Rating: 
Summary: This is NOT "Left Behind"....
Review: I am a big fan of Tim LaHaye, so it kills me to have to write this review of "Babylon Rising". The plot line is implausible, the characters are, at best, two-dimensional. So much is thrown at the reader with so little effort to make the characters likeable or even realistic. At first I expected "Indiana Jones meets the Book of Revelation", but it reads like an old B-grade Hollywood serial.
My disappointment is palpable - I so looked forward to this book!
I recommend everyone to read "Apocalypse Dawn" by Mel Odom instead.
I won't be reading any sequels in this series.
Rating: 
Summary: Written in the style of The DaVinci Code
Review: Yes, if you liked the writing style of The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown, you'll like this book. This is very much in the same style and pace, though of course completely different plot and viewpoint. I thought it was better and more plausible than Soon by Jerry Jenkins. Let's all hope that this will be a follow up series now that the Left Behind series is ending.
Rating: 
Summary: Dissappointment Rising
Review: I've read the Left Behind series. In that series Lahaye provides the biblical backup to a good writer, it's a great series. When I saw a new title with him behind it, I was intrigued and interested in what he had to offer with this new series.I had my first reservations when the back cover of the book tells of how Lahaye is excited about this book, about how it's faster paced and all that jazz. Basically, this book Sucks. He tries to make it quick, gripping, exciting - any number of superlatives. At the heart is a truly dissappointing effort. He's created a biblical Indiana Jones, without the panache. I kept waiting for the good story to come out, but it never did. This is fast-reading, simple-reading, naval-lint fiction that left me wishing I had never cracked it, because I can't get those hours back! If you enjoyed Left Behind, leave this book behind and keep that good memory intact.
Rating:
Summary: For a Christian reader, this is a must
Review: The story itself, that of Babylon Rising by Tim LaHaye, is a modern day search for ancient secrets of the Bible. The story has the main characters searching for the serpent rod that Mose held up for the Israelites during the time in the wilderness. Driven by a mysterious benefactor, the main character Murphey must go through a spider web of intrigue and danger that costs him much, but as long as God is on his side, there is strength and peace to get through anything the World tries to throw at him (and us). For those of you who might not remember about the serpent headed pole, let me explain. While there is no scripture for the following explaination, any good literature (i.e. Babylon Rising in this instance) tends to take the truth of the Bible and then imagine "what ifs". This item ties into the time of Daniel when he and the other Jews were forced to become slaves of the Babylonian empire by punishment from God to the Jews for their turning their backs on God. Of course, if you know your Bible history and theology, just like everything God does, there was a reason and there was good that came out of this enslavement. First off, this is not a Left Behind book, in that while it goes through both Biblical history and Biblical prophecies, this doesn't work like the LB books in that there isn't a "prophecy" by "prophecy" score card. A lot of leway was placed into this series. From what I know, seeing the website, this series will lead up to the Rapture (Pre-Trib rapture). However, I do not know if you will be seeing some of the vilains from the LB series. Secondly, to understand where T LaHaye is going with this series, you do need some basic understanding of both the books of Moses and their histories, and with the book of Daniel. Now there wont be any quizes at the end of each chapter, but if you are like me, and you take the Bible literally, then you wont find the adventure of this book too off the deep end. In fact, if you are a literal-Bible believing Christian, you almost have to welcome the fascination of what TL is doing with his new series. With those two thoughts in mind, I'd like to give some of my thoughts about the book as a whole. I find it an excellent book, I realize that its no Indiana Jones in point blank action, nor is it literally fantastique like oh say the League of the Extraordinary Gentlemen. Still, the writing is clear cut, the flow from one chapter to the next is soothing and exciting both at the same time. Soothing in that there is a good transition from one chapter to the next, and exciting because it circulates the actions of the main characters and suporting characters to the point that you begin a pinwheel of anticipation to see how it all will go together (though this is the first book in a series so I am speculating you wont see a clear cut ending by the end of the book for yourself). On the down side, the main character and his wife, soon to be dead wife, in the first book of the series, are not discussed in great detail. There is a lot to be said, though, in letting the reader gain an understanding by actions instead of merely shooting out paragraph to paragraph in describing minute detail because, in the air of the book being an exciting romp, details tend to boggly down the flow. And as I stated earlier, there is a great flow. Also, there are for some of you who may roll your eyes at conspiracy buffs, the understanding that the Christians are the main good guys and the nonChristians, out-to-get-any-Christian secret society, are the bad guy. I myself have no problem with that, I may not believe that right now as I speak there is a clandestine group getting together behind PapaJones Pizza off of interstate 56, or in Scotland, or in NYC for that matter, I do however know that there is as the Bible clearly states a Spirit of the AntiChrist and Satan Himself that is in this world and has desciples that try to destroy what God Himself has to say through not just the Bible as Holy Scriptures, but through fine and Biblically literate Christians. But to get back to the point, the book is a fine book for those who enjoy Christian novels. There is action, there is proChristian actions, there is soul searching revelations, and there is firm Biblical ground to walk on. I would highly suggest anyone who has enjoyed the Left Behind series should now read the Babylon Rising Series.
Rating:
Summary: Awful!
