The Book of Adam

by Robert M. Hopper

Humanity's search for identity and immortality takes a new twist with the birth of Adam-2, the first human clone. His memoir draws us into a thrilling family drama that explores the social, religious, scientific, and highly personal ramifications of a world in the near future where it becomes commonplace to have oneself cloned after death. In the end, it's a story of one man's fear of death.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy

Nook

First published December 30, 2009

About the author

I grew up endlessly re-reading "A Wrinkle in Time" and "The Chronicles of Narnia," and re-watching the "The Twilight Zone," "Star Wars," "Willy Wonka," and "Raiders of the Lost Ark," leaving me fascinated by history, astronomy, nature, the supernatural, and most things odd. My early life was largely spent in San Diego where I once started a local newspaper, helped open a Waldenbooks in Parkway Plaza, and ran a theatre website and awards program. I've also lived in Arizona, New York City, and lately the beautiful, historic, and haunted town of Marshall, Michigan. My first novel was "The Book of Adam: Autobiography of the First Human Clone" represented by Ken Atchity at AEI (ultimately self-published). In 2005, I founded National Youth Arts for which I reviewed more than 5,000 youth productions. I now live just down the street from the former home of prolific pulp writer William Wallace Cook and 16 miles from the historical town of Harmonia founded by a group of spiritualists months after the death of Edgar Allan Poe.

Reviews

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was an excellent book written very well. I sat up until 0600 reading it on the night that I finished it because the last half of the book was fascinating!

[Jayesh Shah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book of Adam written by Robert Hopper is an interesting take on the science of cloning. The author predicts that cloning of humans, brain transplants, enhanced intelligence or muscle strength and many such technologies will be available in new future.

The concept of a story about clones is fine but it becomes entangled in a highly dysfunctional family. Everyone is practically is suspicion of everyone else. They are out to molest and kill one another. It appears that they want to remain alive by cloning themselves after their death so that they can continue their animosities. That is sick and stupid.

Also, these people who develop the technology of cloning believe in afterlife, possibility of the soul moving from original person to his clone and other such nonsense. Why they would they not realize that a person who is alive can be cloned also. What happens to the soul and afterlife to these two people?

[Jan Strnad · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of The Book of Adam is intriguing, the idea of achieving immortality through cloning. After fourteen chapters, though, I wasn't much interested in Adam (or Adam-2 as he's also known), the first human clone, and decided to move on to something else.

The good stuff happens early as Hopper describes the initial reaction to the news that a human has been cloned. Instead of building from this point, though, the narrative bogs down in a conventional adolescent drama that is too conventional to be of much interest. After seventy-one pages, I wasn't hooked.

Still, for a book that I quit on I'm giving it two stars because it is competently written and might be interesting to some people.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book Of Adam by Robert M. Hopper is a really well written fictional autobiography. It takes place in the not too distant future, and covers the lives surrounding Adam-2. Structurally, it is sound and covered all the bases, answered all the questions. An autobiography, by its nature, eliminates the suspense. In this instance, the story line is solid, and shocking in its tragedy. Ultimately, this book just seemed long. I feel like I have all the details and all the stories straight, it just took forever to read.

[Miriam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally finished this book. I had to make myself. The book was well written and I can see where some would like it that is why I gave it three stars. I was very disappointed with the main character and the fact that neither he nor the other characters in the book grew or developed. They were locked into their clone parents personalities and did not move past that.

I have to say the story was interesting but I did not like the book.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it until the last half of the book. I couldn't keep tracked of the story line of the multiple clones. The story just went on and on...was thankful when it wad over! It was well written with plenty of description and imagination. It was a great story but the author could have wrapped it up pages earlier in my opinion.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK this book was a mess. I give two stars as the concept started off well taking a look at the life of the first clone and impact upon society. That was about the first third of the book, and then................Wow a tangled mess of a melodrama that reads like a bad day time soap that should have been canceled two seasons earlier.

[Tonia Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very good, but heartbreaking. It reminded me a lot of some of Stephen King's best work. The characters are well developed and you find yourself caring what happens to them. It also does a good job of building and sustaining suspense. It is hard to put down!

[Ralph · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really good book. It successfully maintains a balance of melancholy and humor throughout. It's suspenseful. It has characters that you care about. It deserves to be more widely read. My congratulations to the author!

[Haley Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent

[Jessica Boardman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book caught my interest right away. Not the best writing but it was definitely an interesting story.

[Becky · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lost interest quickly and could not finish this book.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was 848 pages on Nook glad that I borrowed this book.

[Jeneen Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent

[Temeaka Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!!