The Hercules Text

What a magnificent book, and a debut (twenty years ago!), to boot. The vast majority of today’s science fiction debut novels can’t hold a candle to this one.The Hercules Text is a first-contact story, wherein humanity finally receives signals from another life form, but more importantly, the story is about all the scientific, social, political and religious implications that follow. The alien contact is realistic, however, so there is no two-way communication because the message itself took a million years to reach Earth - it’s all just a bunch of sit-and-get for the humans sitting on our end of the telescope (and other fancy equipments). The plot does follow a few mysteries through the course of the book, but mostly the story is not about the alien contact, but the reaction to the contact.In lesser hands, such a story would be boring, and I can understand how some of today’s readers would be put off by the pace of this novel, but if you understand that McDevitt is taking a realistic, mature, and well-thought-out approach to how the characters react, then you start to find depth in the ideas, and sincere moments of self-reflection about how your notions of the world and of humanity’s place in the universe might change.The reason I knew that this was a five-star novel was because The Hercules Text made me feel the way a good science fiction novel should make the reader feel: small against the vastness of the universe, and hopeful that humanity will capably find its way into the future.

The Hercules Text, by Jack McDevitt.First Thoughts:I’ve read several later novels by Jack: Time Travelers Never Die, the whole Alex Benedict series, and so on. All of the forenamed books were exciting tales, great character analysis and exposure, no dropped plot lines and a satisfying if somewhat predictable ending.Alas, not so with Hercules Text.Story & Plot Points: (minor spoilers)We Earth guys and gals (in America only) receive a message from the stars, from a race a million years dead. At first they’re simple arithmetic messages. Later they start revealing philosophy and technology that could spell disaster or survival for Man.It can also spell global power and dominance to any country who takes advantage of this data.Great so far. Unfortunately it falls apart and ends in an unsatisfying manner.Harry is a father of a diabetic boy, and breaks up with his wife Julie. They’re last night of sex, their break-up, is all interesting but has little to do with the story itself nor the main plot.And the author drops this line completely. Whatever happened to his now ex-wife in all the ensuing activity? Plot point dropped.He gets a new girlfriend who is also part of the team of translators of the Hercules Text. What happens to this relationship? Plot point dropped.The American government’s answer? Keep it for ourselves and start developing weapons of mass destruction. But NOTHING is really done with this plotpoint, except some chatting with the Russian premiere.The Text has moral implications for the Church, but little is discussed about Vatican nor much in the way of the impact of the alien philosophy other than a best seller was written. Ho hum.Final Thoughts:Several points are developed then dropped, over and over. No one point is developed but the author leaves them all hanging. This is the author’s first novel that he rewrote a bit to update it.I’m really glad he got better!Not recommended except for McDevitt fans who want a complete library.

It is difficult to find a topic that would bring a troupe of scientists together to debate science and life. McDevitt uses a coded transmission from lightyears away- so far that it was sent before man walked the earth (but it was aimed here). Technicians monitoring the receivers called project leaders, who made lists of leaders in the field of cryptology, mathematics, physics, logic, biology and psychology. A task force grows almost overnight.The narrator is an administrator burdened with news releases, rules of the hierarchy, motivating the different people, and outsiders demanding access to the message. Ex:‘ This was Michael Pappadopoulis, chairman of the Cambridge philosophy department, emeritus member of the Royal Society, senior fellow of the Philosophical Union, author of half a dozen seminal works including the classic Divinity and Destiny. Harry detected in his posture a faint drumroll.He glanced over Harry, as if he were a not-especially-interesting specimen. “Good morning to you, sir,” he said.“Please have a seat, Professor. What can I do for you?”Pappadopoulis remained standing, “You can assure me that someone here is aware of the significance of the Hercules transmission.”“You need not be concerned,” said Harry amiably. “We know what it means.”“I’m happy to hear it. Unfortunately, your actions don’t bear that out. NASA received the Hercules signal in the early morning of September 17 and chose, for whatever reason, to conceal its existence until Friday, November 10. Does that not seem a bit irresponsible to you, Mr. Carmichael?” ‘ (p. 128)These are fascinating sketches of each character. And they reveal the turmoil any scientist feels when the text reveals new theorems and devices. I liked even the dishonest politicians. (Four stars)On the other hand, readers encounter lengthy discussions of the shape of the universe, or what they imagine the alien psychology might have been. The story picks up again when human opportunists appear. The action takes place in a very small part of the U.S., among a few key players. Some collide, some cling to others, some flee in horror. Similar revelations are dealt with in different way in Sundiver (Uplift Trilogy Book 1).If there is any fault, the book ignores the tendency of bureaucracy to micromanage and compartmentalize the efforts of researchers. No one person could assemble such a picture as Harry.Read it, and ponder.

Wasn't sure whether to give this 4 or 5 stars, but settled on 4 because the story is realistically downbeat. A million years ago, an alien sat alone in the dark and downloaded much of its species music, poetry and science into a burst transmission. After thinking about it for a while, it hit 'SEND'and the message turned up at Oak Ridge a million years later. The alien culture was way ahead of us technologically and this leads to all the expected social and military problems. McDevitt seems to have a very low opinion of his country's politicians (not surprisingly, given recent headlines), but it would be really nice if somebody wrote an alien contact book where politicians worked for the good of their counry and the military weren't so dead set on classifying everything in sight! Thre is one part in the book where some of the linguists at Oak Ridge aren't American citizens, so the military won't let them into the site - but they still expect the text to be deciphered!

There are some works of literature that truly define the value and splendor of a genre. This award-winning novel certainly comes into that elite group. With superb characterization, a plot that keeps you turning the pages and a conclusion that will make most sci-fi fans smile, this is Mc Devitt at his best, and will certainly whet your appetite for the likes of The Engines of God and Deepsix, Moonfall and The Cassandra Project. Well worth a read if the likes of classic works by Asimov, Herbert, Heinlein and others of that stripe are your cup of tea. A first class read.

Great read

A great read and a really thoughtful first-contact story.

Pretty good first-contact story, but not nearly as good as Carl Sagan's _Contact_ (either book or movie). Perhaps I know too much about computers to swallow one of the story's major plot elements, but I wasn't entirely satisfied. Otherwise, it's a decent story whose writing style reminds me of Robert Sawyer for some reason.

Romanzo de'erordio dell'Autore.Interessante, con personaggi ben delineati.Finale forse poco credibile, ma ottimista.Recentemente tradotto in italiano e disponibile su Urania.

Wow, this redux of this older novel is well written indeed. Makes you wonder why the newer ones aren't (although they are quite great in their own rights, just no as memorable). If you liked Contact and other first-contact novels, you'll love this one

Love Jack McDevitt, what a great book, wish there was more detail about what they did with the new found knodwegle.

See headline.

His first published book updated - wonderful!

excellent,vintage mcdevitt!

fun story!