The Gemini Man

Having just read a set of biological thrillers, I came into this novel with a different perspective from the other reviewers. I was expecting more of a discussion of the science, and less focus on the events and actions.From my perspective, it was a thoroughly enjoyable novel, because it did some different things from a standard novel.It was scientific enough to stand as a novel in that genre, yet there was enough action to make it a thriller in its own right - a bit of a dull one, admittedly. Having read about another of the author's works on the back cover, I discovered I should have been reading it as a action novel, not a scientific one. That I could make that mistake all through the novel should say something about the quality of thought that went into it.It would have been all to easy to write a story of how Newman escaped and ran amuck until he was tracked down by a team of brilliant forensic psychologists (something like _Red Dragon_). The author chose to write another story, and in doing so, made it more interesting.The thing that interested me the most was the sliding viewpoint. We are introduced to what appear to be the central characters in the beginning of the novel, yet when all is said and done, some of the central characters are repudiated.This alone makes the book a step away from the formula, and as such, fairly interesting.Walking halfway between scientific thriller and action, yet with some thought and a lack of formula, this book is worth picking up and reading. Not just because it will make you wonder if our government would really do something like that (they probably would), but because it will make you wonder why more authors can't break away from formula to write novels that are this original - in certain senses.

This book is a fine piece of work. It put me into a state of fear. Not like the fear when I saw Friday the 13th for the first time. A fear that the subject matter of this book could and may well be happening. Governments love to do research into warfare and killing. They also love to research the mind. The mixture creates a walking tower of death. Read this book. You'll realize that the establishment you think defends and protects you, may well be making something all too capable of destroying you...and many others.

This book is not one of those lame "scary" books that only have gore and no story. In fact, this book is the opposite. This book is scary because the thought of the evolution of a person with no feelings is not only likely, is near inevitable! This book, although it has some psychological business lingo, it's not hard to understand. A great book!

Steinberg does an excellent job of setting up a "straw man" protagonist (the female psychologist), then switching reader identification in an unexpected direction. A masterful device, worthy of this finely crafted novel. The unabridged audiotape version is particularly well done.

This is a great book! Combining elements of Harlan Ellison, Thomas Harris, Stephan King, all with a fresh and original, thrilling style. Steinberg creates a new and fascinating world where man faces extinction or the possibility of becoming greater. Steinberg compels us to understand the plight of the lonliest man in the world - the first of the next generation of man. Brian Newman is a magnificently drawn, deeply complex hero/anti-hero. Steinberg's obvious hands on experience combines with one of the freshest most ennervating and exciting writing styles I've seen in years. This is a F A N T A S T I C first novel and I can hardly wait for his next one!!! Bravo and well done!!!!!