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The Justar Journal #1
The Last Librarian
The last library... The last books... The last chance... Never let them catch you reading! When the single remaining library of physical books is ordered closed and its “dangerous” contents burned, almost no one notices, almost no one cares. A few did. The impossible task of rescuing the books is up to an angry author, a brazen revolutionary, and the last librarian. They must unravel a coded paradox hidden in the texts. If they fail, humanity will lose more than just what is printed on those antique pages… …if it survives at all. You’ll love Book 1 of this thrilling series, because every chapter contains secrets and surprising twists. Click now to save the books.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2015
3906 people are currently reading
4305 people want to read
About the author
Brandt Legg
45 books372 followersUSA TODAY Bestselling Author Brandt Legg uses his unusual real life experiences to create page-turning novels. He’s traveled with CIA agents, dined with senators and congressmen, mingled with astronauts, chatted with governors and presidential candidates, had a private conversation with a Secretary of Defense he still doesn’t like to talk about, hung out with Oscar and Grammy winners, had drinks at the State Department, been pursued by tabloid reporters, and spent a birthday at the White House by invitation from the President of the United States.
At age eight, Legg's father died suddenly, plunging his family into poverty. Two years later, while suffering from crippling migraines, he started in business, and turned a hobby into a multi-million-dollar empire. National media dubbed him the “Teen Tycoon,” and by the mid-eighties, Legg was one of the top young entrepreneurs in America, appearing as high as number twenty-four on the list (when Steve Jobs was #1, Bill Gates #4, and Michael Dell #6). Legg still jokes that he should have gone into computers.
By his twenties, after years of buying and selling businesses, leveraging, and risk-taking, the high-flying Legg became ensnarled in the financial whirlwind of the junk bond eighties. The stock market crashed and a firestorm of trouble came down. The Teen Tycoon racked up more than a million dollars in legal fees, was betrayed by those closest to him, lost his entire fortune, and ended up serving time for financial improprieties.
After a year, Legg emerged from federal prison, chastened and wiser, and began anew. More than twenty-five years later, he’s now using all that hard-earned firsthand knowledge of conspiracies, corruption and high finance to weave his tales. Legg’s books pulse with authenticity.
His series have excited nearly a million readers around the world. Although he refused an offer to make a television movie about his life as a teenage millionaire, his autobiography is in the works. There has also been interest from Hollywood to turn his thrillers into films. With any luck, one day you’ll see your favorite characters on screen.
Legg now writes full time – his favorite endeavor ever! For more information, visit BrandtLegg.com, or to contact Brandt directly, email him: Brandt@BrandtLegg.com, he loves to hear from readers and always responds!
Books by Brandt Legg
CapWar ELECTION (CapStone Conspiracy #1)
CapWar EXPERIENCE (CapStone Conspiracy #2)
CapWar EMPIRE (CapStone Conspiracy #3)
COSEGA SEARCH (Cosega Sequence #1)
COSEGA STORM (Cosega Sequence #2)
COSEGA SHIFT (Cosega Sequence #3)
COSEGA SPHERE (Cosega Sequence #4)
THE LAST LIBRARIAN (Justar Journal #1)
THE LOST TREERUNNER (Justar Journal #2)
THE LIST KEEPERS (Justar Journal #3)
OUTVIEW (Inner Movement #1)
OUTIN (Inner Movement #2)
OUTMOVE (the Inner Movement #3)
Follow Brandt:
Amazon - amazon.com/author/brandtlegg
BookBub - bookbub.com/authors/brandt-legg
Twitter - twitter.com/brandtlegg
Facebook - facebook.com/brandtleggauthor
At age eight, Legg's father died suddenly, plunging his family into poverty. Two years later, while suffering from crippling migraines, he started in business, and turned a hobby into a multi-million-dollar empire. National media dubbed him the “Teen Tycoon,” and by the mid-eighties, Legg was one of the top young entrepreneurs in America, appearing as high as number twenty-four on the list (when Steve Jobs was #1, Bill Gates #4, and Michael Dell #6). Legg still jokes that he should have gone into computers.
By his twenties, after years of buying and selling businesses, leveraging, and risk-taking, the high-flying Legg became ensnarled in the financial whirlwind of the junk bond eighties. The stock market crashed and a firestorm of trouble came down. The Teen Tycoon racked up more than a million dollars in legal fees, was betrayed by those closest to him, lost his entire fortune, and ended up serving time for financial improprieties.
After a year, Legg emerged from federal prison, chastened and wiser, and began anew. More than twenty-five years later, he’s now using all that hard-earned firsthand knowledge of conspiracies, corruption and high finance to weave his tales. Legg’s books pulse with authenticity.
His series have excited nearly a million readers around the world. Although he refused an offer to make a television movie about his life as a teenage millionaire, his autobiography is in the works. There has also been interest from Hollywood to turn his thrillers into films. With any luck, one day you’ll see your favorite characters on screen.
Legg now writes full time – his favorite endeavor ever! For more information, visit BrandtLegg.com, or to contact Brandt directly, email him: Brandt@BrandtLegg.com, he loves to hear from readers and always responds!
Books by Brandt Legg
CapWar ELECTION (CapStone Conspiracy #1)
CapWar EXPERIENCE (CapStone Conspiracy #2)
CapWar EMPIRE (CapStone Conspiracy #3)
COSEGA SEARCH (Cosega Sequence #1)
COSEGA STORM (Cosega Sequence #2)
COSEGA SHIFT (Cosega Sequence #3)
COSEGA SPHERE (Cosega Sequence #4)
THE LAST LIBRARIAN (Justar Journal #1)
THE LOST TREERUNNER (Justar Journal #2)
THE LIST KEEPERS (Justar Journal #3)
OUTVIEW (Inner Movement #1)
OUTIN (Inner Movement #2)
OUTMOVE (the Inner Movement #3)
Follow Brandt:
Amazon - amazon.com/author/brandtlegg
BookBub - bookbub.com/authors/brandt-legg
Twitter - twitter.com/brandtlegg
Facebook - facebook.com/brandtleggauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 574 reviews
November 14, 2016
Goodreads' ratings system betrays me again. While it's probably good news for authors that there will always be people who think their book is completely amazing, regardless of whether it is so by any objective standards, it doesn't serve people like me who've read some truly mindblowing books in my life, and it takes a lot more than a nifty premise to get me onboard.
And this didn't bring it. At all. I had to fight to finish it, the writing was so cumbersome and clumsy. Which made me go back to the glowing -- yet unusually short, free of interesting detail, and strangely void of true enthusiasm and the accompanying gifs and squees that mark the true fan here -- 5-star reviews, and check a few of their authors, and now I see what's going on here; astroturfing and quid pro quo ratings exchanges between self-published authors. *ptui*. Y'all can go to hell together where I hope nobody reads your bad books.
In comparison to those, this is an honest review, no ulterior motive; and I actually bought the book myself and didn't get it through a review service either.
