Rating: 
Summary: The Series Continues
Review: The Birth of An Age, book two in the Christ Clone Trilogy, actually improves upon the first one in the Series. In this one we see the rise of the Anti-Christ as well as the fullfilment of more end time prophecies. I like the way the Author deals with the prophecies about the three asteriods which will rain death and destruction on the earth. He doesn't brush over their impacts on our planet, but uses scientific data to estimate how many people would die and just how much destruction would occur based on speed and mass of the object. However, I should say that BeaquSeigneur doesn't let the story get bogged down by this; he gives just enough facts to make it interesting but doesn't drown you in minutiae. Finally, we see the reappearance of some characters we haven't seen much of lately. I also found the authors ability to write believable characters to be undiminished. Unlike some other novels about the End Times (whose names shall remain unspoken) these characters do not suddenly change. When they do, they do it slowly over time, just as we all do. The best thing is that, for the most part, none of the characters are written as Arch Types. As the Book comes to a close the reader will certainly find himself/herself desperately awaiting the arrival of book 3. This is always a sign of a well written book. Rating 4.5 Stars.
Rating: 
Summary: reader beware.....
Review: The first two volumes are very good, the third crashes and burns...
I've been reading Christian oriented fiction for years now and thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in the series.
For the Christian who needs affirmation of their faith (I'm not one of them) perhaps the third volume "redeems" the first two, which propose an enjoyable "alternate" theory to existing religious dogma. However, for someone who was seeking an entertaining perspective on the "end of the world" the series took a notable turn for the worse The series is, pretty much, destroyed, with this third volume.
The first two volumes build on a certain premise (no spoilers here) and we, the "suspending disbelief audience" are called on to go along with whatever the author is purporting to communicate, taking any pre-conceived ideas and putting them in a closet (Without suspending our disbelief and with a bit of knowledge regarding the scriptures, we are a frustrated audience screaming at the book "But what about this, and this, and this?!!") With this third volume, we are given the author's true motives and have that suspension broken into pieces.
As readers, we are manipulated, and unfairly so. We are treated as unintelligent whelps at the whims of the author who feels justified by including a preface that excuses what he is writing and advises the reader to withhold judgment to the end of the series. Having done that, I am ashamed at the bold facedness of this manipulation. Shame on you, Mr. BeauSeigneur!
Rating:
Summary: Worthy Follow-up to "IN HIS IMAGE"
Review: The second part of "The Christ Clone Trilogy" frightened me in its opening chapters. My fear had little to do with its harrowing plot (eerie as it is), and everything to do with my thought process which went; "Oh no 300+ pages of disaster novel peachy". Beauseigneur made me forget my initial impression soon into his second entry into the series allaying my anxiety that it would be nothing but another long apocolyptic narrative that had been done time and again in fiction. While continuing to chronicle Christopher's career, and detail Decker Hawthorne's life after the disaster the author neatly parralels the story of Revelation in his novel, and even footnotes specific passages significant to the story line. This is not just one long disaster novel though his prose is too fluid so that another fictionalization of Revelation is lifted up into a suspenseful, gripping novel. Parts of the plot are a little predictable as is inevitable for any reader with a passing knowledge of the bible, but Beauseigneur manages to keep the reader guessing with unexpected plot twists. The author has included an explanatory note to both volumes, explaining that this is FICTION and happenings in the author's imagination, which should be kept in mind while reading this book. I wouldn't call it blashemous or heritical because it is a novel after all and if there are serious Christians reading this please remember the note at start of books. His explanation of the origins of humanity and speculation of who Christ the Messiah and Yahweh are seem a little far fetched at first but as I continued reading I found them plausible and entertaining as I am sure they were meant to be and this ending building up to the third and climatic volume is what clinched this books worthiness as a second entry in series.
This "Christ Clone Trilogy" I have to recommend to all, you may not find it to your tastes but I highly regret anyone who enjoys reading would regret taking the time to read this trilogy.
