremy learns the reality of his key fob, who this group really is and that the Guardians are everywhere.
How far will they go to get what Jeremy carries with him? How far will Jeremy go to protect the two people he cares about the most? What does Tw1nkleKent1201 mean? What does this have to do with the State of Israel? The ending will leave you with some unanswered questions and wondering what is going to happen next to Jeremy and where the Guardian will strike next. What does the lion symbolize and why free them? As we learn the Lion of Judah is the symbol of the tribe of Israel and to Christians, the lion is Jesus who came form the tribe of Judah. How all this comes together you will have to learn for yourself and the end result as to whether the algorithm works will come when you hear Jeremy’s final thoughts and learn the answer by reading Doomsday Equation for yourself. A powerful story and a difficult plot to unravel at times as many will either root for Jeremy or some might hope he falls.
Fran Lewis: Just reviews
March 28, 2021
2.5 stars. I like the idea of a conflict algorithm. Not much character development. The story is a bit mild and cliché. Enjoyable enough for me to finish reading it.
April 28, 2015
Review: THE DOOMSDAY EQUATION by Matt Richtel
Jeremy Stillwater is a top-level genius with a magnificent higher education and what is likely high-functioning Asperger's. He's invented computer algorithms to adjudge the probability and locations of conflict. That brought global recognition and investment, until a spectacular military predictive failure. Now his friends and partners have become embittered and greedy enemies. So be it, Jeremy decides--until his patented program predicts complete global apocalypse--its epicentre San Francisco--its commencement: 72 hours.
Like Neal Stephenson, Matt Richtel grasps the pulse of the technological revolution and the directions it is likely to impel us. But he also understands psychology, and in Jeremy he presents an unusual but compelling protagonist.
Jeremy Stillwater is a top-level genius with a magnificent higher education and what is likely high-functioning Asperger's. He's invented computer algorithms to adjudge the probability and locations of conflict. That brought global recognition and investment, until a spectacular military predictive failure. Now his friends and partners have become embittered and greedy enemies. So be it, Jeremy decides--until his patented program predicts complete global apocalypse--its epicentre San Francisco--its commencement: 72 hours.
Like Neal Stephenson, Matt Richtel grasps the pulse of the technological revolution and the directions it is likely to impel us. But he also understands psychology, and in Jeremy he presents an unusual but compelling protagonist.
July 20, 2018
This story really isn't bad in and of itself. I think the plot was decent and the motivations of the antagonists were believable. The protagonist was an irredeemable jerk, which may have been purposeful but it made reading the book difficult because I hated him the whole time. I had to force myself to finish it.
I really would have expected more from a technology reporter in terms of realistic use of technology, but there were so many times I was left scratching my head. For example, one passage says the main character found "a computer disk" and the next sentence describes him plugging in "the thumb drive" to his iPad keyboard. I didn't know how to resolve that.
Throughout the book, Mr. Richtel switches between present and past tense and uses short sentence fragments that are distracting and slow the pace of the book. Based on his writing style I wouldn't try to read any more of his books.
I really would have expected more from a technology reporter in terms of realistic use of technology, but there were so many times I was left scratching my head. For example, one passage says the main character found "a computer disk" and the next sentence describes him plugging in "the thumb drive" to his iPad keyboard. I didn't know how to resolve that.
Throughout the book, Mr. Richtel switches between present and past tense and uses short sentence fragments that are distracting and slow the pace of the book. Based on his writing style I wouldn't try to read any more of his books.
July 3, 2025
People are way too harsh on this book.
Many people complained about the protagonist being unlikable. Yes, he’s a massive jerk who you’re supposed to not really like. But throughout the story, I actually felt more and more connected to him. His character development become excellent, he started to become less of a jerk about halfway through the book, and from that point forward he got better.
It had a good ending. Heartwarming, almost? It was genuinely a very fun read. I got hooked within the first few chapters.
I can see why it wouldn’t be a lot of people’s thing, though. There were plenty of parts in the writing that I didn’t understand, but that’s just because the writer knew what he was doing. It talks about algorithms and computer stuff, a lot of computer geek mumbo jumbo that I just don’t get. But he still managed to make the book super interesting and appealing.
