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{{Short description|1987 novel by Greg Bear}}
{{Infobox book | <!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Novels]] or [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Books]] -->
{{Infobox book |
| name = The Forge of God
| name = The Forge of God
| title_orig =
| title_orig =
| translator =
| translator =
| image = [[Image:TheForgeOfGod(1stEd).jpg|200px]]
| image = TheForgeOfGod(1stEd).jpg
| caption = Cover of first edition (hardcover)
| image_size =
| caption = Cover of first edition (hardcover)
| author = [[Greg Bear]]
| author = [[Greg Bear]]
| illustrator =
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| cover_artist =
| country = [[United States]]
| country = United States
| language = [[English language|English]]
| language = English
| series = The Forge of God series
| series = The Forge of God series
| genre = [[science fiction novel]]
| genre = [[Science fiction]]
| publisher = [[Tor Books]]
| publisher = [[Tor Books]]
| release_date = 1987
| release_date = 1987
| english_release_date =
| english_release_date =
| media_type = Print ([[Hardcover]] & [[Paperback]])
| media_type = Print ([[Hardcover]] & [[Paperback]])
| pages = 474 pp
| pages = 474
| isbn = 0-312-93021-6
| isbn = 0-312-93021-6
| dewey= 813/.54 19
| dewey= 813/.54 19
Line 24: Line 26:
| followed_by = [[Anvil of Stars]]
| followed_by = [[Anvil of Stars]]
}}
}}

'''''The Forge of God''''' is a [[1987 in literature|1987]] [[science fiction novel]] by American writer [[Greg Bear]]. Earth faces destruction when an inscrutable and overwhelming alien form of life attacks.
'''''The Forge of God''''' is a [[1987 in literature|1987]] [[science fiction]] novel by American writer [[Greg Bear]]. Earth faces destruction when an inscrutable and overwhelming alien form of life attacks.

== Plot ==

⚫
The novel features scenes and events, including the discovery of a nearly-dead alien in the desert, who clearly says in [[English language|English]], "I'm sorry, but there is bad news," and the alien's subsequent [[interrogation]] and [[autopsy]]; the discovery of an artificial geological formation and its subsequent nuclear destruction by a desperate military; and the Earth's eventual destruction by the mutual [[annihilation]] of a piece of [[neutronium]] and a piece of [[antimatter|antineutronium]] dropped into [[Earth's core]].

⚫
There is another alien faction at work, however, represented on Earth by small spider-like robots that recruit human agents through some form of [[Brainwashing|mind control]]. They frantically collect all the human data, biological records, tissue samples, seeds, and [[DNA]] from the [[biosphere]] that they can and evacuate a handful of people from Earth. In outer space, this faction's machines combat and eventually destroy the attackers but not before Earth's fate is sealed. The evacuees eventually settle a newly [[terraforming|terraformed]] Mars while some form the crew of a Ship of the Law to hunt down the home world of the killers, a quest described in the sequel, ''[[Anvil of Stars]]''.

⚫
One of the point-of-view characters is Arthur Gordon, a scientist. He, his wife Francine and son Martin are among those rescued from the destruction of Earth. Some other characters are close to an American president, who fails to take action against the threat.

⚫
The two books show at least one solution to the [[Fermi paradox]], with electromagnetically noisy civilizations being snuffed out by the arrival of [[Von Neumann probe|self-replicating machines]] designed to destroy any potential threat to their (possibly long-dead) creators. (A similar theme is explored in [[Fred Saberhagen]]'s ''[[Berserker (Saberhagen)|Berserker]]'' novels.)

