Soon

Rating:
Summary: Interesting, with a fair level of tension
Review: Jenkins produces a fast-paced tale that avoids some of the scatteredness of the Left Behind books. He focuses on one man...a religion scholar in a world that has banned religion. The near future world of SOON has survived a devestating war that was, indeed, spurred on by religious animosities. The surviving governments decided to ban religious practice in order to squelch these violent impulses.

The Paul character has so many intentional parallels to the New Testament Apostle Paul--being struck with blindness on his journey to persecute Christians, then embracing the truth of the Christians. There are also parallels to John's letters to the seven churches, found in Revelation 2-3. Jenkins clearly had fun infusing so many characters and types from Scripture.

The major weakness is the lack of character development. Yes, we know, in a generic sense, what people are feeling--but we do not engage Jenkin's characters on an emotional level. Paul's conversion is the perfect example. He resisted, resisted, could not possible believe, and then, over the course of a few days came to see Christianity as truth. Within a very few weeks, he was an inside leader in the movement. Surely such dramatic changes would bring powerful emotions and struggles--but we really do not sense much of it. The changes just happen.

Bottom-line: This is a solid apoclyptic novel--fun for Christians who remember their Bible stories, and engaging enough for anyone. Action drives the plot. If you love to identify with characters and get into their heads, this may not be your first choice.

Rating:
Summary: Can mankind survive in a world without religion? Sort of...
Review: Open the book and get ready for a shocking, tumultuous, futuristic trip. 2045 is bleak indeed, especially if you happen to be a Christian.

Wintermas, previously Christmas, was a time for celebration and gifts. However, it was also a time when those who were Christians, forbidden as all religions were, had a more difficult time masking their identities.

In my opinion, the world geopolitical situation was implausible, and there was insufficient background to set the stage that took away the rights of those who chose whether they believed and worshipped or not. Being caught with a Bible meant death.

Thus enters the zealot Paul Stepola, an agent in the National Peace Organization. The NPO was created to destroy religion wherever it was found.

Paul is very good at his job -- he finds Christians, and they are executed in dramatic and revolting ways. He determines that he will have more ammunition if he studies the Bible, and is provided with both books and CDs for his study. He is changed by the scripture study, and his journey to Christianity parallels the Biblical Apostle Paul's. I'm sure Stepola was named for him, which is only one of the contrivances used in this book.

This is, however, a fast paced thriller, but I was aware that it was "just a novel." Taking into account that I purchased this book thinking it was #12 in the Left Behind series, and I was disappointed, I raise the stars from two to three. I'm sure this is book one of a series, and I have no plans to read others.

Victoria Tarrani

Rating:
Summary: Can mankind survive in a world without religion? Sort of...
Review: Open the book and get ready for a shocking, tumultuous, futuristic trip. 2045 is bleak indeed, especially if you happen to be a Christian.

Wintermas, previously Christmas, was a time for celebration and gifts. However, it was also a time when those who were Christians, forbidden as all religions were, had a more difficult time masking their identities.

In my opinion, the world geopolitical situation was implausible, and there was insufficient background to set the stage that took away the rights of those who chose whether they believed and worshipped or not. Being caught with a Bible meant death.

Thus enters the zealot Paul Stepola, an agent in the National Peace Organization. The NPO was created to destroy religion wherever it was found.

Paul is very good at his job -- he finds Christians, and they are executed in dramatic and revolting ways. He determines that he will have more ammunition if he studies the Bible, and is provided with both books and CDs for his study. He is changed by the scripture study, and his journey to Christianity parallels the Biblical Apostle Paul's. I'm sure Stepola was named for him, which is only one of the contrivances used in this book.

This is, however, a fast paced thriller, but I was aware that it was "just a novel." Taking into account that I purchased this book thinking it was #12 in the Left Behind series, and I was disappointed, I raise the stars from two to three. I'm sure this is book one of a series, and I have no plans to read others.

Victoria Tarrani

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book!
Review: Taking the concept of Christian persecution to the modern/near future age, Mr. Jenkins truly indeed has created a great book where you are gripped in the storyline. It is relentless, and when it pauses you know that you are being set up for another shock in the plotline. Yes, there are plenty. =) I truly think that this book is more "real" than the books in the LB series (Which it is always being compared to), and it feels more real. I seriously recommend reading this, check your local public library if you can't buy it now. Trust me, you'll be glad you did!

Rating:
Summary: Futuristic fiction or man's destiny?
Review: The backdrop of the story here is banning religions to prevent war. A great concept on paper, but there seems to be a lacking of what religion means to many. Religion is the inspiration to believe in something more than what we have in front of our eyes. Keeping that in mind, let's focus on what is the life of Paul Stepola. Here we have a man assigned the task of running the NPO (National Peacekeeping Organization). In his attempt to enforce the law, he is exposed to supernatural phenomenon that the underworld call miracles and the disbelievers call conspiracy. The story leads up to a pending event that is on course. It is an event that the believers warn of and the law is determined to disprove the revelation. A wonderful story that I recommend as it gives a daring view on how man, out of desperation, will attempt to do just about anything for peace. Even attempt to stifle what he doesn't completely understand.

