In His Image: Book One of the Christ Clone Trilogy    by James BeauSeigneur Order:  USA  Can Warner, 2003 (2003) Hardcover, Paperback, Audio, e-Book Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by J. A. Kaszuba Locke In His Image begins a journey which transports the reader into a suspenseful combination of fact, fiction and prophetic scripture. James BeauSeigneur's genius with researched material comes to life in Book One of the Christ Clone Trilogy to create a compelling novel. Prominent scientists gather to perform an experiment which will lead to the 'Triumph of Man' or the 'Wrath of God'. The team of over 40 scientists and support staff includes Professor Harold Goodman. Decker Hawthorne, journalist/editor (and former medical student), manipulates his way into the team to scoop a story for his own newspaper. While inspecting the historical Shroud of Turin, the players plan to extract a sample for use in an unconscionable secret experiment - the cloning of Jesus Christ. Three years after their inspection, the team releases its negative 'findings'. After a ten year-hiatus, a surprise phone call from Dr. Goodman summons Hawthorne, now employed by NewsWorld magazine, to Los Angeles. Under microscopic inspection, the Doctor reveals his find ... a cluster of dermal cells alive after 2000 years! At a follow-up meeting, Decker meets Goodman's ten-year old grand-nephew, Christopher, whom the professor has raised after the boy's parents died in a car crash. Christopher is extraordinarily gifted, has vivid dreams and an acute intellect. But one thing puzzles Dexter - the Doctor was an only child, he never had a brother. Then comes the 'Disaster', during which millions of people die mysteriously. Conjectures of causes include terrorist acts, biological warfare, or solar activity. Chaos is rampant, plots thicken, conspiracy and distrust mount. Concerns rise for an economic depression, with Wall Street closed and businesses unable to function. Israel's Western Wall is destroyed, The Dome of the Rock is attacked, bombs are detonated, and the Russians occupy Israel. Word spreads of a 'Jihad' (Holy War). The UN needs to reorganize, as representatives vie for self-serving opportunities. After a TV newscast, Christopher states: 'Holy war ... Once again man uses religious differences to justify personal desires. Religion should lift men up, not be used as an excuse to kill and destroy'. At fourteen, Christopher loses his aunt and uncle in a fatal plane crash and, as instructed by them, he appears on the doorstep of the Hawthorne residence for help. While on tour of the UN building in New York, Christopher is observed by two officials, who speak in unison: 'I've seen him'. They smile broadly and their silent thoughts resound, 'The Ruler of the New Age, as prophesied'. Christopher Goodman becomes the Italian Ambassador to the UN, Chairman of the World Peace Organization (WPO), and acquires concerns with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Arriving at the Israeli Knesset building with other representatives for renegotiation of Israel's UN treaty, Christopher offers a 'gift' transported from France - the Ark! Meaningful dreams 'urgently' push Christopher to travel to Israel for a specific purpose. He remains there for forty days before returning to New York. Readers wonder where this leads. What is the plan for the future of the World? Why are all these 'deals' being negotiated for UN positions? Will the formation of the 'New Age' occur? Each end-time story has its own merits. BeauSeigneur goes much deeper than most, while keeping the reader guessing about who is the bad guy and who is the good guy. In His Image is an exceptional beginning, which I recommend as a must read to believers and non-believers. I also suggest that readers take heed to the author's quote of Ecclesiastes 7:8: 'The end of a matter is better than its beginning', and continue on to Book 2, Birth of an Age. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more SF books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews