Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy

First Born

Name: First Born
Author: Richard Sears
ISBN: 9780312872502

by Richard Sears

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Overview

From his first breath, people know that John Reed is special. Gifted with an uncanny awareness and ability to communicate, he also possesses the power to heal. Before long, a local priest heralds the infant as a new messiah, to the distress of his parents." "Though many seek John Reed's aid, not all who are interested in the baby have benevolent motives, and those who seek the truth of John Reed's conception are soon marked for death." "Neo Tech, part of a clandestine organization whose dark web extends from major multinational corporations to the vaults of the Vatican, believes that John Reed is not holy, or even human, but the first of a new generation of alien-human hybrids. Using "remote viewers" - psychically gifted men and women - Neo Tech monitors the infant, determined to unravel the mystery behind his origin and control whatever force created him." "To date, the organization's efforts have failed. Now the beautiful Casey Lee Armstrong, Neo Tech's most gifted remote viewer, has been assigned to John Reed." "Psychic contact with the infant offers her a glimpse of his origin and purpose - and makes her dangerous to Neo Tech. Marked for termination by her former employers, falsely accused of kidnapping John Reed, Casey begins a desperate search for the child." "Her only ally is police detective Mike Caruso, a man with personal reasons to want to find the infant alive. If John Reed can heal, he can save the detective's life." "Blending fact, metaphysics, and theology into powerful fiction, First Born challenges the reader to step into a new world and question the very nature of existence.

About the Author, Richard Sears

Richard Sears grew up in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, and moved to London, England, in the late 1970s. He earned degrees in psychology and literature and for many years worked as a psychiatric counselor before pursuing a career in investigative journalism. A childhood "close encounter" inspired his lifelong interest in the paranormal and eventually led to the writing of First Born and Last Day.

A full-time writer, Sears lives with his wife and sons on Long Island, New York.

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Editorials

KLIATT

Fans of The X Files will enjoy this SF thriller. John Reed, a special baby, is born to Thomas and Molly Reed. Immediately, mysterious things occur around this baby. Molly's doctor is murdered, as is the priest who starts to proclaim John as the new messiah. Police detective Michael Caruso is cured of Lou Gehrig's disease after holding the baby and looking in his eyes. Meanwhile, Casey Armstrong, a psychic, has been employed by the clandestine organization Neo Tech to locate the baby. Preston Dix, the head of Neo Tech, knows that John Reed is an alien-human hybrid. Casey realizes how special the baby is, and tries to protect him from Dix and his men. She enlists the help of Caruso, and together they risk their lives to save John from those who would harm him. This book is a great thriller, tightly written, with many twists and turns. The characters are vividly drawn, and the actions scenes crackle. This book should appeal to mystery readers as well as SF fans. KLIATT Codes: SA—Recommended for senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2000, Tor/Forge, 371p, 18cm, $6.99. Ages 16 to adult. Reviewer: Gail E. Roberts; Coordinator, Youth Scvs., New Bedford P.L. New Bedford, MA, May 2001 (Vol. 35 No. 3)

School Library Journal

YA-An X-Files type of story with a messianic twist, this novel demands that readers suspend reality fairly early. Nevertheless, it will hold their attention. Molly and Thomas Reed lost their only child to a drowning accident. Unexpectedly, and almost miraculously, Molly becomes pregnant 15 years later. Meanwhile, Casey Armstrong is experiencing confusion, depression, and a feeling of amnesia. She functions as a sort of psychic spy for the military. Unknown to her, she has done a remote viewing for members of a global, top-secret group that actually runs the world and the memory has been blocked from her conscious awareness. Meanwhile the Reeds' baby is born. Within a few days, John begins to speak and seems to have an awareness and understanding of those around him that defy logic. Casey soon realizes that she must go to see this special baby. Before long the evil members of the group are trying to find John, ultimately to destroy him, fearing he is of alien origin. Those who have come in contact with him, though, sense something higher in him-possibly the Second Coming? A series of healings that John initiates, including that of a police officer investigating the murders that seem to be occurring around this unusual child, seems to confirm this belief. The nonstop action, suspense, and strange doings should keep most teens interested through to the demise of the bad guys and the safe retreat of the unusual baby.-Carol DeAngelo, Kings Park Library, Burke, VA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

From the Publisher

"Enthralling. The story keeps one's attention...the kind of attention one brings to The X-Files."--Cleveland Plain Dealer

"I couldn't put it down...pushed everything else to the back burner. [Richard Sears is] poised for a bestseller, having struck a rich vein with this alien thriller."--William Kotzwinkle