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The Last Day

by Glenn Kleier (Goodreads Author)

4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 · rating details · 291 ratings · 51 reviews

The Barnes & Noble Review:
Christmas Eve, 1999. A comet, satellite, or perhaps the finger of God, rends the night sky above Israel and rains fiery destruction on a top-secret military research facility in the Negev. Only one mute and naked survivor struggles from the ruins in the aftermath of the explosion, then vanishes into the desert unnoticed.
Drawn by the rumor of...more The Barnes & Noble Review:
Christmas Eve, 1999. A comet, satellite, or perhaps the finger of God, rends the night sky above Israel and rains fiery destruction on a top-secret military research facility in the Negev. Only one mute and naked survivor struggles from the ruins in the aftermath of the explosion, then vanishes into the desert unnoticed.
Drawn by the rumor of a Jordanian SCUD attack, a World News Network team producing a Millennium Eve special in Jerusalem races to the scene and stumbles upon the story of their lives, involving veteran reporter Jonathan Feldman and his cameraman Breck Hunter in perhaps the greatest story ever told.
Throughout the final year of the century, messianic sects have descended upon the great religious centers of Rome, Jerusalem, and Salt Lake City to await the coming of the millennium, convinced that the Last Days are at hand. Now, in the fulfillment of prophesy, at the stroke of midnight, New Year's Eve, a beautiful and mysterious young woman appears on the steps of the ancient Israelite Temple of the Messiah just as a violent earthquake rocks Jerusalem and sets off aftershocks felt even in the Vatican.
By a stroke of purest luck, WNN has it all on videotape. As a world audience primed for spectacle clamors for more, Feldman and Hunter follow the elusive figure as she appears throughout "Apocalypse Central," proclaiming a new gospel of the apotheosis to Christian, Muslim, and Jew alike. Overnight, Jeza, as she calls herself, has become a worldwide phenomenon, occasioning a summit meeting of the world's religious leaders and spawning a brisk trade in T-shirts,ashtrays, and other novelties bearing her image.
But despite reports of miracles, fulfillment of biblical prophecy, and even the announcement of an 11th commandment "Thou shall honor woman as thy equal; and thou shall cherish her in unity with thy fellow man", the question remains: Is Jeza imitating or emulating Christ? Is she messiah, antichrist, or something even more sinister; a biotech experiment gone tragically wrong?
Deftly incorporating subplots that include Vatican conspiracies, IDF assassination squads, cutting-edge scientific speculation, and the doomsday prophesy of the Last Secret of Fatima, Glenn Kleier's The Last Day cleverly exploits the growing fascination with the millennium and eschatology, provoking impassioned questions about our most cherished beliefs; and delivering a suspenseful thriller of the highest order.(less)

Paperback, 624 pages

Published September 1st 1998 by Vision (first published 1996)

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Aug 09, 2012 Johannes rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: religion, historical-fiction

In the beginning it seems as though this is yet another Science-fiction story, with criticism of the normal science and warfare services. But soon it appears that not only against science and the (Israeli) secret service is protested, but against anything that is not in accordance with the teachings of the great masters.
The parables of Jessa follow the same picture as those of Jesus, but in a modern form that fits more with our time.

The statements between the two groups of supporters and opponen...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jul 18, 2011 Derrick rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, thriller-scifi, trash

A book written right before the Y2K craze. A woman is the begotten daughter of god and everything takes place on and around the New Year of 2000.
At first I thought it was blasphemous, but several comments made me realize the author didn't know a thing about Christianity and was just kluging popular ideas together. My main tipoff was his off the cuff reaction of the 7th Day Adventists to this "new messiah". He simply didn't have a clue. Second was the repeated references to "church/temple of the...more