Rating: 
Summary: In A Word: Brilliant
Review: This second installment of The Christ Clone Trilogy, "Birth of an Age," by James BeauSeigneur, begins with an already changing world on the brink of a New Age. And to put it succinctly, this book-- the story as well as the presentation-- is, in a word, brilliant. BeauSeigneur takes you down his path with such precision that it makes the incredible seem altogether credible and believable, and considering the subject matter, it is quite a feat, indeed. In the prologue (which is actually the final chapter of the first book of the trilogy, "In His Image"), BeauSeigneur brings you up to speed on the story, as the significant elements of that first book are touched upon here. He also acquaints you with the protagonists, former journalist Decker Hawthorne, now a press secretary for the U.N., Robert Milner, a former Ambassador to the U.N.; and Ambassador Christopher Goodman, the man cloned some thirty years earlier from the dermal cells of Jesus, taken from the Shroud of Turin by scientists during an expedition in 1978. What makes this such an engrossing read (and it is-- thoroughly), is the detail, precision and logic with which BeauSeigneur presents his story. Approximately the first one-third of the book is a detailed account of the cataclysms which befall the Earth and it's inhabitants, and the devastating effects thereof. It begins with the discovery of three asteroids whose trajectory may bring them into contact with the Earth, which threatens the very existence of the planet; but there are also plagues and widespread madness called down upon the people of the Earth, many believe, by two religious fanatics-- one of whom claims to be the Apostle, John. It soon becomes clear that if life on Earth is to survive, if there is ever to be a New Age at all, it must be through the intervention of someone or something which can prevail against the forces of the devastation currently ravaging the planet. And it just may be that Christopher Goodman, the clone of Jesus Christ, could be the one; it could, perhaps, be the reason for which he was born. And once BeauSeigneur has laid the groundwork, which he does with exceptional acuity, the novel picks up steam until finally, after about two-thirds of the way through, it becomes impossible to put the book down. The last thirty pages or so are absolutely spellbinding; it is inspired writing through which the images presented spring vividly to life and veritably awaken the senses. And you experience the sights and sounds, colors and scents as if you were actually there, right up to the somewhat shocking, breathtaking finale. Realizing the full impact of all that happens, of course, is contingent upon having read the first book of the series. "Birth of an Age," however, stands well enough on it's own, especially in light of the astounding ending. But be prepared; once you have finished this one, you won't be able to get to the final installment, "Acts of God," quickly enough. Have it on hand and ready to read, because-- believe me-- you're going to have to know what happens next. And you are not going to want to wait.
Rating:
Summary: Revelation Redux Again, Too
Review: Well, this is a step up from the first book. Here are some of the problems:
The first book, when finished, read like little more than a preface to this one. The writer spent most of his time filling in bits and pieces from his version of revelation, without ever actually giving credit where credit is due, so that the reader would be shocked at how well the whole thing comes together at the end?... and the writer could convert a few naysayers? Or is it- so the writer could prevent valid criticism by claiming it's all the word of god?
The first book was nearly 500 pages (too) long of preliminary material. Now that the writer has got the ball rolling, we suddenly find this volume nearly 150 pages shorter, and over 40 of those (351) pages are without a doubt filler- the writer includes not only the last pages from the first book, but also the starting pages from his next (over 10% of this book is solid filler!).
[I suspect what we have here is really three 300 page books, that should have been released as two 450 page books, but was marketed as three books, overlong, repeating pages, using revelation as filler to hide a weak story and even weaker characters. all to make money. Oh, well.]
The writer does open a can of worms by showing how evil religion is, but it's obviously just window dressing for the slow-witted (Don't forget that NO ONE in the first book recognized the"Rapture!" The author paints a heavy brush of stupidity on all non-superstitious -read non-christian- people.) I suspect GOD will be restored to his glory in the end.
Like I say, this IS better than the first, more action, faster plotting... I just wish a true writer had tackled the subject.
I keep imagining this writer sucking down whiskey out of a dirty glass thinking, "Hey, I know how to screw those suckers outa their money!"
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