Cain

Rating:
Summary: A Golem named Cain, built like Frankenstein? Read on!
Review: You knew when you heard the biblical names of Soloman & Cain--that you were in for an evil battle of epic proportions. Indeed, you get just that, oh and a nanosecond of a romance. James Byron Huggins has managed to slam every nightmare you've ever had into this tall tale. We've got "CAIN," (a Golem really, and the antichrist fused into SuperMan), with some real satanical tendencies, who just happens to be a vampire (nightmares run amok in this book) and needs blood to replenish his strength every time he beats the crap out of Soloman, or gets shot more times than any gangster in Los Angeles. Not only does this monster suck blood, have the "unholy" strength of 100 men, and some evil castle dwelling minions, but he has the help of technology with his titanium reinforced body parts, and an internal (Marburg) viru-bomb set to detonate in 10 days. Could Huggins put any more of our darkest fears into a worse package? Of course we really don't hate Cain until he messes with the Catholic Church. That was his biggest mistake! Our hero, Soloman has his work cut out for him. Licking some old wounds suffered when he lost his wife & child, this ever intense, one-man army is enlisted to stop Cain. Soloman's sidekicks are nowhere nearly as formidable, but Huggins does give us a couple of great archetypical characters in the General, the safehouse soldier, the priest, and the innocent child, who happens to be the daughter of the very woman (Dr. Milton) who created Cain in the laboratory using her own daughter's blood. What irony! Well, some of it may be predictable, but it is a tortuous ride to see when the good guys will bring the bad guys down and who will lose their lives in the battle. The mayhem starts so quickly in the book, that you are sure it will go nowhere because -- how much more can our hero endure? So you keep turning the pages. You turn them so quickly you miss the romance. What romance? You won't be sorry you took "CAIN" to the beach or on your subway commute home. -- D.

Rating:
Summary: Terrifying and chilling, an epic good vs evil drama
Review: The deaths have only just begun and the military is desperate to stop Roth Tiberius Cain, a deceased CIA killing machine. General Ben Hawkens travels to Death Valley to obtain the services of the retired Soloman to complete Operation Trinity Fail-safe, stopping the devastating scourge of Cain. It seems that Cain was a superman in life, who died by accidental electrocution. The CIA and a team of scientists led by Dr. Martha "Maggie" Milton decided Cain was the perfect specimen to rebuild into a super soldier. Because of RNA problems, Cain is forced to drink human blood to replenish his cells. He also can tell personal things about individuals that no one but that person should know. The worst fact of all is if he is not stopped in ten days, the virus he carries will change into the deadliest known form of the bubonic plague and wipe out the entire planet. ...... Soloman, who quit the government when his family was killed, begins his hunt for Cain, a soulless creature with the reflexes of a lion and the strength of an elephant. Without being egotistical, Soloman knows that he carries the fate of the world on his shoulder because if he fails, there is no time (or any other person) to put in motion a back up plan. ...... CAIN is a roller coaster ride that never seems to end, only becoming more entertaining as each fantastic page is turned. Soloman is wonderful hero, sought of like a Flint with flaws. Maggie makes a better Dr. Frankenstein then Wollencraft's original because she immediately understands where her myopic loyalty has taken her and the world. Cain may be the best killing machine since Dr. Strangelove learned to love the bomb. Though there are a few extremely minor discrepancies, James Byron Huggins's novel may be the thriller of the year. ......Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: The perfect killing machine...only he's dead!
Review: Cain is a monstrocity: a massive giant genetically engineered to be indestructible, equipped with a deadly virus that flows through his veins.

Oh, yeah: he's dead, and inhabited by Satan.

Soloman, a soldier with a brutal past, is called out of forced retirement to track Cain and kill him within 10 days--before the virus lurking in Cain's system reaches its threshold level, and basically contaminates the world. Joining him are a troubled priest who's only chance to redeem his faith is through contact with the devil, and the scientist who's responsible for Cain.

Huggins isn't necessarily the best writer on the planet, but he does have a way of entertaining you. While not in the least bit frightening (you feel too much sympathy for the villain), "Cain" is a novel that combines horror, science fiction, technology, medicine, and good ol' Christian mythology into one thrilling ride. A haphazzard novel at best, this is still one that makes a great summer read.