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Jun 04, 2011 Janet rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed "The Last Day". The plot was satisfyingly twisty, and I appreciate Mr. Kleir's extensive research into rapidly evolving mass media, modern Middle Eastern history and politics, particularly regarding intelligence and warfare, as well as his comprehensive knowledge of Roman Catholicism, the inner workings of the Vatican in particular. The complex characters Glenn portrays are vividly drawn, and they all display good development as the story progresses. More importantly, I foun...more I thoroughly enjoyed "The Last Day". The plot was satisfyingly twisty, and I appreciate Mr. Kleir's extensive research into rapidly evolving mass media, modern Middle Eastern history and politics, particularly regarding intelligence and warfare, as well as his comprehensive knowledge of Roman Catholicism, the inner workings of the Vatican in particular. The complex characters Glenn portrays are vividly drawn, and they all display good development as the story progresses. More importantly, I found myself empathizing with the characters as they lived through the events of this extraordinary story.

Bottom line: I couldn't put "The Last Day" down! Thank you, Glenn. I've preordered your soon-to-be released next novel. "The Knowledge of Good & Evil"!

[WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS.]

My only problem was the issue of the actual date of the turn of the millennium. Having read the book 10 years after the turn of the millennium, I remembered discussions with friends and colleagues during the entire year 1999 in which it was often pointed out in the media that December 31, 1999 was the last day of the 20th century and not the official end of the 20th century. I can forgive Mr. Kleier this point as "The Last Day" was originally published in 1996. However, I find it difficult to believe that the Pope, as well as the rest of the world's people, particularly the millinarians, did not reach this conclusion until well after December 31, 2000 had come and gone without the occurrence of the prophesied catastrophes taking place.

Nonetheless, the book still has much to commend itself. The character of Jeza, so central to the novel, is well drawn. Her character is what I would expect of a New Age prophet (or Messiah, to use the terminology of the three major Judeo-Christian world religions). Her message that all organized religions have been corrupted and degraded, the better for people to use religion as a political tool, rather than to focus on the Message, and live it, in its purest form. She embraces people of all belief systems of the world and exhorts them to put down their swords in exchange for ploughshares; i.e., she calls for peace among all the peoples of the world. [Cf. Isaiah 2:4 & Micah 4:3.] Glenn beautifully brings together the fundamental principles and truths of all the great world religions and belief systems. The most noble of all aspirations, if only this story was true...!

I especially liked the author's acronyms G.O.G. and M.G.O.G. as representing the war between Gog and Magog prophesied in the Book of Revelations. That was a brilliant touch!(less)

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May 24, 2011 Maddi Sojourner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Maddi by: Amazon

Shelves: review-from-amazon

I've never read a book like this before, and I'm still trying to figure out what genre to call it. It's not science fiction, because the science is nonsense. It's a thriller, but it's also apocalyptic/End Times foolishness. The author clearly has a beef with organized religion, which makes for a curious mix. The problem is, he didn't do enough of his homework to make the book believable, and I am not referring to the existence of Jeza the Possible Messiah, or even the research project that begat...more I've never read a book like this before, and I'm still trying to figure out what genre to call it. It's not science fiction, because the science is nonsense. It's a thriller, but it's also apocalyptic/End Times foolishness. The author clearly has a beef with organized religion, which makes for a curious mix. The problem is, he didn't do enough of his homework to make the book believable, and I am not referring to the existence of Jeza the Possible Messiah, or even the research project that begat her. When I note that he can't distinguish between an evangelical Christian and a millenarian (not even noting the difference between pre- and post-millenarians), I know somebody didn't do his rewrites.
What the book lacks is proper verisimilitude. Almost all of it takes place in Israel and Cairo, but there aren't enough little touches that convince me I'm not in my living room. Kleier wrote the book with dozens of short chapters, using the location as a heading and assuming the reader would take his word for it. I don't have the sense that he ever spent time in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, because he didn't use any local knowledge to take me there. "Show, don't tell" is something covered in beginning writer's workshops, but Kleier must have been out sick that day. The descriptions of Vatican City are slightly more on the mark, but again, could have been lifted from a travel book rather than his viewing a papal procession himself.