⚫
==Cultural reference==
It features a character, Lawrence Van Cott, that is modelled on science fiction author [[Larry Niven]], whose full name is "Laurence van Cott Niven".<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Hamilton |first1=Geoff |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JEvyadBdwYQC&dq=%22The+Forge+of+God%22+%22Lawrence+Van+Cott%22+niven+-wikipedia&pg=PT260 |title=Encyclopedia of American Popular Fiction |last2=Jones |first2=Brian |date=2010-05-12 |publisher=Infobase Publishing |isbn=978-1-4381-1694-5 |pages=254 |language=en}}</ref>

==Reception==
[[David Langford|Dave Langford]] reviewed ''The Forge of God'' for ''[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]]'' #95, and stated that "A good nasty read [...] with a flicker of optimism: in the jungle Out There, someone is on our side ..."<ref name="WD95">{{cite magazine | last =Langford | first =Dave | author-link =David Langford | title =Critical Mass | magazine =[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]] | issue =95 | pages =12 | publisher =[[Games Workshop]] | date = November 1987 }}</ref>


''The Forge of God'' was nominated for the [[Nebula Award]] for [[Nebula Award for Best Novel|Best Novel]] in 1987,<ref name="WWE-1987">{{cite web
''The Forge of God'' was nominated for the [[Nebula Award]] for [[Nebula Award for Best Novel|Best Novel]] in 1987,<ref name="WWE-1987">{{cite web
Line 30: Line 49:
| title = 1987 Award Winners & Nominees
| title = 1987 Award Winners & Nominees
| work = Worlds Without End
| work = Worlds Without End
| accessdate=2009-07-11
| access-date=2009-07-11
}}</ref> and was also nominated for the [[Hugo Award|Hugo]] and [[Locus Award|Locus]] Awards in 1988.<ref name="WWE-1988">{{cite web
}}</ref> and was also nominated for the [[Hugo Award|Hugo]] and [[Locus Award|Locus]] Awards in 1988.<ref name="WWE-1988">{{cite web
| url = http://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?year=1988
| url = http://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?year=1988
| title = 1988 Award Winners & Nominees
| title = 1988 Award Winners & Nominees
| work = Worlds Without End
| work = Worlds Without End
| accessdate=2009-07-11
| access-date=2009-07-11
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


== Plot ==
==Reviews==
*Review by Dan Chow (1987) in ''[[Locus (magazine)|Locus]]'', #319 August 1987<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?1910 | title=Title: The Forge of God }}</ref>

*Review by Stephen P. Brown (1987) in ''Science Fiction Eye'', #2, August 1987
⚫
The novel features scenes and events including the discovery of a near-dead alien in the desert, who clearly says in English, "I'm sorry, but there is bad news," and this alien's subsequent interrogation and autopsy; the discovery of an artificial geological formation and its subsequent nuclear destruction by a desperate military; and the Earth's eventual destruction by the mutual annihilation of a piece of [[neutronium]] and a piece of [[antimatter|antineutronium]] dropped into Earth's core.
*Review by Don D'Ammassa (1987) in ''[[Science Fiction Chronicle]]'', #99 December 1987

*Review by Tom Easton (1988) in ''[[Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact]]'', February 1988
⚫
There is another alien faction at work, however, represented on Earth by small spider-like robots that recruit human agents through some form of mind control. They frantically collect all the human data, biological records, tissue samples, seeds, and [[DNA]] from the [[biosphere]] that they can, and evacuate a handful of people from Earth. In space, this faction's machines combat and eventually destroy the attackers, though not before Earth's fate is sealed. The evacuees eventually settle a newly [[terraforming|terraformed]] Mars while some form the crew of a Ship of the Law to hunt down the home world of the killers, a quest described in the sequel, ''[[Anvil of Stars]]''.
*Review by Tom Jones (1988) in ''[[Vector (magazine)|Vector]]'' 142

*Review by John Sladek (1988) in ''[[Foundation (journal)|Foundation]]'', #42 Spring 1988
⚫
One of the point of view characters is Arthur Gordon, a scientist who, with his wife Francine and son Martin is among those rescued from the destruction of Earth. Some other characters are close to an American president who fails to take action against the threat.
*Review by Paul J. McAuley (1988) in ''[[Interzone (magazine)|Interzone]]'', #23 Spring 1988

*Review by Dean R. Lambe (1988) in ''[[Thrust (science fiction magazine)|Thrust]]'', #29, Winter 1988
⚫
The two books show at least one solution to the [[Fermi paradox]], with electromagnetically noisy civilisations being snuffed out by the arrival of [[Von Neumann probe|self-replicating machines]] designed to destroy any potential threat to their (possibly long-dead) creators. (A similar theme is explored in [[Fred Saberhagen]]'s ''[[Berserker (Saberhagen)|Berserker]]'' novels.)
*Review by John Gilbert (1989) in ''Fear'', September 1989

