Rating: 
Summary: EXCELLENT USE OF SCIENCE TO WRITE A THRILLER
Review: As a practicing biomedical scientist, I was attracted to this novel which falls into my professional ballpark. I hasten to add, my favorite reading is generally not novels but rather non-fiction. Yet I've enjoyed an occaisional Azimov, Clark or Heinlein sci-fi. It is in this general context that I read NINTH DAY OF CREATION. The first nine pages are a secton called "Prologue: In The Temple Of Heaven." These pages set out a bit of background and introduce a few characters. My problem was to set the story in time. Was this happening now (it semed to be contemporary) or several years in the future? My own prejudices worked against integrating the characterization of China (now or in the near future) in terms of contemporary clichés. Contemporary, Communist China is not (never was) Stalinist Soviet Union ... but these were the images that got in my way. Probably, I was ironically hampered by having spent time in China dealing with the scientific establishment there. Maybe at the height of the Cultural Revolution (nearly 30 years ago) some of the heavy-handed communist bureaucratic power may have resembled some situations in Leonard Crane's novel. The action adventure in NINTH DAY ... is very interesting and at times absorbing. There were very few flaws in the science part of this science fiction. Indeed, the potential horrors of biotechnology gone bad were nicely developed and credible. I did wish that I could get to know some of the characters better, however. At first, the various computer outputs and sketches scattered throughout "Ninth Day ..." seemed odd to me. Yet in the context of the story they made sense, and added something to it. And pretty soon, I wondered what bit of information in outputs and sketches would be coming in the next few pages; sort of like a treasure hunt. The action on land and at sea keep moving throughout this novel which heightens the interest in the evolving story. All in all, writing this novel was an ambitious undertaking for a trained physicist. The publisher's notes indicate: "Leonard Crane trained as a physicist, and received his doctorate in quantum optics in 1993 from the University of Queensland, Australia. Ninth Day Of Creation is his first novel, penned after attending the California Institute Of Technology as a postdoctoral fellow." Indeed, I do not recall reading other than non-fiction books that end in three pages of scientific bibiography. However, I think a novel need nothave to justify its notion of science, so long as the story keeps the readers' interest. People still avidly read Jules Verne's novels eventhough they were fraught with scientific flaws in terms of what was known about the real world in the 19th Century. Crane made an heroic effort by writing an elaborate first novel well over 600 pages, and competing with the likes of Tom Clancy. This fledgling novelist has something to say, and he can keep up the reader's interest. Crane should continue as a novelist. I look forward to his next book.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT USE OF SCIENCE TO WRITE A THRILLER
Review: As a practicing biomedical scientist, I was attracted to this novel which falls into my professional ballpark. I hasten to add, my favorite reading is generally not novels but rather non-fiction. Yet I've enjoyed an occaisional Azimov, Clark or Heinlein sci-fi. It is in this general context that I read NINTH DAY OF CREATION. The first nine pages are a secton called "Prologue: In The Temple Of Heaven." These pages set out a bit of background and introduce a few characters. My problem was to set the story in time. Was this happening now (it semed to be contemporary) or several years in the future? My own prejudices worked against integrating the characterization of China (now or in the near future) in terms of contemporary clichés. Contemporary, Communist China is not (never was) Stalinist Soviet Union ... but these were the images that got in my way. Probably, I was ironically hampered by having spent time in China dealing with the scientific establishment there. Maybe at the height of the Cultural Revolution (nearly 30 years ago) some of the heavy-handed communist bureaucratic power may have resembled some situations in Leonard Crane's novel. The action adventure in NINTH DAY ... is very interesting and at times absorbing. There were very few flaws in the science part of this science fiction. Indeed, the potential horrors of biotechnology gone bad were nicely developed and credible. I did wish that I could get to know some of the characters better, however. At first, the various computer outputs and sketches scattered throughout "Ninth Day ..." seemed odd to me. Yet in the context of the story they made sense, and added something to it. And pretty soon, I wondered what bit of information in outputs and sketches would be coming in the next few pages; sort of like a treasure hunt. The action on land and at sea keep moving throughout this novel which heightens the interest in the evolving story. All in all, writing this novel was an ambitious undertaking for a trained physicist. The publisher's notes indicate: "Leonard Crane trained as a physicist, and received his doctorate in quantum optics in 1993 from the University of Queensland, Australia. Ninth Day Of Creation is his first novel, penned after attending the California Institute Of Technology as a postdoctoral fellow." Indeed, I do not recall reading other than non-fiction books that end in three pages of scientific bibiography. However, I think a novel need nothave to justify its notion of science, so long as the story keeps the readers' interest. People still avidly read Jules Verne's novels eventhough they were fraught with scientific flaws in terms of what was known about the real world in the 19th Century. Crane made an heroic effort by writing an elaborate first novel well over 600 pages, and competing with the likes of Tom Clancy. This fledgling novelist has something to say, and he can keep up the reader's interest. Crane should continue as a novelist. I look forward to his next book.