Will I read this again? Ehhh, probably not. But was it a good read? 100% yes.
Many people complained about the protagonist being unlikable. Yes, he’s a massive jerk who you’re supposed to not really like. But throughout the story, I actually felt more and more connected to him. His character development become excellent, he started to become less of a jerk about halfway through the book, and from that point forward he got better.
It had a good ending. Heartwarming, almost? It was genuinely a very fun read. I got hooked within the first few chapters.
I can see why it wouldn’t be a lot of people’s thing, though. There were plenty of parts in the writing that I didn’t understand, but that’s just because the writer knew what he was doing. It talks about algorithms and computer stuff, a lot of computer geek mumbo jumbo that I just don’t get. But he still managed to make the book super interesting and appealing.
Will I read this again? Ehhh, probably not. But was it a good read? 100% yes.
June 5, 2019
I really enjoyed the author’s first three works of fiction, and I was excited to read this one.
As with his other books, Richtel bases his fiction in enough fact to make it plausible and compelling, however, I had more trouble connecting with the main character in the book than Richtel’s other works of fiction.
Richtel’s writing style here feels a bit more erratic than in his previous novels, but no doubt this is intended to mirror the mental state of the main character. It’s also one of the things that made it hard for me to make a connection with the character.
Nevertheless, if you’re a fan of Richtel’s other works of fiction, then there’s no good reason not to read this one. Given the option, I’d actually rate it 3.5 stars.
As with his other books, Richtel bases his fiction in enough fact to make it plausible and compelling, however, I had more trouble connecting with the main character in the book than Richtel’s other works of fiction.
Richtel’s writing style here feels a bit more erratic than in his previous novels, but no doubt this is intended to mirror the mental state of the main character. It’s also one of the things that made it hard for me to make a connection with the character.
Nevertheless, if you’re a fan of Richtel’s other works of fiction, then there’s no good reason not to read this one. Given the option, I’d actually rate it 3.5 stars.
April 28, 2018
Wasn't really a fan of this one. Found the writing style a bit odd and also found I couldn't relate well to the main character.
Finally, found the story a bit hard to follow given the writing style.
Finally, found the story a bit hard to follow given the writing style.
May 16, 2018
The concept was interesting, but the storytelling was jumbled and the plot got wrapped up way too quickly.
December 1, 2018
This book was good, repetitive at times. Often hard to follow. I'm not sure of what type of audience to recommend it to.
November 7, 2019
Entertaining read. A book I found difficult to close.
August 26, 2025
Sorry this book lost me. Descriptions were hard to imagine and plot was hard to follow
February 4, 2015
ScienceThrillers.com review: “Big data” is making it possible to make all kinds of predictions based on correlations with variables that might not seem obviously connected. For example, data on Google searches can be used to predict outbreaks of seasonal flu; predictive policing uses computer models to anticipate crime.
In The Doomsday Equation: A Novel, technology & culture journalist Matt Richtel takes real-world computing capabilities one small step forward and posits a program that can predict global conflict, creating a brilliant premise: what if that program predicted the outbreak of WWIII in three days’ time? And what if the program’s creator was both discredited and uncertain whether the prediction is correct?
Combine this original and gripping hook with a psychologically intense point of view character, and you’ve got a five-star page turner.
Like Richtel’s previous smart thrillers (The Cloud, Devil’s Plaything), The Doomsday Equation is set in San Francisco, with Silicon Valley culture as a backdrop. Doomsday is tighter, leaner, more intense than the previous novels, and likely to appeal to a wider audience. The book’s distinguishing feature is the voice. We are locked in the point of view of protagonist Jeremy Stillwater, told in the third person but with a forcefully first person perspective. Jeremy is alternately infuriating and sympathetic, blatantly self-destructive and yet vulnerable. The reader may want to slap him at times (I did), but never abandon him, which is basically the the same effect Jeremy has on his girlfriend in the story. In The Cloud, author Richtel played with the notion of an unreliable narrator who suffers a head injury in the opening pages, making all his interpretations of events suspect. In this book, unreliability appears again. This time, the protagonist isn’t crazy, but he may be being manipulated. Or is he just paranoid?
