Mengele's Legacy

Rating:
Summary: engaging, scary - a bit rough around the edges!
Review:

I am not a fan of self-published books. They lack the discipline a good editorial staff brings to a piece of work.

With that said, I'll recommend MENGELE'S LEGACY because the author (1) knows his biology and (2) we're not the same world we were before 9/11 and the anthrax scares.

I don't know much science, but I'll try to explain the author's main plot line....Joseph Mengele, Hitler's henchman, was able to alter the make-up of human cells so that they cause mysterious deaths. Dr. Mengele infected Jews and Africans with these cells during the holocaust and after several generations, the mutated cells became HIV/AIDS.

What Doctor Isaiah "Izzy" Slesinger, the hero of MENGELE'S LEGACY and America's preeminent protein biochemist, needs to do is to find Dr. Mengele's copious notes and dissect the 'Mengele cell' and stop the ruination of the human species.

The science part of this book is well done..almost too much technical information for a novice like me, but I did come away with a better understanding of how difficult it will be to find a cure for HIV/AIDS because of how it mutates differently in each individual.

There is a lot of Ken Follet/Robert Ludlum cloak and dagger action in the book, but some of it is so implausible as to make the reader groan. I know there are new neo-Nazi movements in the world, and I know we need to be vigilant, but some of the characters and plots proposed by the author seemed to be more science fiction than thriller material.

The author has promise, but he needs a quality editorial staff to guide him through the maze of plot lines and to re-organize his chapters so there is continuity and not confusion. With Ludlum gone and Follett/Woods faltering, the world needs good thriller writers!

Rating:
Summary: Frightening Science Fiction
Review: I found Mengele's Legacy while surfing on the net. I'm studying to be a teacher and the book looked intriguing. I'll admit to not reading many medical thrillers, and the scientific descriptions of the AIDS virus were very technical. The characters in the book seemed very real, except for maybe the Nazis who seemed overly evil.

Before reading Mengele's Legacy, I had barely heard of Doctor Mengele. I am certain that I will now never forget his name. Given what he is responsible for, I can picture him having a real hatred for Negroes. I also have a much better understanding of why the AIDS virus will be so hard to defeat. I had never heard of David Weinberg, and in reading the book I discovered that Mengele's Legacy is his first novel. I have to give him a lot of credit. This was a very scary book that I had trouble putting down. It made me think about AIDS, and how the current war in Afghanistan has made the crisis in Africa disappear from the news.

Rating:
Summary: Frightening Science Fiction
Review: Mengele's Legacy is the story of Izzy Slesinger, a sexist biochemist with delusions of self-importance. This might be a legitimate starting point for a story if the story were written with a greater degree of believability or emotional honesty and depth. Unfortunately, the author, David Weinberg, does not have the requisite skill to tell a convincing story.

After casually dumping his latest sexual conquest, Izzy receives a cryptic message promising to reveal the key to understanding AIDS. Enter Oksana, the love interest for the story and watch as the author moves these chess pieces about the board of his novel.

The illusion of the characters having any free will is abolished as they are shuffled from one exotic locale to the next without any motivation. The author wanted the characters to be at certain places at certain times in order to advance the plot. Izzy is shuffled from Argentina, to Brittany and to Russia before returning to the States with the key to unraveling the mystery.

Still, even when moving pieces on a chessboard the players must follow certain rules. Rooks never move diagonally; knights do not jump from one corner of the board to the other.

In writing this novel, Mr. Weinberg chose to throw even that much attention to detail out the window. Characters who are supposed to keep the fact that they are alive a secret are suddenly (and inexplicably) thrust into a highly visible, public fund raiser for no reason other than to give the bad guys an opportunity to kidnap them.

One character comments, "I'm smack dab in the middle of a medical mystery Robin Cook couldn't dream up on his best day." As intriguing as the possibility is that AIDS is due to Nazis, this story falls far short of anything written by Robin Cook.

The telling of a good story requires more than an intriguing idea. Without realistic characters and rational plot development, even the greatest idea becomes trivial. Since the plot is full of holes and the characters only as real as paper dolls, the idea behind the story cannot be given any degree of credibility by even the most eager reader.