And the flat, two-dimensional backgrounds aren't the only off-note in this otherwise gripping tale of a modern-day Messiah. Having chosen to write a religious thriller, Kleier then brings in characters from several religions without showing any sense of how their theological underpinnings differ. A Lubavicher rabbi agrees to debate a Catholic cardinal on Messianic Prophesies, and the former comes across more like a Lutheran! Did Kleier also miss the lecture in religion class on how Jews don't consider the New Testament a sacred text, nor do they consider Jesus of Nazareth to have any standing? Does he understand the difference between the different ultra-Orthodox Jewish groups? There's no mention of it here; you could substitute "Conservative" for "Lubavicher" and it wouldn't make a speck of difference in how the book plays out. That whole section rang false as well; it's unlikely any ultra-Orthodox rabbi would accept a female as the Moschiach.. he certainly wouldn't be defending her... Same thing with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; they are cast as opportunists in organizing a religious conference, and not one of them seems troubled that the new redeemer is a woman. If Kleier had done any research into the LDS' teachings, he'd find out how they view the priesthood as completely male-dominated, far more so than the Roman Catholic Church. The latter has nuns; the former expects all adult males to become priests, and women have no standing on religious issues at all.

This may show the impetus for Kleier's book in understanding its failings: he, like the viewpoint character Jon Feldman, can't accept the boon of religious salvation, but also can't see living without it. Kleier cannot conceive of a character without a Christian viewpoint, and it so colors this novel that Jews, Moslems, atheists, and other non-Christians demonstrate the same assumptions, beliefs, and expectations as the Christians. But it's nonsense to set a novel in Israel and then expect that everyone knows it's Palm Sunday. More likely, everyone is getting ready for Passover by cleaning their homes, or ignoring it entirely because they're secular Jews or religious Moslems! It's laughable to set a scene in Vatican City and have Italian cardinals explaining how to translate Latin phrases into English; the official language of the Vatican is Latin, and that was how Jeza should have addressed the Pope.

I'm still giving this book 4 stars because it was a great read and I had a lot of trouble putting it down... but when I did I wanted to throw it across the room! How could it be plotted so well and executed so poorly? How many obvious errors can I find in 2003 in a book written only five years ago... like the unveiling of horrible Roman Catholic hushed-up scandals that neglected to mention the child molesters! How about the election of 2000, with an incumbent Democrat challenged by a religious conservative Democrat, and no Republican anywhere in the picture! And Pope John Paul II is still alive; if Kleier needed to kill him off to present a new Pope, why didn't he tell us when JPII died? Why do we spend more than half the book in Israel with almost no mention of the intifada, the occupation zones, or any of the terrorist bombings? These had started before 1998 when the book was published. I'd better stop this or I'm going to take away another star.

(Added to Amazon, 5/15/2003)

Note: Kleier has another book coming out this summer, his first since this book was published in 1998. He actually found me on Facebook and said this old review stuck with him, and he wanted the new book to not have those kinds of flaws. So the least I could do is review his new book as carefully. And, ta-da, my first review posted to Goodreads. W00t! (less)

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Apr 13, 2013 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

First, in a genre plagued with very mediocre writing, this book is a welcome change. Thank you Glenn!

I am not so gifted with words, so I will just say that I found this book fascinating, with finely crafted characters and a though-provoking plot. I could not wait to find out how he would end it, but did not want it to end. Frankly I worried about how the author would actually bring it to a satisfying ending and was surprised and pleased with his choices. I consider myself a "progressive Christi...more

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Apr 04, 2011 Angela rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bookcrossed-or-otherwise-set-free, 2005