One of Richtel’s strengths, then, is using ambiguity to create tension. It works well in Doomsday Equation. Conversations between characters are often both oblique and opaque, as they might be in real life. It’s left to the intelligence of the reader to interpret the subtext. Facts aren’t revealed, they’re implied. Readers accustomed to being spoon-fed a plot may be frustrated by this. As a consequence of this systematic ambiguity, the plots of Richtel’s novels don’t wrap up in tidy packages. As with his previous books, the ending of Doomsday is very satisfying but don’t ask me to explain exactly who did what to whom, and why. But the overall collection of antagonists and motives made sense.
I must mention one other distinctive feature of Richtel’s novels. He writes in the present tense. I think this is an important part of the book’s intensity, but it takes a little getting used to.
I find Richtel to be one of the most quotable science thriller writers and I always like to include some book excerpts in my reviews:
For an intelligent thriller that borders on literary, you can’t do better. The Doomsday Equation creates a thoroughly contemporary flawed genius hero who is ill-suited to the high-stakes task before him: to save the world. As the doomsday clock ticks down, you won’t want to skip a single page.
Review based on uncorrected digital proof provided free to me via Edelweiss
In The Doomsday Equation: A Novel, technology & culture journalist Matt Richtel takes real-world computing capabilities one small step forward and posits a program that can predict global conflict, creating a brilliant premise: what if that program predicted the outbreak of WWIII in three days’ time? And what if the program’s creator was both discredited and uncertain whether the prediction is correct?
Combine this original and gripping hook with a psychologically intense point of view character, and you’ve got a five-star page turner.
Like Richtel’s previous smart thrillers (The Cloud, Devil’s Plaything), The Doomsday Equation is set in San Francisco, with Silicon Valley culture as a backdrop. Doomsday is tighter, leaner, more intense than the previous novels, and likely to appeal to a wider audience. The book’s distinguishing feature is the voice. We are locked in the point of view of protagonist Jeremy Stillwater, told in the third person but with a forcefully first person perspective. Jeremy is alternately infuriating and sympathetic, blatantly self-destructive and yet vulnerable. The reader may want to slap him at times (I did), but never abandon him, which is basically the the same effect Jeremy has on his girlfriend in the story. In The Cloud, author Richtel played with the notion of an unreliable narrator who suffers a head injury in the opening pages, making all his interpretations of events suspect. In this book, unreliability appears again. This time, the protagonist isn’t crazy, but he may be being manipulated. Or is he just paranoid?
One of Richtel’s strengths, then, is using ambiguity to create tension. It works well in Doomsday Equation. Conversations between characters are often both oblique and opaque, as they might be in real life. It’s left to the intelligence of the reader to interpret the subtext. Facts aren’t revealed, they’re implied. Readers accustomed to being spoon-fed a plot may be frustrated by this. As a consequence of this systematic ambiguity, the plots of Richtel’s novels don’t wrap up in tidy packages. As with his previous books, the ending of Doomsday is very satisfying but don’t ask me to explain exactly who did what to whom, and why. But the overall collection of antagonists and motives made sense.
I must mention one other distinctive feature of Richtel’s novels. He writes in the present tense. I think this is an important part of the book’s intensity, but it takes a little getting used to.
I find Richtel to be one of the most quotable science thriller writers and I always like to include some book excerpts in my reviews:
“Like so many in the valley, he’s just shy of fully slick, geeky enough to come across as authentic. This type of businessperson in Silicon Valley is like the do-gooder from college who goes to Washington, DC, and it becomes impossible to tell the difference between their ambitions for the world and for themselves.”
“A man in a fashionable red rain jacket chomps half a donut in a single bite, then looks around furtively,…guiltily wondering if someone might catch him eating too many carbs of the inorganic variety.”
“This development of mining and sifting the world’s conflict rhetoric could help answer an age-old philosophical question about the relationship between language, thought, and action…To what extent are the words we choose insights into what we think–not what we want to communicate, but what we really think?…All the linguistic data, unprecedented insights into the human psyche, a global ink blot test…”
For an intelligent thriller that borders on literary, you can’t do better. The Doomsday Equation creates a thoroughly contemporary flawed genius hero who is ill-suited to the high-stakes task before him: to save the world. As the doomsday clock ticks down, you won’t want to skip a single page.
