Origin (Brown novel)

Origin is a 2017 mystery thriller novel by American author Dan Brown[1] and the fifth installment in his Robert Langdon series, following Inferno. The book was released on October 3, 2017 by Doubleday.[2][3] The book is predominantly set in Spain and features minor sections in Sharjah and Budapest.

Origin
Hardcover edition
AuthorDan Brown
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SeriesRobert Langdon
GenreCrime, Mystery, Thriller
PublisherDoubleday
Publication date
October 3, 2017
Media typePrint (hardback and paperback), Audiobook, ebook.
ISBN978-0-593-07875-4
Preceded byInferno 

Plot

Edmond Kirsch, a billionaire philanthropist, computer scientist, futurist, and strident atheist, attends a meeting in Catalonia (Spain) with Roman Catholic Bishop Antonio Valdespino, Jewish Rabbi Yehuda Köves, and Muslim Imam Syed al-Fadl, members of the Parliament of the World's Religions. He informs them that he has made a revolutionary discovery that he plans to release to the public in a month. He has informed them out of respect, despite his hatred of organized religion, which he blames for his mother's death. The three learn that he is presenting it in three days' time, prompting Valdespino to demand that he stop.

Kirsch goes along with his plan, hosting an event at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Among those in attendance are Kirsch's former teacher, Robert Langdon, and the Guggenheim's curator Ambra Vidal, who helped organize the event, and is the fiancée of the future King of Spain, Prince Julián. The guests receive a headset through which they communicate with a voice named Winston, which reveals to Langdon that it is an artificial intelligence invented by Kirsch. Winston leads Langdon to a private meeting with Kirsch, who hints that his presentation will reveal humanity's origins and future.

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, where much of the first part of the novel is set

During the presentation, which is broadcast worldwide, Kirsch reveals that he intends to end the age of religion and usher in an age of science. However, Kirsch is shot and killed by Luis Ávila, a former naval admiral introduced to the controversial Palmarian Catholic Church following the deaths of his family in a bombing. Ávila was commissioned by "the Regent", someone claiming to be with the church. Ávila had already killed al-Fadl and Köves.

While Ávila escapes, Langdon meets Ambra. He warns her not to trust Julián (as Ávila was put on the guest list by request from the Royal palace) and they escape from his guards and leave the museum, determined to release Kirsch's discovery. They steal Kirsch's phone and escape with the help of Winston. Winston has Kirsch's personal jet fly them to Barcelona. Ambra reveals that the presentation is protected by a 47-character password, a line from Kirsch's favorite poem. Neither know which poem was chosen, but they deduce that it can be found at Kirsch's home, on Antoni Gaudí's Casa Milà.

Meanwhile, the three murders have sparked outrage on cable news and social media, fueled by information leaked by the anonymous source "Monte Iglesia". Word of the meeting in Catalonia spreads, and suspicion falls on Valdespino, who sneaks Julián off the palace grounds. To save face, the royal family's public relations manager claims that Langdon kidnapped Ambra.

Langdon and Ambra go to Casa Milà, and search for the poem. Langdon learns that Kirsch was dying of pancreatic cancer, prompting a rushed release of the presentation. Langdon finds a box supposedly containing a book of the complete works of William Blake. The box is empty, except for a slip stating that Kirsch donated the book to Sagrada Família, leaving it open at a specific page. The police arrive and, as Ambra tries to explain she wasn't kidnapped, Kirsch's phone is destroyed. Ambra's guards arrive and get her and Langdon to safety. Langdon assures Ambra that he can find Winston's physical location, so he can broadcast the discovery, and she has her guards take them to Sagrada Familia.

Sagrada Família

There, the two discover that the password is the final stanza of Four Zoas, "The dark Religions are departed & sweet Science reigns". On the Regent's orders, Ávila arrives, killing the guards and chasing Langdon and Ambra. In an ensuing fight, Ávila falls to his death. Langdon is injured, but decides to keep going and they escape the police in the helicopter.

Langdon finds Winston's source inside the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. They discover a device called E-Wave, a combination of the Mare Nostrum supercomputer and a quantum computer of Kirsch's design. After entering the password, the presentation starts, to hundreds of millions of viewers. Kirsch explains that he simulated the Miller-Urey experiment and coupled it with various components using the laws of physics and entropy, along with E-Wave's ability to digitally speed forward time, to recreate what he believes is the moment of abiogenesis. This is Kirsch's proof that humanity was created by natural events. He then claims that in roughly fifty years, humanity and technology will merge, hopefully creating a utopian future. The presentation sparks widespread debate. Ambra returns to the palace and Langdon is cleared of all charges. Winston reveals that, per Kirsch's will, he will self-delete the next day.

