End of State: End of State Series (Left Behind Political) Reviews

• Solid domestic version of Left Behind--aimed at Christians

  
  By A3EJVZ5LCBP61X on 2004-03-21
  Like the Left Behind series, End of State is an easy read, that clearly spells out likely events of the last days of a world where Christians have disappeared, and the Devil and his legions are given free reign. Focusing on the United States, Ness examines how people here might interpret the disappearances and the rise of an evil Antichrist figure. As the plot progresses, a small band of characters come together. They realize that the premillenial rapture and coming Great Tribulation are upon them, and that they must do what they can in their positions of political influence to spread the Christian story to as many as possible.

  I am a Christian with an interest in current affairs and politics, so I had high hopes for this off-shoot of Left Behind. The book has a decent plot and interesting characters. However, people seemed to spend a lot of time talking about what was happening. The pacing was generally sluggish, with short bursts of action, followed by lengthy analayses.

  The audience for this book appears different from Left Behind. Ness spends much time exploring the inner struggles of church people who tagged along with believers, but never converted until after the Rapture. Non-Christians, who have been drawn to Left Behind for its action-oriented and simple explications of the end times, may find it much harder to relate to End of State.

  Bottom-line: This is a solid, well-written end times novel, best suited for Christians who have always wondered, "Just how will people react to the Rapture--especially church people who never became true believers?" Those wishing to introduce non-Christians to End Times ideas would do better to stick with Left Behind, or perhaps Apocalypse Dawn.
  
  

• End of State

  
  By A1R5KLEJQC4QPM on 2004-03-26
  Book was well written. While waiting for the Glorious Appearance, it was refreshing to began a series that complimented the Left Behind Series and gave me insight from the government point of view. These Christian writers are as exciting as the other writers are, and I don't have to contend with with fowl language and over sexed novels. I am looking forward to book two. Thanks for an exciting venture.
  
  

• A Great New Spin on the Rapture Story

  
  By A24QB5BF3B5A9S on 2004-02-10
  If Left-Behind takes the entire worldview of the events that occur after the Rapture, then End of State zooms in on America. Political operative turned romance writer, Neesa Hart takes the apocalyptic series in a whole new direction with a solid page-turner.

  End of State offers a new spin on the Left-Behind theme, while still keeping some of the main characters, such as the evil Nicolae Carpathia and the genius Chaim Rosenzwieg in the background.

  Hart introduces three central figures, each of whom holds enormous political clout and forsook a chance to accept Christ before the Rapture. White House chief of staff Brad Benford is a token evangelical in an administration of liberals. He experiences the loss of his entire family in the disappearings, causing him to realize his real purpose during the Tribulation period.

  Marcus is a preacher/activist who said all the right things, but failed to accept Christ for himself. It's hard to believe someone could not only have been exposed to the truth but also advocated it and yet missed the Rapture.

  And lastly Mariette Arnold is an assistant director of FEMA, the federal disaster agency charged with cleaning up disasters. Nothing Arnold has experienced can even match the devastation of the Rapture.

  Hart does a good job of describing the Washington power struggle, where truth is buried well beneath politics and posturing. Having experienced it herself, she brings to light what we could have only imagined: how Washington will react when 1/3 of the world is missing.

  Her writing is tight, her characters extremely cerebral, the dialogue honest and human. She doesn't delve into apocalyptic what-ifs, but presents a very realistic portrayal of what honestly could happen.

  The only drawback is the slight confusion around the Gospel-what exactly is it that makes a person a Christian. Is it God's grace or the living of the life?

  Nevertheless, Hart has produced a first-rate thriller sure to keep you on the edge of your seat and sure to get your mind running with scenarios of how America will react when this great event, the Rapture, occurs.
  
  

• Great start to a promising new series!

  
  By A3NJDTIEZY1I06 on 2004-04-17
  Neesa Hart couldn't have started out her book any better! "End of State" begins at a Lakers game. Thousands of people crammed into the arena, watching their beloved Lakers play ball. Two seconds left on the clock, the score is tied, and the ball in in the air...headed for the goal. Then, in the blink of an eye, two players disappear from the court! Absolute pandemonium reigns and you're off to the start of a thriller, fill with well-rounded characters, new and old, from the Left Behind series. A great book, great story, and all around exciting read.
  