Rating: 
Summary: MICHAEL CRICHTON, MOVE OVER!
Review: Do you enjoy science fiction novels with lots of action, believable, interesting characters, and solid science? This is the book for you! Leonard Crane gets bonus points for featuring some really smart, strong female characters, and also for not resorting to one of the most common mistakes of science fiction novels, which is having all of the characters jumping into bed with each other. (You could read this book to your grandmother and not be embarrassed.) I won't rehash the plot. I'll just tell you that this book ranks right up there with Jurassic Park and Andromeda Strain. If you'd like to know more about it, come on over to Amazon's Science Fiction and Fantasy Discussion Board for a visit. There are plenty of friendly folks there who will be more than happy to discuss books with you, including this one!
Rating:
Summary: MICHAEL CRICHTON, MOVE OVER!
Review: Do you enjoy science fiction novels with lots of action, believable, interesting characters, and solid science? This is the book for you! Leonard Crane gets bonus points for featuring some really smart, strong female characters, and also for not resorting to one of the most common mistakes of science fiction novels, which is having all of the characters jumping into bed with each other. (You could read this book to your grandmother and not be embarrassed.) I won't rehash the plot. I'll just tell you that this book ranks right up there with Jurassic Park and Andromeda Strain. If you'd like to know more about it, come on over to Amazon's Science Fiction and Fantasy Discussion Board for a visit. There are plenty of friendly folks there who will be more than happy to discuss books with you, including this one!
Rating:
Summary: Absorbing and Ingenious!
Review: First time author Leonard Crane may find it difficult to surpass Ninth Day of Creation, a gripping tale of international politics, science and engaging underdog protagonists. As a fan of hard science fiction, I deeply appreciated Mr. Crane's solid and plausible presentation of the science-based elements of the story. Crane does an excellent job of presenting complex genetic and other material in a clear manner. He successfully finds that critical balance between too much and too little information and never lets the science overshadow the story. The novel is frighteningly believable. Crane also avoids one of the chief pitfalls of hard SF: weak characters. His characters are both real and interesting, and their personal struggles keep everything on a human level. I also commend him on writing strong, intelligent female characters. While very much a science-in-fiction novel, Ninth Day of Creation is also a political thriller, perhaps even more so, and, as someone interested in politics and international relations, I greatly enjoyed the story on this level as well. I strongly recommend Ninth Day of Creation to fans of authors such as Tom Clancy and the Reeves-Stevens duo. There is enough action in the air, at sea and on the road to satisfy anyone! The book's strengths are myriad. Intelligent, fast-paced, with a complex, tightly woven plot, featuring more twists, turns and surprises than one expects; strongly developed characters; international suspense; realistic, informative science... While I personally found the book to be a bit of a slow start, once the chain of events was unleashed, the action didn't stop.
Rating:
Summary: A good thriller
Review: In San Diego, biochemist Dr. Richard Kirby of Immunological Technologies has found a way of introducing a third strand into the DNA double helix model of Watson and Crick. Richard, accompanied by his employer Dan Rosen, will introduce his findings to the General Assembly of the World Health organization in Geneva. Richard's solution to the long-stalled field of gene therapy is amazing, having realized a dream held by geneticists since Watson and Crick first elucidated the structure of genes in 1953. However, Richard's trip to Switzerland only acts to catalyze a worsening series of global events and bring him to the attention of some already desperate world leaders. From China (whose leaders are dealing underhandedly with an ecological disaster) to the President of the United States (who is about to discover that he has unwittingly supported a top secret biological warfare program) to other places on the globe, all the players quickly seize on Kirby as a key element to the unravelling of their problems. NINTH DAY OF CREATION successfully blends science and politics into a taut thriller that warns about the potentially dark side of genetics. Does the tale require a stretch in terms of Kirby's actions? Absolutely. But no one will care because the plot is that exciting. Leonard Crane makes a scientifically plausible argument that our current dabbling in the gene code could prove to be the biological equivalent to the 1940s nuclear energy experiments with misuse leading to genocide and racial cleansing. Instead of preaching, Mr. Crane succeeds with invoking his message by packing it inside a fast-paced, non-stop action scientific thriller. The premise will send shock waves through sub-genre fans because the well-written story line appears so feasible. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: A Must For Fans of Science Thrillers
Review: Leonard Crane's Ninth Day of Creation is an excellent science thriller that has unfortunately been a bit overlooked. It is not nearly as well known as it should be, this is truly an excellent book. Indeed, this is the best book of it's type that I have read in a long time not written by a certain M. Crichton. This book deals with complex science issues (biological weapons, search for the cure for AIDS, protein folding, etc.) that will appeal to readers who like a science slant to their novels. However, it also has a thriller and suspense aspect. Anyone should like this book. Reccommended for Crichton fans!
Rating:
Summary: 'Ninth Day of Creation:' Politics and Science Collide!
