Customer Reviews

Babylon Rising: The Secret on Ararat

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I was surprised to see a new co-author with book two. However, the style, characterization, and even the tempo remained consistent. Unlike the Left Behind series, The Secret on Ararat is suspense-thriller writing meant to bolster Christian conviction. "We are right! Science will confirm God's handiwork. Those who oppose us and God are evil, and will meet their just reward. We will overcome, be victorious, and ultimately receive great rewards." The story works for the already-converted.

Those who read Lahaye's novel hoping for strong suspense, action, and perhaps some subtle spirituality might be only mildly satisfied. The story-line is almost James Bondish--fun, but a bit fantastical. Additionally, the spiritual message is not underlying--it is overarching, and quite direct. This is tolerable stuff for those not put off by religious messages, but some will feel "preached at." The spiritually timid will want to avoid this series in favor of writers like Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti or a series like the Christ Clone Trilogy. These authors also present religious themes, but do so with more subtlety.

Bottom-line: This is fun, standard suspense-thriller writing for Christians who want fiction that affirms their spirituality. The religiously curious may enjoy the series as well, but those put off by direct spiritual messages should look elsewhere.

The creator of the Left Behind series has a new series underway called Babylon Rising. The second in the series is The Secret On Ararat by Tim Lahaye and Bob Phillips. Not too bad of a story...

Michael Murphy is a biblical archaeologist who is also a university teacher. He's attracted the attention of a dark secret organization who wants some of the biblical artifacts he's been able to discover. In this episode, he's putting together an expedition to find Noah's ark. He's also trying to figure out who is against him finding it, as he's finding people dropping dead all around him. Once the ark is found, it's then a matter of trying to stay alive to get word back out to the world that it's real.

I'm liking this series quite a bit. The emotions of the characters feel real, and the writing is good. Unlike the Left Behind series, I don't know quite where this series is going. This seems like it could be just a series of adventures that don't particularly lead up to a final event. Still, an entertaining read with spiritual overtones.

I know I said in my review of the first in the series, that I would not buy the second. I was pleasantly surprised. I picked it up when I noticed that is was co-authored by a different author. This book was so much better than the first. I loved all the details and the way the story captivated you and made you want to hike to Ararat!!! I hope the next installment is as thought provoking and exciting as this one was. You won't be disappointed. Entertainment and Education all in one---Bravo!!!

What utter tripe! I'm afraid I just can't read this. I've tried but I can't get past the inanity of the first few pages. Firstly Murphy's fighting for his life in an underground river and he stops to help 2 little puppies Awwwww. Whay a guy. Next he's using his enormous lung capacity (over 2 minutes we're told he can hold his breath) to enter the freezing water to save the drowning puppies. Awwww. What a guy. Of course he saves them. Just. He's nearly out of breath and he's in the first stages of hypothermia. But what are we told the puppies are doing at this stage? Happily playing! Not drowned or hypothermic themselves. They are happily playing. Finally in total darkness his hand brushes a piece of wood. Most of us would think 'it's piece of wood' Not Murphy... he just knows it's an historical treasure! Back to the lab where test show it's 5,000 years old. Murphy says with infectious enthusiasm "it must be a piece of Noah's Ark" everybody agrees and I throw the book in the bin.

This book is unbelievable. It really is that for the average reader. However, if you are anything like me, you will find this book thrilling, challenging and insightful. Lahaye has weaved together fiction, scientific facts, biblical prophecy and doctrine into a story that questions the fabric of evolution. After much research following the completion of this book, I learned that there is more evidence that supports the universal flood story of Noah than supports evolution. I also learned that the Earth may be 10,000 years young or less rather than billions of years old as determined by scientist (including geologist and eveolutionist) due to faulty procedures.

These two authors are the creator of The Left Behind Series. This particular book is the second book in the Babylon Rising series. Wonderful authors and very inspiring.
The authors take you on an adventure to find the biblical artifact, Noah's Ark. I was on the edge of my seat. I could not stop reading. I laughed, I cried and I was terrified. I can not wait to read the third book in the series and I find myself wanting to buy the first book. It is definitely a must read for Christians and non-Christians alike.

Left Behind books - Great; Babylon Rising: The Secret on Ararat - Not so good. I had a real problem reading this book. The first one I liked, maybe too much of an Indiana Jones twist, but maybe that's why I liked it. The Left Behind series I would read until they were finished, non-stop. This one has laid on my nightstand for 3 months. There's not as much mystery and suspense as the first. Not much mentioning at all about the "arch enemies" of Murphy. It's very lonely and empty and the search for the actual ark doesn't begin until the last quarter of the book. I honestly can't remember what happened in the first part of the book because I just can't pay attention to it. I have forgotten most of the characters for lack attention or they are just not built up enough in description to remember. Sorry, but it just doesn't flow the way I'm used to seeing a book with Tim Lahayes' name on it.

This book has more of the adventure aspect than the first, and the storyline is a little shallow, in reference to some of the characters who are involved in unlikely twists toward the end. If you've ever read Michael Crichton, and experienced one of his let-down disappointment endings, you're in for a similar fate here. It's as if the authors got tired and said, "well that's enough for this book." In summary: A good read through the first 35 chapters or so, a let down after that.

This is an entertaining light read for teens, with a very superficial "good guys vs. bad guys" kind of plot. The villians are all evil mustache-twirling types who threaten puppies, have an affinity for red lighting, and sneer at people. (They reminded me of Klingons.)

Along the way, the hero gets to deliver lectures and monologues on various Christian topics such as the folly of evolution, etc. On repeated occasions, people come to him with their problems, and he delivers a word or two of advice from the Bible to make their troubles instantly vanish. Those who question the hero are easily refuted and left sputtering with no response. The whole thing is a series of softballs and straw men to make the hero seem even more "good." There's not a lot of depth to the characters to engage the reader.

There is also a lot of violence in the book, many characters are shot at, pummeled, trapped, threatened, killed, etc. in various ways. While the good guys have to spend weeks climbing Mount Ararat, setting up three base camps, packing in supplies, and dealing with crevasses, avalanches, slipped ropes, weather, etc. along the way, somehow the villian is able to show up right at the critical moment on the summit - how did HE get there? (Perhaps he is a supernatural being?) Fortunately several of the characters who die manage to accept Christ just before they are killed - so it's not so bad...

Like I said, in my opinion this is light, simplistic entertainment for teens, there are a lot of Bible lessons and admonitions presented in a thinly-veiled series of sermons. But for adults, this is shallow reading.

From an action standpoint, I suppose this is fun enough although obviously highly improbable, as some of the other reviewers have pointed out (a piece of Noah's ark planted in a cave by a madman? Puhleeeze!) However, from a Christian standpoint it falls way short on several counts. Maybe this book isn't intended to be a witness, but if it is, where is God? Here goes Murphy, galivanting across the globe on the say-so of an evil madman to find archeological proof of the veracity of the Bible. Does it ever occur to our man Mike that if God wants these proofs to be found, He will provide a way that doesn't involve receiving assistance from this depraved Methuselah? Nope, and off he goes without even a moment to consult God about whether there's anything wrong with this picture. The end justifies the means, eh? Isn't there something about "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test" somewhere in the Bible? Oh yeah, Jesus quoted it to Satan when Satan was inviting him to throw himself off a building and see if God would save him. I guess ol' Murphy forgot about that one.

Then there's the whole business about falling for the unbelieving Isis. "Lead me not into temptation" and all that, but please fix it for me when I walk into it deliberately.

If you just have to read this, get it from the library. I'm saving my money for Jerry Jenkins' next book. Can't wait!