Birth of an Age (The Christ Clone Trilogy, Book Two)

Rating:
Summary: PERFECT!
Review: BeauSeigneur's take on the Rapture, the Ezekiel 38-39 war (both in book 1), the Trumpet Judgments (book 2), and on soooo much else is not only the most original (while staying within the bounds of scripture), it's also the most believable depiction I've ever seen. The 6th Trumpet Judgment and the 5th Bowl Judgment (in book 3) will scare you like you've never been scared before!

Rating:
Summary: very well written series
Review: This is some very well written fiction. I do hope, though, that people remember that it, like all of the LEFT BEHIND books, are just that- FICTION.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent end times fiction
Review: If you thought book one of this trilogy was good, you ain't seen nothing yet! This book will have you sitting on the edge of your seat! For the Christian reader, just a note, this book almost seems to have been written for the secular audience. I almost found myself getting mad half way through this book, wondering if I was being led astray, but never fear, just continue reading onto book 3 and you will not be sorry. This is an excellent end times series, and if you are a fan of the Left Behind Books, you will love this trilogy.

Rating:
Summary: Another great volume!
Review: How excellent to find that the second volume in the series "The Christ Clone Trilogy" is every bit as good as the first! Detailed and inventive, "Birth of an Age" is as sharp and as interesting as the original volume. Author Beauseigneur produces another magnificent work! Bravo!

Rating:
Summary: A LOOK AT THE NOVELS OF REVELATION
Review: I am a very big fan of novels that deal with the Biblical Apocalypse and, with so many different types, thought it would be worthwhile to give an overview of the ones I have read.

Left Behind, by Tim Lehay- The series that started it all. These novels are, in truth, somewhat boring, but it covers the bases with a depth that none of the others do, probably owing to the fact that there are so many of them. They lack character development and deep theology, but are a fun, if shallow read

The Christ clone Trilogy by James Beauseigneur- Well written novels that focus on the scientific and political. Tom Clancy meets Left behind is not too far off the mark. I greatly enjoyed these books although I felt a little let down by the ending. Overall, a good political take on the End.

We All Fall Down by Brian Caldwell- Certainly the most controversial of these novels. The focus here is the individual and why someone would ever in their right mind reject salvation. Very brutal, although probably more realistic, in its depiction of the End. This is certainly not a book for the timid, but for the rest, I found it the most intelligent, well written, and, oddly enough, spiritual of the bunch. It's hard to walk away from this book with feeling to need to take a fresh look at one's own relationship to Christ.

Blood of Heaven, by Bill Myers- These are intelligent, character focused novels. I found the theology again to be a little weak, but really enjoyed following the distictive characters.

The Last Gentile Trilogy by Cary Bybee- Better written than Left Behind, but lacking the scope of that work. Like conquest of Paradise or Christ clone, it it based in science, but perhaps too much. Not enough religion for my taste.


Rating:
Summary: Loved it
Review: In His Image (the first book of the trilogy) was a great read but had me confused at times. This one (Birth of an Age) is down right fabulous. I loved it and recommend it to all.

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: Really not even worth rating
Review: I didn't finish this book - I stopped my misery! I really only read the first few pages and bits and peaces as I skimed through the pages. It's just as poorly written as the first (In His Image - see my review there) and just as BORING. The only reason I even started this book was that I spent my $6.99 on it - thank goodness I didn't buy the third book in the triology. Mr. Beauseigneur has a LOT to learn with regard to writing - perhaps he should take a couple of courses on creative writing! He could do with some instruction on how to develop his characters. Well, no matter - I know the story (the REAL one) and know how it ends!

Rating:
Summary: non-religious conservatives stop at book two!
Review: I found the first two books enjoyable, quick reads. This third book seemed like a springing trap descending on me while I was lulled by the interests of the first two books. Its plot brought back all the lovely feelings of my youth with pushy religious zealots trying to convert through fear, confusion and morally superior judgementalism.

At first, I was intrigued that the author chose a mix of religious conservency and socially extreme liberal messages. I actually found myself highly impressed that the author would casually drop in such controversial concepts like euthenasia in a book so obviously targeting an audience that would find it ethically difficult. I was deeply dissapointed to find that this and other issues had been a long set up for a very poor joke on the reader.

I should have realized the author possessed little professional bravery much earlier though. At every turn when the author presented a topic that would be objectionable to a fundementalist, he added a footnote stating that they needed to read his forward. The forward was the biggest cop out that I have seen in a while. It reminds the reader to wait until the end (pretty clear that there will be a twist that undoes this eh?). It also makes clear that the author is unwilling to own up to his own work by showing where his own feelings and beliefs lie. The need to reiterate constantly that no character represents his views is just weak. I'm sure it will help him fend off some criticism, but is should open him up to a new class of criticism.

I feel like I've been fooled.