Review based on uncorrected digital proof provided free to me via Edelweiss
March 21, 2015
Matt Richtel in his new book, “The Doomsday Equation” published by William Morrow introduces us to Jeremy Stillwater.
From the back cover: From the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist comes a pulse-pounding technological thriller—as ingenious as the works of Michael Crichton and as irresistible as a summer blockbuster—in which one man has three days to prevent the outbreak of World War III and the world’s annihilation
What if you knew the world was going to end?
What if no one believed you?
Jeremy Stillwater is a genius with computers but not so much with people. Maddeningly self-righteous, he’s alienated his girlfriend and infuriated his Silicon Valley financiers and the government agents who saw military promise in his innovation: a program that seemed to be able to predict war.
Even Jeremy has begun to doubt the algorithm’s capabilities. Then one day his computer has a message for him. War is coming. Three days and counting until massive nuclear conflict.
Is it real? A malicious joke? A bug?
Isolated yet relentless, Jeremy soon uncovers an ancient conspiracy of unspeakable danger. And it will take every bit of Jeremy’s stubborn ingenuity to survive another minute, let alone save the world.
Someone wants to destroy the world. There is only one man who knows about it, has only three days to stop it and, of course, no one believes him. This is science fiction that is rapidly becoming fact. This is technology gone wild and in use by evil people. This is a future that could potentially happen. This is an excellent story that will grab you and hold you as you race to the end. Get ready for a thriller that moves along at a brisk rate that has plenty of action, romance and loads of atmosphere. “The Doomsday Equation” is loaded with twists and turns that will leave you guessing all the while you are flipping pages to find out what happens next. Mr. Richtel has provided us with a very clever exciting book.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Partners In Crime. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the back cover: From the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist comes a pulse-pounding technological thriller—as ingenious as the works of Michael Crichton and as irresistible as a summer blockbuster—in which one man has three days to prevent the outbreak of World War III and the world’s annihilation
What if you knew the world was going to end?
What if no one believed you?
Jeremy Stillwater is a genius with computers but not so much with people. Maddeningly self-righteous, he’s alienated his girlfriend and infuriated his Silicon Valley financiers and the government agents who saw military promise in his innovation: a program that seemed to be able to predict war.
Even Jeremy has begun to doubt the algorithm’s capabilities. Then one day his computer has a message for him. War is coming. Three days and counting until massive nuclear conflict.
Is it real? A malicious joke? A bug?
Isolated yet relentless, Jeremy soon uncovers an ancient conspiracy of unspeakable danger. And it will take every bit of Jeremy’s stubborn ingenuity to survive another minute, let alone save the world.
Someone wants to destroy the world. There is only one man who knows about it, has only three days to stop it and, of course, no one believes him. This is science fiction that is rapidly becoming fact. This is technology gone wild and in use by evil people. This is a future that could potentially happen. This is an excellent story that will grab you and hold you as you race to the end. Get ready for a thriller that moves along at a brisk rate that has plenty of action, romance and loads of atmosphere. “The Doomsday Equation” is loaded with twists and turns that will leave you guessing all the while you are flipping pages to find out what happens next. Mr. Richtel has provided us with a very clever exciting book.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Partners In Crime. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
July 21, 2015
This was one of the worst books I ever had the misfortune of reading. I was given an uncorrected proof copy and I can only hope that whoever was editing this book was able to make it more interesting and less annoying than the version I read. The main character is a huge stuck up jerk who you don't want to cheer for. He believes he is superior to everyone and cannot be wrong however, more than half of the book goes by before the protagonist actually begins to believe that his computer is actually right in predicting the end of the world. That's almost 200 pages of Jeremy thinking someone is screwing with his computer and trying to figure out who it was. Then there is the back and forth of him trusting and not trusting the four (ok, maybe eight) other characters that had the fortune of being named something other than "the bearded man" or "the tall lady with the gun". The worst part of the book might have been the ending... When the book finally ends, you begin to get an idea of how the factors the computer used to predict the apocalypse fit together, but it is still not entirely cohesive and not described in an understandable way. Plus, the most hateable character in the book (yep, that's the protagonist that we SHOULD be cheering for) gets with the nicest girl who he definitely doesn't deserve.
