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The Silence
Global catastrophes throw the world into mass panic...and virtual silence. A solar storm burns communication satellites and computers. Earthquakes shake North America. Is it the end of the world? Out of the chaos, Reverend Jerry Moses grows a tiny Illinois farm church into the "Garden of Eden," a cult-like community touting food as the new currency for a world gone silent. Tom Lyton, Megan Smith, and Peter Wilson embark on individual journeys that lead them to confront Moses' heretical teaching. This tantalizing, futuristic novel takes readers on a roller-coaster ride toward the truth as seen through the eyes of engaging characters. When global catastrophe sends the world into chaos and a small-town pastor unexpectedly rises to power, three believers journey to Illinois to challenge his claims.
368 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 31, 2014
There were some weak points in the writing (a lot of repetition in character dialogue) but I liked the story's premise and execution. After having given up on my latest book (Max Barry's Lexicon) for having the F word about 30 times in the first twenty pages, a spiritual, clean story was not unwelcome. Normally, I'm not a huge Christian fiction fan but in this case, I thought it was pretty well done.
June 6, 2014
I loved this book so much! It was so amazing! It receives a special place in my heart.
January 26, 2019
This was an impulse buy at a used book sale. I am glad to say this book didn't disappoint, post apocalyptic then to leave God and faith out, but the Silence had many faith conversations. In the event of a catastrophe people do tend to acknowledge Him, either to question why or to seek him for guidance or protection and to some they turn to praise Him.
March 2, 2020
I gave up reading this after a couple of chapters as I realised this was evangelical book about 'The Rapture'. Not a fan of religion , I still gave it a go but not for me. There is even a dog in there called Revelations!
June 2, 2022
The book had some good parts and other parts that I didn’t enjoy
June 2, 2023
Not bad but I didn’t realize it was a Christian book as it was an impulse buy and I only read the back summary
June 22, 2023
An interesting tale of lives intertwined by a disaster but sustained by faith
September 10, 2016
Jim Kraus' "The Silence: The End is Near" is a weak attempt - a very weak attempt - at Christian eschatology. Your premise is basic post-apocalyptic fare - a series of massive natural disasters wrecks the planet, and the survivors have to move beyond the nightmare and into the dawn of a new era. There is the usual collapse of civilization and authority, the usual battle of good vs. evil…the usual everything, really. The only unusual thing about this book is how plain and ordinary the writing is.
The characters are as interesting and as complex as cardboard; plot developments are posted miles in advance; dialog is horrendously amateur and plain - everybody uses the same swear words, "blazes" or "blasted", hardened criminals insult their victims by calling them "doofus", and antagonists don't use grammatically correct English - lots of "ain't" and double negatives. Protagonists, of course, speak perfectly.
I can't help but shake the impression that "The Silence" is an attempted Christian re-shoot of Stephen King's "The Stand" - the post-apocalyptic wasteland aside, the major characters have dreams about the dark days after the worldwide catastrophe. But while the dreams in "The Stand" are lush, surreal visions, the dreams in "The Silence" look as though they're sketched by a three-year old. One character receives a portent of doom via sharp stabbing pains in her stomach. Maybe she tried to read this book, I don't know.
Jim Kraus has evidently never owned a dog before, because the most severe offense against the literary sensibilities comes in the form of a dog named "Revelations". Before you ask, the dog was owned by a Christian end-times fanatic, which would answer that million dollar question, "Who on Earth would name a Golden Retriever 'Revelations'?" But why is this dog such a dog? Because, given how intelligent, perceptive, brave, lucky, and overall wonderful this pooch is, Revelations is less a Golden Retriever and more an angel on four legs. That is, of course, Kraus' intention, but so weakly is the dog written (I mean, how on Earth can you write a dog so poorly?) that we're left far more exasperated than enlightened. Unfortunately, the dog is still as bland as the rest of the characters in the book (even if he is smarter than most of them).
The main antagonist is a weak caricature whose motives are never fully explained - one minute he's a misguided doomsday evangelist, and the other he's a leering, sweaty opportunist with a temper problem. Maybe he's both, but again, he's so inadequately developed that it's hard to feel anything strong about him one way or another.
