Jerry Jenkins
Silenced: The Wrath of God Descends (2004)
Author: Jerry Jenkins
Genre (and subgenre): Science Fiction/Christian (Apocalyptic)
Plot Summary:
After World War III almost destroys the planet, the new global government outlaws religion, under penalty of death. Paul works for the government, infiltrating the Christian underground, but apparently in the previous book in the series was born again and now works as a double agent. He is in Los Angeles when the Christian underground cell there prays for God to smite their enemies, and does He ever – he makes all the non-believers water disappear. Thousands die, but this plot thread is abandoned pretty quickly when suicide bomber strike London and Paris and an evil mastermind named Styr Magnor claims responsibility on behalf of the Christian underground. Paul is desperate to find Magnor and prove he’s not really a believer. Meanwhile, Paul’s wife Jae is undergoing a crisis of faith and when she discover Paul’s copy of the New Testament, begins to question her atheism. What she doesn’t realize is that her husband has stopped philandering because he found Jesus. Also, the new global government issues a declaration that everyone on Earth must sign a statement disavowing any religious belief or be executed. SPOILER: After Paul kills Magnor, the Christian underground prays for God to do some more smiting, and at the very end of the book, He kills the firstborn child of every nonbeliever on Earth. To be continued?
Geographical Setting: Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., London, Paris, Rome
Time Period: app. 50 years in the future (the calendar has been reset, so it’s 38 P.3)
Series: The Zealot Underground, Book 2
Appeal Characteristics:
fast-paced thriller structure (although his grasp of the genre seems shaky, even after 12 Left Behind books; the ending in particular is surprisingly anti-climactic); evangelically correct plot/themes; copious Biblical quotations, providing an ostensible theological underpinning to some characters’ actions; both Paul and his wife are experiencing different crises of faith, which may appeal to Christian readers; contemptuous/condescending or dismissive of the value of non-Christian life, which also seems to appeal to some people; also plays on some contemporary evangelicals’ paranoid fantasies of being an oppressed minority, as well as swipes at humanism and postmodernism, which are naturally devoid of any moral content whatsoever.
Similar Authors: Tim LaHaye (Jenkins’ regular co-author), Jake Thoene (Christian political thrillers) Mel Odom, Neesa Hart (writes Left Behind spin-offs)
Red Flags: There is a lot of implied violence, but nothing is described in any detail. Some may find the book’s overall thesis/worldview offensive.
Soon: the Beginning of the End (2003)
Author: Jerry Jenkins
Genre: Christian (Apocalyptic)/Science Fiction
Plot Summary:
The third World War was caused by the terrorist elements of the major religious factions throughout the world. The nuclear weapons that were used during the war killed many people, but not as many as the tidal wave they caused. The sobering effect of the tsunami produced a world government, the United Seven States of America within, and a strong anti-religious sentiment due to its cause of the world war. Now, practicing religion is a crime and spreading religion a capital offense. Within this world exists Paul Stepola, member of the National Peace Organization(NPO) whose job it is to find religious cells and eliminate them. SPOILER: During a mission, Paul is blinded by an explosion. Reaching a strong point of fear and despair, he asks God for help and is cured of his blindness. Now a believer, Paul begins to help the sporadic groups of believers from his position in the NPO from his father-in-law and his ruthless protege, Bia Balaam, who slaughter every group of believers they can find.
Geographical Setting: United States
Time Period: ~2045
Series: first book in the Underground Zealot series
Appeal Characteristics:
Soon provides a very engaging thriller with a Christian orientation. The book is fast paced and there is constant pressure being placed on Paul. He, his contacts, and his friends face the unending possibility of being identified by his father-in-law, Balaam, or other NPO officers as they carry out operations against the
religious organizations. The Christian content within this pacing provides the main draw. Despite the dangers or losses that the groups face, they never abandon their beliefs and there are many times when they continue by the inspiration provided by Bible passages. Another appeal is the future, near post-apocalyptic setting which provides not only the base for the story, but a very enthralling aspect too.
Similar Authors: The first place to turn after Soon is to the rest of the Underground Zealot series with Silenced: the Wrath of God Decends and Shadowed: the Final Judgement. Beyond the series, continuing with more of Jenkin's novels would be a good suggestion. Starting with what he may be known for most, the Left Behind series (first in the series is Left Behind: a Novel of Earth's Last Days) that was co-written with Tim LaHaye. This series is possibly the best known of the Christian thrillers and provides very similar plot mechanics. In the same manner, the Babylon Rising series would be a worthy suggestion starting with the first book Babylon Rising. This series also written by Tim LaHaye continues his trend for writing Christian thrillers, though he does not use the apocalyptic setting in this series. For those looking for more end-of-the-world Christian titles may want to try In His Image (the first book in the Christ Clone trilogy) by James BeauSeigneur or Flee the Darkness by Grant Jeffrey and Angela Elwell Hunt. Someone just looking for similar pacing, but not confined to an apocalyptic setting could try Kingdom Come by Larry Burkett and T. Davis Bunn.
Red Flags: graphic violence, places blame for World War III on non-Protestant religions
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