  

• Great start to a great idea

  
  By A13841NU6DQQQ8 on 2004-06-07
  This book blew away all my expectations. I was one of the those who thought it was a bad idea but with her easy style, straight forward writing that even rivals Jerry Jenkins, Neesa Hart made a believer out of me, I've already reserved the next book.

  From what I've read in the first book, this series will hit close to home, not for the faint-hearted.
  
  

• End of State
  By on 2004-02-24
  This book is faithful to the Left Behind series. It is well written and was a fast read. There were some really moving parts where the author touches a nerve inside me where I can relate to what is happpening in the book, to my own life experiences. Fans of the Left Behind series will be right at home with this book. I can't wait for the next one.
  
  
• Liked Better Than The Original Series
  By A27MK5CMRJEZ0B on 2004-03-10
  Congratulations to Ms. Hart on her excellent work basing a new storyline on the Rapture and Tribulation period. While the "Left Behind" series has an international focus, "End of State" concentrates on the United States in the aftermath of the Rapture. Ms. Hart captures the terror, confusion, and general "mess" that will be left behind when a significant number of American Christians disappear.

  Mark Hitchcock, in his books on bible prophecy, often mentions that he believes the Rapture will be God's final judgment on America. This is one plausible explanation for why America does not seem to play a prominent and clear role in the 7-year tribulation. I think the Rapture of the church will leave America in far worse shape than even Ms. Hart envisions. The economy will tank, families will be broken apart, organizations will be left without key leaders, businesses will lose 10-30 percent of their customers, and most importantly, the christian salt and light will be removed from government and the rule of law.

  The one doctrinal problem I have with this book is that some of the characters are given second chances to believe in Jesus after the Rapture after rejecting Him prior to that time. Only God knows when a heart has hardened beyond the point of ever accepting grace. Still, 2 Thessalonians Ch. 2, verses 10-12 seem to indicate that the Antichrist will deceive people who had opportunties prior to the Tribulation to be saved but refused. Many people will get saved during the Tribulation, that much is clear from scripture. What is somewhat unclear is how many of them were really exposed to the gospel before the Rapture?

  Still, this current piece of fiction will one day largely come true. I see Amazon listing the second book of the series for release in July 2004 and I look forward to reading it.
  
  

• Great Companion to the Left Behind Series
  By A22ILBBZXSQLGX on 2004-02-06
  This was a great read. For fans of the Left Behind Series, End of State fills in some of the missing pieces, by showing other people's reactions to the same events that occurred in Left Behind. Since the Rapture had such an impact on the U.S. in Left Behind, it's great to read about the reaction by Washington insiders. It's also interesting to learn more about the power plays between the U.S. President and Carpathia. The characters are intersting; I look forward to reading more about them in future books.
  
  
• Slow pace, but a cohesive story and good book.
  By AM8U4Z12559XI on 2004-11-18
  Probably only because I was in the mood for a book with faster action, this book seemed to develop pretty slowly. Maybe I'm just getting too used to high-paced action movies and books, etc. Probably so.
  
  Reading is my entertainment (no TV) so I tend to gravitate toward books that clip along a little quicker. For the first couple of nights it was difficult to want to stick with this book, but the author has won me over.
  
  If you're looking for rapid-fire action, this is probably not the book you want to read. But if you're looking for great character and story development, I recommend it. It won me over, despite my initial sulking over its slower pace.
  
  I'm impressed with this author's knack for detail in a story. It's well-written and the editor obviously paid close attention. Over the years, I've noticed poorer quality editing in many books, but this one was clean and crisp. I didn't find even one mistake. I was delighted to see the word "enormity" finally used correctly. If there's a word improperly used more often in all media formats today than "enormity," I can't think of it. That's a testament to the editor and author. Go ahead and look it up. It won't make you a nerd if you do. Compare the definition of "enormity" to that of "enormousness."
  