Plot synopsis from Amazon: Just in time for the millennium, Glenn Kleier mixes bioengineering and religion, miracles and modern warfare, politics and physics to produce a gripping tale set in the Middle East at the dawn of the 21st century. When a mysterious explosion destroys a top-secret laboratory in the Negev desert on Christmas Day 1999, Jonathan Feldman, a reporter, isn't satisfied with the official explanation. Neither is the Vatican, nor an American fundamentalist preacher, nor the patri...more Plot synopsis from Amazon: Just in time for the millennium, Glenn Kleier mixes bioengineering and religion, miracles and modern warfare, politics and physics to produce a gripping tale set in the Middle East at the dawn of the 21st century. When a mysterious explosion destroys a top-secret laboratory in the Negev desert on Christmas Day 1999, Jonathan Feldman, a reporter, isn't satisfied with the official explanation. Neither is the Vatican, nor an American fundamentalist preacher, nor the patriarch of the Jehovah's Witnesses, all of whom believe that Armageddon may truly be at hand. After a New Year's Eve earthquake strikes the temple at the Well of David and a mysterious figure appears in the ruins, strange things begin to happen. Reports of miracles filter in from throughout the region, and the legend of Jeza takes on a life of its own. When the young miracle worker chooses Jonathan to connect her to the world and broadcast her warning of the cataclysm to come, the world's religious leaders are plunged into conflict. Seeking to discredit her, they spread the secret of her high-tech, bioengineered birth. But their actions backfire; Jeza's influence grows. Holy wars break out in the Middle East and chaos erupts all over the world. As Easter 2000 approaches, the political situation grows even more tense: Will there be another crucifixion, another resurrection? Kleier handles this complicated plot with ease, and fans of futuristic thrillers won't be disappointed.

Whew! Author Glenn Kleier grinds numerous axes in this action-packed novel. From the Middle East politics to religious fanaticism to pussy-footed politicians and all points in between, he breathes hellfire and brimstone and scathing commentary on them all. And writes a rip-roaring thriller, to boot. Granted, some of the writing is clunky and clumsy, and the occasional deus ex machina pops up to save the day, but his invented theology is worth pondering. Over all, this is a good solid satisfying read. I enjoyed it.
(less)

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Feb 28, 2013 Charles Altman rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am a science fiction reader and I came upon this book by accident at a book fair. I bought it, and it was one of those books I could not put down. It is the story of Jeza the second coming of Christ. I was fascinated because it illustrates how the church has all this wealth, and Jeza (the real Christ 2) is commanded by God to have the Catholic Church "disband" and use all of its amassed wealth to help people in need.

Now that is fascinating to me, and I found myself thinking about this book ag...more

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Sep 25, 2011 Rage rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Last Day is an absolutely fabulous book that makes you take some time and just think. It's full of ideas and scenarios that probably will freak the hell out of people that don't live with an open mind. For a first time fiction novel by an author who clearly states that this is a work of fiction, I say well done Glenn Kleier. I commend you for ripping a big fat hole in that box of religious propoganda. If you have been indocrinated into a judgemental being then you will find fault with anythi...more

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Mar 27, 2012 Jess rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The attention to detail as far as biblical passages and descriptions of locations and people was excellent. While reading the book, a lot of the author's story could be seen as an actual possibility, but reading it more than a decade after the time line of the book made me see it as a little far fetched. I think if I had read this in 1999, it would have been 100 times more believable and possibly "food for thought." It took a few days to get in to it...I struggled through the first few chapters...more

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Jul 12, 2011 Kerith rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

I started off suspicious and not certain if I should give my time to this book, but I'm so glad I stuck with it. Part wishful thinking, part thoughtful what-if of human reaction, this is quite a well-done story of the Second Coming. Except this time the Messiah is a woman. (I rather liked that) Her message wasn't always easy to swallow -- she wanted all the churches, etc, to disband because they were "misleading" people -- but some of it was wonderful, such as her liberation of women from what m...more

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Apr 20, 2010 J. Robert Ewbank rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: a-good-read, novel

This novel is not my normal type of book. It is a very unusual book and I liked it. It had to overcome my skepticism about the topic of the book but it did and I thought the book was a good read.

I think that mystery readers and sci-fi readers and some religious people interested in the end of things will find this an interesting read.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"

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Apr 03, 2013 Kara Fogle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Really loved this book! My husband brought it into our home & we fought over who would re-read it first, we both enjoyed it thoroughly!! Glenn takes you on a journey of intrigue & made me re-evaluate some of my personal held beliefs. What all good books should do this one does in spades: makes you think, keeps you interested, opens your mind to new possibilities!! Bravo Glenn Kleier!!