The good: the premise. As not just a reader, but a lover of printed books, the dystopia of destroying every printed book strikes fear into my heart; Fahrenheit 451 is a classic for good reasons, though Bradbury was actually much less prescient than more curmudgeonly -- he thought radio and television would destroy books through their mindlessness, not censorship. Well, he's been wrong about that; I think Brandt Legg has the more realistic idea. He also doesn't rail about ebooks on principle because "they have no soul", but because digital content will be ever so easy to change -- we have already seen that when in 2009 Amazon displayed its frightening ability to remove previously bought books from people's Kindles in response to a digital rights claim (ironically, the books removed included 1984 and Animal Farm). This is why I do not own a Kindle and never will. We already experience the changing of digital content without even a notice when reading news online -- the NYT recently brought that inadvertently to people's attention by editing an article on Bernie Sanders after it had been published and linked to, the edits constituting a change from positive to negative slant of the article. Yup, we're well on the road to digital censorship of the kind Mr Legg decries with this book.
So yes, the premise is excellent. But the execution confused me and frankly, bored me. It was hard to follow who is who, and to connect with any of the characters, and the one I finally managed to warm up to, Runit the librarian , after which I had no more interest in continuing at all. Too many characters which are not fleshed out and are hard to tell apart, too many neologisms which are not explained (until one finds the glossary at the end of the book -- tip for ebook writers: put it at the front). The plot makes no sense -- the danger in creating an extremely powerful enemy is that then you also need to create intricate plots to foil him, but here I am not buying that anyone could be foiled this way; it is too simplistic (with a generous helping of deus ex machina).
Oh, the reason we need a glossary -- English has been replaced with the invented world language Com, of which we get reminded by random words with no derivable etymology being strewn into the English conversation. Here, have some deathless prose: “What tragedy could be worse than losing the last library?” Runit asked, ignoring Nelson’s use of the word “torgon.” An unofficial word, profanity really, roughly equivalent to the almost-forgotten English F-word. . Torgon. That's what "fuck" has been replaced with. Torgon. Seriously, no. There are reasons we use "fuck"; it derives from a sexual act, it implies a power imbalance, it's short and sharp and hits you in the face. It's an excellent swearword. Torgon is nothing of the kind. You could easily use a derivative like "frack" or "frigg" instead, which would make etymological sense and might avoid offending the easily offended at the same time without sounding like the author has no sense of language.
The book is one extended infodump much like that explanation up there, and what it needed most of all is a good, ruthless editor, or at the very least critical beta readers. I am not sure what can be done to improve the prose itself which lumbered along painfully, throwing me out of the story frequently -- other than practice. One of my friends who's now an award-winning author said she needed to write a million words before her books were worth publishing, but I read her work before she got published, and she was already a joy to read, so I am not sure that's true in and of itself. Maybe one needs to read more of what one wants to write? And the practice might need to be targetted and under the supervision of a capable instructor? Anyway, this was not written competently enough for me, alas. Unfortunately, since with that premise I so wanted to like it.
Oh, and it ends on a cliffhanger, something which always pisses me off because it is a lazy trick to get me to buy the next book. Good writers manage to do that without tricks. I can't see myself reading the next one.
And this didn't bring it. At all. I had to fight to finish it, the writing was so cumbersome and clumsy. Which made me go back to the glowing -- yet unusually short, free of interesting detail, and strangely void of true enthusiasm and the accompanying gifs and squees that mark the true fan here -- 5-star reviews, and check a few of their authors, and now I see what's going on here; astroturfing and quid pro quo ratings exchanges between self-published authors. *ptui*. Y'all can go to hell together where I hope nobody reads your bad books.
In comparison to those, this is an honest review, no ulterior motive; and I actually bought the book myself and didn't get it through a review service either.
The good: the premise. As not just a reader, but a lover of printed books, the dystopia of destroying every printed book strikes fear into my heart; Fahrenheit 451 is a classic for good reasons, though Bradbury was actually much less prescient than more curmudgeonly -- he thought radio and television would destroy books through their mindlessness, not censorship. Well, he's been wrong about that; I think Brandt Legg has the more realistic idea. He also doesn't rail about ebooks on principle because "they have no soul", but because digital content will be ever so easy to change -- we have already seen that when in 2009 Amazon displayed its frightening ability to remove previously bought books from people's Kindles in response to a digital rights claim (ironically, the books removed included 1984 and Animal Farm). This is why I do not own a Kindle and never will. We already experience the changing of digital content without even a notice when reading news online -- the NYT recently brought that inadvertently to people's attention by editing an article on Bernie Sanders after it had been published and linked to, the edits constituting a change from positive to negative slant of the article. Yup, we're well on the road to digital censorship of the kind Mr Legg decries with this book.
So yes, the premise is excellent. But the execution confused me and frankly, bored me. It was hard to follow who is who, and to connect with any of the characters, and the one I finally managed to warm up to, Runit the librarian , after which I had no more interest in continuing at all. Too many characters which are not fleshed out and are hard to tell apart, too many neologisms which are not explained (until one finds the glossary at the end of the book -- tip for ebook writers: put it at the front). The plot makes no sense -- the danger in creating an extremely powerful enemy is that then you also need to create intricate plots to foil him, but here I am not buying that anyone could be foiled this way; it is too simplistic (with a generous helping of deus ex machina).
Oh, the reason we need a glossary -- English has been replaced with the invented world language Com, of which we get reminded by random words with no derivable etymology being strewn into the English conversation. Here, have some deathless prose: “What tragedy could be worse than losing the last library?” Runit asked, ignoring Nelson’s use of the word “torgon.” An unofficial word, profanity really, roughly equivalent to the almost-forgotten English F-word. . Torgon. That's what "fuck" has been replaced with. Torgon. Seriously, no. There are reasons we use "fuck"; it derives from a sexual act, it implies a power imbalance, it's short and sharp and hits you in the face. It's an excellent swearword. Torgon is nothing of the kind. You could easily use a derivative like "frack" or "frigg" instead, which would make etymological sense and might avoid offending the easily offended at the same time without sounding like the author has no sense of language.
The book is one extended infodump much like that explanation up there, and what it needed most of all is a good, ruthless editor, or at the very least critical beta readers. I am not sure what can be done to improve the prose itself which lumbered along painfully, throwing me out of the story frequently -- other than practice. One of my friends who's now an award-winning author said she needed to write a million words before her books were worth publishing, but I read her work before she got published, and she was already a joy to read, so I am not sure that's true in and of itself. Maybe one needs to read more of what one wants to write? And the practice might need to be targetted and under the supervision of a capable instructor? Anyway, this was not written competently enough for me, alas. Unfortunately, since with that premise I so wanted to like it.
Oh, and it ends on a cliffhanger, something which always pisses me off because it is a lazy trick to get me to buy the next book. Good writers manage to do that without tricks. I can't see myself reading the next one.
November 1, 2015
The Last Librarian is a cautionary tale for all of us. If all of the print copies of books were destroyed, would anyone notice a few words changed here and there in the ebook versions? Have no fear. It's fortunate there are still a few people left in the world who notice these subtle but important changes and care enough to try to save as many of the world's most invaluable books as possible.
The year is 2098 and all diseases and crimes have all but disappeared. The world is a wonderful place to live, or is it? As it turns out, the world really isn't much different than it is today. The rich are getting richer and the rest of us don't have a clue who's really running the world.
The Last Librarian is a heart-pumping tale that takes an unblinking look at our grim future.
