Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #158576 in Books
• Published on: 2007-02-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 260 pages

Synopsis
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, AND WITNESS ANY EVENT, WHERE WOULD YOU GO? When Dr. Tom Greenbaum faces that question after successfully discovering the secret to time travel, he knows the time, place and event he will witness: the death and failed resurrection of Jesus Christ. Dr. David Goodman, Tom's colleague and closest friend follows Tom into the past, attempting to avert a time-space catastrophe, but forces beyond their control toss them into a dangerous end game where they are tempted by evil characters, betrayed by friends, pursued by an assassin from the future and haunted by a demon that cannot be killed.

Customer Reviews

Highly Original Thriller
I don't know what those other two reviewers have been smoking, but I think they expected this book to be something it wasn't ever meant to be. First, it's fun, which a thriller should be. It doesn't waste the readers time by postulating yet another rediculous or rehashed time thravel theory. That's overdone in time travel fiction and I think the author wisely came to that conclusion. Time travel is not the story, it is the vehicle through which the story is told.

And what a story it is! Extremely unique and impossible to put down. I read throught the book in two sittings. It's got all the elements of a great thriller--fast pace, plot twists, enjoyable characters, a unique concept and a twist ending that only those intimately familiar with the Bible account of Jesus will see coming.

That said, this is not a Christian book designed to convert the reader. Not at all. It involves the life of Jesus, true, but it's seen from a unique perspective. More than that, the way Jesus is portrayed is quite different from how he's typically portrayed in media (novels, movies and whatnot). Rather, he's the kind of guy you might enjoy a drink at the pub with.

I bought this book on the strength of the reviews posted on the first edition of the book. If you need more convincing that this is a great read after reading the two previous sour-puss reviews, check out the first edition which is rated 4 stars from 15 reviews. Honestly, it's a great book. Just don't expect some great scientific treatise that belongs at a quantum physics symposium, not in a novel. DO expect and original and entertaining yarn.

Worth a punt
I enjoyed this book and would have to disagree about the "religious treaties" comment as it has many too inaccuracies regarding both Judaism and Christianity. While it does have those tones it is more of a "What if" and raises some thoughtful points on the idea of the effect of time travel on the past and future.

It is only a short book so it is worth a punt for a plane, train or holiday read. I enjoyed it.

smartly marketed but no scifi
SPOILER ALERT - This book is not science fiction - it is a religious treatise on the life of Jesus (who is a major character) seen through the eyes of two twentieth century protagonists, Tom and David. They are quantum-physicists working for LightTech, trying to invent time travel. One day they get the brilliant idea to transfer the future lab notes of themselves to the present - and are rewarded by ten fully functional timemachines in the forms of watches (infinite energy, no recharge time or drawbacks - and they teleport as well).

LightTech's agenda, other than "control the time devices" is never really explored or even questioned by Tom or David in all the years they work for the company. One would think the US government would be all over this company and its attempts to master time travel and maybe they are. We just don't hear about it. The time-travel concept is clearly a deux ex machina to get the story going and the two men in Palestine around the time of Jesus.

For personal reasons, Tom sets about disproving Jesus, outing him as an imposter and David the believer is hanging in the back, smiling knowingly as his faith is justified ad nauseum while Tom conveniently sleeps his way through all the miracles Jesus performs.

We are supposed to believe that Tom, a learned quantum physicist knows just enough of the Christian story to know that Jesus dies on the cross and rises from the dead after three days - but doesn't know anything about Judas except that he was generally considered "bad". As James Rollins' blurb says, this is a page-turner, but only because you keep reading, hoping for something unexpected to happen.

The author kills any possible excitement by declaring time cannot be changed - even though Jesus later on says 'the future is yours to write'. Evil execs from LightTech hardly make an impact. A highly trained assassin with a gun is defeated by a few rock-throwing men in long robes. Three robot insects with face recognition software find Tom and David in the right place and time (what are the chances of that in Palestine, 2000 years ago) but their effects are easily dealt with. And Jesus just sends the last exec one back to the future - with the watch - and the words 'It's over', even though a reasonably evil person would keep on trying to come back.

Not in this book however, where the word of Jesus is used to plug plot holes. But then I remind myself, this wasn't about the time travel - it was about the importance of faith and Tom's redemption from the sin of non-believing.

Clever marketing and a lack of reviews tricked me into buying this. I hope that you will be better informed.