The Last Star: A Novel [Paperback]

William Proctor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 2000

Is it the latest in spy technology, a meteor, a UFO, or a new star? No one-not even government leaders, military commanders, astronomers, or other scientists-can provide any real answers regarding the mysterious light that has suddenly appeared in the eastern sky. When a diverse group of scholars and scientists meets in Israel to investigate the phenomenon, they are soon caught in a web of political and spiritual intrigue, terrorist bombings, and sniper attacks. As uncertainty about the phenomenon causes worldwide panic, the pressure is turned up to find a scientific answer to the mystery of the light. But the team is determined to convince the world of its findings-that the light is the return of the Star of Bethlehem, which signals Christ's Second Coming.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Daniel Thompson is an Amherst professor stuck in a deteriorating marriage. He's grading exams at his desk when a Harvard friend calls him, instructing him to look out his window. A strange, lunarlike light has appeared, and the world is in a frenzy: what is this curious glow? The Harvard buddy, Skidmore Kirkland, has finagled a sizable grant to go to Israel and research the strange emanation. Dan and his wife, Joanna, and a few other researchers (including evangelical Wheaton College professor Michael James) join the research team. Even after the group arrives in Israel, they can't determine what the light is: a black hole? A wormhole? Then Michael suggests that perhaps the light is the Star of Bethlehem. In addition to its theological theme, the novel contains emotional intrigue. Joanna finds herself wishing her husband were stronger and more sure of himself, more like MichaelAbut then she accidentally sees Michael and Yael, the team's female Israeli project manager, in an embrace. Yael, it turns out, is a Christian double agent, spying for both Israel and an American evangelical organization. The team's hypothesis that the light is the Star of Bethlehem is leaked to the New York Times, causing pandemonium as religious splinter groups gather in Jerusalem. More secrets emerge about the members of the team, who are not all who they claim to be. This novel is a captivating page-turner, filled with unexpected plot twists. But there's more here than just plot, as the author offers a rarity in Christian fiction: well-developed characters with credible motivations. And his Jerusalem is a bustling, complex city, not a stereotype. Proctor, whose nonfiction titles on health and religion (The Resurrection Report) have sold more than 20 million copies, shows promise of becoming the Christian Tom Clancy. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (September 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785268103
• ISBN-13: 978-0785268109
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,487,777 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

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Shining Mystery!, November 1, 2000

By 

Fafa Demasio (New York City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Last Star: A Novel (Paperback)

I found the enigma of "The Last Star," by William Proctor, so engaging that I couldn't wait to discover the outcome.

If you like mystery and espionage stories, mixed with a Christian theme, you will enjoy "The Last Star." If you think you are not interested in such a story, you'll change your mind after you read this novel.

A special team gathers in a historical land to investigate a strange light that appears in the sky. The puzzle is challenging. As the story of this unusual celestial object unfolds, so does the nature of each person in the group. The characters are very real and it is entertaining to follow their dialog.

From the beginning of the novel, to the last page, Mr. Proctor leads you through a plot filled with interesting scientific, historical and theological information. The setting, which takes place in Israel, enhances the storyline.

So, what is this strange light? What does its appearance mean to the world? Will the research team succeed in finding all the answers to their questions? Who will reveal and stop the villains?

It's worth reading the book to find out!

Fafa Demasio

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Suspenseful Reading, April 1, 2001

By 

Stephen D. Lamos (St. James, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Star: A Novel (Paperback)

I found "The Last Star" to be one of the best books I have ever read in the realm of Christian fiction. It seemed to provide just the right amounts of suspense and credibility. The technical descriptions surrounding the unusual star phenomena were very believable without being overbearing. As a reader who normally likes authors such as Clancy and Ludlum, I was delightfully surprised to find such a suspenseful and riveting novel written in a Christian venue. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. I do hope that there will be more novels by William Proctor to follow!

5.0 out of 5 stars Now, this is more like it, July 2, 2006

By 

C.S. Harmon "To limit the possibilities of th... (Alabama) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Star: A Novel (Paperback)

"The Last Star" by William Proctor is without a doubt one of the best Christian novels ever written!
I found this story very intriguing; I could not put it down! It was very fast-paced, very well developed. Proctor obviously has a rare gift. William Proctor, in "The Last Star", stands as a master of idea and plot with his unbelievable talent with words and setting. This sort of writing is exactly what the Christian world needs.

Good work, Mr. William Proctor!

C.S. Harmon, author of "To the Ends of the Earth" coming September 2006