Flight of the Eagles (The Seven Sleepers)

Rating:
Summary: 1st of the Seven Sleepers Series
Review: "Flight of the Eagles" is the first in the "Seven Sleepers Series" by Gilbert L. Morris. The world as we know it has changed after a terrible nuclear war. Fourteen-year-old Joshua Adams wakes up from a fifty year sleep to find himself escaped from the war. But to his surprised he finds that his awakening has hailed the beginning of an ancient prophecy. For years the genetically altered races of Earth have sung of Seven Sleepers who would awaken from a deep sleep and unite together with Goel to fight against the evil priests of the Sanhedrin. Josh's quest is to now find the other sleepers and continue the quest to rid the world of the Sanhedrin. But along the way, Josh and his new found friends, both from the old world and new world, must face dangers and betrayals that will threaten their faith and commitment to Goel.

Some say that these series live up to the standards of "The Chronicles of Narnia", I beg to differ. Their are some similarities, one in that the main characters are of the younger generations, teenagers to be more specific. But while the Narnia series had a depth to it in which even adults will find themselves drawn into the story, "The Seven Sleepers Series" falls a bit flat. Gilbert Morris is an accomplished writer of more adult books, including the great "House of Winslow Series", "Appomattox Series", "Cheney Duvalle M.D. Series", and numerous other wonderful historical/fiction series. But his attempt to writing a series aimed for younger children is a bit disappointing.

First of all, the religious themes embedded into this series feels a bit contrite and not too well developed. Aslan was a great character in Narnia, but Goel's characters feels a bit flat even though he is supposed to be the Sleeper's spiritual champion. There is no real climax in the book as the story plods through at a mediocre pace. I had to force myself to finish the story.

But don't take me wrong, I am only giving my opinion as a sixteen-year-old. The series is aimed for kids younger than me. There is nothing objectionable in the stories so these books are great for kids ages 10-14. The only point I'm trying to make is some reviewers said that this series is up there with the Chronicles of Narnia. Whereas those series can be read by kids of a wide age range, "The Seven Sleepers" are strictly for younger kids.

Rating:
Summary: An Even Blend of Sci-Fi and Fantasy
Review: Flight of the Eagles, book #1 in the Seven Sleepers series is a sci-fi thriller as well as a fantasy epic. Not many fiction writers blend both science fiction and fantasy in the same novel, and Gilbert Morris succeeds at blending the two very distinctly different genres, although it is not a seamless blend. In the first parts of this novel, a nuclear war strikes the entire globe and silo labs and time capsules are described. Later on in the novel, the protagonists team up with a giant, some dwarfs, and gnomes, and battle with evil humans and monsters using swords and arrows. The protagonists also commit their lives to a divine, supernatural being. This is quite possibly the most unusual and interesting book I have ever read.

The storyline concerns an ordinary 14 year-old boy named Joshua Adams who is self-concious concerning his clumsiness and self-image. Then a girl named Sarah Collingwood, who is Josh's age, comes to stay at his house while her parents travel to Africa as missionaries.
Then a global nuclear war strikes. Josh's father wakes him up the night of the first nuclear strikes. Josh finds himself in a race against time, along with his parents and Sarah, to his father's silo lab. When they arrive at the concrete building. Josh's father explains to them that the world as they knew it would end that very night because of the global nuclear war. Josh is put into a time capsule deep inside the silo building and Sarah is whisked away to seperate capsule. Josh's father explains to him that when he awakes from the time capsule, he, along with several others, will find himself on a planet altered by nuclear devastation.

50 years later, Joshua Adams is awakened by from his sleep by and old man named Crusoe. He later discovers that the genetically altered races of Earth hail his awakening as the first fulfillment of ancient prophecy which states that seven sleepers would arise in Nuworld to unite their strength with Goel and join in battle against the forces of evil that threaten to dominate Nuworld. Josh learns that he, along with six others, would become the only hope of Nuworld.
He teams up with Crusoe, a giant named Volka, and two dwarfs named Mat and Tam, and together they embark on a dangerous quest through Nuworld to find and awaken the other sleepers from the Oldworld, one of which is Sarah, who is the second sleeper. Together they continue the quest to find the other five sleepers.

The third Sleeper is Jake Garfield, who is a redheaded boy of about 14 years old. His character isn't developed very much for some reason.
The fourth Sleeper is 15 year-old Dave Cooper who is very confident concerning himself and how he relates to others, and who can be both optimistic and pessimistic depending on the situation.
The fifth Sleeper is 14 year-old Bob Jackson whom everyone calls Reb. He has a very distinct character as someone who enjoys thoroughly the lifestyle of a cowboy. He is a southerner whose favorite historical figure is Stonewall Jackson.
The sixth Sleeper is 13 year-old Abigail Roberts, who is a rich girl who is used to having whatever she wants. She is not a very likeable character at first, but later on her character is developed positively.
The seventh and final Sleeper is 12 year-old Gregory Jones, whom everyone calls Wash. Seeing as he doesn't come on the scene until the last parts of the book, there is not much time for his character to be developed.