The year is 2098 and all diseases and crimes have all but disappeared. The world is a wonderful place to live, or is it? As it turns out, the world really isn't much different than it is today. The rich are getting richer and the rest of us don't have a clue who's really running the world.
The Last Librarian is a heart-pumping tale that takes an unblinking look at our grim future.
June 1, 2024
Around 40% in, it lost me. It's about 75 years into the future and the world has gone to hell. I like a good dystopian book, unfortunately, this one wasn't that good. The protagonist and last librarian is Runit, who is described as "brave and true". However, I don't find much brave and true about someone who not only lied to his co-workers and a group called the Treerunners (think boy scouts) to procure their assistance, but also endangered their lives. Seriously, it bothered me more than a bit that Runit and Nelson, knowing the penalty for being caught could be imprisonment or death, would allow the library volunteers and Grandyn’s TreeRunner friends to aid in sneaking the library books out while lying to them about what they were doing. Fortunately, none of the volunteers or TreeRunners were deep thinkers since they never questioned what they were doing or what they were being told.
Also, in a library full of cameras, that's located in a section of the world full of subversive “creatives”, how is it that no one is monitoring those library cameras in its last week, especially when they know of the attempt to spirit books away from a previous library closing?
And the insta-love between Runit and Chelle.... spare me. The author actually described her as having "movie star looks", with hair that smelled like "snow and tangerines" and when Runit held a sobbing Chelle in his arms after knowing her for about a day, he described it as the most erotic moment of his life. Groan. This happens in a vehicle with a little old lady sitting across from them. The old lady is blue-haired and has volunteered for 3-4 years, but Runit hardly knows her.... the library staff is 7 employees and a dozen volunteers, but Runit - the director of library - doesn’t know her?! This author can’t be bothered with the effort of putting thought into physical descriptions, so we have leading ladies with movie-star looks and little old ladies with blue hair. Sigh.
Early on, the author introduces us to the word torgon, a profanity "roughly equivalent to the almost-forgotten English F-word." Really?! For fuck's sake, if you mean fuck, say fuck, because every time I read the word torgon it made me want to lose my torgonning mind (annoying, right?)
I also felt Runit took way too long to become convinced to save the books to which he had dedicated much of his life. It was annoying that he had to be convinced at all. Additionally, the book kept hopping around, from absurd relationships and two dimensional characters one second, to political machinations and intrigue the next. This book tried hard to be taken seriously, but for a book with so many ridiculous aspects, I just couldn't do it.
Also, in a library full of cameras, that's located in a section of the world full of subversive “creatives”, how is it that no one is monitoring those library cameras in its last week, especially when they know of the attempt to spirit books away from a previous library closing?
And the insta-love between Runit and Chelle.... spare me. The author actually described her as having "movie star looks", with hair that smelled like "snow and tangerines" and when Runit held a sobbing Chelle in his arms after knowing her for about a day, he described it as the most erotic moment of his life. Groan. This happens in a vehicle with a little old lady sitting across from them. The old lady is blue-haired and has volunteered for 3-4 years, but Runit hardly knows her.... the library staff is 7 employees and a dozen volunteers, but Runit - the director of library - doesn’t know her?! This author can’t be bothered with the effort of putting thought into physical descriptions, so we have leading ladies with movie-star looks and little old ladies with blue hair. Sigh.
Early on, the author introduces us to the word torgon, a profanity "roughly equivalent to the almost-forgotten English F-word." Really?! For fuck's sake, if you mean fuck, say fuck, because every time I read the word torgon it made me want to lose my torgonning mind (annoying, right?)
I also felt Runit took way too long to become convinced to save the books to which he had dedicated much of his life. It was annoying that he had to be convinced at all. Additionally, the book kept hopping around, from absurd relationships and two dimensional characters one second, to political machinations and intrigue the next. This book tried hard to be taken seriously, but for a book with so many ridiculous aspects, I just couldn't do it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2025
Ad hoc read February 2025
Well, although it took me quite a while to read, but then everything is at the moment, I thoroughly enjoyed this in the end.
In our world but set less than a hundred years into the future when the whole world is now controlled by one government that uses dodgy tactics to ensure peace, the last physical library is about to be closed down and the books destroyed. Nobody needs libraries anymore as all books are available electronically on your INU (glorified iPhone ) however people are beginning to realise that books are being changed to suite the world governments thinking and political ideology.
The last librarian wonders if there is anything he can do to save a few books, and so the story starts and all of sudden spirals out of his control.
A bit of a slow burner (apologies for the pun) that really got moving in the last 100 pages. I will definitely be getting the sequel as I want to find out what happens next !!
Well, although it took me quite a while to read, but then everything is at the moment, I thoroughly enjoyed this in the end.
In our world but set less than a hundred years into the future when the whole world is now controlled by one government that uses dodgy tactics to ensure peace, the last physical library is about to be closed down and the books destroyed. Nobody needs libraries anymore as all books are available electronically on your INU (glorified iPhone ) however people are beginning to realise that books are being changed to suite the world governments thinking and political ideology.
The last librarian wonders if there is anything he can do to save a few books, and so the story starts and all of sudden spirals out of his control.
A bit of a slow burner (apologies for the pun) that really got moving in the last 100 pages. I will definitely be getting the sequel as I want to find out what happens next !!
April 9, 2016
Since my phone isn't giving me the button option *SPOILERS*
Overall I'm so pleased with this book. It was a great story, about a great subject, with interesting characters to play it out for me. I was rather upset with the main characters death but I understood it as being necessary to the story.
There was only one downside to the whole thing in my opinion. While it is mentioned that there is a "new" language spoken in this post apocalyptic future, aside from some acronyms, we never see any of that. Except for one word. "Torgon" is the new word for fuck. This bothers me on multiple levels. It not only makes the author appear immature to me, but makes me think he expected an immature audience as well. If you aren't comfortable with cuss words, you don't need to replace them with something else, just don't use them. It's almost as if he added the "new language" just to explain this one stupid swear word.
Overall I'm so pleased with this book. It was a great story, about a great subject, with interesting characters to play it out for me. I was rather upset with the main characters death but I understood it as being necessary to the story.
There was only one downside to the whole thing in my opinion. While it is mentioned that there is a "new" language spoken in this post apocalyptic future, aside from some acronyms, we never see any of that. Except for one word. "Torgon" is the new word for fuck. This bothers me on multiple levels. It not only makes the author appear immature to me, but makes me think he expected an immature audience as well. If you aren't comfortable with cuss words, you don't need to replace them with something else, just don't use them. It's almost as if he added the "new language" just to explain this one stupid swear word.
August 1, 2018
Did not finish. This book didn't hold my interest. It followed a very formulaic pattern of totalitarian control taking over the world. The main character seemed very bland and nothing about him held my attention. In the end it was too easy to put this book down and not pick it up again. As with all books that I cannot/will not finish, I give it a one (1) star rating. Perhaps you might like it and find it mesmerizing enough to hold your attention... I did not. I am happy to see it leaving my queue.
August 19, 2018
A post-apocalyptic dystopian read. A great read with some interesting characters.
A few too many unnecessary deaths of key players - even Suzanne Collins left it to Book #3 to kill off her key players!