Still, despite all the flaws, I do hope that Mr. Weinberg keeps writing. This effort does show promise. If he can avoid clich?s, stereotypes, typographical errors, and pop culture references, he will definitely produce something more believable and hence more enjoyable.

Rating:
Summary: THOUGHT PROVOKING, QUICK PACED, SCARY
Review: More than a sci-fi thriller, "Mengele's Legacy" takes the reader around the globe, all the while weaving an interesting and exciting story filled with medical intrigue, Jewish themes, sex and more. A theory that "Mengele Cells" will cause the end of life as we know it is both scary and thought-provoking.Science abounds; AIDS theories abound; and Jewish themes abound. David J. Weinberg sports his far-reaching knowledge with detail after detail, keeping the reader engaged."Lador va dor"--from one generation to the next--keeping the past alive--is upheld. Characters with names like Gilly Buchanan, Doris Rumplemeyer, Moe Ginsky, Brian Crighton and Cassandra Winfrey often make the reader chuckle.But "Mengele's Legacy" is a serious book (written in screenplay style). A typical passage:"While Adolf pondered Izzy, Izzy pondered Mengele's notes. He and Oksana spent hours pouring over the journals that were stored inside the valise. Grotesque and fiendish experimentation was explained in cold, detached, scientific language. Many times Oksana had to halt translating and steady herself. She did her best to keep from crying. The descriptions ripped her at her heart, especially the ones that dealt with children....Izzy reacted with more anger than sadness. The journals were factual testament to the insanity and bestiality of the Holocaust. Izzy's father had bore his guilt of silence and inaction like an albatross. He was one of the few American Jews who realized that his lack of involvement, of not personally speaking out, cost European Jews their lives. He went to his grave with that bloodstain on his hands. It was a guilt that was always near the surface, in plain sight for Shana and little Izzy to see. Izzy's father did not take the entire bloodstain to his final resting spot. He left some of it behind, on his son."The action is non-stop. One wonders what Weinberg's next book will be about. Perhaps an old sage, musing to himself about the vagaries of the Talmud, will form its basis! Whatever. Look for more from David Weinberg. --And, of course, if not now, when?

Rating:
Summary: Great conversation
Review: Numb to the plight of aids, our ears tuned out to "millions infected", David Weinberg shocks us to realize we are not immune from this scourge to humankind. In Mengele's Legacy Weinberg transforms a brilliant out of shape middle aged male scientist, into an "Indiana Jones" adventurer traveling around the globe to unrattle the mystery.

Weinberg's style of writing makes for a easy fast paced read, yet still finds time to develop characters ones either hates or loves. The tragic nature of the holocaust is deftly treated by Weinberg, reliving history and infusing it with new meaning as applied to today's "holocaust of aids".

Adjectives that come to mind to describe this book: suspenseful, engaging, gripping, surprising, sensual, r-rated, violent, and compassionate. In the style of the movie serial, each chapter leaves the reader wanting more. A must read.

Rating:
Summary: First Aids, Last Rights
Review: Numb to the plight of aids, our ears tuned out to "millions infected", David Weinberg shocks us to realize we are not immune from this scourge to humankind. In Mengele's Legacy Weinberg transforms a brilliant out of shape middle aged male scientist, into an "Indiana Jones" adventurer traveling around the globe to unrattle the mystery.

Weinberg's style of writing makes for a easy fast paced read, yet still finds time to develop characters ones either hates or loves. The tragic nature of the holocaust is deftly treated by Weinberg, reliving history and infusing it with new meaning as applied to today's "holocaust of aids".

Adjectives that come to mind to describe this book: suspenseful, engaging, gripping, surprising, sensual, r-rated, violent, and compassionate. In the style of the movie serial, each chapter leaves the reader wanting more. A must read.

Rating:
Summary: Great conversation
Review: This book has the ability to generate great conversation. The subject matter is interesting and riviting. At a recent gathering of friends this book came up what a great roundtable discussion. The ending...quite a twist!