A Creed for the Third Millennium

Rating:
Summary: A pleasant surprise from a familiar author
Review: "Creed" is an unexpected offering from one of my favorite guilty pleasures. Colleen McCullough's "Tim" and "The Thornbirds" are two of my favorite books, but I don't usually admit to being a fan since these stories are somewhat simplistic romances. This book is very different from her other works. While the writing style is still quite simple and her symbolism is much too obvious, the novel offers a thought-provoking vision of a not-too-distant and all-too-possible future. The creation of a modern day messiah through the government's manipulation of the media is a fascinating premise. This book makes me a little less shy about admitting that I am a McCullough fan.

Rating:
Summary: Very readable
Review: Essentially there is nothing wrong with this book - in fact it is very compelling and readable and as such deserves a 4 star rating.

Still in saying that I wonder what made Colleen write about such a religious event but duplicated in the future? It is not offensive in my mind but others who take the Christian religion seriously may see this book as blasphemy.

Others like me who are not so worried will find this an easy and entertaining read that will leave you feeling a trifle sad about the world she has created in this novel.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful plot- scary political overtones
Review: I have to disagree with the reviewers who focused on the religious tone of the book- Colleen has a manufactured Christ figure who is out to give a feel good message to the masses at the behest of the wary political structure that is struggling to survive in the face of oncoming climatic changes and looming despair. I feel her futuristic vision of a man manipulated to serve the populist needs of the masses for hope was brilliant- I never saw the character as an actual Christ- I saw him as pawn.

I love the Thorn Birds and Indecent Obsession.Morgan's Run is one of the best novels to date about the early days of the colonization of Australia by convicts. I have tried repeatedly to read her Rome books and can never get into them- too many characters, too much detail- not the most interesting topic to me personally. I guess this is why this book which is such a departure from her other work has stayed with me over the years. I re-read this every 5 years or as a modern apocolyptic classic.

Other books to read in this realm: On the Beach by Nevil Shute and A Canticle for Leibowitz.