Also, the use of the word 'Torgon' instead of your usually accepted swear words. I presume it was an attempt to keep it clean for certain sectors of society, but every time I came across it, it was a bump in the story flow. I wish the author would remove it in a future edit!!!
All-in-all, it was still a four star read for me. Loved the premise of there being a Last Librarian in the world, and his quest to save the books from destruction. Love how Amazon still exists as an organisation even in 2098, when physical books don't exist anymore!
Contains ample quotes from famous books to keep your mind ticking over.
Which books would you save?
A few too many unnecessary deaths of key players - even Suzanne Collins left it to Book #3 to kill off her key players!
Also, the use of the word 'Torgon' instead of your usually accepted swear words. I presume it was an attempt to keep it clean for certain sectors of society, but every time I came across it, it was a bump in the story flow. I wish the author would remove it in a future edit!!!
All-in-all, it was still a four star read for me. Loved the premise of there being a Last Librarian in the world, and his quest to save the books from destruction. Love how Amazon still exists as an organisation even in 2098, when physical books don't exist anymore!
Contains ample quotes from famous books to keep your mind ticking over.
Which books would you save?
July 25, 2019
Irony: reading an electronic book about people who risk their lives to save the last paper books...
I feel bad not finishing this. It's dystopian. It's about books. It's got a great deal of potential. The execution makes it hard for me to be interested in anything or anyone. I made it 60% before realizing how long it actually took me to get that far, and then also realizing how long it would take me to finish. I don't care enough about these characters to find out what happens.
I feel bad not finishing this. It's dystopian. It's about books. It's got a great deal of potential. The execution makes it hard for me to be interested in anything or anyone. I made it 60% before realizing how long it actually took me to get that far, and then also realizing how long it would take me to finish. I don't care enough about these characters to find out what happens.
July 10, 2017
Seventy years after a devastating plague that ripped away more than half the world's population, a unified earth enjoys peace, health and prosperity. Or, does it?
The government keeps peace across the globe with its peoples' best interests in mind. Or, do they?
A group of people from many walks of life and many pasts band together under the leadership of a man who is simply a guy with a responsibility to some books. As the story unfolds, we see a clear-cut fight against big government and corruption with a revelation of conspiracy theories left and right. Or, is it really that simple?
This fast-paced book sweeps the reader in and along the rapids of a journey that ends with a glimpse over a seemingly endless waterfall. When I first began reading The Last Librarian, I was concerned that this was a book that's been done so many times before it couldn't possibly have anything original to it. But, the delightful characters, the unanswered questions, the humor, the quotes from many great books of the past and the desire to know exactly where each character's loyalties lie kept me reading. And, I'm glad I did!
Brandt Legg's writing style reminds me of a good friend simply sharing a tale. It's comfortable, inviting, engaging. I have 19 notebook pages handwritten with quotes from this one book. Legg has a knack for penning one- or two-liners that you just want to share with all your friends. His words are filled with humor or depth, each one thought-provoking in some way.
As the Last Librarian says, "Novels hold more contentious ideas and contemplate far more truth than nonfiction." (p. 167)
I have much more I could say, but I refuse to give any spoilers; so I'll leave it vague. Several twists did take me by surprise, and I even gasped out loud once. This is one trilogy I am anxious to continue. The characters are anything but static although you are left with a boatload of questions about each, and I look forward to learning more about each one's motives and loyalties as the series continues.
The government keeps peace across the globe with its peoples' best interests in mind. Or, do they?
A group of people from many walks of life and many pasts band together under the leadership of a man who is simply a guy with a responsibility to some books. As the story unfolds, we see a clear-cut fight against big government and corruption with a revelation of conspiracy theories left and right. Or, is it really that simple?
This fast-paced book sweeps the reader in and along the rapids of a journey that ends with a glimpse over a seemingly endless waterfall. When I first began reading The Last Librarian, I was concerned that this was a book that's been done so many times before it couldn't possibly have anything original to it. But, the delightful characters, the unanswered questions, the humor, the quotes from many great books of the past and the desire to know exactly where each character's loyalties lie kept me reading. And, I'm glad I did!
Brandt Legg's writing style reminds me of a good friend simply sharing a tale. It's comfortable, inviting, engaging. I have 19 notebook pages handwritten with quotes from this one book. Legg has a knack for penning one- or two-liners that you just want to share with all your friends. His words are filled with humor or depth, each one thought-provoking in some way.
As the Last Librarian says, "Novels hold more contentious ideas and contemplate far more truth than nonfiction." (p. 167)
I have much more I could say, but I refuse to give any spoilers; so I'll leave it vague. Several twists did take me by surprise, and I even gasped out loud once. This is one trilogy I am anxious to continue. The characters are anything but static although you are left with a boatload of questions about each, and I look forward to learning more about each one's motives and loyalties as the series continues.
January 6, 2016
A Metaphysical & Visionary Read!
I was confident before I even opened, The Last Librarian, (book one of the Justar Journal) that the bestselling author of the Inner Movement trilogy and the Cosega Sequence, Brandt Legg would deliver yet another great hit.
Brandt Legg has woven a complex piece of dystopian literary fiction with a narrative that'll grab your attention. It'll leave you wanting more at the end of each and every page. Rot with richly deep, and clever characters, his words flow smoothly over a textured plot that's interlaced with an imaginative world of science fiction, captivating readers.
You'll love this futuristic action & adventure, where there's no war, hunger & no more pollution. However, a MEGA Corporation running the world, only fear's the truth, and has an insidious design to wipe that out but a brave defiant individual, (The Last Librarian) stands in the way. Another Kindle eBook zinging off Amazon Kindle's digital bookshelf. I applaud the author for this awesome science fiction and fantasy. 5 stars!!!
I was confident before I even opened, The Last Librarian, (book one of the Justar Journal) that the bestselling author of the Inner Movement trilogy and the Cosega Sequence, Brandt Legg would deliver yet another great hit.
Brandt Legg has woven a complex piece of dystopian literary fiction with a narrative that'll grab your attention. It'll leave you wanting more at the end of each and every page. Rot with richly deep, and clever characters, his words flow smoothly over a textured plot that's interlaced with an imaginative world of science fiction, captivating readers.
You'll love this futuristic action & adventure, where there's no war, hunger & no more pollution. However, a MEGA Corporation running the world, only fear's the truth, and has an insidious design to wipe that out but a brave defiant individual, (The Last Librarian) stands in the way. Another Kindle eBook zinging off Amazon Kindle's digital bookshelf. I applaud the author for this awesome science fiction and fantasy. 5 stars!!!
February 20, 2021
This was a really, really great book. I cannot recommend it enough to anyone who loves books about books. It is a story about a dystopian future, even though the people in the book don't know they are living in a nonperfect world yet. I don't normally like books with dystopian themes, but I do like books about books and libraries and this one is written so well and the characters are so engaging and the premise of the story so interesting that I couldn't put it down. There are plots and subplots in the book and at the end of this first part of the series I was hooked to continue to find out what happens in the rest of the story. The basic premise is that there is one library left in the world with one librarian in charge of it and it is scheduled to be closed. The story revolves around how the world came to be with only one library left and the people connected to this library and some greater mystery going on that has to do with the books in the library. Save the books!