Kraus knows his Scripture - characters (protagonists, of course), quote verse and chapter, and the text is annotated with Biblical references. I'd like to believe that there are good intentions behind this mess, but there must be far better Christian eschatology books than this one. There have to be.
The characters are as interesting and as complex as cardboard; plot developments are posted miles in advance; dialog is horrendously amateur and plain - everybody uses the same swear words, "blazes" or "blasted", hardened criminals insult their victims by calling them "doofus", and antagonists don't use grammatically correct English - lots of "ain't" and double negatives. Protagonists, of course, speak perfectly.
I can't help but shake the impression that "The Silence" is an attempted Christian re-shoot of Stephen King's "The Stand" - the post-apocalyptic wasteland aside, the major characters have dreams about the dark days after the worldwide catastrophe. But while the dreams in "The Stand" are lush, surreal visions, the dreams in "The Silence" look as though they're sketched by a three-year old. One character receives a portent of doom via sharp stabbing pains in her stomach. Maybe she tried to read this book, I don't know.
Jim Kraus has evidently never owned a dog before, because the most severe offense against the literary sensibilities comes in the form of a dog named "Revelations". Before you ask, the dog was owned by a Christian end-times fanatic, which would answer that million dollar question, "Who on Earth would name a Golden Retriever 'Revelations'?" But why is this dog such a dog? Because, given how intelligent, perceptive, brave, lucky, and overall wonderful this pooch is, Revelations is less a Golden Retriever and more an angel on four legs. That is, of course, Kraus' intention, but so weakly is the dog written (I mean, how on Earth can you write a dog so poorly?) that we're left far more exasperated than enlightened. Unfortunately, the dog is still as bland as the rest of the characters in the book (even if he is smarter than most of them).
The main antagonist is a weak caricature whose motives are never fully explained - one minute he's a misguided doomsday evangelist, and the other he's a leering, sweaty opportunist with a temper problem. Maybe he's both, but again, he's so inadequately developed that it's hard to feel anything strong about him one way or another.
Kraus knows his Scripture - characters (protagonists, of course), quote verse and chapter, and the text is annotated with Biblical references. I'd like to believe that there are good intentions behind this mess, but there must be far better Christian eschatology books than this one. There have to be.
July 13, 2015
“In a mere moment, everything about your world”
A series of catastrophic natural events throws the world into a mass panic- and a virtual silence. Communication systems and computer technologies are devastated. Law and order all but vanish as domestic terrorism and vigilante justice battle to control the terrified population. In the wake of the disaster, Tom, Megan, and Peter must each confront ghosts of their past to forge ahead and find hope for the future.
It was very believable and a little scary. But a very good book one that would be good for a book club pick.
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
A series of catastrophic natural events throws the world into a mass panic- and a virtual silence. Communication systems and computer technologies are devastated. Law and order all but vanish as domestic terrorism and vigilante justice battle to control the terrified population. In the wake of the disaster, Tom, Megan, and Peter must each confront ghosts of their past to forge ahead and find hope for the future.
It was very believable and a little scary. But a very good book one that would be good for a book club pick.
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
January 22, 2011
I realize that it's fiction. I realize that this particular genre is popular among those who believe a certain way. I even get that the storyline could've been good. But it wasn't enough. It was very "on the same road as those LeHaye/Jenkins guys" but with enough difference to not be copycat. In the end, I was left with many questions as there were some important ends left loose. Overall, it was an okay read.
December 24, 2016
Being a Christian, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. A well-told story by one of my favorite authors. I really enjoy reading all he has written, especially his stories with cats and dogs where you get to read what the animal's thinking. This one is a great story about Good vs evil. With no cussing, a huge plus for me, and I love the scripture. Thank you, Mr. Kraus, for a job well-done.
January 7, 2010
There was nothing on the back of the book to let me know this was actually a book about The Rapture and The End of Days, not just a global catastrophe. Not fair. Not interested.
February 6, 2016
Dystopian, but too milk toast for my tastes.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews