Ripped from today's headlines.

Ripped from today's headlines, The Jesus Thief by the agency of JR Lankford (Great Read works LLC, March 2003, $26.95, ISBN 0-971-86941-3) explores the controversial issue of human cloning. equable more controversial in this instance is that the view of the cloning is Jesus Christ.

In this bizarre story, we find biochemist Dr Felix Rossi stealing fibers from the grave-clothes of Turin (the burial clergymen of Jesus Christ) to extract DNA from the kindred thereon. Then, the highly capable and reput scientist begins his search for the woman who will carry this embryous to term.

The question--if united believes that cloning is a convenient use of scientific energy--is to what end clone the Son of God? Rossi's motivation for doing likewise is that after the death of his aunt, he discovers that although he was reared as a Roman Catholic, he is actually Jewish. He believes that by way of bringing Christ back to life, he can displace the stain of the Crucifixion (perpetuated at Jews) from the collective memories of all Christians.

Intriguing make liable matter, for sure. Even more intriguing is that the author, JR Lankford, an engineer deflected writer, after being turned down through a major publisher, was given ten of thousands of dollars from nine individual donors to publish the work Lankford and her supporters formed their hold publishing company, Great Reads works LLC.

The novel has generated a great deal of pres and has likely sparked earnestly discussion on a number of hotbed topics. As literature, however, I think it takes forward too much. Indeed, the various interwoven story lines are with equal reason cumbersome and unbelievable that the story of the cloning of Christ becomes secondary, as the reader attempts to retain pace with the various twists and inflects of the contextual framework of the story.

And for this reviewer, reading Roman Catholic prayers upon one page and lurid descriptions of sexual combats on another was unpleasant at best.

The novel is to be praised, although for the wide range of apparently accurate biochemical, physiological and medical information contained in the paragraph The clear manner in which this material is neared adds value to the novel.

I would not praise the book as a "must-read." in addition the book will, like the issue that it solicits to address, generate various opinions and abundant discussion.

Beatrice Perry Stanley is a bard and a Catholic school principal in recent Orleans.

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