Customer Reviews

The Last Champion of Earth

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is hard to categorize. It is neither strictly sci-fi and nor contemporary Christian fiction, but still an interesting mix. Both genres are well represented, with the Earth facing impending destruction, and man still searching for what he is missing. Is the real enemy coming from afar, is it really within each of us? Mr. Templeman gives an interesting telling here. You are not sure which will happen first, the alien enemy or man's debaucherous physical and spiritual self destruction.

The strength of this book lies in the development of its characters. These are real people. We all know people just like them. They are all rich and true. Some you love, some you like, some you just can't stand. Even through the centuries man is still man; neither purely good, nor purely evil, just trying to find the middle ground. Unfortunately, just as with people we all know, most of these characters also fail to realize that their actions can bring about dire consequences in their lives, and the lives of those around them.

The author's well crafted dialogue is this book's strength. He hits the mark time and again with insightful character interaction and conversation. I found myself wanting to ask some of the characters questions, just to hear what they had to say. There aren't many books that make me do that.

Christian readers will enjoy the underlying lessons taught here. Truth is truth whether it was 2000 years ago, today, or in the future. As the story unfolds, this becomes more evident as mankind caves in upon itself.

I have to admit the first 30 pages had me a little worried. A Russian civil rights leader gets assassinated. A mother and her two children are murdered by government agents. An underground Christian parish gets locked in a basement and burned alive by rioting looters. An innocent young girl who reminded me of Anne Frank gets raped and brutalized by an evil "Arnold Schwarzenegger" type. And through it all, the leader of the free world is snuggling up with his teenage boy lover and a big glass of French vino! Yikes! Fortunately, there was a method or even genius to Donald Templeman's madness. The early going was basically an introduction to "Planet ACLU" in the 22nd century. No morals. No God. Just more unbridled hedonism than our maker ever intended. As Earth's existence becomes threatened by the powerful alien (or aliens, I think), the lightbulb finally clicks on for a select few. We begin to see how important a genuine, trusting, loving, faithful relationship with God really is, especially when you're facing the end. This book made me think, laugh a little, and think some more. It was the kind of raw, uncensored fiction you wish more mainstream Christian authors would try to write. A bareknuckle brawl for the redemption of souls in mankind's dirty little world. Bravo!

If this is really where we're heading just a short three hundred odd years from now, we better begin to do everything possible to bridge the gap between poor and wealthy, building the self esteem of our children and building a beautiful inward relationship with Christ. This book is eerily prophetic. I'm really impressed with how this author was able to take on such gritty matter as how bad it could be in the last days and balance it so well with the basic Christian principles that sometimes, in literature, seem like pablum. A sequal please!

I applaud Mr. Templeman for providing this jaded reader with an intellectual sci-fi thriller that won't be carted off to the local used book store anytime soon. Deep,detailed characters with whom one can identify. Political and religious undertones that provoke further personal pondering. All in all a wonderful reading experience. I will definitely look for more titles by Mr. Templeman (and I won't be able to wait until the paperback versions are released....)

I haven't read science fiction in years but Templeman's book has brought me back to the genre. A not "too far out" future shows the post apocolyptic world rationalizing a departure from values established at the beginning of the modern world.

The characters are easy to identify with in their internal struggles.In the end, I had questions and wanted more. When's the sequel?

I bought this book after it was recommended by a good friend. Although it didn't look like a book I would normally choose to read, I found THE LAST CHAMPION to be an extremely stimulating and thought-provoking story. The author has successfully blended both sci-fi and religion into a surreal (often scary) look at a futuristic society on Earth (and other nearby planets) which is totally devoid of morals and religion.

It is apparent that the author went to great lengths to fully develop the characters in this book and their relationships with each other. Mr. Templeman was able to portray each character in such a way that kept me reading late into the night to see exactly what they would do next!

The religious passages/references which pepper this book are in just the right spots (loved the "sand" theme!!!)

I must confess that I did read the Amazon reviews before I bought this book. The language and violence seemed to bother a few readers, and it does get a bit extreme at times. It is my opinion, however, that this book would not have provided such a powerful punch without these things.

The "showdown" near the end of this book had me on the edge of my seat, and the last few pages took me a little by surprise (although they shouldn't have...) If a sequel is in the works, I am hoping to get one of the first copies. Thanks to Mr. Templeman for a welcome and fascinating break from my normal "murder/mystery" reads.

I'm not one for reading science fiction but found this one truly worth the time. It's a good read from the first page to the last. It provoke more thought than I had expected. It provides a good mix between science fiction and Christian values. Through the entire book I found myself thinking "God....this could happen" or atleast something close. When I finished the last page, I got a chilling feeling and said to myself "and it starts all over again". I highly recommend this one....even for non science fiction folks like me. Good job Mr. Templeman.

A thought provoking sci-fi social commentary, with an undertone of religion. While the theme of the book is one of salvation through Christianity, the author subtlely weaves this into the narrative without turning off those of us more interested in the commentary on society.

Mr Templeman has done an excellent job of creating a world-gone-mad in the not so distant future. In creating this hedonist paradise, Mr. Templeman skewers the contemporary values of our culture. Rampant drug use, meaningless sex, the vanity of cosmetic surgery, and the modern-day marketing machines of corporate America are all subject of his disdain.

Many of the key characters are shown to be despicable. Their duplicity keeps the reader engaged through a voyeuristic sampling of their many vices. However, this portrayal appears to serve a greater purpose - to make the subsequent transformations all the more meaningful. Above all else, the author leads the reader to the conclusion that religion is the savior, without being preachy and condescending.

My only criticism is that the only salvation in "The Last Champion" comes from the bible. While clearly this was the intent, one wishes Mr. Templeman would have taken the opportunity to unify the common core-values of many religions to create sort of a "grand unified theory" of religion. This would give the book appeal to a broader base, without diluting the underlying message. Unfortunately, the "Last Champion" will be stereotyped, and thus will prevent many that would enjoy it as much as I did from ever picking it up.

I must admit, I started this book with a bit of skepticism. Another atempt to warn us about how terrible our world will be sometime into the future. If we don't repent, "Heaven help us".

However, what I discovered is not what I had expected. Yes, it does take place in the future, and things appear to be different than today. But as you read, the author brings you to realize that these events are not in the future. They are in our present day. The thoughts and thinking of the characters, along with the value system they employ, can be easily understood and recognized.

I highly recommend this novel for all mature adults. The author has an excellent writing style, which you will find to be both entertaining as well as thought provoking.

Hopefully this is not the only work we will see from this author. I personally would enjoy a sequel.

Very good read. I don't tout myself as a science fiction reader. There are only a few things that identify this book with science fiction. There is space travel and some futuristic type equipment that may or may not become true in the future. It's science fiction, but it doesn't seem that far out. Actually some parts of our world practice some of these far out rituals and habits.

The characters in the book are very interesting and the book keeps moving along. You don't feel like putting it down once you've started. It is a story of good vs. evil in a way you might not have thought about good and evel before.

The only draw back is there is quite a few graphic details, so if you are week at your stomach leave this one alone.

Bottom line, I feel it's a must read for the masses. It will provoke discussion from all aspects, not the least of which will be a philosophical understanding and meaning to our lives.