The Joshua Stone is science
fiction expertly blended with history and foreign intrigue,
with a light dose of theoretical science thrown in. In this
epic thriller, James Barney’s mystery centers on a 1959
scientific attempt to replicate a biblical event. Did God
actually make time stand for Joshua at Jericho? Is it scientifically
feasible for a stone with anti-gravitational properties to
distort time? That’s what the scientists in a hidden
lab in West Virginia are trying to create. They are successful;
unfortunately the time distortion they create results in the
mysterious disappearance of several scientists and the closure
of the lab.
Over half a century later, one of these scientists, Franz
Holzberg, emerges from the West Virginia lab. He’s wounded
and disoriented, and secretly hospitalized by the U.S. Government.
Agents Mike Califano and Ana Thorne are ordered to investigate
the abandoned lab and discover the truth behind the experiments.
They learn that an actual time dilation exists near the lab,
despite the passage of 50 years. Mike and Ann soon learn that
the Joshua stone is not fiction, but reality, and confront
murderous foreign agents in an attempt to prevent a global
catastrophe.
James Barney has expertly created a suspenseful thriller using
the concept that a time disturbance can be caused based on
gravity. While some might find it implausible, I was totally
fascinated, not only by the fast moving plot and excellent
characterization, but by the reminder that yesterday’s
science fiction is often today’s fact. It’s been
a long time since I’ve read an outstanding book that
had me so enrapt that I couldn’t put it down. The Joshua
Stone reminded me of how truly enjoyable that experience can
be.
|