Review: Leonard Crane's novel, 'Ninth Day of Creation,' is a smart, exciting dive into the deadly world of biological warefare and international intrigue. Crane's progtagonist, biochemist Richard Kirby, has just created the impossible- a cure for AIDS. But along with the fame his discovery brings danger awaits. Forces operating from Bejing to Mexico City to Washington D.C. are working against each other. The only connection between the three powers is Imtech, the biological corporation Kirby works for. As Kirby is pulled deeper into the schemes of corporate heads and world leaders everyone he has known becomes suspect. Kirby must use all of his cunning and scientic training to unravel this enigma before it's too late. Though at times the story gets a little bogged down in some of its science aspects, the overall plot is fast-paced and doesn't let go. From the disappearance of two bodies buried in the Alaskan wilderness to car chases in the middle of San Diego to the most exciting modern naval battle this side of Tom Clancy's 'Red Storm Rising,' this is a great adventure yarn- and all this leads to an explosive climax that will leave you wanting more. Fans of the techno-thriller will love 'Ninth Day of Creation!'
Rating:
Summary: 'Ninth Day of Creation:' Politics and Science Collide!
Review: Leonard Crane's novel, 'Ninth Day of Creation,' is a smart, exciting dive into the deadly world of biological warefare and international intrigue. Crane's progtagonist, biochemist Richard Kirby, has just created the impossible- a cure for AIDS. But along with the fame his discovery brings danger awaits. Forces operating from Bejing to Mexico City to Washington D.C. are working against each other. The only connection between the three powers is Imtech, the biological corporation Kirby works for. As Kirby is pulled deeper into the schemes of corporate heads and world leaders everyone he has known becomes suspect. Kirby must use all of his cunning and scientic training to unravel this enigma before it's too late. Though at times the story gets a little bogged down in some of its science aspects, the overall plot is fast-paced and doesn't let go. From the disappearance of two bodies buried in the Alaskan wilderness to car chases in the middle of San Diego to the most exciting modern naval battle this side of Tom Clancy's 'Red Storm Rising,' this is a great adventure yarn- and all this leads to an explosive climax that will leave you wanting more. Fans of the techno-thriller will love 'Ninth Day of Creation!'
Rating:
Summary: Science thriller delivers the goods...most of the time.
Review: Leonard Crane's voluminous work (nearly 660 pages) jumps off the pages and grabs the reader immediately with a fascinating and intriguing prologue. Right off the bat, the reader knows that something very profound and sinister is lurking ahead. "The Ninth Day of Creation" centers on Richard Kirby, one of many brilliant scientists working at a little known, yet highly secured laboratory called Imtech. Richard and his team, through the magic of genetic science, have found the cure for AIDS and the world may never be the same. But all is not as it seems at Imtech, and the reader is sent on journey of power, greed, corruption, political intrigue and world mayhem. Set in the very near future (sometime after the Clinton administration), we are shown a world where tensions between the United States and Mexico are coming to a head. President Coleman has hit a wall in his relationship with the fiery leader of Mexico, Camilla Montoya. Add to that, a missing ship in the China Sea, the ongoing antagonism between China and Taiwan, and America's shrinking military might due to budget cuts of key elements in the Air Force and Navy, and we find Kirby's miraculous cure quickly takes a backseat. This is an extremely ambitious novel, and it works on many levels and is interlaced with many subplots (maybe too many), and because it is so ambitious, not everything jells. The reader will find himself/herself reading in spurts. There are times "Ninth Day" is impossible to put down, while at other times.... Crane succeeds best when he focuses on world tensions, and indeed, the sub hunts and sea skirmishes are some of the best writing I've seen in many years. I was absolutely glued to those pages! Also, the intrigue centering around Imtech is handled masterfully and keeps the reader on edge and guessing. Crane has a great knack for grabbing the reader's interest and building tension. What's also interesting is that the novel is not setup conventionally with chapters, but is sprinkled throughout with headings, and this works surprisingly well. Crane's knowledge and research of his subject matter, including military tactics and armament, are first-rate, however, much of the science of genetics, biochemistry and vaccinations won't be particularly exciting for the average reader to wade through (scientists will love it, though). Crane's eye for detail and scientific explanation slowed the pace of the novel at key moments. This can frustrate a reader who is totally caught up in events, then is made to wait too long for the payoff. I also have some minor quibbles concerning the handling of some the subplots and the validity of some of the characters (although most are handled deftly). Indeed, after finishing the novel, I'm not sure I know who Richard Kirby is...and damn it, I SHOULD know. These minor criticisms aside, "Ninth Day of Creation" turned out to be a very enjoyable read, and at times, absolutely riveting! If Crane would have trimmed his work by 100 or so pages by deleted unnecessary detail, and drawn a few of his main characters just a tad deeper, I'd rank this novel a must buy. As it stands, "Ninth Day" gets a marginal 7 out of 10. Make no mistake, this is a fine piece of work, and one I'm sure most will thoroughly enjoy. Leonard Crane. Remember the name. I think we will be hearing much more from this talented writer.
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