Rating:
Summary: Engaging story, but not as focused as needed
Review: The book is said to be a "pre-quel" of sorts which takes place before the "Left Behind" series begins. However, the lack of continuity between the stories would indicate this is just a tag line to sell copies. Apparently it worked because I picked up the book as a result.

The high points are that the story draws you in quickly, and packs enough intensity and drama to keep you hooked throughout. I read the whole book in one sitting. So, it was either that good or I had nothing better to do. The book flows well and the lead character was developed adequately enough.

However, the storyline was distracting. Either the author went way into fine details and spent several chapters on a particular event, or glossed right passed something. The book ends with way too many loose ends. Some of the main characters are not developed out at all, so we have no idea of their motivations.

Overall, a decent story, and a quick read. Perhaps a sequel could close out some of the loose ends. The premise of "no religion" is a fascinating one, but too little time is spent on what this would actually look like. 5 stars for the effort, but only 3 stars total for the review because of the poor character development and plot holes.

Rating:
Summary: Solid- Not Hooked Entirely
Review: The stars are given for Jenkins' premise that before the Rapture of the Church, the church in America might undergo tremendous persecution and suffering. I think many Christians go about their merry way and think the Rapture will occur before the heat is turned up against Christian beliefs. That thinking is most arrogant and Jenkins presents a world where that environment becomes reality. Jenkins' vision may not be entirely off-base that as the evangelical churches in America continue to water-down the gospel with "seeker-sensitive" messages, we are rapidly approaching a merger of evangelical Christianity with false religion and apostasy. (See the very dangerous book by Rick Warren called "A Purpose-Driven Life" and its popularity if you don't believe Christians are being duped into dumbness. We are already observing the suppression of the gospel and a preaching of Christianity where a person is allowed to pick and choose their beliefs from a buffet of offerings.)

Give Jenkins an "A" for originality with the premise. I knocked the book down a little because some obvious plot holes were never addressed. I just thought the protagonist, Paul Steppola, embraced Christianity just a little too quickly. Sure, that can happen but most people wrestle with the issue for months and years, not days. The other plot hole is that the underground Christians are calling each other on cell phones all around the country and the federal agents in charge of suppressing religion appear oblivious to it all.

The characters are developed adequately but not with tremendous depth. Jenkins obviously has a trilogy outline in mind that does not accomodate the time for too much characterization.

I will likely read the remainder of the trilogy when released, unless, of course, the Rapture, happens first.

Rating:
Summary: Apparently the War on Terror has gone way too far . . .
Review: There were a lot of things I enjoyed about Soon that I only wish now could have been included in the original Left Behind series; among those, not only higher technology and more persecution for Christians before the Rapture, but especially attention to setting and analogies.

(As an aside: yes, there is still the sinister Tim LaHaye's pre-Trib Rapture viewpoint in this novel. Will the post-Tribbers just quit complaining and write some positive reviews of a Left Behind-type book for a change? There's enough persecution and carnage in here to make all of you satisfied. In Soon, even before the Rapture, American Christians are having to go through hell on Earth. Happy now?)

I'll get to story and characters in a moment. But first, it must be said: in the last half of the Left Behind series, anyway, there's little attention, if any, given to environmental or architectural detail. The Strong Building is a big tower. Petra is somewhere in the rocks, something to do with a canyon, but if you haven't been there in person you'll just have to go to see it for yourself if you don't get shot or blown up first. The Phoenix 216 is a big big plane. Carpathia's offices are big, "opulent," and darn near impressive. Not to mention New Babylon the big world capital, which gets in Soul Harvest a pre-construction description of big gold spires.

All that complaining to say: Jerry Jenkins uses his descriptive abilities much more wonderfully in Soon. From Hollywood mansions to outposts on a Texas oil field, to New York with its reflective black buildings and a giant rotating model of planetary positions atop one tower . . . we get mental film supplied by the author, for our mental pictures.

Those settings mark Soon's strength . . . in addition to the even-better Biblical analogies. The seven churches metaphors and names are capital, and some of the best surprises in here!

However, while the Left Behind series neglected descriptions and analogies and tried to focus mostly on its two principle characters -- and later, it had to "focus" on 20-or-so characters -- Soon builds the world wonderfully, but leaves the character development just a little bit more shallow.

Soon's central character is Paul Stepola, an operative with the National Peace Organization, a religious Gestapo within the United Seven States of America. Following the crusade-like World War III which was spearheaded by radical Islam terrorism, aided by all kinds of other conflicts and disasters, the world has decided it's had enough of religion.