July 20, 2015
The concept behind the book - a brilliant software technology programmer invents a program that can predict war - is hokie, but surprisingly engaging. The author gets deeply into the mind of the slightly "off", arrogant, argumentative genius tech inventor that is the main character (do I hear Steve Jobs anyone?). The result is something of a breathless, paranoid lens through which to watch nuclear disaster approaching.
Choosing this character to be the lead narrator (and then nailing the paranoid brilliant inner voice) turns out to be the brilliance of the book. It creates an edgy, nervous clock driven doomsday plot (not unlike the TV series "24") that could have gone into the silly, but instead turns out to be spellbinding - at least through the first half.
While the author gets you to suspend disbelief, the last third of the book is a little disappointing. It doesn't seem to conclude with the drama that one would expect from the set up. In fact, it almost seems that the author put all the effort into building an interesting character and a compelling plot line and then went on autopilot to finish the story.
It's still a fun read with a very interesting narrative perspective, but I feel as if it could have been even more.
Choosing this character to be the lead narrator (and then nailing the paranoid brilliant inner voice) turns out to be the brilliance of the book. It creates an edgy, nervous clock driven doomsday plot (not unlike the TV series "24") that could have gone into the silly, but instead turns out to be spellbinding - at least through the first half.
While the author gets you to suspend disbelief, the last third of the book is a little disappointing. It doesn't seem to conclude with the drama that one would expect from the set up. In fact, it almost seems that the author put all the effort into building an interesting character and a compelling plot line and then went on autopilot to finish the story.
It's still a fun read with a very interesting narrative perspective, but I feel as if it could have been even more.
October 5, 2015
I have an interest in 'Big Data', and 'The Doomsday Equation' seemed to be right up my alley. It was, to a certain extent, but the plot was rather silly and it just didn't work for me.
The book is a sort of classic 'do good' vs. 'make a lot of money' battle, with lots of confusion about who is on which side and many shifting allegiances. Alas, the characters weren't very believable, most notably Jeremy, the novel's focus. Although he created and developed the program that was at the heart of the entire story, he didn't understand how certain parts of it worked... I can't see that. If someone is brilliant enough to pull off what he pulled off with the program, there's no way he'd be confused about how any part of it worked.
Otherwise, the story was OK- it moved along quickly. The writing wasn't strong but was good enough to get the points across. The story at a high level was pretty decent, but the details impeded it for me.
The book is a sort of classic 'do good' vs. 'make a lot of money' battle, with lots of confusion about who is on which side and many shifting allegiances. Alas, the characters weren't very believable, most notably Jeremy, the novel's focus. Although he created and developed the program that was at the heart of the entire story, he didn't understand how certain parts of it worked... I can't see that. If someone is brilliant enough to pull off what he pulled off with the program, there's no way he'd be confused about how any part of it worked.
Otherwise, the story was OK- it moved along quickly. The writing wasn't strong but was good enough to get the points across. The story at a high level was pretty decent, but the details impeded it for me.
October 16, 2016
One of the worst consequences of the collapse of the USSR has been the lack of impressive enemies in political thrillers. James Bond had KGB villains to contend with; and the prospect of an all-out nuclear war between the superpowers was quite real. But if you want to write a thriller about a nuclear hit on San Francisco today, who could you blame? An obvious choice is ISIS but this would involve taking an actual political stand or at least educating yourself about their ideology and history. So you concoct a ridiculous group of messianic nut-cases composed of ultra-Orthodox Jews, Syrian Christians, and for some unfathomable reason, a World of Warcraft gamer. Add some geeky stuff about computers and a breathless style with frequent full stops, and you have a political thriller which says nothing about politics and offers no thrills.
November 11, 2016
Having read Matt's non fiction book, A Deadly Wandering, about texting and driving, and learning about his authorship of fiction titles, I decided to 'have a go' at this title.
I found the main character to be most eccentric and at times I was frustrated with his lack of social skills with others...But, that is what the author wants the reader to feel as the story creates a palpable tension between Jeremy and all of his relationships!
