The Hammer of Eden

Last updated

The Hammer of Eden
The Hammer of Eden.jpg
First edition (UK)
Author Ken Follett
LanguageEnglish
Genre Thriller
Publisher Pan Macmillan
Publication date
1998
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (hardcover, paperback), CD
Pages448 pp (paperback)
ISBN 978-0-449-22754-1
OCLC 42828638

The Hammer of Eden is a work by Ken Follett published in 1998.

Contents

Plot

It is about a group of people living together in a commune cut off from the rest of the world. When their commune is threatened by a plan to build a dam, they turn desperate and devise a devious plan to arm-twist the governor of California to abandon the project. They transform themselves into eco-terrorists and threaten to start an earthquake if their demands are not met. They set off a series of earthquakes using a stolen seismic vibrator truck from an oil firm. Their leader is an illiterate man called Priest who is helped by a seismology student called Melanie in his plans. Judy Maddox, an FBI agent, is the only one who can stop them and the rest of the story revolves around how she tries to do so.

List of characters

A real seismic vibrator Vibroseis Vehicle.jpg
A real seismic vibrator

Main characters

Secondary characters

Reception

Carlos Ramet noted that the character of Judy Maddox, one of the novel's main protagonists, is an example of the a change in Follet's writing that begun with The Third Twin , i.e. "the change in emphasis from male to female perspective" and the development of capable and heroical female characters. He also observes that Maddox's contempt for her superiors, described as the "suits" and "the big shot[s]" from Washington", is representative of Follet's "post-war British ambivalence towards American materialism". With regards to the novel structure, Ramet argues that it combines the "formulaic hunter/hunted device" with "Buchanesque and Hitchcockian elements", and also shows inspiration from Ian Fleming's works. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Follett</span> British bestseller novelist (born 1949)

Kenneth Martin Follett, is a Welsh author of thrillers and historical novels who has sold more than 160 million copies of his works.

<i>Jackdaws</i> (novel) World War II spy thriller by Ken Follett

Jackdaws is a World War II spy thriller written by British novelist Ken Follett. It was published in hardcover format in 2001 by Macmillan. It was reissued as a paperback book by Signet Books in 2002.

<i>The Dick Cavett Show</i> Television series

The Dick Cavett Show is the title of several talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett on various television networks, including:

<i>Guilty by Suspicion</i> 1991 film by Irwin Winkler

Guilty by Suspicion is a 1991 American period drama film about the Hollywood blacklist, McCarthyism, and the activities of the House Un-American Activities Committee. Written and directed by Irwin Winkler in his directorial debut, the film stars Robert De Niro, Annette Bening, and George Wendt. The character of David Merrill was inspired by the experiences of John Berry during the Hollywood blacklist era.

<i>Nightmare</i> (1964 film) 1964 film

Nightmare is a 1964 British horror film directed by Freddie Francis and starring Jennie Linden. It was written by Jimmy Sangster, who also produced the film for Hammer Films. The film focuses on a young girl in a finishing school who is plagued by nightmares concerning her institutionalized mother.

The Coldfire Trilogy is a science fiction/fantasy trilogy written by Celia S. Friedman. It includes:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melanie Pearson</span> Fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours

Melanie Pearson is a fictional character from Australian soap opera Neighbours played by Lucinda Cowden. The actress was initially signed to the soap on a recurring basis for a few weeks. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 30 July 1987. The character departed on 24 October 1991. In 2005, Cowden reprised her role for Neighbours' 20th anniversary celebrations. She reprised the role again on a recurring basis from 8 January 2021, then later as a regular from 22 September 2021. Melanie appeared until the last episode of Neighbours, which sees her marry Toadie Rebecchi. Cowden reprised her role in Neighbours 2023 reboot.

<i>Dance Hall of the Dead</i> 1973 novel by Tony Hillerman

Dance Hall Of The Dead is a crime novel by American writer Tony Hillerman, the second in the Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee Navajo Tribal Police series, first published in 1973. It features police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn. It is set primarily in Ramah Reservation and the Zuni village in New Mexico, both in the American Southwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darryl Cherney</span> 20th and 21st-century American environmentalist, musician, and presidential candidate

Darryl Cherney is an American musician and environmental activist. He is a member of the Earth First! environmental movement. Born and raised in New York City, he lives in Humboldt County, California.

<i>The Third Twin</i> Novel by Ken Follett

The Third Twin is a 1996 techno-thriller book by Ken Follett. A New York Times bestseller, the book deals with genetic engineering and the nature and nurture debate through the subject of identical twins raised apart.

<i>World Without End</i> (Follett novel) Novel by Ken Follett

World Without End is a best-selling 2007 historical fiction novel by Welsh author Ken Follett. It is the second book in the Kingsbridge Series, and is the sequel to 1989's The Pillars of the Earth.

Mona J. Simpson is a fictional guest character in the animated television series The Simpsons. She is voiced most prominently by Glenn Close, but has also been voiced by Maggie Roswell, Tress MacNeille, and Pamela Hayden. Close's performances as Mona have been well received by critics and she was named one of the top 25 guest stars on the show by IGN.

<i>The Devils Tomb</i> 2009 American film

The Devil's Tomb is a 2009 American horror film, directed by Jason Connery. It stars Cuba Gooding Jr., Ray Winstone and Ron Perlman. The film was released direct–to–video on May 26, 2009.

Looking for Trouble is a 1934 American Pre-Code crime film directed by William A. Wellman and starring Spencer Tracy, Jack Oakie and Constance Cummings. After he is rejected by a woman, a man leaves his safe job and joins a gang that robs banks. The film features actual stock earthquake footage.

<i>Carrion Comfort</i> 1989 novel by Dan Simmons

Carrion Comfort is a science fiction/horror novel by American writer Dan Simmons, published in 1989 in hardcover by Dark Harvest and in 1990 in paperback by Warner Books. It won the Bram Stoker Award, the Locus Poll Award for Best Horror Novel, and the August Derleth Award for Best Novel. It is based on a novelette of the same title, published in 1983 in the magazine Omni. The first half of the novelette makes up chapter 1 of the novel, while the second half forms chapter 3.

<i>Hysteria</i> (2011 film) 2011 British rom-com film

Hysteria is a 2011 British period romantic comedy film directed by Tanya Wexler. It stars Hugh Dancy and Maggie Gyllenhaal, with Felicity Jones, Jonathan Pryce, and Rupert Everett appearing in key supporting roles. The film, set in the Victorian era, shows how the medical management of hysteria led to the invention of the vibrator.

<i>A Column of Fire</i> 2017 novel by Ken Follett

A Column of Fire is a 2017 novel by British author Ken Follett, first published on 12 September 2017. It is the third book in the Kingsbridge Series, and serves as a sequel to 1989's The Pillars of the Earth and 2007's World Without End.

<i>Snowpiercer</i> (TV series) Post-apocalyptic dystopian thriller television series

Snowpiercer is an American post-apocalyptic dystopian thriller television series that premiered on May 17, 2020 on TNT. It is based on both the 2013 film of the same name, directed by Bong Joon-ho, and the 1982 French graphic novel Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand and Jean-Marc Rochette, from which the film was adapted.

Phoenix Rising is an American documentary miniseries directed and produced by Amy J. Berg. It follows Evan Rachel Wood as she tells her story of domestic violence and her campaign for justice. It aired on March 15–16, 2022, on HBO.

References

  1. Carlos Ramet (1999). Ken Follett: The Transformation of a Writer. Popular Press. pp. 124–126, 129. ISBN   978-0-87972-798-7.