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Cloning
Christ
Written
by Peter Senese with Robert Geis
Reviewed
by Tom A. Wright
The
book's title, Cloning Christ, doesn't really describe what the
book is about as much as it is a hook to draw in readers. And
hook me it did. Seeing the title on the library shelf, I had to
pick it up to find out more about it. The book description was
enough to know I had to read it. When I got it home I read the
single page prologue. To set the scene, the prologue introduced
an American college student, studying in Israel, as she meets
friends of various ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs in
a café. A terrorist blows the place up, killing all, and
the last line in the prologue is: "Another day in the Holy
Land." I instantly knew I made a good choice.
The story
revolves around Max Train, a geneticist who also has an interest
in archeology. Max had lost his wife and daughter to a brutal
murder in which he was the only suspect. He was found innocent
in court, but public opinion didn't buy that. After losing everything,
including his faith, Max stumbles upon a cave in Jerusalem recently
unearthed by an earthquake. With two of his students, and a long-time
friend, they find an unstable, small passage deeper in. Max goes
in alone and finds what appears to be the cross Jesus was crucified
on. Max is unsure how to proceed. The cross obviously belongs
to mankind as a whole, but who should he give it to? As he wrestles
with this question, and his own faith, he doesn't tell anyone
about his discovery. Later, as he tries to retrieve the cross,
an explosion buries his students and friend, and an unknown person
shoots at him. Max escapes with part of the cross, and the rest
of the book is a wild race for his life. Every person he turns
to for help is killed, and the assassin is on his heals every
step of the way.
This book
deals rather well with issues of faith, the controversy of genetic
engineering and cloning, how faith and science can work together,
as well as how extremism in any form is dangerous and corrupting.
Cloning Christ does have some weak points, however. There were
far too many typos in the book, the writing in general could be
greatly improved, and in places, Max's reactions to all the death
around him came out flat. The biggest weakness is the ending.
Everything is resolved, but the solutions come across as an afterthought.
It seemed like the writers really didn't know how to clean up
the mess they created for their main character, and took the easiest,
but most unfulfilling path.
Still, I'd
recommend the book. Cloning Christ may end on a whimper, but the
ride provides plenty of excitement and insight and is worth taking.
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