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  • Origin

  • By: Dan Brown
  • Narrated by: Paul Michael
  • Length: 18 hrs and 10 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (7,260 ratings)
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Origin cover art

Origin

By: Dan Brown
Narrated by: Paul Michael
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

The global best seller - Origin is the latest Robert Langdon novel from the author of The Da Vinci Code.

Robert Langdon, Harvard professor of symbology and religious iconology, arrives at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao to attend the unveiling of an astonishing scientific breakthrough. The evening’s host is billionaire Edmond Kirsch, a futurist whose dazzling high-tech inventions and audacious predictions have made him a controversial figure around the world.

But Langdon and several hundred guests are left reeling when the meticulously orchestrated evening is suddenly blown apart. There is a real danger that Kirsch’s precious discovery may be lost in the ensuing chaos. With his life under threat, Langdon is forced into a desperate bid to escape Bilbao, taking with him the museum’s director, Ambra Vidal. Together they flee to Barcelona on a perilous quest to locate a cryptic password that will unlock Kirsch’s secret.

To evade a devious enemy who is one step ahead of them at every turn, Langdon and Vidal must navigate the labyrinthine passageways of extreme religion and hidden history. On a trail marked only by enigmatic symbols and elusive modern art, Langdon and Vidal will come face to face with a breathtaking truth that has remained buried – until now.

©2017 Dan Brown (P)2017 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Fans will not be disappointed." (The Times)

"Big ideas and nonstop action." (New York Times

"Beautifully observed and really well researched." (BBC TV)  

What listeners say about Origin

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Deception Point 2

Inferno was an unusual book for Dan Brown, offering a sobering ending that I suspect few could honestly have guessed was coming. The post-Inferno world was one that I readily wanted to explore and in retrospect, I shouldn't have been surprised that Brown forgot all about it. Indeed, he makes little reference to anything save the DaVinci code while recycling his one and only plot.

Instead this has the feel of one of his also-ran books, with Langdon pasted on top of the generic hero, and a few references to his water polo and the Mickey Mouse watch, in a vain effort to give the book its own identity.

Such as the plot is, there's the terrifying secret that the world is not ready for; the unique and ruthless assassin; the exceptionally intelligent-yet-principled villain; the constant misdirection; and the pretty-yet-extremely intelligent woman. The setting is Barcelona. What makes Brown so much fun is the way in which all these old hoary elements are rearranged and of course, the trivia. Brown educates as he entertains and however feeble his prose, his selection of trivia is excellent. Much like the diet drink that accompanies fast food, it's the excuse to indulge in the finest and most satisfying junk.

Sadly, even the trivia is second rate (the FedEx logo being the example) and the experience is akin to opening a box of KFC to find only bones. Brown's leaps of logic are staggering, his revelations non-existent and his twist telegraphed so early it may as well be drawn on the book jacket. This effort is clearly one of the non-Langdon efforts taken out and given a little rewrite and should be treated as such. Brown took a brief, wondrous step with Inferno and has run right back into the depth of his comfort zone. Treat this book as a ghostwritten spin-off and buy when it comes up on the Daily Deal.

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77 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Dreadful

So awful and sign posted. I kept going on, hoping for a twist. Just dreadful.

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42 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

I found this story boring and predictable. It follows the same blueprint as Dan Brown's earlier work as though he has no new ideas. A large venue, a murder then escape not forgetting the pretty girl. Even the fairly good narration couldn't save it and the so-called twist at the end was no surprise. Don't bother wasting a credit on this.

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25 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Very predictable

It was only the narrator doing such a good job that kept me going very disappointed

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23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

What a shame

As a fan of Dan Brown since digital fortress, and someone who has been waiting patiently for this book I’m rather disappointed. I found the whole thing rather mediocre and able to predict the “reveal” far too early in the story. Probably the weakest book so far. What a shame.

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23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Great researcher, terrible writer

Firstly, the positive. The research he has done is clearly excellent and gives a great backdrop for the story. The narrator is good, although not great.

Secondly, the adequate. The story itself isn’t too bad, a couple of decent twists. Nothing to get excited over though.

Finally, the negative. Dan Brown writes like a pre-teen with moderate use of a thesaurus. His writing “style” for lack of a better word is horrendous and is something I will ensure I never inflict upon myself again.

Avoid.

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16 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
  • AB
  • 07-08-18

Mildly enjoyable.....

Overall, I didn't think this lived up to previous Langdon adventures. Storyline a little weak, with the listener left believing it could have been so much better. Generally I'd recommend Dan Browns books, but the likes of Steve Berry are much more consistent in this genre, imo.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Worst Dan Brown ever!

The story was poor and felt more like I was being read paragraphs from a text book or Wikipedia. This had none of the excitement I usually associate with Dan Brown. Maybe the film will be better. Very disappointed that I wasted 18 hours of my life on this book!

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

No real story. Just an idea stretched out.

Spent the whole book expecting the standard Dan Brown twists and turns but got to the end without anything really happening. I've been to college lectures with more action.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Most predictable Dan Brown yet

I enjoy Dan Brown's writing and find the puzzle elements fun but this one seemed to miss the mark the final reveal being obvious from the start. The story fitted together well but the main theme seemed unrealistically hyped even if the technical aspects were possible.

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10 people found this helpful