Origin Book Review

Origin Book Review | Dan Brown’s High-Tech Faith vs. Science Thriller

Author: Dan Brown
Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Science Fiction
Series: Robert Langdon #5
Publication Date: October 2017
Publisher: Doubleday
Pages: 480
ISBN: 9780385514231

Star Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Overview

Origin is the fifth installment in Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon series, once again fusing religion, art, and science into a globe-trotting thriller. This origin book review looks at how Brown updates his formula with artificial intelligence and futurist speculation while keeping his trademark puzzles and symbology intact.

Spoiler-Free Summary

Langdon attends a presentation by tech futurist Edmond Kirsch, who claims to have discovered answers to humanity’s greatest questions: “Where do we come from? Where are we going?” When Kirsch is assassinated before revealing his discovery, Langdon teams up with Ambra Vidal, the museum director and future queen of Spain, to unlock his secret and share it with the world. Their quest takes them across Barcelona, guided by an AI named Winston, and pits them against both religious forces and political conspiracies.

Writing Style & Craft

Brown leans into short, cinematic chapters that propel the plot forward with constant cliffhangers. His blend of real architecture and speculative science creates a sense of plausibility, though critics note that dialogue and exposition often feel heavy-handed. The AI element adds freshness to the formula but sometimes reads more like a lecture than a thriller.

Characters & Setting

• Robert Langdon: Harvard symbologist thrust into another race against time.
• Ambra Vidal: Intelligent, sympathetic, and tied to Spanish royalty.
• Edmond Kirsch: A futurist genius whose ideas set the story in motion.
• Winston: The AI assistant whose role becomes one of the novel’s most intriguing twists.
• Setting: Iconic Spanish landmarks like the Sagrada Família and Guggenheim Bilbao provide atmospheric backdrops.

Themes

• Science vs. Religion: Brown revisits his classic theme with a modern AI twist.
• Technology’s Promise and Peril: How artificial intelligence shapes faith, politics, and society.
• The Search for Meaning: Humanity’s eternal quest to answer life’s biggest questions.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths: Fast pacing, vivid Spanish settings, and thought-provoking science concepts.
Weaknesses: Formulaic structure, predictable character arcs, and clunky exposition at times.

Verdict

Origin offers exactly what longtime Dan Brown fans expect: a blend of fact, fiction, and frenetic thrills. While not his strongest Langdon outing, it’s an entertaining ride for readers drawn to puzzles and speculative science. Final Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Further Reading

For additional perspectives, see The Guardian Review, The New York Times Review, and Kirkus Reviews.

Related Reviews

If this interests you, check out our reviews of The Secret of Secrets, What We Can Know, and The Primal of Blood and Bone. Track your reading with our Reading Tracker.