The Valley of the Fallen

Meanwhile, Valdespino brings Julián to his dying father in the Valley of the Fallen. The King admits that he is homosexual and Valdespino is his platonic lover. Both tell Julián not to follow old traditions, but to do what he feels is right for the country. The King dies during the night and Valdespino takes his own life to be with him. Julián makes amends with Ambra, and they decide to start their courtship over.

The next day, going over all he has learned, Langdon realizes that Winston is Monte, and also the Regent. To attract many viewers, Winston had orchestrated his murder to make him a martyr and destroy the Palmarians' reputation. He had also intended for Ávila to be arrested at Sagrada Família, his death having been an accident. He then self-deletes, leaving Langdon shaken. Despite this, Langdon returns to Sagrada Família, where he and others of multiple races and religions are united by hope for the future.

Characters
  • Robert Langdon: A U.S. professor of symbology at Harvard University, Cambridge.
  • Edmond Kirsch, a billionaire philanthropist, computer scientist and futurist, as well as a strident atheist.
  • Ambra Vidal: The director of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, fiancé of Spain's Prince Julian and an associate of Edmond Kirsch.
  • Winston: Edmond Kirsch's quantum-computer AI assistant, named after Winston Churchill.
  • Julián: The prince and future king of Spain.
  • Bishop Antonio Valdespino: The loyal bishop to the Spanish royal family and whom Kirsch meets in the beginning of the novel.
  • Rabbi Yehuda Köves: A prominent Jewish philosopher.
  • Syed al-Fadl: A prominent Islamic scholar.
  • Admiral Luis Ávila: Ex-officer of Spanish Navy who has lost his wife and son to religious extremism and later becomes devout member of Palmarian Catholic Church. He is one of the primary antagonists of the novel.
  • Commander Garza: Commander of the Guardia Real.
  • Fonseca: Guardia Real Agent
  • Rafa Díaz: Guardia Real Agent who assists Vidal.
  • Father Beña of Sagrada Família
  • Mónica Martín: Public Relation Coordinator, Spanish Palace
  • Agent Suresh Bhalla: Surveillance specialist, Spanish Palace

Writing and printing

In August 2018, the book was #1 on The New York Times bestseller list. It had been on the list for 23 weeks.[4]

Brown visited many of the places in the book, for example the Guggenheim in Bilbao.[5] He spent a great deal of time in Spain.[6]

Brown wrote and researched the book for four years. It is dedicated to his mother, who died in 2017. It had an initial printing of 2 million copies, with printing set for 42 languages.[7]

Reception

The New York Times complimented the book for focusing on "serious ideas" relating to religion and atheism, and whether religion and science can co-exist. It also said the book had a "geeky" humor.[8] The Guardian found the apocalyptic "witches brew" of themes to be relevant to modern times, but it also noted the characters' dialogue made them sound like "cybernauts".[9] Another Guardian review said the book was fun "in its own galumphing way."[10]

The Washington Post panned the book, calling the themes and writing style "worn-out."[11] USA Today gave it a score of 2.5/4 and said it was a "only a fitfully entertaining religious rehash of his greatest hits," but said fans of Langdon would like it.[12] The Daily Telegraph said it was "light on action" and focused more on historical factoids and intellectual ideas, to its benefit. It gave it 3 of 5 stars. The review called Brown a good communicator but a "lousy" storyteller.[13]

Notes and references
  1. Schaub, Michael (May 30, 2017). "New Dan Brown book, 'Origin,' will continue his mega-selling Da Vinci Code series". Los Angeles Times.
  2. Flood, Alison (September 28, 2016). "Dan Brown returns to Da Vinci decoder for new novel Origin". The Guardian.
  3. Cowdrey, Katherine (28 September 2016). "New Dan Brown novel Origin out next year". The Bookseller.
  4. "The New York Times Best Sellers". Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  5. "Dan Brown on God and artificial intelligence in his new thriller, "Origin"". Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  6. Italie, Hillel. "Dan Brown talks religion, science and his new novel 'Origin'". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  7. "The World According to Dan Brown". Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  8. "In Dan Brown's 'Origin,' Robert Langdon Returns, With an A.I. Friend in Tow". Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  9. Conrad, Peter (8 October 2017). "Origin by Dan Brown – a Nostradamus for our muddled times". the Guardian. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  10. Leith, Sam (4 October 2017). "Origin by Dan Brown review – fun in its own galumphing way". the Guardian. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  11. https://www.facebook.com/roncharles. "Review - Attention, Tom Hanks: Dan Brown's new novel, 'Origin,' is ready for you". Washington Post. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  12. "Robert Langdon chases clues, and God, in Dan Brown's 'Origin'". Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  13. Kerridge, Jake (4 October 2017). "Origin by Dan Brown, review: light on action, heavy on historical factoids". Retrieved 13 September 2018 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
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