*Review by Chris C. Bailey (1989) in ''Paperback Inferno'', #81
⚫
==Cultural reference==
*Review [French] by Piet Hollander (1990) in ''Yellow Submarine'', #68
It features a character, Lawrence Van Cott, that is modelled on science fiction author [[Larry Niven]], whose full name is "Laurence van Cott Niven".
*Review [German] by John Sladek (1991) in ''Das Science Fiction Jahr'' Ausgabe 1991
*Review by Tom Jones (1999) in ''[[Vector (magazine)|Vector]]'' 204
*Review by Chris Amies (2001) in ''[[Vector (magazine)|Vector]]'' 220
*Review by John Sladek (2019) in ''New Maps: More Uncollected John Sladek''


==Movie==
==Movie==
In the early 2000s, ''The Forge of God'' and ''Anvil of Stars'', as well as an as-yet-unwritten third book, were optioned by [[Warner Bros.]] to be made into movies. It was reported that Stephen Susco worked on a script for ''The Forge Of God''. In July 2006 Greg Bear mentioned on his website that the movie is "Still under option. Studio engaged in 'silent running.'&nbsp;"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gregbear.com/blog/archive_2006_2.cfm |last=Bear |first=Greg |authorlink=Greg Bear |date=2006-07-28 |accessdate=2007-07-13 |title=Response: Anvil/Forge |work=Greg Bear: Blog Archives}}</ref>
In the early 2000s, ''The Forge of God'' and ''Anvil of Stars'', as well as an as-yet-unwritten third book, were optioned by [[Warner Bros.]] to be made into movies. It was reported that Stephen Susco worked on a script for ''The Forge of God''. In July 2006, Greg Bear mentioned on his website that the movie is "Still under option. Studio engaged in 'silent running.'&nbsp;"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gregbear.com/blog/archive_2006_2.cfm |last=Bear |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Bear |date=2006-07-28 |access-date=2007-07-13 |title=Response: Anvil/Forge |work=Greg Bear: Blog Archives}}</ref>


However, in October 2010, Bear commented on his website that Ken Nolan (who wrote the screen adaptation for Ridley Scott's [[Black Hawk Down (film)|Black Hawk Down]] film), was actively working on a screenplay.
However, in October 2010, Bear commented on his website that Ken Nolan (who wrote the screen adaptation for Ridley Scott's ''[[Black Hawk Down (film)|Black Hawk Down]]'' film), was actively working on a screenplay.{{Fact|date=November 2022}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references/>


==External links==
==External links==
Line 64: Line 87:


{{DEFAULTSORT:Forge Of God, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Forge Of God, The}}
[[Category:1987 novels]]
[[Category:1987 American novels]]
[[Category:1987 science fiction novels]]
[[Category:Novels about alien invasions]]
[[Category:Apocalyptic novels]]
[[Category:Novels by Greg Bear]]
[[Category:Novels by Greg Bear]]
[[Category:1980s science fiction novels]]
[[Category:Self-replicating machines in fiction]]
[[Category:Tor Books books]]
[[Category:Tor Books books]]
[[Category:Fiction set in 1996]]
[[Category:Science fiction about first contact]]

Latest revision as of 08:52, 13 June 2024

The Forge of God
Cover of first edition (hardcover)
AuthorGreg Bear
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Forge of God series
GenreScience fiction
PublisherTor Books
Publication date
1987
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (Hardcover & Paperback)
Pages474
ISBN0-312-93021-6
OCLC16089603
813/.54 19
LC ClassPS3552.E157 F6 1987
Followed byAnvil of Stars 

The Forge of God is a 1987 science fiction novel by American writer Greg Bear. Earth faces destruction when an inscrutable and overwhelming alien form of life attacks.

