Reviews taken from Smashwords.com
Reviews
Review by: Kami Duncan on Apr. 18, 2011 :
I just finished the book and I am in awe of Mr Johnsons imagination! I literally could not put this book down. At first I was upset because I had so many unanswered question but now I see there is a sequel! Well done C.W!!!
Review by: readergirl on Feb. 12, 2009 :
Set some time aside because you won't be able to put this one down! Definately five stars!!!
Despite its several flaws, this book has a lot to like.
The book's virtues flow from its audacious premises. Considering how ardently modern writers have searched for really original, really bold ideas, it's a wonder this one hadn't been used before. Mr. Johnson has walked an untrodden path.
The plot is more than adequately complex, and given the major premise, quite believable. (Okay, there's a lot of willing-suspension-of-disbelief required, but hey, it isn't a documentary.) There are one or two places where a bit of doubt creeps in -- How the Vinces got access to the blood capsule and the Shroud; how the villains got (the original) Dr. Oliver "inside;" why the flight to Sydney returned to the United States -- but overall, it works well; the gears mesh without grinding.
The characterizations, while generally good, aren't quite perfect. Todd needed more development; as matters stand, he doesn't quite come off. (Why, for instance, did he quit medical school? Why was he willing to resume a sexless "romance" with frigid and un-loving Maria?) It was possible to do a better job on Maria with less this-is-me directly from her mouth. On the other side of the ledger, Benjamin Santana, the story's main villain, is under-characterized; he needed more time on-camera than he got. Strangely enough, the major figure who was best developed was the enigmatic and powerful Brother Michael. However, the Supporting Cast was, in the main, handled well.
Probably the weakest aspect of the book is stylistic. There are a great many errors of spelling and punctuation; in particular, Mr. Johnson doesn't use the comma properly. Also, given the premises, a much less colloquial tone would have been better, both in the straight narrative and in the dialogue. But the plot carries the day.
Because of the missteps in characterization and style, if it were possible to award 4.5 stars, I would, but today I'm "rounding up." Well done!
Review from 5 times published playwright
Richard Johnson
Why isn't this book on the New york times best seller list? I
couldn't put it down. I love a novel where, even though it's fiction,
the facts are straight. You not only enjoy the book but you learn
something. Who would have thought the best novel I've read in the last
year, I found on Smashwords. I predict that this book will be a
national best seller.
Richard Johnson
Audio Quality: Out of 18 ratings |
Narration Quality: Out of 18 ratings |
Writing Quality:Out of 18 ratings |
Overall Rating:Out of 18 ratings |
One of the better Podiobooks I’ve listened too. I was drawn to the story based on the premise and, by reading the comments, the fact that it wasn’t too religious. With a story like this religion will play a major part but it doesn’t hit you over the head, which is plus.
The story is very well written and very easy to follow, although I did find some of the dialogue oddly written (there was just something off with the flow of some conversations, but that could just be the inner writer in me coming out. Bill, if you want more details let me know and I’ll explain what I mean.) but that didn’t stop me from enjoying what I was listening too.
Setting the story in a world about to end was also a stroke of genius, it added so much flavor and tension to a story that could have easily been dull. Although at times it felt like I was listening to two different books (One with the people trying to take or protect the Jesus Clone and one where the world is dealing with the impending threat of the asteroid) I’m going to trust the author that in the second book it’ll all come together somehow.
Timothy P. Callahan
Ricky Says:
Stumbled onto Son of Man, thought I’d give it a listen…couldn’t quit!! Grabbed Son of Man 2 before I was finished with the first one so that I wouldn’t have to take a break, finished that one. Now? I’m jonesing, having cold sweats, cramps, the jitters…waiting on the next one!!!
Great storylines, great narration, great plot twists…everything one would want.
William Corcoran Says:
Hi. Just curious as to when you expect to have the son of man three released. I loved the first two books.
Jonathan Says:
November 20th, 2010 at 9:21 am
Enjoyed the book. Original ideas, liked the different vignettes giving perspectives of different characters around the world. I like that I can’t quite figure out the author’s religious stance though the spirituality and moral principles come through. Sci Fi and the Bible = rich source material for sure. CW I hope you are happy with your accomplishment. I am looking forward to the next book.
Lee Says:
October 5th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
I just finsihed this book and I’m dying to get my hands on book 2. But I can not find it anywhere on the net. Author blog stated it was on iTunes could not be found.
cynikat Says:
Great book. great story to get pulled in by. I would love to get the 2nd book, son of man 2. Will you have it available in audio format?
