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The Spear of Golgotha

The Spear of Golgotha

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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Finally Somebody Else Got It-Its a SPOOF!
Review: A Spoof. Where else can you find the Gay Black Jewish Nazis for Jesus? Spear of Golgotha is a whacky tongue-in-cheek story that makes fun of just about everything and does it in a way that makes you keep reading. The previous reviewer was right on, he read one heck of a take-off for the wrong reason. What we have been lead to believe is a thriller, is not, really a thriller, but a comic roller coaster ride. I read it twice. Once for the wrong reason, then, I read it again and I got it, the joke was on the me. Mr. Greenwald is a hell of a comedian and an incredible story teller, his book is an intricately designed lampoon of contemporary American thrillers. The stuff that is supposed to keep you off your seat. In that context, as a thumb your nose to US thrillers, its a riot. I aggree with the previous reviews that it is well written and nicely paced, but viewed as take-off on Clancy or Higgins, its brilliant. What other story begins at the Crucifixion and weaves in a cast of characters on a pseudo-scientific adventure with Rastafarians, Nazis, Naplean, U-Boats, Hell's Angels (bikers?), Young Frankenstein meets Jane Fonda meets Austin Powers meets Indiana Jones. The Australians pulled one up on me from down under. No wonder the book is still around, its funny and fun to read. So on a 1-5 scale as a thriller, in the American sense of the genre, I give it a one. As a brilliant Australian spoof on people who take themselves too seriously to get a joke, I geve it a five plus. When you finish it you have to wonder why the Americans are so dense. I hope Mr. Greenwald has another one up his sleeve.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: This Spear A Dull Instrument
Review: After reading it I wonder if I read the same book that others talked about. This is one of those novels that is so bad, you end up reading it just to find out how it ends: One dimensional characters, pseudo-science, the usual Nazi occult conspiracy, a plot that gets sillier by the moment --- hell, even the Hell's Angels are in this one --- and a entirely predictable ending. In other words, Young Frankenstein meets Jane Fonda meets Austin Powers. Ironically, Mr. Greenwald writes well enough to keep the pages turning but I ended up finishing the book for the wrong reasons. Something like reading a comic book for the art. If World War II genre is what you like I would suggest John Katzenbach (Shadow Man), Loup Durand (Daddy), and anything by Alan Furst (but especially The Polish Officer).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: What a read,,,
Review: I got this book a few weeks ago and read it one sitting. It really is something, at least for me. It is well researched and had a lot of intersting things that might be true. I would reccomed this highly. This author writes like he knows whathe is doing. It is worth a read if you want to be entertained.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: fun, real, worth the ticket
Review: I got this book at a second hand shop and read it an airport and thought that it was the funniesst and most smartly piece of pulp fiction I ever read. I don't think that the author is the real name of the guy or gal that wrote it but the characters stick with me and the plot, a story that a Indiana Jones story would be about makes it seem like either the big shot publishers are doing this to test out stories or this was a flukey book that got published. I don't know a lot about the book business but I know what I like and this book, I read all the reviews really does have everything in it to keep you reading despite the tight airplane seats. For what ever it is worth, writing this review is more of a search, and I have searched th einternet for more books by this author for more of this kind of stuff. I usually get turned off by best seller lists of what I have to read and do not spend seven or eight bucks because somebody says this is a good book. Whoever you are please give me another book like this. Nazis bums bikers and rastafarians will be floating in my head for a long time. I only gave it three stars because it was not on the famous book lists that say what is good and what is not.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Historically correct, funny, fast and moving.
Review: I obtained a copy of this from an Australian colleague and was pleasantly surprised to find that publishing exists outside of New York, London, and Sydney. The author, a physician certainly did his research. Per a previous review, this is not an E A Poe, rather an entertaining and exciting read. I did some research and found that Dr Greenwald is involved in several motion picture projects in Los Angeles as well as a multitude of other publications. The calumnous reviewer perked my interest. This is a wonderful book. Perhaps, I might suggest, that if one is to opine, they do so with some background information. I spoke with the author's Publisher(hardly a vanity press), his agent, and two motion picture producers,(I am in the motion picture industry, and have been for the past twenty years). The privelage of on-line anonymity does little but to betray ones own failings. From what I understand, Greenwald is quite an outrageous personality-I look forward to meeting! him. When The Spear goes mass market in the States it will not take long for an option.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: fun, real, worth the ticket
Review: I reread this book, the third time and pick up the subtle prose the author uses. Its a quick read and a lot of things I missed, like the German word for science, Wissensshaft, is like the author is poking fun at it all. This really is an interesting piece because, like a previous reviewer said, its like reading a cartoon for the artwork. The artwork, or the way it is written is lyrical and I think that it is more than just a thriller or poke at thrillers. Its a story about redemption and sacrafice and Crasny, the protagonist is someone you would like to hate but end up rooting for him. It reads like a Ross Thomas story, the Wu and Durant ones and has James Crumley sort of grittiness to it. It is somehow reminiscent, I do not know exactly how of Tim Power's Last Call. Thomas and Crumley are a couple of the greatest American authors in this genre. I think its the same genre. Anyways, there is a depth to the tale of the Spear that with each reading creeps up on you and stays with you for a while. This is a very thoughtful and thought provoking story that is presented in a way that makes you think about supernatural things in a way that is amusing and keeps you wondering. I don't know who the author of this book really is, but I guess that he has written a lot of stories pseudonymously. It is really worth a look at.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Spear gets to the heart of it!
Review: I reread this book, the third time and pick up the subtle prose the author uses. Its a quick read and a lot of things I missed, like the German word for science, Wissensshaft, is like the author is poking fun at it all. This really is an interesting piece because, like a previous reviewer said, its like reading a cartoon for the artwork. The artwork, or the way it is written is lyrical and I think that it is more than just a thriller or poke at thrillers. Its a story about redemption and sacrafice and Crasny, the protagonist is someone you would like to hate but end up rooting for him. It reads like a Ross Thomas story, the Wu and Durant ones and has James Crumley sort of grittiness to it. It is somehow reminiscent, I do not know exactly how of Tim Power's Last Call. Thomas and Crumley are a couple of the greatest American authors in this genre. I think its the same genre. Anyways, there is a depth to the tale of the Spear that with each reading creeps up on you and stays with you for a while. This is a very thoughtful and thought provoking story that is presented in a way that makes you think about supernatural things in a way that is amusing and keeps you wondering. I don't know who the author of this book really is, but I guess that he has written a lot of stories pseudonymously. It is really worth a look at.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: What is going on here--is
Review: The reader from Austin, Texas, you clearly have not read this book. On page 40, we are privy to a dinner conversation between the main characters Vanessa and Crasny, although it is more a duel for supremacy in a game neither yet understands. 'It was Crasny's turn to reappraise the situation. "I know you have some medical problems and I don't really expect you to tell me..." "I have breast cancer, Dr Crasny. The cancer has metastasised and I haven't got long to live." "What about..." "It's too late. I've resigned myself to my fate. I won't submit to any so-called cures that lead to the same miserable place. I need to find my peace." "So how can this artefact help you?"'- hardly fraudulent dialogue as you say.

Besides 18 of the first 40 pages are an historical prologue spanning the crucifixion, and Napolean's and Hitler's association with an ancient spear, and setting up an intriguing story.

The Spear of Golgotha is a well-written piece of escapism, in everyone's language.

Like the reviewer before you said, 'Get it if you can' - it's difficult to find even in Australia.


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