October 30, 2015
As a former librarian I was intrigued by the title and naturally loved the concept of the book: to save the books and the contents of the library. Of course there is more to it, as the title and the stunning cover so wonderfully and mysteriously imply. A futuristic world with changes, some good for humanity and some not at all. There ismuch to ponder about in this, as Legg waves deeper thoughts into this novel, the beginning of a very promising thriller series.
Loved the characters and the entire thing.
Loved the characters and the entire thing.
October 2, 2017
So, first off, brilliant idea. I fell in love with the plot line almost immediately, with the importance of the last library and the last librarian, the idea that books (printed books, which was ironic, since I was reading on a Kindle) could save the world--that's my kind of story!
I think the execution was a bit uneven. Most of the characters were well done, but there were just too many of them for me to keep track of. I don't know why, but I kept getting some of the secondary characters mixed up, and I kept having to remind myself who was who. (How many mega-millionaires who know everything and have spies everywhere can you actually fit in one story?) With so many people fighting for space, there just wasn't enough room to properly develop some of them. I assume that's something that will take place in the next book(s), since by the end there had been a considerable thinning of the herd.
In addition to too many characters trying to dance on the head of a pin, there were more double- and triple-crosses than a double helix. Just trying to keep up was dizzying, but that might have been the point; the main character was just as in the dark for most of the book, and you had to follow along with him as he tried to navigate the world that he'd been pulled into. That made him a somewhat unreliable narrator, but it wasn't his fault, since he could only act on the information that he had, and he often didn't have all of the facts, or interpreted them wrong.
The double gut-punch at the end really threw me for a loop. I had to read the first one three times before I was sure what had happened was really happening, and even then I kept expecting it to have been some kind of hoax or double-blind. But no, at least as of the end of the book, it was really real. I suppose it's possible that it might come "undone" in the next book, but for now I think it's sticking.
Very much looking forward to seeing where this series goes; I've already bought the second book to read....on my Kindle, which might make Nelson very angry with me.
I think the execution was a bit uneven. Most of the characters were well done, but there were just too many of them for me to keep track of. I don't know why, but I kept getting some of the secondary characters mixed up, and I kept having to remind myself who was who. (How many mega-millionaires who know everything and have spies everywhere can you actually fit in one story?) With so many people fighting for space, there just wasn't enough room to properly develop some of them. I assume that's something that will take place in the next book(s), since by the end there had been a considerable thinning of the herd.
In addition to too many characters trying to dance on the head of a pin, there were more double- and triple-crosses than a double helix. Just trying to keep up was dizzying, but that might have been the point; the main character was just as in the dark for most of the book, and you had to follow along with him as he tried to navigate the world that he'd been pulled into. That made him a somewhat unreliable narrator, but it wasn't his fault, since he could only act on the information that he had, and he often didn't have all of the facts, or interpreted them wrong.
The double gut-punch at the end really threw me for a loop. I had to read the first one three times before I was sure what had happened was really happening, and even then I kept expecting it to have been some kind of hoax or double-blind. But no, at least as of the end of the book, it was really real. I suppose it's possible that it might come "undone" in the next book, but for now I think it's sticking.
Very much looking forward to seeing where this series goes; I've already bought the second book to read....on my Kindle, which might make Nelson very angry with me.
did-not-finish
July 19, 2020DNFing at 10%.
My first impression of the book was the author never met a comma he didn't like. My second impression was that he could have benefitted greatly from having been introduced to hyphens.
There's contradictory information in the first few chapters (which read like a heavy-handed info dump) and I can already tell that reading this is not something I'm going to enjoy. Coming on the heels of a 1-star read that I finished, this is not something I want to endure.
My first impression of the book was the author never met a comma he didn't like. My second impression was that he could have benefitted greatly from having been introduced to hyphens.
There's contradictory information in the first few chapters (which read like a heavy-handed info dump) and I can already tell that reading this is not something I'm going to enjoy. Coming on the heels of a 1-star read that I finished, this is not something I want to endure.
July 25, 2017
This book is really well written. It has characters with whom you can empathize, a believable plot, and a nice story embedded within the turmoil of a near-future earth.
April 25, 2024
Runit is the last librarian (running a physical library) left on 2098 Earth, after a pandemic and subsequent war wiped out more than 5 billion people and ushered in a "utopian" society. Physical books are no longer "necessary," as everything is digitized anyway. So, Runit's library in the city of Portland, OR, will be closed. Runit is sad, of course, but knew it was inevitable.
Runit is stoic about the loss of the library, until one of the last patrons of the library, Nelson - a writer, proves to him that the government has tweaked a sentence - or even one letter in the case of one of Nelson's books - to change entire meaning of a book when it has been digitized. Nelson convinces Runit that physical books are still necessary in this "new" world, if for no other reason to preserve works as written, not as re-written by the government's intelligence office to fit their propaganda.
Thus begins a thriller of a story, as Nelson convinces Runit that they HAVE to save as many of the physical books as they can, b/c he is convinced that there is some - hidden - information in one or more of the books that could bring the entire government crashing down. Nelson, Runit, Runit's son and other friends in an outdoors-adventure unit, and a mysterious revolutionary race against time - and the intelligence office - to secrete as many of the books as they can before the library is burned.
Will Runit et al be able to save any of the books? Or will they be discovered and all of them be eliminated, along w/ the books?
The first 40% of the book had my rapt attention. But then all the government officials started running together for me, and no one was really who they said they were. It all got confusing, although it was still a pants-on-fire sort of read. But what really knocked down my rating was that the book just ended.... w/ no real resolution. Apparently, there's a book #2. It really annoys me when the author ends a book intended to be part of a series w/o any sort of resolution. This one feels like it was just chopped off b/c it was getting too long. So, 4 stars. The real irony is that I read this on my Kindle.
Runit is stoic about the loss of the library, until one of the last patrons of the library, Nelson - a writer, proves to him that the government has tweaked a sentence - or even one letter in the case of one of Nelson's books - to change entire meaning of a book when it has been digitized. Nelson convinces Runit that physical books are still necessary in this "new" world, if for no other reason to preserve works as written, not as re-written by the government's intelligence office to fit their propaganda.
Thus begins a thriller of a story, as Nelson convinces Runit that they HAVE to save as many of the physical books as they can, b/c he is convinced that there is some - hidden - information in one or more of the books that could bring the entire government crashing down. Nelson, Runit, Runit's son and other friends in an outdoors-adventure unit, and a mysterious revolutionary race against time - and the intelligence office - to secrete as many of the books as they can before the library is burned.
Will Runit et al be able to save any of the books? Or will they be discovered and all of them be eliminated, along w/ the books?
The first 40% of the book had my rapt attention. But then all the government officials started running together for me, and no one was really who they said they were. It all got confusing, although it was still a pants-on-fire sort of read. But what really knocked down my rating was that the book just ended.... w/ no real resolution. Apparently, there's a book #2. It really annoys me when the author ends a book intended to be part of a series w/o any sort of resolution. This one feels like it was just chopped off b/c it was getting too long. So, 4 stars. The real irony is that I read this on my Kindle.