Thus, by year 36, post WW3 -- equivalent to 2046 now -- a kind of pre-Antichrist global government is in place. The U.S. has lost all of its sovereignty under a U.N.-headed system. Religion is banned worldwide, but Soon focuses exclusively on the former America, possibly leaving readers wondering what's going on elsewhere. The Rapture hasn't happened yet, but it's coming.

With a few exceptions, the author follows Paul Stepola exclusively, from his beginning as a zealous anti-Christian crusader himself, to his questions about who and what he's persecuting . . . to what happens next, about halfway through, when Soon gets more exciting. If you're thinking this sounds like the story of the real apostle Paul, you're right. But just as soon as readers will have figured that out, the author subtly lets you know, I knew that and I knew you would know that by now anyway, this is the point.

Generally, Paul's eventual transformation might seem believable, but including that, there are a few personal changes which just seem rushed, perhaps truncated. Paul himself even thinks something like that near the end, after a reconciliation with his wife.

As for the end . . . I had begun wondering about it, when I was five pages away from the back of the novel and there was still no sign of it slowing down. There's no super cliffhanger. But the ending is fast, seemingly incomplete, like the final scene of the movie My Fair Lady, but much drier -- a climax that's blown through in seconds, with a quick summary of something called the Christian Guerilla War that happened afterward. (Author Jerry Jenkins has said Soon is the first novel in a trilogy.)

A few words about technology. The highest-caliber technology in Soon, mentioned from the very first page, is some cool head-to-head communication: basically, cell phones inside your head. With that exception, and that of holograms and laser weapons, everything else is basically the same as now: computers, cars, aircraft. (What about space travel? Micro-technology? Aww, there's no sign of them anywhere!)

The systems in the LB series advanced with each novel without much mention or fanfare: from videotapes to minidiscs, to an overnight switch from cash dollars as a global standard to a cashless economy measured in Nicks. In Soon, things are different: Super J has figured out exactly what kind of toys you get and how they work, and what things are made of.

A secretary once tells Paul, "Today what little paper we use is made of reconstituted fibers from the plastics that used to be considered indestructible. . . ." While it's possible that within a decade or so, all paper might literally be digital, this is a sample of the kind of duh,-since-I-live-here,-I-already-knew-that dialogue that crops up in future fiction sometimes. Really, it's only present a few times throughout Soon, but enough to be noticeable.

In the LB books, new technologies appear without heavy introduction; but here, the author occasionally says, see, see, look what I made up. . . . Ain't it cool?

If only the Left Behind series and Soon could share plot, story and setting elements, swapping some, eliminating others. Ah, well . . . for now, no one can get anything perfect, at least not until Christ really does return.

Overall, Soon is a fun read. And the critics, myself included, can probably just hush up and enjoy it for what it is.

Rating:
Summary: Compelling Fiction
Review: This is a more than acceptable follow up to the Left Behind series, taking the reader in a different and fascinating direction. In this compelling story, Jenkins answers the question, "What if all religion was outlawed completely? Would the world be better off for it?" The answer is, of course, a resounding "no." Protagonist Paul Stepola's life mirrors that of Paul the Apostle ("Stepola" is a scrambling of the word apostle) in a series of compelling circumstances that includes the literal stoning of a man named Stephen and a bout of temporary blindness. The book is a thrill ride from beginning to end, with the reader always wondering when the other shoe will drop and Paul's double agent status will be discovered. The only criticism I had was that Stepola's conversion experience seemed a little flat when compared to the Biblical Paul's, though it could be argued that it's more typical of what happens to most people who come to Christ. All in all, a worthwhile, interesting read.

Rating:
Summary: An Awesome Book
Review: This is about a man, Paul Stepola, who was part of a system that had no religion what-so-ever during the year 63 P.3. (Post-World War III). Religion was banned because it was supposed that the wars were mostly started up because of religion. Paul was part of a government group, the NPO (National Peace Organization), that looked up any illegal religious groups and got rid of them, until a so called 'miracle' caused an oil well to make a pillar of fire, thus burning Paul's eyes making him blind. He is then returned his vision with a miracle and then begins to work like a double agent, dangerously trying to save the underground Christians from the wrath of the government and his father in law as they have a plan to flush out the rest of the underground groups.

What I liked about it was the action and the way the story was written because I couldn't stop reading it. Also, I liked the amount of suspense always happening, and the actions that had to be taken just to save somebody, which was kind of interesting.

I wouldn't just recommend this to just anybody because they may not like it since it has some religion in it that I don't think just anyone wants to read about. But still, some religious people could read it, especially Christians, or some can just read it just for the suspense. It is for both male and female, and those who believe in prophecies.

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