Robert Sawyer has always had interesting ideas. He often does intersections of science and religion, but holds little patience for fools or mysticism. Calculating God is right in Sawyer’s wheelhouse as the book is an interesting mixture of science fiction and religion. However it’s more of a scientific view of religion than a perspective of any religious folks. The story itself is fairly thin and the book is more philosophical than plot focused. But it’s a fun read and an interesting concept. So, let’s see what happens when you try to calclulate God.

Stop me if you’ve heard this joke before. An alien lands on Earth, goes to the closest person he can find and says “Take me to a Paleontologist”. The alien is Hollus, a spider-like creature, and he has another alien species (called the Wreed who are more philosophical than scientific). Hollus’ planet is slightly more technologically advanced than Earth and he has come to investigate Earth’s history.

The paleontologist is Thomas Jericho, who’s an atheist as well as being diagnosed with cancer. Hollus asks Thomas about extinction level events in Earth’s history and then tells him that that his planet, Earth and the Wreed’s planets have all had extinction level events at exactly the same times. This has led Hollus’ race to conclude that there is a God. Not one who interferes in daily activities or one who set everything in motion and then left. But a God who takes an active hand in creating life and especially intelligent life. Hollus also tells about the several planets he’s gone to where there obviously used to be intelligent life, but all signs of them are gone.

The book really has two storylines. The first is with Jericho’s advancing cancer and his thoughts about being told that there might really be a God. The second is with a missing race that launched a ship towards Betelgeuse. The two story lines race to meet together in an ending that takes a side in the debate, which I did dislike. I thought the book would be much stronger with an open ending that could have gone either way. Faith plus science vs faith alone vs science alone.

Overall the book is made by the characters. Thomas Jericho is a wonderful character and we see multiple sides of him. He has an open mind, but is thrown when he realizes that he might be wrong about God. The aliens are well thought out and I loved the different concept of the Wreeds. They are an alien that is distinctly different in not only design, but in philosophy. It’s a quick read, but not for someone who is looking for a dense plot or action and adventure. It’s really limited to a few locations and a few characters. But it is very well done. Recommended.