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.
Rating: 
Summary: Leonard Crane SCORES with Ninth Day of Creation
Review: Ninth Day of Creation is one of those books that you wish would never end. When you read the last page, you want to just start reading it again. Between the fast-paced action and the factual information presented to the reader, this book is utterly satisfying. When Dr. Kirby of Immunological Technologies discovers a cure for AIDS, the world is stunned. Mexico, with it's new female president, Camilla Montoya, is desperate for a way to get it and rid it's diseased population of the virus forever. But the managers of Imtech are using this new technology to form a bioweapon of ultimate proportions. Now, with a crisis brewing in Mexico following Montoya's apparent abduction and a coup d'etat within the government, Richard Kirby must discover what has happened to Montoya . . . and his wife, who has mysteriously vanished from her hospital. This book is definitely one of my favorites. From the first page to the last, you are presented with incredibly accurate information on all sorts of the things mentioned in this book, be it a virus or an aircraft carrier. Amazingly well-written, I found myself stunned by the ideas presented later in the book. The ending was marvelous, and was exactly as it should have been. Much more than any techno-thriller has ever been, this book is definitely a must-buy for any reader.
Rating:
Summary: Leonard Crane SCORES with Ninth Day of Creation
Review: Ninth Day of Creation is one of those books that you wish would never end. When you read the last page, you want to just start reading it again. Between the fast-paced action and the factual information presented to the reader, this book is utterly satisfying. When Dr. Kirby of Immunological Technologies discovers a cure for AIDS, the world is stunned. Mexico, with it's new female president, Camilla Montoya, is desperate for a way to get it and rid it's diseased population of the virus forever. But the managers of Imtech are using this new technology to form a bioweapon of ultimate proportions. Now, with a crisis brewing in Mexico following Montoya's apparent abduction and a coup d'etat within the government, Richard Kirby must discover what has happened to Montoya . . . and his wife, who has mysteriously vanished from her hospital. This book is definitely one of my favorites. From the first page to the last, you are presented with incredibly accurate information on all sorts of the things mentioned in this book, be it a virus or an aircraft carrier. Amazingly well-written, I found myself stunned by the ideas presented later in the book. The ending was marvelous, and was exactly as it should have been. Much more than any techno-thriller has ever been, this book is definitely a must-buy for any reader.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down!
Review: What a book! Even though it numbers over 600 pages, I finished it in a mere three days, it was that gripping. "The Ninth Day of Creation" is both science fiction and a political thriller, written masterfully so that the suspense builds and builds and never lets up. A brilliant, young, unassuming scientist has developed a potential cure for AIDS. Mexico's feisty female president is causing major headaches for the US presidency. The Chinese government is attempting to cover up the drastic measures that it has undertaken to prevent the country's collapse. These three seemingly unrelated plots turn out to be intertwined so fully that the events that unfold have shattering implications for everyone concerned. Leonard Crane weaves his plot so well that it's difficult to believe that this is his first novel. For me, the most important aspect that determines whether or not I like a book is if I care about the characters. All of the main players in this book (and most of the minor characters as well) are very real and mostly likeable, despite their very human flaws. Even the villains are portrayed as real people with real reasons behind their despicable actions, twisted as those reasons may be. I normally do not particularly enjoy this type of political thriller. It says something for Crane's ability to write a story that I picked up his book and didn't put it down until I had finished it three days later. The action never stops, the science is fascinating and well-researched, the characters are delightful, and the ending is satisfying. Who could ask for more?
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down!
Review: What a book! Even though it numbers over 600 pages, I finished it in a mere three days, it was that gripping. "The Ninth Day of Creation" is both science fiction and a political thriller, written masterfully so that the suspense builds and builds and never lets up. A brilliant, young, unassuming scientist has developed a potential cure for AIDS. Mexico's feisty female president is causing major headaches for the US presidency. The Chinese government is attempting to cover up the drastic measures that it has undertaken to prevent the country's collapse. These three seemingly unrelated plots turn out to be intertwined so fully that the events that unfold have shattering implications for everyone concerned. Leonard Crane weaves his plot so well that it's difficult to believe that this is his first novel. For me, the most important aspect that determines whether or not I like a book is if I care about the characters. All of the main players in this book (and most of the minor characters as well) are very real and mostly likeable, despite their very human flaws. Even the villains are portrayed as real people with real reasons behind their despicable actions, twisted as those reasons may be. I normally do not particularly enjoy this type of political thriller. It says something for Crane's ability to write a story that I picked up his book and didn't put it down until I had finished it three days later. The action never stops, the science is fascinating and well-researched, the characters are delightful, and the ending is satisfying. Who could ask for more?
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down!
Review: What a book! Even though it numbers over 600 pages, I finished it in a mere three days, it was that gripping. "The Ninth Day of Creation" is both science fiction and a political thriller, written masterfully so that the suspense builds and builds and never lets up. A brilliant, young, unassuming scientist has developed a potential cure for AIDS. Mexico's feisty female president is causing major headaches for the US presidency. The Chinese government is attempting to cover up the drastic measures that it has undertaken to prevent the country's collapse. These three seemingly unrelated plots turn out to be intertwined so fully that the events that unfold have shattering implications for everyone concerned. Leonard Crane weaves his plot so well that it's difficult to believe that this is his first novel. For me, the most important aspect that determines whether or not I like a book is if I care about the characters. All of the main players in this book (and most of the minor characters as well) are very real and mostly likeable, despite their very human flaws. Even the villains are portrayed as real people with real reasons behind their despicable actions, twisted as those reasons may be. I normally do not particularly enjoy this type of political thriller. It says something for Crane's ability to write a story that I picked up his book and didn't put it down until I had finished it three days later. The action never stops, the science is fascinating and well-researched, the characters are delightful, and the ending is satisfying. Who could ask for more?
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