| Dante's Equation | |
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Image of paperback edition |
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| Author(s) | Jane Jensen |
| Cover artist | John Picacio |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Speculative Fiction novel |
| Publisher | Del Rey |
| Publication date | July 29, 2003 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 496 pp |
| ISBN | 0345430379 |
| OCLC Number | 52742526 |
| Dewey Decimal | 813/.54 22 |
| LC Classification | PS3560.E5919 D36 2003 |
Dante's Equation is the title of a novel authored by Jane Jensen and published in 2003. It was nominated for, and received special citation of the Philip K. Dick Award.[1]
Contents |
The novel gives the story of a young scientist discovering a law of nature that controls good and evil. As it turns out, this insight was already previously discovered by a Jewish physicist, Yosef Kobinski, in Auschwitz during the Holocaust and the young scientist's discovery coincides with the resurfacing of manuscripts written by the Jewish physicist. The discovery and the manuscripts attract an interest from several sources. A kabbalistic scholar becomes interested in Kobinski as well, as his name shows up in an analysis of Torah codes. A journalist is trying to track down Kobiniski too as part of the research for an article on disappearances. The military become aware of the phenomenon as well, and one agent tries to track down the young scientist and her partner in order to evaluate the military applications of the discovery.
Jeff Zaleski gave this novel a mixed review for Publishers Weekly saying "Jensen is on surer ground describing Kabbalah and Holocaust history than she is plotting supernatural adventures, which unravel by the end. But she gets points for the innovative, multifaceted story."[2] Frieda Murray was more positive in her review for Booklist saying "The book plays out as it has begun, in rather standard thriller fashion. Jensen keeps it moving, though, and her characters, if not always sympathetic, are fully developed. In this, her second novel, she gives lessons in style to many thriller writers with longer publication lists."[3] Kirkus Reviews was also somewhat mixed in their summary describing the novel as "intriguing and often surprising, but what with a plot that doesn't add up and (with one exception) a nasty bunch of characters: mostly a tough slog."[4]
Marian Kester Coombs in her review for Human Events was much more positive saying "the writing is felicitous--sometimes humorously colloquial, sometimes Virginia-Woofish in the subtlety of its apercus--and the momentum is energetic throughout (too often such heady plots lose steam and end up chugging wearily into the station for the obligatory finale). The wide range of believable (and mostly likable) characters remains alive and kicking. Jensen is particularly good at animating male characters, but her Dr. Jill Talcott is a memorable creation here."[5]