Plot

[edit]

The novel features scenes and events, including the discovery of a nearly-dead alien in the desert, who clearly says in English, "I'm sorry, but there is bad news," and the alien's subsequent interrogation and autopsy; the discovery of an artificial geological formation and its subsequent nuclear destruction by a desperate military; and the Earth's eventual destruction by the mutual annihilation of a piece of neutronium and a piece of antineutronium dropped into Earth's core.

There is another alien faction at work, however, represented on Earth by small spider-like robots that recruit human agents through some form of mind control. They frantically collect all the human data, biological records, tissue samples, seeds, and DNA from the biosphere that they can and evacuate a handful of people from Earth. In outer space, this faction's machines combat and eventually destroy the attackers but not before Earth's fate is sealed. The evacuees eventually settle a newly terraformed Mars while some form the crew of a Ship of the Law to hunt down the home world of the killers, a quest described in the sequel, Anvil of Stars.

One of the point-of-view characters is Arthur Gordon, a scientist. He, his wife Francine and son Martin are among those rescued from the destruction of Earth. Some other characters are close to an American president, who fails to take action against the threat.

The two books show at least one solution to the Fermi paradox, with electromagnetically noisy civilizations being snuffed out by the arrival of self-replicating machines designed to destroy any potential threat to their (possibly long-dead) creators. (A similar theme is explored in Fred Saberhagen's Berserker novels.)

Cultural reference

[edit]

It features a character, Lawrence Van Cott, that is modelled on science fiction author Larry Niven, whose full name is "Laurence van Cott Niven".[1]

Reception

[edit]

Dave Langford reviewed The Forge of God for White Dwarf #95, and stated that "A good nasty read [...] with a flicker of optimism: in the jungle Out There, someone is on our side ..."[2]

The Forge of God was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1987,[3] and was also nominated for the Hugo and Locus Awards in 1988.[4]

Reviews

[edit]
  • Review by Dan Chow (1987) in Locus, #319 August 1987[5]
  • Review by Stephen P. Brown (1987) in Science Fiction Eye, #2, August 1987
  • Review by Don D'Ammassa (1987) in Science Fiction Chronicle, #99 December 1987
  • Review by Tom Easton (1988) in Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, February 1988
  • Review by Tom Jones (1988) in Vector 142
  • Review by John Sladek (1988) in Foundation, #42 Spring 1988
  • Review by Paul J. McAuley (1988) in Interzone, #23 Spring 1988
  • Review by Dean R. Lambe (1988) in Thrust, #29, Winter 1988
  • Review by John Gilbert (1989) in Fear, September 1989
  • Review by Chris C. Bailey (1989) in Paperback Inferno, #81
  • Review [French] by Piet Hollander (1990) in Yellow Submarine, #68
  • Review [German] by John Sladek (1991) in Das Science Fiction Jahr Ausgabe 1991
  • Review by Tom Jones (1999) in Vector 204
  • Review by Chris Amies (2001) in Vector 220
  • Review by John Sladek (2019) in New Maps: More Uncollected John Sladek

Movie

[edit]

In the early 2000s, The Forge of God and Anvil of Stars, as well as an as-yet-unwritten third book, were optioned by Warner Bros. to be made into movies. It was reported that Stephen Susco worked on a script for The Forge of God. In July 2006, Greg Bear mentioned on his website that the movie is "Still under option. Studio engaged in 'silent running.' "[6]

However, in October 2010, Bear commented on his website that Ken Nolan (who wrote the screen adaptation for Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down film), was actively working on a screenplay.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hamilton, Geoff; Jones, Brian (2010-05-12). Encyclopedia of American Popular Fiction. Infobase Publishing. p. 254. ISBN 978-1-4381-1694-5.
  2. ^ Langford, Dave (November 1987). "Critical Mass". White Dwarf. No. 95. Games Workshop. p. 12.
  3. ^ "1987 Award Winners & Nominees". Worlds Without End. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
  4. ^ "1988 Award Winners & Nominees". Worlds Without End. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
  5. ^ "Title: The Forge of God".
  6. ^ Bear, Greg (2006-07-28). "Response: Anvil/Forge". Greg Bear: Blog Archives. Retrieved 2007-07-13.
[edit]
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