Throughout the course of their quest to find and awaken the Sleepers, Josh and his companions encounter many dangers. The evil priests of the Sanhedrin are a constant and potent threat to their survival, and other dangers besides are encountered, such as giant killer bees, highly dangerous marsh lands, monster attacks, a perilous desert, and more. This novel's climax involves a huge battle fought between the seven Sleepers with their Nuworld companions and the armies of the evil Sanhedrin warrior priests. One of the seven Sleepers is killed in the battle, then brought to life again by Goel, the spiritual leader of the Sleepers. One of the main Nuworld characters dies, and there is a surprise ending which will indeed surprise you.

Flight of the Eagles is a promising beginning to the Seven Sleepers series. The storyline is excellent, and most of the characters are well-developed. I have rated this book with 4 stars because some of the characters are not as developed as others. Still, I highly reccomend this book to anyone who enjoys sci-fi or fantasy.

Rating:
Summary: Very Good
Review: I have read all of the books in this series. I read them all a couple years ago but I enjoyed every single one. This series and the Bonnnets and Bugles Series were my favorite books from childhood. I recommend all of these books to you as well as the books from the Bonnets and Bugles Series by Gilbert Morris.

Rating:
Summary: I love these!!
Review: I love these books, all of them are teriffic reads, and I finished the whole first ten in a week! But be prepaired to be a little irritated with the inconsistancy of the books. One charector, Reb has bleach blond hair and blue eyes, then in another book he has red hair and green eyes. Another thing is that all the 'princess' charectors are going to have either blond hair and blue eyes, or red hair and green eyes. There must have been some sort of rebellion in wich all brunetts were banished to the four courners of the earth! :) Also this book wasn't the best in the series, for the simple reason that it was too little time and too much to say and do in that little time. On the other hand, though, I do sugjest not reading the others 'till you have read this one!

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Summary: Best Series Ever! I tingled with excitement at every page!
Review: I loved this book! And the rest of the series too! I've read 5 of the Seven Sleeper's books, and am on my 6th! You should buy this book, it is sooo exciting when they fight new monsters, awake new sleepers, overcome tasks, and out-smart the Sanhedrin! I love it! Buy it right away!

Rating:
Summary: Read "Flight of the Eagles" it's great!
Review: I thought "Flight of the Eagles" by Gilbert Morris was an awesome book. Gilbert Morris is an exellent author who knows how to write a good book and I recommend this book to any one who likes fantasy and adventure. Seven teens awake from a fifty year sleep to find out they have escaped a nuclear war. These "seven sleepers" then go on the ultimate adventure, led by their leader, Goel. There are eight books in the series so far, I have only read three. I can't stop reading them though. The Seven Sleepers books are the best books I've read by far! Phil Call

Rating:
Summary: A brand new world with a whole bunch of adventure
Review: Josh Adams is happy then he grows(wish I could do that)he's tall and uncomfortable then Sarah comes pretty and small. One night his father wakes him upand tells him a nuclear war has just started. They leave with Sarah and Josh's mom. At the silo Mr.Adams tells him about a secret project-Sleepers. Josh is loaded into one. After what seems like a moment-but is actually fifty years later!- Josh wakes up.
He soon learns that he has to find six other sleepers wich include: practical Sarah, cocky Jake, egotisticl Dave, cowboy Reb, beutiful Abbey, and small Wash. Josh and the rest of the sleepers have to save the Nuworl from the forces of evil

Rating:
Summary: Definately Recommended!
Review: One of the few examples of Christian fantasy/sci-fi-- besides the Chronicles of Narnia-- that I've been able to read without cringing. I have high standards for what I read, and this series, of which this book is the first, lives up to them very well. The Christian element is definately there but it doesn't bludgeon you over the head, unlike some other books. Some elements in it have been taken from other books, but it's not obvious and it doesn't detract from the story. The characters are original and interesting, and they go through obvious changes throughout the series-- they don't remain static at all. The plot is an interesting idea, as well, and the setting adds the final touch needed to make this a great series. The ending is poignant and touching-- I get tears in my eyes every time I read it. I'd definately recommend buying this book if you like the fantasies of C.S. Lewis, Tolkien and their ilk.

Rating:
Summary: Great Idea, but lacking in plot and consistency
Review: When I first read these books several years ago, I fell in love with them. The whole idea with the time capsules proved very interesting, and it's neat to read a book where some modern-day technologies are combined with old weapons and other 19th century things. I also believe the seven sleepers are well defined and clearly mature throughout the books.
One thing that constantly annoyed me while reading was the inconsistency. The ages tend to switch every once in a while, and little things such as hair color, eye color, and other physical features. These were things I didn't pick up when I was younger that I noticed this time. Another thing that bothered me was the fact that the books are short but at the beginning of each one it focuses back to this book and describes how it all started and not the end of the previous book, and in each one the ages and physical descriptions are described.
The biggest problem I have with this book and the rest of them is very close references to The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia. Example: in The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis they tie the prince to a chair while he goes crazy from a spell. In this book they tie one of the characters to a tree and much the same thing happens. Also in other books, especially The Final Kingdom there were names exactly or almost exactly out of The Lord of the Rings (Beorn, Morder, and one very close to Celeborn). Again, I didn't pick up on these things when I was younger.
I highly reccommend this book to anyone under the age of 13. If you're older and looking for a good read, try the Chronicles of Narnia or the Lord of the Rings, they're more geared toward older audiences and the ties to Christianity are better woven in the plots. Also, in the Seven Sleeper Series, after the second book they become very similar: save another tribe, move on the the next one. They are great books but geared toward smaller audiences.