Melanie Says:
September 8th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
I got this off of Itunes and I cannot begin to tell you how much I LOVED this story. I was expecting not to like it but just Chris said its not a “religious” book. Man oh man I can’t wait to listen to the second one!!
dave1 Says:
September 7th, 2010 at 5:43 pm
Very good book. The reading was very good. The story kept my attention. I would recommend it to anyone. I am looking forward to read the second part to see where the story goes from here. I hope you have an audio version soon. Having said that I will also have to say that the ending was predictable, though I expected it to be a bit more dramatic that it was. Also I will say that you used a lot of literary license in the use of technology. I don’t think that we have technology at the present that can anywhere near match what you expect it to do.
Dottie Says:This book is FANTASTIC! Love everything about it!
Also like that you can hear the page turning as he reads. Very unique.
Tristen Says:
August 23rd, 2010 at 6:13 am
I completely ripped through this novel. It was so captivating. So well read, voice acting was superb. I would not change a single thing, I have no negative feedback. Nothing that I would do differently or like to see differently. Amazing characters. Amazing plot. Amazing writer. Amazing reader. Amazing work of fiction. Simply amazing.
Carey Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 7:36 am
This is one of the best books that I have listened to. Totally captivating from the first chapter. This author is a gifted story teller and illustrator that brings the story to life. CW has found his talent and I am thankful for that.
Joe Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 9:13 am
Excellent book, captivating from start to finish.
Blair Says:
September 2nd, 2010 at 4:56 pm
I have loved listening to this book. It is so well written and read. This is so outside of my usual reading genre that I probably never would have tried it if I had not read all of these great reviews. I will always pick up any book by this author.
Dave Says:
September 4th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Wow. This book is awesome. Download it right now.
Five star rating from Lisa8137-Aug 29,2010
The BEST story
EVER!!!
I have to say, if you suffer from insomnia and listen to audiobooks to help you fall asleep like I do, then this is NOT the book for you!!!! I lay awake for three nights unable to shut my iPod off! This story had me on the edge of my seat every night till dawn! Before I knew it the sun was coming up and it was time to start a new day. This has been the BEST free audiobook I’ve listened to to date!
***
Five star rating from Thunderchild70-Aug 29,2010
Exellent!
First class writing and narration. Thoroughly enjoyed this. Good production and a great storyline combined with an interesting concept. Very well done.
***
Wow just wow
This was the best story I have ever listened to. It was so hard to put down everyday when I left work.
I can’t say enough just how much I loved this.
Reviews from Mobileread
http://www.mobileread.mobi/forums/showthread.php?t=10108&page=721
#7204 WT
Sharpe 11-22-2010, 11:40 PM
Just finished The Son of Man by C.W. Johnson, a free audiobook
download from iTunes and thoroughly enjoyed it, although it took a few chapters
to really hook me. It's a fast-paced action-adventure about people who get
caught up in a scheme to clone Jesus from DNA residue found on artifacts.
Meanwhile, astronomers discover that an asteroid larger than the one that
killed off the dinosaurs is making a beeline for Omaha, Nebraska, and
threatening to end the human race. I found myself really caring about these
people and their fate. The ending was expected, but still well worth the ride.
I just downloaded the second book in the series, The Son of Man Two: Elders of Zion from Smashwords and am looking
forward to reading the continuation of the story.
Customer Reviews
Great story- slow to start with but a Great Read; well researched and well written!
The Son of Man book review
This book is about cloning the son of God, Jesus under certain circumstances. Unexplainable Things occur regarding this undertaking and without spoiling the storyline for those of you who gave not yet read thus book...Things also occur with the general environment.
This book has a relative realism to the story and has been well researched before being written. Although a little slow to start with, the story ends up with you wanting to continue reading and finish the book and having downloaded it only the other day-I have completed this book and the sequel to this book which is also available for free!!!
The story has character that you can care about and see things from their point of view. The plot has some predictable issues within it but it is a good read and available for free! I do recommend the sequel as well as when you think characters are settled in a story things can change...it also gives a follow up to the state of the environment and how people and countries gave been affected by certain story lines within this book and the sequel.
This is a Trilogy and the book is available for free but not on iTunes but on smashwords.com can iTunes make this book available The third book in The Son of Man???
Overall, great book you can really get to grips with this story and is based on what would happen in the world today if Jesus was cloned, how would they do it? Would it be allowed and what powerplays emerge?
I recommend you read this book, it us slow to start but stay with if and you will Want to finish the book!!! I would have paid for this but this book is a free download so get it while you can!
***
Fun book. Great
ideas and compelling story line keep you on the edge of your seat. Not
necessarily a "religious" book, but carries genuine messages. Dialog
between characters is believable, and well written. Can't wait to read part
two.
