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Books by tom A. Wright
| | | | PWP Member Book Reviews  Cloning Christ by Peter Senese with Robert Geis
Review by Tom A. Wright
The book's title, Cloning Christ, doesn't really describe what the book is about as much as it draws in readers. And hook me it did - when I saw the title on the library shelf, I had to pick it up. The cover description convinced me that I had to read it. Not until I got home did I read the single page prologue. To set the scene, the prologue introduces 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'd made a good choice. The story revolves around Max Train, a geneticist who also has an interest in archeology. Max has 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, he finds an unstable, small passage deep inside the cavern. 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 heels every step of the way. This book deals 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 are flat. The biggest weakness is the ending. All the plot lines are 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.
Tom A. Wright was the first PWP Webmaster (1998-2005) and served as PWP President in 2004. He and his family now make their home in Arkansas. In addition to writing, he and his wife Annette also raise pygmy goats. Tom is the author of two sci-fi novels, Distant Ties and Broken Ties.
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