Rating: Summary: Fantastic! Review: The story kicks off when journalist Decker Hawthorne, editor of a small newspaper in Knoxville, serendipitously replaces the assistant of his former professor on a scientific study of the Shroud of Turin. Despite remarkable test results, the Shroud is subsequently determined to not be authentic under the Carbon 14 testing. So, when Professor Goodman takes a closer look years later, how is he to explain the presence of live cells taken from the shroud?While Professor Goodman sets out to study the cells with hopes of developing major leaps in medicine and ultimately proving the source of the cells to be extraterristrail, Decker is sworn to secrecy in exchange for exclusives. When he learns that Goodman has cloned the cells, can he keep quiet about the true identity of Goodman's adopted son? This is all just the beginning of a fantastic plot that sees Decker and a comrade kidnapped by Islamic terrorists, subsequently rescued and then deeply embroiled in the activities in Israel and the life of Christopher, the result of the cloning process. This is a very well written book and the author does not take the plot for granted. It is at no point predictable but it is also at no point implausible. The world events - war between Russia and Israel, Pakistan and India, the restructuring of the UN after "the Disaster" decimates the population, and the power struggles - all make sense in the given time line and context. This is written as a novel and not a bible study. In fact, it is not until near the end of the book that any allusions to Revelations even come up. And then, it may not be the exact story that you expected. For example, what if Judas had actually been a patsy for the apostle John? After all, it was John who wrote the book of Revelations.
Rating: Summary: Over the Top! Review: James Beauseigneur's Christ Clone trilogy could have been SO good! The plot is intriguing, but author's need to use every "end-time" prophecy was distracting and weak. Also, the stupidity of the characters, both named and un-named, takes away from the plausibility of the storyline. For example, when "millions" of people in all parts of the world mysteriously die all at the same time, bio-terrorism is assumed to be the cause - NO ONE suggests the possibility of "Rapture" even after no cause is found. Please! I can't believe that someone, somewhere wouldn't start shouting "The end of the world is near" at this point! I cancelled my order for the 2 sequels as soon as I turned the last page of the novel, which I had to force myself to finish!
Rating: Summary: exciting thriller with very interesting premise Review: James Beauseigneur's Christ Clone trilogy begins with this thrilling book that takes place in America, Jerusalem and India, and deals with the UN, cloning, scientists, ambassadors, rabbis, terrorists and apocalyptic mysteries. The main protagonist here is Decker Hawthorne, a journalist who used to be a scientist and within the course of the novel becomes a diplomat. If you think he's busy, you'll be blown away by all the events of this book -- they come fast and furious. Decker's old mentor asks him to be a witness to his having found living cells on the Shroud of Turin, but it's not until years later that he realizes his friend and colleague has cloned the cells and is raising the child, named Christopher Goodman. Decker's relationship with the boy as he grows and realizes his destiny is the subject of this first book. A minor complaint I have is that the time jumps are erratic -- several chapters are a few weeks apart and then there's a jump of seven years, then a few weeks, then years later, etc. Otherwise, the plot is mind-blowing, the writing is very good and the characters are interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed this interesting and exciting speculative thriller, and am anxious to read the second novel of the trilogy.
Rating: Summary: Slow start, but just warming up... Review: OK. I really enjoyed this book. Neat sci-fi idea: cloning Christ from an old relic. But the guy so-cloned doesn't have much of the personality of the original. He's just so...*young*. Maybe that'll develop over the course of the series. I also shuddered a bit when the guy remembers his previous life by saying, "When I was Jesus..." Feller, I know Jesus. Jesus was a friend o' mine. Feller, you ain't no Jesus! Anyway, carping aside, BeauSeigneur does a nice job of working in skullduggery at the UN, origin of human life on other planets, new spins on old Scriptures, and a subtly developing sense that large forces are at play and just beginning to make themselves known. True, there are some rather tedious scenes at the UN. But BeauS has enough trust in the that he doesn't beat us over the head with every potential tie-in with Revelation. Hmmm...the UN organizes itself into ten world-wide governing units? Where have I seen that? Could it be the ten kings written of in the Apocalypse? Now a question. How did France's "Ambassador Moore" from this book become "Ambassador Faure" in Book 2? The miracle of publishing?
