THE SECOND SON by Charles Sailor

 Finished Tu 1/31/23

This is one of my ancient paperbacks that I had never read.

It's a fascinating story of what it might be like if 'a new messiah' came to the planet.

Governments and churches would clamor to get the 'new son' to promote their vision of mankind's relationship with the divine. The Catholic Church would be at the head of the line to control the narrative.

Joseph Turner is a welder working on a high rise in NYC. One day he falls twenty-four stories while trying to save another man. He hits the ground and is perfectly fine. A couple of days later he runs into a burning building and saves two children. Then, he becomes 'the new son of God'. Although Turner is not convinced of his divinity, he tries to do the 'right thing'. He 'preaches' a philosophy of  'why can't we all get along' and 'the power is within you'.

He is told that his powers would only last until the next Good Friday. When that day arrives, he goes back to the scene of his 24 story fall, and disappears, but his followers are still with him in spirit. 

It was an easy and enjoyable read, but not as interesting as 'STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND' by Robert Heinlein. I ordered that novel from Amazon on Kindle the day I finished 'THE SECOND SON'.

About the author at his page on Amazon:

"New York Times Best Selling Author, screenwriter, and actor. Novels: The New York Times Best Seller “The Second Son”, which had an unprecedented 1.2 million copy first printing, and his newest novel “The Man Who Rode the Tiger.” Charles Sailor is the author of more than forty scripts for television programs, including “Charlie’s Angels,” “Kojak,” “Rockford Files,” “Switch,” “Chips,” “Bronk,” “Get Christi Love,” and television pilots including “The Bureau”, and “Nu Deli”; and scripts for television films, including “The Devils of Hell Week,” “Shock Team”, “Death With Total Security”, and “The Hostage Heart.” He has also been credited under the pseudonym Alexander Stewart.

Worked as actor in motion pictures, stage productions and television programs, including “Return To Peyton Place”, “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About But Were Afraid to Ask,” “Medical Center,” “General Hospital,” Blue Knight,” and “Katherine” Member: Writers Guild of American West, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Screen Actors Guild."