[.ca] The Prodigy: A Novel of Suspense (ISBN 0310235561)

From Amazon.com:
Since Frank Peretti penned his groundbreaking Christian suspense novel This Present Darkness back in the '80s, he's been often emulated, usually without much success. Enter this supernatural page-turner, The Prodigy, which raises the bar for the genre. Gansky weaves theological questions about spiritual forces in contemporary culture into a thrilling saga that will keep the reader hooked from the first pages. Six-year-old Toby, a child prodigy from the backwoods of North Carolina, has strange powers. Toby walks through a hospital corridor, and patients with incurable illnesses are suddenly healed. Storms melt away at his words. He diagnoses and cures the innermost mental and physical afflictions of strangers. When Toby and his unusual gifts are noticed by those seeking money and power, disaster is inevitable. Deeper questions underlie the text. Does God still perform wonders in today's world--and does he work through individuals, including children? Is there a dark side to the spiritual realm that can manifest itself? Although the ending is a bit of a shoot-em-up, good guys vs. bad guys- type of resolution, this novel provides a chilling look at greed, religion, and spiritual phenomena framed in fictional form. Expect some goose bumps. --Cindy Crosby

Solid story wrapped up too quickly:
Gansky's story could have been 200 pages longer, or 100 pages shorter. He develops the characters and their dilemmas so well in the first two sections of the book, that the reader is prepared for some incredibly in-depth suspense, philosophy, even theology, to be intertwined into the ending. Instead, the final section wraps the story up a little too neatly--and far too quickly. I liked this story--and it is well worth reading. However, it is a bit uneven in tempo and style. A wavered between 3+ and 4-, but finally gave it a 4-star rating, because Gansky drew me into the world of these characters, made me care, and managed to raise some intriguing questions.

I couldn't put it down...:
Because I hoped it would get better....The story had potential. A little boy and his mother, trying to escape a hard-knock life in Appalachia, set sail for California (cause where else do people escape to?). Along the way they encounter people who Toby seems to know intimate details about. He can see inside them, know their suffering and heal them if the need is there. Toby is discovered by a man who doesn't have his best interests at heart, who then (of course) exploits Toby's gift for fame and profit. And there's a "Shadow Man" thrown in there for a supernatural twist. This is a typical protaganist vs. antagonist story. And of course, the protaganist overcomes. A boring and overdone theme. The writing in this book is painful to read. I can tell the author is trying to be creative and original in his descriptions but comes off painfully cliche and sounding like he's trying too hard. Also, the names of some of the characters are cringe-worthy. A name can define a character. It can sometimes stand alone in revealing the personality of a character. But, when it's obvious, like some of the character names in this book, it induces a groan. In the end, the story is wrapped up all too quickly and tidily. Honestly, I wouldn't waste any time reading this book.

Great start, fascinating premise, could have ended better:
The premise of this book unfolds quickly. A boy born to a poor single woman in rural Appalachia has the ability to heal others with a glance, and see into the hidden psyche of the people he meets. After going to the hospital with an injury that quickly heals on its own, he simply walks down the hall and people are healed of terminal illnesses! The story is at its best from here. His mother who tires of the abuse by the boys father, moves with just her belongings in an old car and sets out across the country for California and a better life. This part of the story was wonderful, rich and full of images and moods. One could almost see the country unfolding along the way, as anyone who loves road trips can attest to. When a late night conspiracy based talk radio disc jockey gets a call about a boy with strange powers, a cross country search for the boy by a super rich and dying business man ensues. While I loved the story, and the experience, the author really doesn't fully explore the theological implications and the ending wraps up all loose ends except for the main premise itself. It is obvious the author is talented, and the book has wonderful moments, but a sequel would be great to further explore the life of the prodigy.

Great Book!:
I have read all of Alton Gansky's books and enjoyed them all. My two favorites have been Ship Possessed and The Prodigy. Whenever I want to turn someone on to Mr. Gansky's books, I let them borrow The Prodigy. It is well written and grabs the reader from the first page. I usually read his books in 1 or 2 days because I can't put them down! I may be a little biased, as I know Al Gansky personally. I attended his church for 2 years and he officiated at my son's wedding. When my husband and I moved 2 years ago, Al presented me with a typed manuscript of The Prodigy. I was privileged to be one of the first to read this terrific book (typed pages in a 3 ring binder) and purchased myself a copy as soon as it was published. 5 stars to the book and it's author!!

Good Fiction!:
The Prodigy is one of those books that occasionally makes you say outloud "Yeah!". But unfortunately has a few moments where you say, "That's it?" I think Alton Gansky is a great writer, but I think he needs to concentrate on the climax of his novels. He starts off his novels with a punch so strong, sometimes the endings can't live up to the previous writing. However, all that said, I think The Prodigy is an excellent story. I felt the pain and suffering of Toby's mother through-out this story. Anyone who wants to read a suspense/mystery novel written by a storyteller committed to his craft (not just after a paycheck) should purchase The Prodigy. I would also highly recommend all of Gansky's other novels. I haven't found a bad one yet. See ya next time! www.therunninggirl.com