***
Email received on Dec 7, 2010
Mr. Johnson,
I don’t make a habit out of writing fan mail, although I do
try to make a habit out of acknowledging good when I see it. I have to admit,
Son of Man is good, extraordinarily good! I can only imagine the amount of hard
work and creativity that went into the Son of Man books, and I wanted you to
know how much I enjoyed them, and appreciate it. I also wanted you to know that
I value the message behind the books. I have yet to finish Son of Man II, but I
got all excited about it and felt like I ought to tell you how incredible it
is. The storyline is infinitely interesting to me, and the character
development is on par with the likes of McMurtry, and the storyline is as
complex and interesting as Herbert. Plus, you make us Oklahoma boys look pretty
good. As far as I’m concerned, you put together a story line with secret
societies, Okies, social upheaval, eschatology, biblical prophecy, and top it
off with a good message of faith…well, it’s pure genius. Anyways, thanks for
the great books, I have really enjoyed them, and look forward to following your
literary excursions in the future. I know it’s probably of little value, but
this Oklahoma roughneck is impressed.
Thank you for your time,
Mont Eyler
Sunday, March 06, 2011 12:24 PM
Sunday, March 06, 2011 12:24 PM
Wow!!! Had to put the 1st book down now and again because it was a work week. Finished it on a business trip on the Past Wednesday. Download #2 (on my Nook) Thursday eve and read till late and finished on the flight home to SLC. These books have me so engulfed that nothing else I have downloaded is grabbing my interest….dang!!!!
Gotta say…awesome reading. Such a great blend of religious history, science fiction and “What if?”
I have to say the gay priest stuff really didn’t sit well but I muttered through it. Not sure where Blaze is going but really hope there are no more kids involved. I could recommend this book to lots and lots of people but with that part I have to be selective in who I recommend it to.
Hmmm and leading or hinting about the 12th Imam as somehow distantly related to the surrogate mother of Christ….this should prove to be interesting. And how appropriate to the times.
You just about killed me with the end of book 2….holy moly man that was a horribly awesome ending.
OK one thing that really kicks my brain is the over use of the word charily. I love archaic words and the use of English as a tool to fire up your brain and imagination. But overuse can be a detractor and this just haunts me in the book. The characterization of their caution and diligence is very important to your story line but this just takes away from the tension in parts of the story. Chary, the root word lends more toward sorrow or grief than caution and was more akin to care than anything else. Just a thought…I’m an Arthur not an author and haven’t written any books.
Regardless this storyline is totally engulfing. I truly believe with some smart editing and a big publisher this would be a NY Times best seller. And WOW..what a movie!
Good luck!!! And I am anxiously waiting for #3…..hope they come back to the valley at some point.
Kindest regards,
Kevin
***
Reviews from Barnes and Noble
Wow!!! Had to put the 1st book down now and again because it was a work week. Finished it on a business trip on the Past Wednesday. Download #2 (on my Nook) Thursday eve and read till late and finished on the flight home to SLC. These books have me so engulfed that nothing else I have downloaded is grabbing my interest….dang!!!!
Gotta say…awesome reading. Such a great blend of religious history, science fiction and “What if?”
I have to say the gay priest stuff really didn’t sit well but I muttered through it. Not sure where Blaze is going but really hope there are no more kids involved. I could recommend this book to lots and lots of people but with that part I have to be selective in who I recommend it to.
Hmmm and leading or hinting about the 12th Imam as somehow distantly related to the surrogate mother of Christ….this should prove to be interesting. And how appropriate to the times.
You just about killed me with the end of book 2….holy moly man that was a horribly awesome ending.
OK one thing that really kicks my brain is the over use of the word charily. I love archaic words and the use of English as a tool to fire up your brain and imagination. But overuse can be a detractor and this just haunts me in the book. The characterization of their caution and diligence is very important to your story line but this just takes away from the tension in parts of the story. Chary, the root word lends more toward sorrow or grief than caution and was more akin to care than anything else. Just a thought…I’m an Arthur not an author and haven’t written any books.
Regardless this storyline is totally engulfing. I truly believe with some smart editing and a big publisher this would be a NY Times best seller. And WOW..what a movie!
Good luck!!! And I am anxiously waiting for #3…..hope they come back to the valley at some point.
Kindest regards,
Kevin
***
Regardless this storyline is totally engulfing. I truly believe with some smart editing and a big publisher this would be a NY Times best seller. And WOW..what a movie!
Kevin
Kevin
***
***
June 05, 2011
great story
Customer Rating:
What a great book! was pleasantly surprised and am now looking for the next 2 in the series
May 22, 2011
Could not put it down
I stayed up many nights past my bed time to continue reading this. I enjoyed it that much!
Highly Recommend! You mudt check this out!by kea208
Customer Rating:
I could not put this or the sequel down. I read them almost completely straight through. I can find nothing to capture my interest now....they have spoiled me and my reading list GOOD JOB!!! Now bring on more!
Customer Rating 
OMG, awesome read