The major premise behind this astounding book is that our very own Sun possesses a certain attribute that those in the know
would find unbelievable. It is this quality, which manifests itself only every twelve thousand years as a cataclysmic, planet-wide event, that provides the backbone of the book.
How would a race of humans, living all those millennia ago, leave messages and signs that could be understood by us today, with all our super-advanced, 21st century technology? How could they warn us that the event was, once again, imminent? The book explores this.
Beginning with a chance discovery by an ice-breaker, stationed off the continent of Antarctica, illegally drilling for core samples, we are taken on a roller-coaster ride of breathtaking proportions. Numerous
scientific disciplines are brought into play: astronomy, advanced physics, Information Technology and other, more esoteric ones like ancient languages, superstitions, religions and myths.
If you want to be told where Atlantis is actually situated, what all the pyramids scattered liberally all over the world are actually for, what is to be found buried underneath the Sphinx, then this is for you. If you want to be told how computer language can be represented by hieroglyphs, how a liquid can be turned into a crystalline solid simply by the use of sound waves and how many ancient prophesies can be fulfilled without violating current scientific knowledge, then, again, start reading.
But, before those non-scientific minds amongst you begin to be put off, let me say that ‘Decipher’ is also an adventure story, full of excitement with a plot full to the brim with twists and turns. There is no single hero who stands out. Instead, a task force of diverse characters is brought into play. Each of these is an expert in a different field, contributing to the ‘deciphering’ after which the book is titled. The human interactions between these assorted individuals provides a counterpoint to the relentless scientific jargon.
On top of all this, the original discovery in Antarctica has lead to the existence of a powerful source of efficient energy, useful for peaceful means - or otherwise. Needless to say, world superpowers, in this case, the US and China, become interested and the situation begins to approach war conditions. There is corporate power involved, too and intrigue is piled upon intrigue.
The message to be deciphered is so complex, involving so many parameters, yet our task force of characters have but hours to solve it. We can be confident that, in the end, they do solve it; it is the method that is the interesting part.
I decided to classify this book, after some thought, as
science fiction. But, is it? ‘Science’, it certainly has, in abundance. As for ‘fiction’, well, much of it is based on truth and actual scientific principles. It could be fact, that’s the frightening bit.
Stel Pavlou’s breadth of imagination is awesome. I urge you to experience it.