Rating:
Summary: A Golem named Cain, built like Frankenstein? Read on!
Review: You knew when you heard the biblical names of Soloman & Cain--that you were in for an evil battle of epic proportions. Indeed, you get just that, oh and a nanosecond of a romance. James Byron Huggins has managed to slam every nightmare you've ever had into this tall tale. We've got "CAIN," (a Golem really, and the antichrist fused into SuperMan), with some real satanical tendencies, who just happens to be a vampire (nightmares run amok in this book) and needs blood to replenish his strength every time he beats the crap out of Soloman, or gets shot more times than any gangster in Los Angeles. Not only does this monster suck blood, have the "unholy" strength of 100 men, and some evil castle dwelling minions, but he has the help of technology with his titanium reinforced body parts, and an internal (Marburg) viru-bomb set to detonate in 10 days. Could Huggins put any more of our darkest fears into a worse package? Of course we really don't hate Cain until he messes with the Catholic Church. That was his biggest mistake! Our hero, Soloman has his work cut out for him. Licking some old wounds suffered when he lost his wife & child, this ever intense, one-man army is enlisted to stop Cain. Soloman's sidekicks are nowhere nearly as formidable, but Huggins does give us a couple of great archetypical characters in the General, the safehouse soldier, the priest, and the innocent child, who happens to be the daughter of the very woman (Dr. Milton) who created Cain in the laboratory using her own daughter's blood. What irony! Well, some of it may be predictable, but it is a tortuous ride to see when the good guys will bring the bad guys down and who will lose their lives in the battle. The mayhem starts so quickly in the book, that you are sure it will go nowhere because -- how much more can our hero endure? So you keep turning the pages. You turn them so quickly you miss the romance. What romance? You won't be sorry you took "CAIN" to the beach or on your subway commute home. -- D.

Rating:
Summary: Could have been much, much better
Review: Cain is an engineered superhuman, created from a dead body of a speacial forces maniac who becomes possessed by Satan. He escapes from the experimental lab and goes on a relentless, bloody rampage. He must be stopped before he brings the world to total destruction, which is the plan of Satan. Excellent on action but too long on chapters with repeating narratives about several meanings of life - which after awhile simply becomes boring. Could have been much shorter and thus much better.


Rating:
Summary: Cussing,what a let down!
Review: I loved "The Reckoning" ALOT and people I loaned the book loved it too. But I picked up Cain, Theres way too much cussing for a religious themed writer. I loaned The Reckoning to a friend and she loved it also,she picked up Cain at the library and said the same thing, What a downfall from a great book to that!!!!

Rating:
Summary: finally , something different
Review: From the first chapter in this book you will be captivated by it. If you're like me and am tired of horror books that use second grade vocabulary, then you must read Cain. The first chapter sets the stage for this breathless action/horror/mystery story with a very different setting. Since most horror books open in the everyday life in the city, or in a haunted house somewhere out in the boonies, or some one running away from something, this book was a huge relief. Another nice thing about this book is that James Byron Huggins doesn't just use a bunch of bull sh** terms and words that aren't real. Some of the weapons mentioned ( including Spas shotguns with ammo of 12 gauge with C-4 heads, napalm, Grizzly .50, the air craft used, the Grimorium Verum, etc.) exist in real life. And the name of the main character (Solomon) has something do with the religious aspect of this book. The biblical David named his son Solomon. So, basically, this book is almost more reality than fiction. Throughout the book, the stage is being set for the final battle, which is amazing. The final confrontation is a gory, emotional, and fearless fight to the death. And the surprise ending just comes out of nowhere. It's something that you would never expect. So if you want to read a book that you will not be able to put down, with loss of faith, sacrifice, big explosions, fire, hideous beings, and a little romance, you must read Cain.

Rating:
Summary: CAIN IS DISABLED
Review: Tell Lion Gate Films about this book--it would make a great movie for their long list of "B" thrillers. CAIN is a rambling treatise on the eternal battle of good vs. evil. It also includes the drawbacks of man trying to be "gods" and how easy it is to lose one's faith--especially if you're a Catholic.
We have a monstrous giant who has been awakened from the dead by a group of scientists, headed by the lovely Dr. Maggie, who also has an angelic little daughter, Amy. This monster actually turns out to be possessed by none other than Satan himself. Enter Solomon, a war veteran whose wife and daughter were killed a few years back; he has retreated to the desert to get away from the world, but when he's approached by his former commander to help kill this monster, Cain, Solomon of course unretires.
Huggins has given us some viable action scenes, and a few creeps here and there, but he aimed a little too high. For someone as powerful as Satan, he sure takes it on the butt a few times from the human Solaman. Every time there's a confrontation, Satan comes out on the short end, and Solomon's macho dialogue is straight out of a comic book. Huggins also pads his book with rambling scenes of "waiting" that do little but stifle the pacing; Huggins needs to read Matthew Reilly if he wants to know how to make a book cook.
CAIN is not a complete loser; but it falls short of Huggins' heavenly aspirations.

Rating:
Summary: AWESOME!!!
Review: A GREAT story! A GREAT Author! I can't wait to read more by Huggins. This story has it all...mystery, suspense, action, and intrique. Top it off with a great biblical message and a true-to-life depiction of Satan's demeanor. I would highly suggest this book to anyone who likes action thrillers.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT!!!
Review: I couldn't put the book down. It is fiction, some things are a little on the edge of possibility, but afterall, it is a FANTASY/SCI-FI book. VERY entertaining. I am going to read everything this author has written!!