Five Star Science Fiction/Fantasy - Judgment Day [Hardcover]

J. J. Ace (Author)

Book Description

Series: Five Star Science Fiction/Fantasy | Publication Date: September 2, 2005

For Elias, being murdered is just the beginning. The unlucky "winner" of a celestial lottery after his death, Elias has the role of Forerunner thrust upon him. He's given the powers of angels and devils in order to cast the thousand-year judgment of what forces rule the world. He must choose Heaven, Hell, or a twisted sort of self-rule for Humankind. Matthias, a former Forerunner, mentors Elias in the use of his new powers and attempts to prepare him for the judgment he must render. Elias visits people in all walks of life throughout the world and experiences extreme good and evil firsthand. The emotional challenges forever change him. Elias quickly discovers that powerful, ancient forces are out to stop the judgment and erase the Forerunner from existence. Fallen angel Warrish tricks Elias into invoking Armageddon, and while Heaven and Hell are destroying each other on a fragile Earth battlefield, Warrish will use the ancient scrolls to attemp to destroy Creation. Elias is left to decide humanity's fate. Problem is, he doesn't like any of his choices. But he has to make a choice soon before there isn't any world left for Heaven and Hell to fight over.

J. J. Ace is a globetrotting writer who resides in America, Argentina, Australia, and Canada. One of Ace's well known pseudonymous persona is the coauthor with New York Times bestselling author Piers Anthony of the epic fantasy novel Quest For The Fallen Star. (20021201)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"From a darkly humorous tale of the power of words (Death and the Librarian) to a never-before-published response to events of September 11 (Ilion), Friesner's 12 stories illustrate the author's acutely sensitive vision of wonder in the everyday world... Known primarily for his 'Star Wars' novels... Zahn's short stories also deliver strong plots and memorable characters... Zebrowski's many novels (e.g. Macrolife) mark him as a visionary as well as a master of hard sf. The ten short stories collected in In the Distance provide a benchmark of his creativity... the author expands his concept of the human condition to embrace the stars. Part of Five Star's continuing commitment to showcasing the short fiction of the genre's most prominent author's, these three volumes belong in most libraries where short sf is popular."
-- Library Journal (December 2002) (Library Journal 20020615)

"...Part of Five Star's continuing commitment to showcasing the short fiction of the genre's most prominent authors, these three volumes (Death and the Librarian and Other Stories/ Star Song and Other Stories/ In the Distance, and Ahead in Time) belong in most libraries where short sf is popular."
-- Library Journal (December 2002) (Library Journal 20050701)

"Four more titles in Five Star's new series (God Is an Iron and Other Stories/ Generation Gap and Other Stories/ The Lady Vanishes and Other Oddities of Nature/ Suppose They Gave a Peace and Other Stories) of short fiction by noteworthy sf authors offer a variety of tales that illustrate the depth and staying power of the genre...Most of the stories in these volumes have only appeared in periodicals. Libraries wishing to augment their sf or short fiction collections should consider any of them."
-- Library Journal (June 2002) (Library Journal 20050801)

"This apocalyptic thriller is also a coming of age story. Abandoned by his father and feeling that his mother neglects him, Elias goes from a pleasure seeking rebel to a man capable of choosing what he deems is best for mankind. There is non-stop action, great character development and an exciting storyline in this unique speculative fiction work. J.J. Ace has written a work that will be put on the readers? keeper shelf."
--The Readers Guild, July 2005 (The Readers Guild )

"JUDGMENT DAY will cause the reader to look inside himself or herself and rethink some preconceived notions. Is there such a thing as absolute Good or Evil? Or would too much of either be a bad thing? It is rather rare for this reviewer to come across a story that is so enjoyable while being so educational. This reviewer would highly recommend JUDGMENT DAY to anyone as she feels that everyone would get pleasure out of the book."
--LoveRomances.com, August 2005 (LoveRomances.Com )

About the Author

J.J. Ace is a globetrotting writer who resides in America, Argentina, Australia, and Canada. One of Ace's well known pseudonymous personas is the coauthor with New York Times bestselling author Piers Anthony of the epic fantasy novel Quest For The Fallen Star, and editor of Fantasy Readers Wanted--Apply Within.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 301 pages
• Publisher: Five Star; 1 edition (September 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594143889
• ISBN-13: 978-1594143885
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,377,309 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars great apocalyptic thriller, September 28, 2005

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Five Star Science Fiction/Fantasy - Judgment Day (Hardcover)

After being force fed several Ecstasy tablets at a rave, Elias jumps off a forty story building and dies. When he comes to Mephisto, second-in-command of the legions of hell and the archangel Michael, leader of God's army, tell him he is the new Forerunner of the millennium. A Forerunner is given the powers of the angels and demons to decide who will be in control of the earth for the next one thousand years, Heaven, Hell or humanity.

The former Forerunner Matthias lived when Byzantium was a world power. Elias doesn't want the responsibility of deciding mankind's fate but when he saves the people who killed him and the woman he loved as a mortal, he accepts the mantle of responsibility thrust upon him. The fallen angel Warrish doesn't want Elias to make any choice and repeatedly tries to kill him so he can rule over all the realms by bringing about Armageddon. Elias with the help of several allies does all in his power to stop him but while the hosts of heaven and hell clash, Warish reads the scrolls that bring about uncreation. That opens Elias's eyes so he makes a decision that changes heaven, hell and other entities.

This apocalyptic thriller is also a coming of age story (even though the hero is dead). Abandoned by his father and feeling that his mother neglects him, Elias goes from a pleasure seeking rebel to a man capable of choosing what he deems is best for mankind. There is non-stop action, great character development and an exciting storyline in this unique work of speculative fiction work J.J. Ace has written a work that will be put on the readers' keeper shelf.

Harriet Klausner