These relationship tensions are reflected in the growing tension of a potential World War III, and it's up to Jeremy to make sure that he doesn't fail. Unfortunately for Jeremy, he has to make some snap decisions when he learns, in the end, who he can really trust.
Certainly a page turner, with an ending that will surprise even the most astute of "Sherlock Holmes" readers out there.
I found the main character to be most eccentric and at times I was frustrated with his lack of social skills with others...But, that is what the author wants the reader to feel as the story creates a palpable tension between Jeremy and all of his relationships!
These relationship tensions are reflected in the growing tension of a potential World War III, and it's up to Jeremy to make sure that he doesn't fail. Unfortunately for Jeremy, he has to make some snap decisions when he learns, in the end, who he can really trust.
Certainly a page turner, with an ending that will surprise even the most astute of "Sherlock Holmes" readers out there.
March 16, 2015
Jeremy Stillwater is brilliant... and troubled. He is responsible for a fantastic creation, a computer program that analyzes data points to predict where in the world the next conflict will arise. The data is parsed and the world map lights up according to the severity of the event. A calm blue, a disturbing rash of yellow, or intense throbbing red light up Jeremy's iPad. Until one day, when only one color shows up on the map. By 'on the map' I mean RED, RED ALL OVER THE MAP! The doomsday clock is ticking down, and Jeremy must figure out what is causing the worldwide threat and how to defuse it. But first he has to decide if he's been hacked. Is the whole conflict a joke? The countdown ends on April Fools' Day and Jeremy? Well, he's pissed off a lot of people.
June 1, 2015
Interesting premise, lousy story. Every character in this book is a miserably annoying pos. It's impossible to sympathize with, root for or relate to any character, and the protagonist is such a dreadful misogynistic prick it's impossible not to root for him getting his ass kicked. I'd like to punch him in the face myself.
Couple that with an odd, churning writing style that's frantic without going anywhere, the author's pathological hatred of George Bush that's detracts from whatever momentum is going on, and this book is a mess.
I'm shocked the editor didn't go through this with a giant red pen.
Couple that with an odd, churning writing style that's frantic without going anywhere, the author's pathological hatred of George Bush that's detracts from whatever momentum is going on, and this book is a mess.
I'm shocked the editor didn't go through this with a giant red pen.
May 16, 2015
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Jeremy Stillwater is a genius, but not the best person to share his genius with the world - people skills don't rank high on his list of qualities. He has created a program that can predict major conflict and the government has turned him down. This program alerts him to a possible World War III and no one is interested in listening to him or trusting his information.
I loved how the author portrayed genius without some people skills! It helped with the plot, but also felt authentic. Jeremy was definitely an entertaining main character and I absolutely shook my head at some of the things he did and said!
Jeremy Stillwater is a genius, but not the best person to share his genius with the world - people skills don't rank high on his list of qualities. He has created a program that can predict major conflict and the government has turned him down. This program alerts him to a possible World War III and no one is interested in listening to him or trusting his information.
I loved how the author portrayed genius without some people skills! It helped with the plot, but also felt authentic. Jeremy was definitely an entertaining main character and I absolutely shook my head at some of the things he did and said!
December 3, 2016
Not sure what this was supposed to be
It reminded me of those movies that are mostly car chases, nothing much really happens. It took such a long time to get into it I nearly gave up. There were two murders that made no sense. The "hero" is unlikeable. The dialogues were existential angst crap that most people get over as soon as they get out of college. The setup for the antagonists is unbelievable as anyone with even a little knowledge of world religions would know. And there were way too many logic leaps. Glad I got it from the library instead of paying for it -- as it was it was a decent antidote to insomnia.
It reminded me of those movies that are mostly car chases, nothing much really happens. It took such a long time to get into it I nearly gave up. There were two murders that made no sense. The "hero" is unlikeable. The dialogues were existential angst crap that most people get over as soon as they get out of college. The setup for the antagonists is unbelievable as anyone with even a little knowledge of world religions would know. And there were way too many logic leaps. Glad I got it from the library instead of paying for it -- as it was it was a decent antidote to insomnia.
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