It took me a while to read this, as it sat on my shelf so long I forgot what it was about after a while. Then I started reading it and finished it in one sitting. I remember I ordered it because the plot sounded like something my husband would be interested in: religion vs science. In the end, this is a theme that is brought up in the beginning, but doesn't end up making a big deal about the argument of intelligent design or science. Which I liked, because then I had time to enjoy the extremely wacky plot: the shroud of Turin reanimates a dead, mad scientist who continues on with his diabolical plans to destroy earth with a giant space eel. Awesome.