  By the time I approached the 100-page mark of the book, I found myself looking forward to reading it each night. I've already bought the second of the series and expect to finish it much quicker than this one.
  
  A bit slower in development, but a solid and worthwhile read.
  
  
• More Soup for the Soul
  By A3G3SNAG2WLGJP on 2006-11-10
  I have to admit that I was kinda sad when I finally read the last book in the Left Behind series. Not only was the series fun to read, but being a christian, it helped my relationship with God. The numerous references to scripture made me pick up my bible and read it for myself. This series does the same thing.
  
  I really enjoy Ms. Hart's writing and I like that she kept to the Left Behind formula. I've heard lots of people say its more of the same. That's exactly what I wanted. It was nice to see some references to members of the Trib Force I had grown attached to. Its also fun to watch the same events unfold with a different perspective. I highly recommend this series for those wishing there were more Left Behind books to read. If you haven't read the Left Behind series and are reading this series; go get it when you're done. You'll enjoy it just as much if not more.
  
  
• Good book
  By A3MFY1GQCLRVNA on 2004-10-18
  This book was very well writen. I enjoyed it as well as the Left Behind books. The story was intresting and the book as a whole was a good read. Some people would tell you this is based on tall tales, but it is not. This book is fiction and just how one person thinks the last days will be like. But the book is based on "Revelation" about things that will happen some day. It may not be just like this book, but it will happen. To belive in the rapture doesn't mean you are beliving in tales. You are beliving the true and those that don't belive will realize they were wrong someday. This book helps us to rember just that fact. I recomend this book to anyone.
  
  
• Gets bogged down with too much witnessing
  By ANEDXRFDZDL18 on 2006-12-16
  I listened to the unabridged audio edition of End of State. The narrator does an excellent job bringing this story to life. The problem I had with the book is there is about 30% story, and about 70% is witnessing using the characters as mouthpieces for conversion. I grew bored with the characters hand-wringing about 'not being Christian enough.' While I agree with the message for the most part, the reader does not need to be bludgeoned to death over and over. Plus given the crisis at hand, I would expect people to be out on the streets doing good works, not just sitting in offices talking about helping others.
  
  What I like about these books, is how the characters deal with endtimes events. Hearing over and over about how remorseful these folks are for how they lived in the past is just as boring in print as it would be to listen to in real life. I think you need to strike a balance between preaching and entertainment and this novel teetered over to the side of preaching in my opinion.
  
  That said, there was some good character development. I actually like Neesa's characters much more than any of the characters in the original series. The original authors wrote exceedingly shallow characters, particularly women, and I liked the way the characters in this book were handled... I just think the message was too repetitive and too forced for me to love it.
  Overall, a C+ rating.
  
  
• Finally a well written book associated with the Left Behind Series
  By A1B05INWIDZ74O on 2005-11-11
  First I would like to say to all who left the Left behind Series, this book is well written. And the characters are developed. So it is safe to read this book. Well-done Neesa Hart. If you read the series you will see how this book starts with the same timeline of the book Left Behind by Tim LaHaye.
  
  In this book we see the reaction that the White House personnel and some D.C. residents act to a third of the worlds population just diseasing. Some right before others eyes. Is it a secret weapon or an act of God? Will people do what is right or politically prudent? The book is a little slow at times, but the sprints make the book worth reading.
  
  
  
• Not Much Different Than The Originals
  By A3D7NKQGLKLBFO on 2006-06-20
  I had been wanting to read this book for awhile. But, after reading 9 of the 12 "Left Behind" books, I wanted to take a break from this type of work. It has been a few years, so I finally picked it up the other day.
  
  I read a little more than 1/2 of the entire book and just couldn't go on anymore. This book is almost identical to the "Left Behind" books. I knew it would follow the same format since it is endorsed by the original authors, but I thought there would be some sort of originality. Basically, it is "The West Wing" meets the end of the world.
  
  I found it to be very slow. Right before I gave up, I started finding myself not caring about the characters. I was even trying to skip over their cliche thought lines and just read the dialogue, but that didn't work either. I'm sure the author is a fine writer, but with this topic and following so close to the original, there wasn't must room for originality.
  