Rating: Summary: Believable Scientific Mystery Review: As a biology major with a field in laboratory science, I was mesmerized by the accuracy and plausibility of this work. In fact I would classify it as a true work of art. As a believer in God and his trinity, I find myself wishing this book to be true. The plot is detailed, and the characters so personable that you find yourself involved. Mystery lovers as well as Judeo-Christanity scholars would applaude the involvement of so many of our truths, myths, and legends. The introduction of the destructive elements (or persons) were a true surprise. I cannot wait for the next installment, and although I bought the first book in paperback, I will not wait but will purchase the hardback as soon as I can for the second novel. I average 3 to 5 books a week in my reading, and this is one of the best!
Rating: Summary: An interesting alternate view Review: I enjoyed this book quite a lot. I think I read it cover to cover in two days because it was so hard to put down. I enjoyed his little twists and turns and the alternate view of how the End Times might come about. It wasn't predictable in the slightest, even though I know what's supposed to happen. He doesn't go for the obvious, and enjoys subtlety. I thought it was a little odd that he would cast actual people as the bad guys. Miller and Bailey are nearly the identical names of real people associated with the UN and Lucis Trust in New York, and they're both New Age and One World Gov't. folks, just like in the book. I'm surprised there hasn't been litigation on this subject. I'm looking forward to the revised and updated versions of Books Two and Three.
Rating: Summary: The best book I have ever read Review: I just have to say that this book is amazing. I've read other end times books, but none can compare to In His Image. The author wrote this book very well, and even had me rooting for the Antichrist. And, if you hate the French, this book will really be for you.
Rating: Summary: Superior to Left Behind... Review: I've read the Left Behind Series, and I agree with the large number of reviewers who believe The Christ Clone Trilogy and "Conquest of Paradise" are superior to the popular series. Both books offer an element of reality that is lacking in the Left Behind Series. With "In His Image", BeauSeigneur begins his tribulation series with the adventures of Decker Hawthorne, a young journalist and former student of Prof. Goodman, a man who clones a human being from blood samples found on the Shroud of Turin. The result is Christopher Goodman, a young boy of astounding intelligence and worldly insight. This first book follows Christopher's maturation into a man of influence and power, under the stewardship of Hawthorne following his mentor's death. This is definitely a great alternative for those who believe the Left Behind Series is too "cartoon-ish" and simplistic in its portrayal of world events. Fans of the genre will also do well to read "Conquest of Paradise" and "The Last Day", two books that also offer the same quality alternative to Left Behind. Overall, a great book!
Rating: Summary: Couldn't put it down Review: I received my copy on a Thursday, finished it before going to bed Saturday. The author's intent seems to be that of telling a good story which mixes contemporary politics & science with dispensational premillenial eschatology, and he succeeds admirably. While not agreeing with Dispensationalism, I certainly appreciate the dramatic spin he puts on the Rapture and the Two Witnesses.
Rating: Summary: Doesn't live up to the hype Review: This is not a bad series, but I think perhaps I was going into it expecting too much. The reviews here have been so strong and so overwhelmingly positive that I was expecting a masterpiece. I didn't get it. The only two End Times novels I've ever read before this was Left Behind and We All Fall Down. This is certainly better than Left Behind (To be fair, I've only read the first one)but doesn't come anywhere near the quality of We all Fall Down. I baught all three books at one time and wished that I hadn't. This is a facinating premise, but that's all. There's no real exploration of Christian life and I certainly don't feel like I have a better understanding of my faith. This certainly didn't illuminate me or help me in that area. The characters are also fairly unengaging. Again, this is quite a bit better than Left Behind, but that's not really saying much. Perhaps if you read it with lowered expectations you will enjoy it more than I did.
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