DEBUNKING 'DA VINCI'

The New Hampshire Union Leader has a great editorial taking 'Da Vinci Code' author Dan Brown to task:

Regarding the believability of the novel, Brown has tried to have it both ways. On his Web site he states, “The Da Vinci Code is a novel and therefore a work of fiction.” Fine. But he goes on to state, as he did in an interview on New Hampshire Public Radio, that while his characters are fictional, everything presented as fact in the novel is true and has been painstakingly researched.

Readers knowledgeable about The Bible and Christian history will have little problem debunking some of what is portrayed as “fact” in “The Da Vinci Code.”

But Brown soldiers on, and continues to hawk his questionable wares. Now he's essentially praising his own restraint in not letting out even more "controversial 'facts'":

The author of the best-selling “The DaVinci Code” said last night that he ran across “intriguing and persuading” information that Jesus Christ survived the crucifixion, but it was too controversial to put in his novel.

“To me, that was three or four steps too far."

At least Brown admits to his rather colossal ego:

He initially resisted having the book made into a movie, but succumbed when producer Harvey Weinstein told him many people don’t read books, but deserve to know the DaVinci Code story, Brown said.

“He absolutely appealed to my ego,” Brown said. “How many chances do you get to fly to Paris to see your book turned into a movie by Ron Howard?”

Brown said he’s heard that President Bush likes his books. “Deception Point” involves a politically foundering President who decides to launch a Mars mission.

“I’m not going to say I influenced him,” Brown said, “but it was a good idea.”

Isn't it wonderful that Brown can not only clear up 2000 years of religious history, but also direct American space policy? Wow, what a guy!