  Bottom line: very slow, very cliche, been done before, same as the original with different characters.
  
  I gave it three stars because if one has no experience with the "Left Behind" series then it will seem original to them and they may enjoy it. It may be worth the time to read it for them, but for me it proved to be a rerun.
  
  
• Religious ho hum masquerading as a political thriller
  By A3USDC20U82J0E on 2006-09-04
  If you want a book with a story line as interesting as a straight line then this one is for you. This is a ultra right/religious publication masquerading as a political thriller.
  
  Not even in the same country as Demille, Clancy etc... stuck at the airport then but a comic book for deeper plot and better writing.
  
  
  
• Books
  By A11AJELMGOGYQJ on 2007-01-05
  Another page turner. If you like the 'Left Behind" books you will enjoy these as well.
  
  
• A competent writer takes on Left Behind and almost succeeds, but it's still too preachy.
  By A207IYGZTAF0DS on 2007-09-10
  Jerry Jenkins' trademark is cardboard, one dimensional, stereotypical soap opera style characters. That, and the awfully slow pace and constant preaching, is what reuined the "Left Behind" series, a series which really had potential. For this spinoff, the publishers hired Neesa Hart to do the writing, and unlike Jenkins, she actually knows how to write characters that feel like real people, the kind of characters a novel needs for the reader to really care. This makes
  
  "End of State" much better than Jenkins' books. But it still has some of the other flaws of the main series. First of all, it is very preachy (like the originals), and so much so that it seriously distracts from the reader's enjoyment of the story.
  
  So, is the book worth buying? Well, I would rather read three volumes by Neesa Hart than a dozen volumes by Jerry Jenkins, so to those who hasn't yet read any Left Behind books, if you really need to start, you might as well start with these. Die-hard Left Behind fans will of course want to read this series. Sporadical fans may find it repetitive, because we already know the story by now. Those interested in politics may want to check it out, although it's nowhere near as much centered around politics as I thought and hoped.
  
  
• End of State
  By on 2004-03-12
  This work of fiction is truly inspired. The salvation experience of both the Chief of Staff and the Minister, mirror what so many who believe they are believers, but are not, find out when they really have an encounter with Jesus Christ.

  After reading the entire LaHaye Left Behind series, I had more questions than answers. Should the Rapture take place tomorrow what will be going on in Washington? What will the military be doing? What will be going on at the schools? As in the "End of State," much time will be wasted trying to decide who did this. Who has enough power to make all these people disappear? How beautifully this author has described what will happen when the Lord calls us home whether through a "Rapture" scenario or just in one of the ways we are accustomed to seeing life end. It is comforting to know that we will be taken to Heaven to be with Jesus when our time comes. That is the promise of the Scripture. After all, Jesus promised he would one day take His children to live with Him forever. One at a time or all together; it really doesn't matter.
  
  

• VERY Enjoyable Political Thriller
  By AOU1CY0LXZ0KX on 2005-03-04
  This was a well-written book. I liked the opening, how the vanishings were portrayed, the Political Scrambl;ing by the White House Cabintet and Staff following them, and the thrills and chills that are present becuase someone is trying to KO one of the main charachters, who happens to be in the President's Cabinet. Well^written, good theology, and a very different perspective. The reason I didn't give it five stars is because in this book, the four main characters seem to be developing a new (or at least different) Tribulation Force, almost a direct copy of the LEFT BEHIND Main Series. However, I do wish to read the other two books in this series...
  
  
• Good writing for the Left Behind world
  By A5ITGZTKFCN65 on 2005-11-07
  This book is well done. Much better writing than onthe Left Behind series, better understanding of politics. I hope this writing continues to improve and write related books.
  
  

• End of State: Necessary Evils: End of State Series (Left Behind Political)
• End of State: Impeachable Offense: End of State Series (Left Behind Political)
• Apocalypse Burning: Apocalypse series (Left Behind Military)
• Apocalypse Dawn (The Left Behind Apocalypse Series #1)
• Apocalypse Crucible (The Left Behind Apocalypse Series #2)