This imagined world creates a plot line both intricate and dramatic. It also requires a tremendous amount of exposition, which sometimes interferes with the flow of the story. Even so, Julie Daube, in what is sure to be the first book in a series, does a good job juggling the various possibilities and shepherding the reader through a nightmare world.

Having established the premise of her book, Julie Daube skillfully brings present day events and vivid characters to life. We catch glimpses of actual historical figures thinly disguised. Hillary Clinton plays a crucial role as the rather sinister Senator Conlin from New York. The CFR becomes the Council for Global Unity. There are other organizations which she does not bother to veil. The Catholic Church, we find out on page 75, is in the hip pocket of the bad guys. As a conservative with a generally Catholic perspective in the tradition of Lawler, Percy and even C.S. Lewis, I found this reference as well as a few others over the top.

A novel, to be a good novel, must meet certain requirements, first it must ultimately convey a message. It need not beat you over the head with it, as Ms. Daube is prone to do, but it should make you think. As Ms. Daube provokes thought on many issues, from gun control to the truth of Biblical prophesy, she essentially succeeds on this level.

Next, a good novel should have character development. Throughout the book the protagonists seem to be on two simultaneous journeys, one political the other spiritual. The political journey is one in which events and insights lead them inevitably to strong conservative values. The spiritual journey leads them ever closer to Christianity. Somehow they never connect. They may be parallel, but they are never bound. This is undoubtedly due to the different goals inherent in a political movement versus a spiritual one.

"The Shadows of Babylon" works hard to mix its politics with religion. It is a combination not generally seen as fundamentalist Christians have a relatively fatalistic view of history. Most believe that the second coming will happen no matter what we weak humans do. Meanwhile the John Birch Society has a view that historical movement is not inevitable. They strive to educate Americans that American Sovereignty is being systematically compromised by people in high places. The Birchers believe that if enough people are educated that the move toward global unity and its subsequent destruction of individual rights can be reversed. Although their long range views differ, this does not mean these movements are mutually exclusive in the short term. As "The Shadows of Babylon" demonstrates, the views of the John Birch Society can be made to fit the framework of a religion based primarily upon the last book in the Bible.

Finally, a novel should have a good story. Here Ms. Daube has succeeded on a variety of levels, for "Shadows of Babylon" could be called a political thriller, a religious tract, even a mystery. It can be explored for plotting and action, political education, as well as its intellectual examination of modern societal forces. This is a Herculean effort that attempts much. "Shadows of Babylon" will especially interest those who are fascinated by literature about the Apocalypse. JBS members will find it interesting for its political intrigue. General audiences may find it heavy handed, but also thought provoking. *

This book may be purchased at Amazon.com.