Review: Maybe I expected more from this - after the cheesy writing style of the "Left Behind" series (I could barely get through the first book!) I guess maybe I thought his writing had improved. Nope. The dialogue was trite and ridiculous. The situations way beyond believability - way too pat the way things just happened to fall into the protagonist lap. Very implausible. I can't believe I actually finished the book - I kept thinking that it would get better. Oh well. Waste of my money!
Rating:
Summary: A Completely Engrossing Supernatural Adventure
Review: After working on eleven books in the phenomenal Left Behind series, you might think that Tim LaHaye would relax a bit. Instead he has found another writing partner, Greg Dinallo, and has begun a new series of thrillers starting with BABYLON RISING. Dr. LaHaye says that he is more excited about this than any of the other books he has ever written. That's quite a comment from the author of more than forty books, including the Left Behind series that has sold over 60 million copies! But within the first few pages of BABYLON RISING, the reader will begin to share his enthusiasm and become totally engrossed in this supernatural adventure. Michael Murphy teaches Biblical Archaeology and Prophecy at Preston College --- not exactly an "A" list course. To enhance his classroom lectures and satisfy his desire to authenticate the Bible, he seeks and uncovers ancient artifacts that are directly tied to Biblical events. This scholar/adventurer image makes him somewhat of a campus hero and students flock to hear him bring the Bible to life. For the reader's enlightenment, chapters are interspersed with the story of King Nebuchadnezzer, the world's most powerful ruler, and Daniel, the young Israeli slave who fearlessly interprets the King's dreams. This writing technique serves to underscore the role that faith plays in the lives of people throughout history. Faith that allows a young slave to stand fearlessly before the most powerful man on earth and tell him the hard truth, knowing that his God will protect him regardless of the King's reaction. Faith that allows a small-town college professor to stand up to evil forces in order to unearth ancient Biblical artifacts that glorify God, the enemy of evil. While Michael Murphy is busy with his latest find, there are those who want to discredit him, his faith and his God. The evil ones are powerful and have the ability to captivate, intimidate and seduce the weak and the greedy into service for the Enemy. With the help of a reporter and a ruthless mogul they begin a campaign to destroy the credibility of Christians everywhere. These supernatural beings take on different forms, moving swiftly to accomplish their evil deeds, and soon the headlines are full of stories about Christians threatening to blow up the United Nations, building bomb factories in church basements, and killing those who get in their way. The story moves at a rapid clip, with short chapters that carry the reader from one set of protagonists to another and back in time to the court of Nebuchadnezzer. There is enough action to satisfy the most avid adventure fans, humor and romance, likable characters to cheer for and evil villains to hate. But even more exciting, we have a new series to look forward to that unapologetically offers moral and philosophical anchors --- a series that elevates both man and God and is not afraid to depict the chilling aspects of evil. --- Reviewed by Maggie Harding
Rating: 
Summary: Not great, not bad
Review: It's not the most complex of plots and not a lot of challenge in the story, but this is an enjoyable read. It moves quickly. If you are in the mood to just pass the time and read about some bad guys trying to make Christians look bad and the story that ensues, this may be a good choice. I am glas I got it from the library and did not buy it full price in the store. I'll be on the look out for the next in the series. The most enjoyable art of the book was the thoughts it has raised in my mind of comparing today's world to some of the things happening in the book.
Rating:
Summary: What a waste of time
Review: I should have followed my instincts and given up on this book after the first chapter.
It really is not written very well, the plot is lame, and the characters extremely one dimensional.
The book doesn't really finish. It is continued in the next book in the series (Yet to be written).
I for sure will not be reading it.
Rating:
Summary: Can I give it zero stars?
Review: Okay. Please someone who liked this book tell me what LaHaye was thinking? Tell me what the publishers were thinking to buy this thing. This has got to be the worst book I've read in quite some time and, with the number of books I put away, that's saying something. I can't think of where to begin. The bad guys are so cliched in their speech and machinations. "Talon" is so one dimensional he makes the letters on the page look well-rounded. The lectures LaHaye gives the reader via Michael Murphy are laughable. I've been on Easter egg hunts more difficult than Murphy's "archeological digs" (come on he finds the first thing in less than a day of looking?!?!?). I won't go on. Really. There is a lot wrong with this book--poor editing, bad dialogue, trite situations. I usually do not rant like this about a bad book but good grief. People are actually reading this drivel (and The Da Vinci Code which is just as badly written) and taking their theological and eschatological viewpoints from it!!!! The least he could do is at least try to write as good a novel as the first Left Behind book (they went downhill fast, IMO, and please don't get me started on them.) For the record, I am a Christian and have no problem with good Christian fiction. There is a lot of it out there. This isn't it.
Rating:
Summary: Left Out, Not Left Behind
Review: I am an Evangelical Christian Believer and read all of the Left Behind series. Bablon Rising was quite a disappointment. The relic searches were too easy and too much time spent with the evil villans. This is just a teaser to read more in the series, with no idea of how many books will be coming to reach a conclusion. The editors were lax...on page 20 of the hard cover editon, it states, "Murphy kept a touch light on the accelerator...", which should read, "Murphy kept a light touch on the accelerator..."
Also, on page 231, first paragraph, the biblical reference shows II Kings 18:23, should be II Kings 18:4. Tim LaHaye is a wonderful person and author, but he did not get the help he needed from the coauthor or his publisher. Before spending $26 on the next book about Ararat, I will check the Amazon.com reviews.
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