Winner of the 1993 Pulitzer price for fiction

Two scientists, unknown to each other, are in involved in secret work in the New Mexico desert barely 10 miles apart.
One is uncovering an ancient and mystifyinlgy ot-of0place Indian burial site and the other works for J Robert Openheimer developing the first atom bomb.

A scientific adventure cum dramatic love story

This looks like a fascinating book - thanks kinedi!

I found this fascinating for the details of the parallel scientific investigations into nuclear physics and archeology. There is a real tension to the plot as the scientists in the two camps come into conflict. Really makes you think also about whether we ever learn from history. What disappointed me however was that the love story element was really heavy handed, |I felt thatthe characters just behaved like stereotypes. Even allowing for historical differences in gender relationships the romance just didn't engage or convince me. But the rest of the book had me gripped. I'll probably take this to the next Meet up - keep it circulating for a while!

Looking forward to this, looks good.

Really liked the way this story dealt with the contrast between the two scientists. Loved the way the writer described Darrrel's feelings about the bones. Agree with Random-Poet about the love story part. Also, not entirely convinvced the two lovers would have survived the nuclear bomb. Bit like those movies where the hero does the old "run three steps and dive behind a bit of shrubbery and you can survive anything" routine.

Just caught at the Edinburgh meetup and started reading on the way home. I think it'll grip me. The two main character intrigue already.

I had to read this quick in time for the Harry Potter launch tonight, though the pace and small size of the book made the job very easy. I thought it was cleverly written story on a very interesting subject. Some readers have questioned the romantic aspect of the book, which was certainly rushed, but still in character for the men, less so for Anna I think. I liked the contrast of two different people falling in love with the same woman at the same time. It was well described. However, I certainly didn't like the manner in which all changed into coziness at the end of the book. I won't say anymore for fear of giving the story away, but it was very cheesy!

picked up at meetup last night

I enjoyed reading this but the more I think about it the less I like it.
I agree with everyone that the love story was uncovincing, the way it was resolved so quickly and with such finality. I found the Anna character absolutely infuriating! She was clearly meant to be a bright ambitious woman who knows what she wants but still she thinks she needs an interesting man to make her life interesting. I know it was the attitude of the times but it really doesn't make sense.
The charcters of the men I liked it was interesting how they related to their disciplines and the events in their past. To some extent the book perpetuates the stereotype of scientists as 'weltfremd', inward looking with no relationships outside of their work. Theres some truth in this of course, science being an area where careers can be built on intelligence and work and few social skills, but I just feel I have to defend science a bit here.
My real point here I suppose is that both the charcters, but especially Lloyd, are so bloody weird and have these frankly bizarre views on life. They seem to be completely aware of their feelings and where they come from yet completely unable to control them. This is a problem I always have with these sort of books. Nobody can be that articulate about what they're feeling at the time when they're actually feeling it!
about what bookfrogster said about the ending: I'm not sure i understood this right but I thought that Lloyd sabotaged the bomb so that there was only an explosion but not a nuclear reaction (or not as strong one) so thats why they survived it.

given to pam