Origin by Dan Brown

Origin by Dan Brown is easily the weakest of the Robert Langdon novels. It begs the question if painting religion and specifically the Catholic church as the great evil is becoming boring. If perhaps, its time to teach the old dog a new trick. It may play well in Hollywood and with the lack of success as far as actual people going to the movies is any indication, maybe no where else.

Edmond Kirsch is perhaps the most brilliant man of his generation. He did not simply ride the advancements in technology to build his fortune, but was at the forefront, driving what many are saying is a runaway bus. His contempt for traditional religion is also well documented. But with his new discovery, he finds himself standing in front of three of the most important religious leaders in their respective communities. What he is about to tell them will shake the very foundations of faith across the globe and this is his intention. Using technology and science, he will prove to the world that the religions of the world are nothing more than smoke and mirrors.

Robert Langdon is the Harvard professor of symbology and iconology and has had his own infamous run ins with the Vatican. His good friend and one time student, Edmond Kirsch, has invited him to a major announcement at the modern Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. An announcement, Kirsch promises, will change humanity forever. A breakthrough that will answer the fundamental questions of humanity. Where did we come from and where are we going.

As several hundreds inside the Guggenheim watch in person, several millions more stream the announcement over social media. But the announcement never comes. What the world watches is Kirsch assassinated, streamed live.

Langdon, along with museum director and fiance of the next King of Spain, Ambra Vidal must flee Barcelona in a quest to unlock the secret of Kirsch’s discovery. Aided by an artificial intelligence created by Kirsch, the pair search through ancient texts and symbols as they follow the trail left behind by Kirsch. All the while pursued by both Spain’s Royal Palace and a strange shoot off of the Catholic Church. A sect that does not recognize the Vatican but its own Pope and its own laws. A sect that will stop at nothing to silence Kirsch and his legacy.

Origin does not, and this is the most tragic part of this novel, address the origin of the modern man in any way that hasn’t touted by others for hundreds of years. Nor does it address the next evolution of mankind with any originality either. This is what Brown has always been able to do in his other novels. Using the past to enlighten the future. Using science to disprove religion. In the past he has always been able to make this interesting. But with Origin it is more of a boring trip by a disinterested museum tour guide through a badly lit building.

Langdon is losing his charm as a character as well and does little to save this book. To be frank, the most interesting character in this book is the artificial intelligence communicating through the phone. It is like Alexa and Batman’s Alfred had a baby.

Origin is a tale that forgets that it is a story and not a lame professor’s class that is mandatory.