January 4, 2019
rather 3.5/5 for this very distopian read - no system is idyllic, and certainly not after post-apocaliptic times -
with two important winks to bradbury's fahrenheit 451 and orwell's 1984, brandt legg had built a story at a slow pace, which slowly takes a faster pace around the end - of course it ends with a cliffhanger for this is a trilogy, so two more books to know how things will end -
no man is a hero, unti circumstances demand it, that's what happens to the last librarian who cannot bear to see his beloved books doomed to be burnt
with two important winks to bradbury's fahrenheit 451 and orwell's 1984, brandt legg had built a story at a slow pace, which slowly takes a faster pace around the end - of course it ends with a cliffhanger for this is a trilogy, so two more books to know how things will end -
no man is a hero, unti circumstances demand it, that's what happens to the last librarian who cannot bear to see his beloved books doomed to be burnt
March 8, 2019
Innovative and compelling “The Last Librarian” opens in the year 2098 where twenty-four regions are controlled by a one-world governing body after the Banoff plague. In a peaceful period with no war, hunger, pollution, religion and one language, any opposition is quickly eradicated and libraries, the last link to the past are being systematically wiped out. In Pacyfik, the last librarian, Runit Happerman has been notified that the books in his library are going to be destroyed and the building revamped.
Knowing the government fears the power of words that can influence people and undermine their authority, Runit joins forces with trillionaire Deuce Lipton to save thousands of books before they’re torched, without realizing that dissension has been growing against the ruling authority for years and that eight missing volumes hold a key to the future.
With the help of his friend, troubled author Nelson Wright; revolutionary Chelles Andreas; his son Grandyn; and the several “TreeRunners”, Runit weeds books from the library’s vast collection to send to safety while learning hard truths about himself and his past as well as the government, PAWN (People Against World Nation) and a rising rebellion.
Fast-paced and action-packed, filled with classic quotes from major authors the plot stirs memories of “Fahrenheit 451” although the plot is original and well-developed as the last librarian is about to see his guardianship of words and ideas destroyed by the AOI. As he and his helpers struggle to save thousands of books from the coming inferno, in an alternate subplot trillionaire Deuce Lipton for his own reasons fights against the ambitions of another tycoon helping the librarian while searching for eight missing volumes that hold the key to the future.
Intensity and suspense escalate when the timeframe for the library’s destruction is changed; with the political upheaval after the resignation of the World Premier; secrets revealed about the plague; and in pharmaceutical tycoon Lance Miner’s search for Deuce Lipton’s mysterious brother. Twisting and turning the plot thickens as Runit uncovers dark secrets in his past while trying to protect his son and his life’s work.
Bringing the story to life are fascinating and complex characters like the bookish and cautious widower forty-three- year-old Runit Happerman. Compliant, honest, honorable and non-aggressive the last librarian soon develops a brave and rebellious heart in his struggle to save the books and his son. Eighteen-year-old Grandyn Happerman is his loyal but stubborn son who’s determined to be a TreeRunner rather than go to college; feisty, intense and tough Chelles Andreas the revolutionary in love with Runit; her contentious and defiant brother Nelson Wright his best friend; and brilliant but paranoid Deuce Lipton the money and influence behind their scheme.
I thoroughly enjoyed “The Last Librarian” and can’t wait to see where Brandt Legg takes this story next.
Knowing the government fears the power of words that can influence people and undermine their authority, Runit joins forces with trillionaire Deuce Lipton to save thousands of books before they’re torched, without realizing that dissension has been growing against the ruling authority for years and that eight missing volumes hold a key to the future.
With the help of his friend, troubled author Nelson Wright; revolutionary Chelles Andreas; his son Grandyn; and the several “TreeRunners”, Runit weeds books from the library’s vast collection to send to safety while learning hard truths about himself and his past as well as the government, PAWN (People Against World Nation) and a rising rebellion.
Fast-paced and action-packed, filled with classic quotes from major authors the plot stirs memories of “Fahrenheit 451” although the plot is original and well-developed as the last librarian is about to see his guardianship of words and ideas destroyed by the AOI. As he and his helpers struggle to save thousands of books from the coming inferno, in an alternate subplot trillionaire Deuce Lipton for his own reasons fights against the ambitions of another tycoon helping the librarian while searching for eight missing volumes that hold the key to the future.
Intensity and suspense escalate when the timeframe for the library’s destruction is changed; with the political upheaval after the resignation of the World Premier; secrets revealed about the plague; and in pharmaceutical tycoon Lance Miner’s search for Deuce Lipton’s mysterious brother. Twisting and turning the plot thickens as Runit uncovers dark secrets in his past while trying to protect his son and his life’s work.
Bringing the story to life are fascinating and complex characters like the bookish and cautious widower forty-three- year-old Runit Happerman. Compliant, honest, honorable and non-aggressive the last librarian soon develops a brave and rebellious heart in his struggle to save the books and his son. Eighteen-year-old Grandyn Happerman is his loyal but stubborn son who’s determined to be a TreeRunner rather than go to college; feisty, intense and tough Chelles Andreas the revolutionary in love with Runit; her contentious and defiant brother Nelson Wright his best friend; and brilliant but paranoid Deuce Lipton the money and influence behind their scheme.
I thoroughly enjoyed “The Last Librarian” and can’t wait to see where Brandt Legg takes this story next.
April 14, 2018
"“I am not running, I am seeking. I am not hiding, I am finding.” “Where do you go? What do you do?” “I’m just dancing with time, and occasionally wrestling with it. Like my daddy used to say, ‘Time’s a funny thing.’ But I’m not laughing.” He sat next to Deuce again. “It’s almost over.”"
This is a story set in the future, when all the books except those in the last library have been destroyed. Books are only available digitally now and the government agencies have decided that the last paper books are no longer necessary. The library is scheduled to be destroyed. The Last Librarian is Runit Happerman and he wants to save as many books as he can before 'they' come in 10 days to destroy his world, he just needs a little help with that.
His best friend Nelson is an author, he offers to help and gets his sister Chelle Andreas involved too. Runit is concerned about his son Grandyn becoming embroiled in the rebellious act, but is unable to prevent him joining the growing team and also bringing his girlfriend Vida along, as well as his Treerunner colleagues. Surely all those would be enough to achieve the saving of 100,000 books.
There are of course other factors involved, but to write them here would be to spoil the story for the next reader, so trust me when I say that it is a massive task, made difficult by shifting parameters and personal interactions.
The story could be considered a prophetic tale, with the prevalence of digital books, many people nowadays don't need the paper books anymore. But who keeps the records of what the author intended to be read?
This was an interesting and involving read and I did enjoy my time with it.
June 25, 2018
My heart was in my throat -- no more libraries -- no more print books. Now we all know how I love to read--and even the thought of this sends shivers down my spine!! Oh I now read E-Books-but that is actually pretty recent--and I may not go to libraries anymore--but if you asked my Mom she would tell you that whenever she happened to ask what I wanted to do--I answered "let's go the the library!" Whether it was the NYC Library or the little one in our town--that's where I wanted to go!!
The only problem with E-Books is they can be changed to suit nefarious purposes--If we all do not know the truth of the past (because it has been changed or deleted --how are we ever going to NOT make the same mistakes again and again and again. And will there be anyone left who actually remembers what those books contained? Not if the powers in charge shut down all the libraries and BURN all the books!!
