From Library Journal
Because he possesses the pearl of immortality that once belonged to the hero Gilgamesh, astronaut Edwin Barbarossa survives a space shuttle disaster. Treated as a hero until he attempts to tell the truth about his "gift," Edwin soon becomes prey to those who would steal the secret of eternal life for themselves. His only hope for survival lies with his friend Rob Lewis, who has inherited Gilgamesh's superhuman powersDand their attendant problems. Clough's sequel to How Like a God explores the ins and outs of mortals blessedDor cursedDwith godlike abilities in an action-filled modern-world fantasy suitable for large libraries. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Review
"Clough uses the legend of Gilgamesh as a springboard for a thriller that combines science fiction, spy novels, and family drama. Rob Lewis is an ordinary carpenter with an extraordinary talent: the ability to alter the minds of anyone around him. His best friend, biologist Edwin Barbarossa, holds one of Gilgamesh's talismans of power, the Pearl of Immortality. When a megalomaniac billionaire gets wind of their combined powers, Rob and Ed must find a way of stopping him without compromising their beliefs about free will and the sanctity of human life. Clough takes a premise that might seem better suited for an 'X-Men' comic book and gives it enough emotional heft and moral complexity to make a satisfying novel for adults."--San Francisco Chronicle



Book Description
In How Like a God, Rob Lewis gave his friend Edwin Barbarossa the Pearl of Immortality that had once belonged to Gilgamesh in exchange for a promise to keep Rob's mind-bending powers a secret. Seven years later the space shuttle ferrying Edwin home from a stint on the new moon colony catches fire. Everyone dies except Edwin. First he's hailed as a hero, then he disappears--and it's up to Rob to find him, rescue him, and help him outwit the smiling villain who will stop at nothing to take the secret of immortality for himself. Part political thriller, part fantasy, part near-future SF, part family drama, Doors of Death and Life is both exciting and thoughtful, a literate excursion into X-Files territory.


Download Description
Immortality is a convenient attribute for a moon colonist, even when he has to keep it a secret. But when Edwin Barbarossa is the only survivor of a space fire, he attracts the wrong kind of attention, and his friend Rob Lewis must come to the rescue, endangering not only his own secret, but his life.


About the Author
Brenda W. Clough, journalist, fibrist, and painter, is the author of six novels and a number of short stories and articles. Her childhood was spent on the lam in Southeast Asia and Europe. She has lived for years now disguised as a soccer mommy in a villag near Washington DC.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In How Like A God, Rob Lewis gave his friend Edwin Barbarossa the Pearl of Immortality that had once belonged to Gilgamesh in exchange for a promise to keep Rob's mind-bending powers a secret. Seven years later, the space shuttle ferrying Edwin home from a stint on the new moon colony catches fire.

Everyone dies except Edwin.

First he's hailed as a hero, then he disappears-and it's up to Rob to find him, rescue him, and help him discover who is moving heaven and earth to take the secret of immortality for himself.

Part political thriller, part family drama, part fantasy, part near-future SF, Doors of Death and Life is an exciting and thoughtful excursion into X-Files territory.

FROM THE CRITICS

Science Fiction Weekly

Though a sequel, it has considerable strength as a stand-alone novel, and readers should not feel they have to have read How Like a God to enjoy it. The slick combination of fantasy and near-future SF, along with dialog that is current and colloquial, make this book original and appealing.

VOYA

In How Like a God (Tor, 1997/VOYA June 1997), everyman Robertson Lewis was given great power and eternal life. Trapped by this curse, he struggled to accept this new fate and to continue with a regular life. When he was unable to control his power, he left his family and befriended a young scientist, Edwin Barbarossa, who applied scientific analysis to the problem. During a struggle with the entity responsible for the curse, Rob gave the gift of eternal life to Edwin to save his life after the epic battle. In this sequel, Rob has learned to control his power and has returned to his family. While keeping his powers a secret from his wife and children, Rob continues communications with Edwin, now a researcher at the moon colony. When the other astronauts are killed in an accident during space travel, only Edwin survives because of his gift of eternal life. NASA assumes that he killed the others to save himself, and Rob must hurry to rescue his friend from the United States government and the powerful economic powers now controlling the space program. Clough has created a complex sequel, balancing skepticism with science and religion. Instead of making the Rob the skeptic, the author allows Edwin Barbarossa to balance science and religion within his own character. Ultimate power and eternal life both are celebrated and cursed, depending on which character speaks. How the two men approach and use their powers, and the responsibilities inherent in such gifts, are enjoyably explored. This worthy but not heavy-handed sequel and interesting twist on the epic of Gilgamesh is recommended for general purchase for older young adult readers. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P S A/YA (Better than most, marred onlyby occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and Young Adult). 2000, Tor, 272p, $23.95. Ages 16 to Adult. Reviewer: Mary B. McCarthy

SOURCE: VOYA, October 2000 (Vol. 23, No. 4)

Library Journal

Because he possesses the pearl of immortality that once belonged to the hero Gilgamesh, astronaut Edwin Barbarossa survives a space shuttle disaster. Treated as a hero until he attempts to tell the truth about his "gift," Edwin soon becomes prey to those who would steal the secret of eternal life for themselves. His only hope for survival lies with his friend Rob Lewis, who has inherited Gilgamesh's superhuman powers--and their attendant problems. Clough's sequel to How Like a God explores the ins and outs of mortals blessed--or cursed--with godlike abilities in an action-filled modern-world fantasy suitable for large libraries. Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\

Internet Book Watch

Rob gave his friend a gift of immortality seven years earlier; now Edwin's disappearance involves Rob in an effort to save his friend's life. Blend politics and a fantasy fable with a tense thriller and you have a title which skirts the boundaries of science fiction and adventure, offering an unpredictable plot and realistic protagonists.

Kirkus Reviews

Sequel to How Like a God (1997), Clough's oddball debut in which Virginia computer programmer Rob Lewis wrested godlike psychic powers from Gilgamesh, King of ancient Uruk, while Rob's friend, microbiologist Edwin Barbarossa, received the gift of immortality. These days Rob's a carpenter, but when finally he steels himself to tell his wife Julianne about his powers, she—feeling excluded and manipulated—threatens divorce. Meanwhile, Edwin, returning home after a research stint on the Moon, is the only survivor of a calamity aboard the space shuttle. Unfortunately, NASA suspects him of murdering the others. Edwin announces he's immortal; his boss, the devious Burt Rovilatt, believes Edwin and confines him, keeping him drugged and helpless in order to perform experiments. Rob contacts Edwin mentally, and uses his powers to rescue his friend. Julianne, in the meantime, comes around. Edwin decides to go public about his immortality and allow reasonable experimenting on himself; but Rovilatt, having accumulated a damning dossier, threatens blackmail if Edwin doesn't cooperate. Rovilatt even arranges for an assassin to shoot Edwin, but Rob takes most of the bullets, and Edwin has to lend him the pearl of immortality to save his life. Rovilatt finds out, and now knows there're two of them with powers. Not much more than an extended meditation on the acquisition, use, and disposition of godlike power, but it might be of some interest to fans of the previous book.