Paul Carlson, a brilliant young scientist, is summoned from his laboratory job to the remote Indonesian island of Flores to collect DNA samples from the ancient bones of a strange, new species of tool user unearthed by an archaeological dig. The questions the find raises seem to cast doubt on the very foundations of modern science, which has proven the world to be only 5,800 years old, but before Paul can fully grapple with the implications of his find, the dig is violently shut down by paramilitaries.
Paul flees with two of his friends, yet within days one has vanished and the other is murdered in an attack that costs Paul an eye, and very nearly his life. Back in America, Paul tries to resume the comfortable life he left behind, but he can't cast the questions raised by the dig from his mind. Paul begins to piece together a puzzle which seems to threaten the very fabric of society, but world's governments and Martial Johnston, the eccentric billionaire who financed Paul's dig, will stop at nothing to silence him.
Amazon.com Review
Amazon Exclusive: Daniel H. Wilson Discusses What Makes Prophet of Bones Worth Staying Up Too Late
Daniel H. Wilson is the New York Times best-selling author of Robopocalypse, as well as seven other books including How to Survive a Robot Uprising and Amped.
Prophet of Bones is a well-written, utterly convincing thriller that left my mind reeling for days. It latched on after the first chapter and didn't let go until the last word.
Ted Kosmatka's novel is a bloody, yet profoundly introspective, thriller that's not set so much in a near-future world as in a near-alternate world. This is a place where science has proven evolution wrong and radio carbon dating shows the earth is about 6000 years old. The seamless blending of science and theology is fascinating, moreso when scientist Paul Carlsson discovers a set of ancient human bones that shouldn't exist. His quest to requite the two worlds-to seek the truth at all costs-will destroy his life and take the reader on a trip that is half detective work and half old-fashioned butt-kicking (with a side of biology, genetics, and paleoanthropology).
Despite the sheer fun of reading Prophet of Bones, the underlying themes are what elevate the material. You are left wondering about the shared origin of humanity, the lost branches of human sub-species, and whether knowing more really helps us understand ourselves. Is it more tempting to play God in a world where science and religion are the same thing?
Kosmatka is a full-time writer at Valve Software, the company behind the massively popular video games Half-Life and Portal. Maybe it's my imagination, but I occasionally caught beautiful facets of those games lurking under the surface of Prophet of Bones. In the novel as in the games, our heroes are scientists, our villains are scientists, and their creations... well, just wait until you meet their creations.
What else can I say? Prophet of Bones is as thoughtful as it is thrilling. It kept me up way, way past my bedtime.
Review
"A masterwork of intrigue and menace. I couldn't put Prophet of Bones down until I reached the climaxAn eye-opening and page-turning read without parallel."Clive Cussler
"Ted Kosmatka is both an excellent writer and a hell of a storytellerProphet of Bones is truly hard to put down. This is what a novel is about"Nelson DeMille
"Written with confidence, in a sure hand, the tension leaps from the page. All of the right elements combinedanger, treachery, and action. Buckle up, hunker down, and get ready for an all-nighter."Steve Berry
"A near-perfect blending of traditional thriller and alternate-reality scientific and theological fantasy has best-seller written all over it."Booklist, Starred Review
"An expansion of one of Kosmatkas most compelling storiesoffers a good deal of fast moving fun."Locus Magazine
"Gripping, dark, and well writtenKosmatka paints in broad strokes yet still nails the detailsthis is a compelling juggernaut of a read."Library Journal
"An exciting alternate-universe thriller readers will gulp this on down."PW
"Prophet of Bones is what happens when you start with a foundation of Harry-Turtledove-style alternate-history science fiction, throw in some Dan-Brown-ian theology-tinged conspiracy theory, add a dash of Jurassic-Park-era Michael-Crichton-esque bio-thriller and top it all off with some Elmore-Leonard-y dark humor. The result is some truly unique and uniquely awesomeclassification-defying, boundary-pushing fiction, and I, for one, couldnt be more thrilled."criminalelement.com
"Meshes realistic science with fast paced thrillsIt will keep you guessing, straight till the end and youll love every minute of it."gamesfiends.com