The Silk Code

by Paul Levinson

Book Overview

Phil D'Amato, an NYC forensic detective (also featured in several of Levinson's popular short stories), is caught in an ongoing struggle that dates all the way back to the dawn of humanity on... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312868235
• ISBN13: 9780312868239
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 319 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.8" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Original, thought-provoking, compelling

This remarkable novel contains one of the great rarities of popular literature: A truly original idea, namely that "advanced technology" need not involve computers, rockets, lasers, indeed machinery or electronics of any kind. Living as I do among the Amish, it never occurred to me that these amiable but seemingly backward people might harbor secrets as old as time itself, that in their own quiet way, their organic technology might leave ours in the dust. After reading "Silk Code," I did a little investigating of my own (following in the footsteps of forensic sleuth Phil D'Amato) and found that many of the ideas presented in the book-- i.e. Mendelian lamps utilizing specially bred fireflies, herbal remedies designed to counteract food allergies, long-range communications by means of trained insects-- are indeed based on actual Amish research and practices. Author Levinson obviously did his homework.The novel ideas and spine-tingling revalations don't stop there, but are threaded through "The Silk Code" like the rogue genome of the title. Levinson's knowledge of ancient cultures and philosophies, his knack for creating quirky and intriguing characters, and his ease with the Film Noir world of the hard-bitten investigator all add up to a wonderfully compelling debut novel, a worthy winner of the Locus Award. But be warned: You'll never look at fireflies dancing on a summer night quite the same way again...

rich, complex, beguiling tapestry

I think The Silk Code is really two books in one. One story is about a detective -- Phil D'Amato -- with a lot of heart and a great sense of humor. The other story is about a strange people who lived along the Silk Road over a thousand years ago. Paul Levinson weaves the two together in a very captivating way -- he goes so deeply into the Silk Road people that we almost forget about D'Amato, but then we're suddenly back in the present and it all ties together in a way at the end. As a graduate student in anthropology, I especially enjoyed the 750 AD part -- the thinking of the characters in that section seemed very real to me, and that's hard to do for an ancient culture. All in all, a *very* enjoyable book -- almost a new kind of science fiction.

Compelling Mystery

In The Silk Code, Paul Levinson has crafted a mystery that reaches back to the dawn of humanity for answers to an intriguing mystery. Investigation of sudden death brings anomolies to light, and it's up to Phil D'Amato to find the facts as he reaches into unexpected areas and finds startling answers. One of the things I enjoyed most was spending time with a variety of people who were both interesting and delightful. As a history buff, I appreciated Levinson's invitation to speculate about events in our earliest prehistory. Good read, generous spirit. Enjoy!

This is a cool book.

I found The Silk Code to be wonderful. I had just finished reading Patricia Cornwell's "Black Notice" and had been disappointed. A pinch of enthusiasm is worth a pound of technique. This was a real treat and had exactly what I had been looking for. It blends mystery and science fiction perfectly. One of the most pleasant aspects of the book was that it clear the author was excited to be writing it and that excitement really shines through. The plot was well thought out, creative and unique. I found the characters to be very believable. I never had any interest in the Neanderthals before, but found myself intrigued enough to watch a Discovery Channel special on them. I always have shelf space for books that expand my interests. The fact that people either love or hate it speaks to its originality. I hope that there will be sequel or at least more offerings from Dr. Levinson.

fascinating and exciting

This book uncovered a world I never knew existed -- I grew up in Pennsylvania, and saw the Amish, but I never imagined the possibility that they could do some of things they do in this book. I also loved the part about the ancient world -- it becomes real to you. My grandfather used to talk about how much he loved science fiction. I bet he had stories like this in mind.