The last librarian-in the world's last library-has just been told that his library is about to be closed down. One of his closest friends, an author-convinces him they have to save at least the most important of the books. Meanwhile they need help--which are the most important?
Is there a revolution about to begin--who are the good guys and who the bad--it will get all tangled up and unfortunately I will have to keep reading this 3 book series--because the cliff hanger at the end grabbed me--just as this book did. Another book that I read in one sitting!! This is a conspiracy novel that will stay with me for all eternity!
The Last Librarian
The only problem with E-Books is they can be changed to suit nefarious purposes--If we all do not know the truth of the past (because it has been changed or deleted --how are we ever going to NOT make the same mistakes again and again and again. And will there be anyone left who actually remembers what those books contained? Not if the powers in charge shut down all the libraries and BURN all the books!!
The last librarian-in the world's last library-has just been told that his library is about to be closed down. One of his closest friends, an author-convinces him they have to save at least the most important of the books. Meanwhile they need help--which are the most important?
Is there a revolution about to begin--who are the good guys and who the bad--it will get all tangled up and unfortunately I will have to keep reading this 3 book series--because the cliff hanger at the end grabbed me--just as this book did. Another book that I read in one sitting!! This is a conspiracy novel that will stay with me for all eternity!
The Last Librarian
December 29, 2018
It's 2098, almost 70 years after the Banoff plague and subsequent wars killed 5/8s of the world's population. The world is united under one government and speaks one language. Disease has almost been eliminated, as has homelessness. Education and employment are guaranteed, and Runit Happerman is the last librarian in the world, presiding over the last public library in downtown Portland, Oregon. All books have been digitized, and in a world where everything is available in the Field (think the World Wide Web, only moreso), who wants to bother with ink and paper. In the last few years, Runit's colleagues in Brussels and Australia have seen their libraries destroyed, and now the word has come to him that in 10 days time, the Portland Library will also close and all its books will be destroyed, burned. These aren't spoilers. You learn this in the first five pages of the novel. When one of the few people who actually uses the Library shows Runit that someone is changing the words in the digitized texts ("To what purpose" becomes "To that purpose" in one book), the question is will Runit break the law and risk execution to save any of the works in his care. Fully 80% of Amazon reviewers gave this book at least 4 stars. The few who hated it, really hated it. This may be a spoiler, but be forewarned, this is the first of three novels in a series, and there is no clear conclusion at the end of volume 1. I, for one, will be reading books 2 and 3.
September 5, 2017
This is the first in a series of three novels (The Justar Journals) taking place 70 or so years in The future. The population of earth has been decimated by a plague reducing the world population to less than half the pre-plague population. Earth is now under a one world government and all live in a peaceful utopia...Or do they? The story begins with the closing and destruction of the last library on earth that contains actual physical books. This in itself may not seem a problem since all books are now electronic and readily available to all. A discovery is made, however, that words and ideas are being changed in these electronic books. How to preserve the original thoughts and ideas of the authors? A plan is formed by several concerned patrons and the librarian (the last) to save as many of the original books as possible. While on the surface this might not sound intriguing you will find there is much more to this story than just the rescue of a bunch of hardcovers. There is adventure, political intrigue, suspense, sadness and even a little romance. Let me assure you the storyline e goes beyond the stacks. I will definitely continue on to the second book of the series in the near future.
December 2, 2016
As a librarian, I thought a lot about electronic books back in the eighties, and am on my third Kindle now. Once I owned a Rocket e-book! So I was interested in this book, and the premise was an intriguing one. Change some words in key books, and you change the meaning entirely. There were some nice references to books about books, and about book burning. Unfortunately, the story slid off into shoot-em-ups and spies and meaningless 'action'. The characters were barely fleshed out and I was confused about who was who and why. Relationships were hardly there. "Banoff" as the name of a pandemic killing millions? "Torgon" as the ridiculous new swear word? AOI and VM and INU and far too many confusing acronyms. Munna, the 130 year-old woman supposedly a key figure? Why "rescue" a hundred thousand books when really you were only looking for eight? What are these hard-working book strapping machines? Huh? None of it made any sense to me. Worse still, I decided to plough through to the end ..... and it just finished, almost mid-sentence. Oh no, I will not be buying the next two books.
July 16, 2018
What an intriguing read! Set in the future, the world survives a major plague, and the population is greatly reduced. Now, the remaining population is united under one government, and living in a time of peace, good health, relative harmony, and constant surveillance. Runit, the Last Librarian, is made aware of some rather disturbing news concerning his library and his beloved books. Along with his long time friend, Nelson, they decide on a risky course of action. They recruit Runit's son, Grandyn, and the adventure begins. With the world's leaders determined to rid the world of physical books, and anyone who questions the status quo, the fight is on.
I found this book very interesting, and it touches on several of the "conspiracy theories" humming around right now. It's a great read...I highly recommend it.
I found this book very interesting, and it touches on several of the "conspiracy theories" humming around right now. It's a great read...I highly recommend it.
February 25, 2017
This was an Amazon $0.99 special. Some days, peanuts. Some days, shells.
I 'd have to say this novel met expectations, but just so. What could have been an interesting SF thriller contained too many stereotypes written in typical potboiler fashion. The use of famous quotes made me want to burn any copy of Bartlett's Familiar Quotations in the vicinity (wait....that puts me on the wrong side of this, doesn't it?).
I don't think I'll move on to the rest of the series.
I 'd have to say this novel met expectations, but just so. What could have been an interesting SF thriller contained too many stereotypes written in typical potboiler fashion. The use of famous quotes made me want to burn any copy of Bartlett's Familiar Quotations in the vicinity (wait....that puts me on the wrong side of this, doesn't it?).
I don't think I'll move on to the rest of the series.
October 20, 2015
Brandt Legg is one of my fav authors. There isn't a book he's written that wouldn't make an awesome film and this book does not disappoint! Futuristic, government invasion and books - what's not to like? I devoured this book in one night and now I want more!
Am going to grab this in paperback as a gift for a co-worker who is also a Brandt Legg fan.
You won't regret this page turner!
Am going to grab this in paperback as a gift for a co-worker who is also a Brandt Legg fan.
You won't regret this page turner!
December 16, 2015
What would you do if you were head librarian of the last library left on Earth and learned the government was planning to burn the books? That's the premise, and that premise is followed through to the end of the story. Ironically, I read it in Kindle format.
January 17, 2019
Amazing
This book is pretty great, in my book. The story is superb and the writing kept me hooked. I'm already planning on getting the second book of the series. I love dystopian novels!
This book is pretty great, in my book. The story is superb and the writing kept me hooked. I'm already planning on getting the second book of the series. I love dystopian novels!
January 5, 2022
Once in a while you come across a book like The Last Librarian.
This story is a little 1984, Animal Farm, Brave New World, Fahrenheit 451, with a little Nazi Germany and a fair amount of American school districts.
Set in the year 2098, the world government has closed all bookshops, and is about to close the last public library. With all books being available online (and the text can be altered at anytime), all paper books are being systematically destroyed.
A great read, part one of a series. I'll be reading the others!
This story is a little 1984, Animal Farm, Brave New World, Fahrenheit 451, with a little Nazi Germany and a fair amount of American school districts.
