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Despite their similarities, The Nephilim Seed and Nephilim emanate from two different kinds of theism. Bell's characters come in two temperaments: theistic rationalists and nontheistic rationalists. Any divine intervention coincides with the laws of nature and nature's God. Sometimes (as was the case with The Darwin Conspiracy) that works, but more often it falls flat.

Marzulli, on the other hand, is a frank supernaturalist. He gives us giant skeletons with a fifth nucleotide, little gray creatures who can shift through walls, cattle mutilation with genetic experimentation, ancient holy men with the power to heal people, and a spiritual conflict that makes Frank Peretti's first few offerings seem tame. It's the written equivalent of a spectacular 4th of July display, complete with marching band.

My primary concern is that some readers will take the ideas expressed in Nephilim as seriously as the author appears to take them. That would be a waste of a good novel.

Jeremy Lott is a contributing editor to Books & Culture and coauthor (with Lawrence VanBeek) of the forthcoming The Case for Enoch.

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

The Nephilim Seed and Nephilim: The Truth is Here are available at Christianbook.com.

Previous Christianity Today reviews by Jeremy Lott include:

'I'm Not in It for the Money'The digital revolution created many wealthy tech-heads. What do they do now? (September 25, 2001)

Peretti's Past DarknessThe best-selling novelist describes the tormented childhood that shaped his imagination. (March 13, 2001)

Previous articles by Jeremy Lott for Christianity Today sister publication Books & Culture include:

Is Globalization Christian?Why the WTO protestors had it wrong. (Jan./Feb. 2002)

Neuroscience After NietzscheIs the brain a symphony orchestra without a conductor? (Nov./Dec. 1999)

More of Jeremy Lott's writings can be found at DeviantReadings.com and The American Partisan.

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February 4 2002, Vol. 46, No. 2