Deception Point Reviews

It seems to me that for reasons beyond his control Dan Brown has been made a bit of a joke of in recent years. The Da Vinci code was a genuinely good book that got taken to pieces by documentary after documentary when it's purpose was only ever supposed to be a fiction book that made people think, instead, it got analysed and crucified in equal measures leading to a large number of potential readers being frozen out. Dan Brown is not a bad author, his writing is intelligent, original and poignant, his love for controversy goes way beyond religion and in 'Deception Point' he questions societies naivety and drills into the international fear of the corrupt and philandering politician. It is they who control the issues today that could truly be of importance in years to come.

Deception Point starts with a Scientific Discovery; a meteoric discovery, complete proof of scientist's theory of Panspermia. The find comes as a huge boost to NASA who in recent years have been exposed to be a cash sponge soaking up billions in US tax payers dollars only for their experiments and inventions to fail and falter. The pressure is on for NASA to find something or show some kind of return and this pressure comes in the form of Senator Sexton who is gunning for president and using NASA as a lynchpin in his argument against the pro-NASA President Herney. Not only is Sexton highlighting the constant and costly failures of the government funded space organisation, but secretly planning a complete overhaul of the Space program, allowing plc's to take the reigns as the pioneers in Space.

This initially sounds like a great way to progress our knowledge of the solar system and speed up the slowly but surely approach of NASA. However with Space up for sale the authorities would eventually lose control creating a Wild West II in space, gigantic neon billboards would appear above the ionosphere and companies would fight to diverge and control new planetary systems. A global disaster I am sure you would agree. The new discovery in the tundra's of the Arctic provides a perfect vindification for the existence of NASA…. But as you've probably guessed it there are more powerful forces at work here and without destroying the plot completely for all those who may want to read it, the corruption of the US Senate knows no bounds.

These are the building blocks of a story that can only be described as a fantastic interlacing of fact, fiction and fear. Brown touches upon some very real issues to summon you into the plot, you know that this is fiction but cannot help fear the reality of.... what if? The plot lines parallel reality and the constant references to real life weaponry and cutting edge technology gives the story an ora of authenticity that only Brown can create.

All the while the rhythm and pace of the text heaves you into the fear and suspense of the characters involved, creating a book that is unputdownable. The sleezy demeanor of the senators created by Brown radiates from every descriptive sentence and the character portrayal permeates through like an untamed river; you find yourself loving or despising the character within the first paragraph of description and understanding what their mental priorities are instantly! Senator Sexton is a big shot fat cat who cares only for him self, Corky is a playful, loyal and enthusuastic eccentric who is so excited by what he has found he almost wets himself, and Marge Tench is a hard nosed, highly intelligent bitch.

The climax is in no way disappointing and the book is not overly long, I crammed this book into my head within three days and have not regretted it once. Even if you don't like Dan Brown and were severely put off by the overwhelming publicity and controversy surrounding the Da Vinci code, I insist you pick this book up and give it a read through, what it lacks in pretentious appeal it more than makes up for in intellectual competence and shear suspense.