Set in the year 2098, the world government has closed all bookshops, and is about to close the last public library. With all books being available online (and the text can be altered at anytime), all paper books are being systematically destroyed.
A great read, part one of a series. I'll be reading the others!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2018
‘For many years he’d been the head librarian at what recently had become the last library in the world.’
One of the reasons author Brandt Legg has been so successful in his writing and publishing and selling his ten books to date is his magisterial management of his website. From his biographical data we learn that he is ‘a former child prodigy who turned a hobby into a multi-million dollar empire. At eight, Brandt's father died suddenly, plunging his family into poverty. Two years later, while suffering from crippling migraines, he started in business. National media dubbed him the "Teen Tycoon," but by the time he reached his twenties, the high-flying Legg became ensnarled in the financial whirlwind of the junk bond eighties, lost his entire fortune . . . and ended up serving time in federal prison for financial improprieties.’ Or as Brandt shares, ‘Twenty-five years ago, sitting in a hot, humid federal prison cell in Virginia, I first dreamed of being not just a writer, but a writer who could earn a living, support a family and keep writing. But I had dropped out of high school, having only completed tenth grade English. As I sat on that metal cot, penniless and heavily in debt, with almost a year left on my sentence, it seemed an impossible dream. Still, for more than two decades, while doing everything but writing, I somehow kept the dream alive. Amazon's KDP changed everything.’ One year later he began anew in retail and real estate. In the more than two decades since, his life adventures have led him through magazine publishing, a newspaper column, photography, FM radio, CD production and concert promotion.’ He is also a gifted landscape photographer.
Another of the reasons Brandt’s sci-fi thrillers/suspense novels work so well is his ability to subtly let us in on the main character’s character from the first few paragraphs – After all the remarkable changes which had occurred during the decades since the Banoff, it seemed strange that 2098 would long be remembered as “the year of change.” For on a cold January morning of that year . . . the revolution began. No one knew it then because it started, as revolutions often do, as something quiet and almost routine. There was no way Runit Happerman, a bookish, cautious, single dad two weeks past his forty-third birthday, could have had the faintest idea he would be at the center of the storm. As he commuted to work on that frosty morning, through the gleaming city of Portland in what they now called the Oregon Area, his thoughts were on the book he’d always wanted to write, about the days before that terrible five-year period when everyone died. “The Banoff,” as it had come to be known in the new-language, brought the human race as close to extinction as it had ever come. The Banoff plague had struck with the suddenness and fury of a fatal car crash. Hundreds of millions died in the first months, the only bright spot ‒ if you could call it that ‒ was that the virus went from incubation to death in less than a week. As the relentless and efficient killer swept the globe, universal terror, grief, and mayhem followed. It became impossible to keep up with burning the bodies and dealing with contamination, and in the end, billions were lost. Chaos ensued, and war broke out.'
As book 1 of his Juster Journal series Brandt’s synopsis pulls the story together well: "Never let them catch you reading!" In the year 2098, there is no more war, no more hunger and no more pollution. The world is secure and Earth’s 2.9 billion people are healthy and happy. There is also only one remaining library that still houses physical books. In addition to the dusty volumes, the library holds many secrets. But the government has decided to shut it down and burn the contents. Unless an unlikely trio can save the books, humanity will lose more than just what is printed on those antique pages. With a single government ruling the entire planet, one currency, one language and no religion, the population is unified and enjoying the prosperity that comes with more than seven decades of peace. Free healthcare for all and guaranteed employment make the future a dream. But this future may only be safe if they can hide the past. The books must be saved . . . the impossible task is up to an angry author, a brazen revolutionary and the last librarian. When everything is perfect, the only thing left to fear is the truth.
Read one of Brandt’s novels and it is likely you’ll reach for the next in sequence. Fine writing in a genre that often leaves us wanting more. Brandt supplies it.
One of the reasons author Brandt Legg has been so successful in his writing and publishing and selling his ten books to date is his magisterial management of his website. From his biographical data we learn that he is ‘a former child prodigy who turned a hobby into a multi-million dollar empire. At eight, Brandt's father died suddenly, plunging his family into poverty. Two years later, while suffering from crippling migraines, he started in business. National media dubbed him the "Teen Tycoon," but by the time he reached his twenties, the high-flying Legg became ensnarled in the financial whirlwind of the junk bond eighties, lost his entire fortune . . . and ended up serving time in federal prison for financial improprieties.’ Or as Brandt shares, ‘Twenty-five years ago, sitting in a hot, humid federal prison cell in Virginia, I first dreamed of being not just a writer, but a writer who could earn a living, support a family and keep writing. But I had dropped out of high school, having only completed tenth grade English. As I sat on that metal cot, penniless and heavily in debt, with almost a year left on my sentence, it seemed an impossible dream. Still, for more than two decades, while doing everything but writing, I somehow kept the dream alive. Amazon's KDP changed everything.’ One year later he began anew in retail and real estate. In the more than two decades since, his life adventures have led him through magazine publishing, a newspaper column, photography, FM radio, CD production and concert promotion.’ He is also a gifted landscape photographer.
Another of the reasons Brandt’s sci-fi thrillers/suspense novels work so well is his ability to subtly let us in on the main character’s character from the first few paragraphs – After all the remarkable changes which had occurred during the decades since the Banoff, it seemed strange that 2098 would long be remembered as “the year of change.” For on a cold January morning of that year . . . the revolution began. No one knew it then because it started, as revolutions often do, as something quiet and almost routine. There was no way Runit Happerman, a bookish, cautious, single dad two weeks past his forty-third birthday, could have had the faintest idea he would be at the center of the storm. As he commuted to work on that frosty morning, through the gleaming city of Portland in what they now called the Oregon Area, his thoughts were on the book he’d always wanted to write, about the days before that terrible five-year period when everyone died. “The Banoff,” as it had come to be known in the new-language, brought the human race as close to extinction as it had ever come. The Banoff plague had struck with the suddenness and fury of a fatal car crash. Hundreds of millions died in the first months, the only bright spot ‒ if you could call it that ‒ was that the virus went from incubation to death in less than a week. As the relentless and efficient killer swept the globe, universal terror, grief, and mayhem followed. It became impossible to keep up with burning the bodies and dealing with contamination, and in the end, billions were lost. Chaos ensued, and war broke out.'
As book 1 of his Juster Journal series Brandt’s synopsis pulls the story together well: "Never let them catch you reading!" In the year 2098, there is no more war, no more hunger and no more pollution. The world is secure and Earth’s 2.9 billion people are healthy and happy. There is also only one remaining library that still houses physical books. In addition to the dusty volumes, the library holds many secrets. But the government has decided to shut it down and burn the contents. Unless an unlikely trio can save the books, humanity will lose more than just what is printed on those antique pages. With a single government ruling the entire planet, one currency, one language and no religion, the population is unified and enjoying the prosperity that comes with more than seven decades of peace. Free healthcare for all and guaranteed employment make the future a dream. But this future may only be safe if they can hide the past. The books must be saved . . . the impossible task is up to an angry author, a brazen revolutionary and the last librarian. When everything is perfect, the only thing left to fear is the truth.
Read one of Brandt’s novels and it is likely you’ll reach for the next in sequence. Fine writing in a genre that often leaves us wanting more. Brandt supplies it.
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