1 like · like · see review

Apr 04, 2012 Paul Mankovitz rated it 5 of 5 stars

My father gave me this book to read a few years ago and I never forgotit. I read it again a few months bakc and I loved it even more now that I'm older. I learned that Glenn Kleier has a new book out which I also read and it blew me away, too. Kleier is my all-time favorite author. His stories are unlike anything i've ever read.

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Jan 15, 2013 Vinnie Watkins rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: religious-thriller, thriller

It isn't very often you find a thriller that makes a moral statement. This book does. I read Mr. Kleier's second book before this one and loved it. I love this one too but for different reasons. It is, in its most simple analysis, a thriller where science and religion take center stage but there isn't debate about which one has it right. Instead the book makes a statement about what religion should be in this day and age. Jeza is eloquent and tolerant. Without spoiling anything I will say it is...more

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Mar 11, 2013 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

I expect this would feel incredibly dated now, but I read this in 1999 and loved it. It is about events at the turn of the 21st century. A second coming of sorts with a female messiah named Jesa. I don't remember it well but it had a Da Vinci Code kind of feel.

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Apr 05, 2012 Davin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Great book. Glenn Kleier did a great job researching his information. The book follows parts of the Bible and revelations but has a modern theme to it. There are twist and turns to keep you reading. It is designed for fun reading not for a religious discussion.

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Oct 25, 2011 Karen Azinger rated it 4 of 5 stars

An excellent and thought-provoking read. A cross between science-fiction, post apocalyptic, and Middle-East thriller, its premise is out of date, since 2000 is long past, but this is one of the books I re-read every other year. An interesting and well written book.

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Jun 21, 2012 Barbara Dycus rated it 4 of 5 stars

I already question and doubt organized religions. I feel they will do and say whatever it takes for them to hold their congregations in their grips all for the sake of money. I would love for a "Messiah" to come along and shake them to their very core, maybe then people would wake up and realize they have been had all this time.

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Sep 25, 2012 Judemurdeaux rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2012

If you want a book that will keep you up all night and when your not reading it you are thinking about the story continually, then Last Day will do it. Five stars says it all since I can not give it six or nine or more.

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Dec 30, 2011 Tara Long rated it 5 of 5 stars

I recommend this book to everyone. He is a little known author and this may be his only book. Once you get into this book you will not put it down. I lost many hours of sleep because of this book (in a good way).

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Jun 28, 2010 Tamara Bennett rated it 4 of 5 stars

i LOVE apocalyptic/end-of-days books. This one had some really interesting twists. I questioned the intent & truth of the events & heroes of the book until the end & even then I still wondered about the possibilities.

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 12, 2009 Frances rated it 5 of 5 stars

I keep searching for a really good apocalyptic/end of days book. This is the closest I've come to the one I'm looking for. Very interesting reinterpretation of the Bible. Very enjoyable with good twists and turns.

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Oct 18, 2010 Deborah is currently reading it

Shelves: kindle-stella-reads, recommends-from-friends

All of my sci-fyish, other reality reader friends need to join me in this read!! I'm just starting this book which I hear is going to rank as one for my Bookish Dame reviews!!!

1 like · like · see review

Apr 07, 2009 Karen rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: library-book-sale-yuck

I had to slog my way thru this one. (I was a Lit major. I cannot stop a book part way through, although I can skim.)

It's about the coming of a female messiah.

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Apr 03, 2012 Mike rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love this book. I've read many times and will read again. This author has a new book out that is also fabulous. Real page turners.

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Nov 29, 2011 Tamara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Great read....very thought provoking. Was into the book from the first page and couldn't put it down. Highly recommend it.

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Jul 23, 2012 Lenna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: unique

Very original, weak ending didn't detract from how unique the storyline was.

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Jan 08, 2013 Ron Seery rated it 5 of 5 stars

Absolutely brilliant! One of my favorite books of all time!

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Feb 06, 2011 Paul rated it 5 of 5 stars

Top of my list.

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Dec 11, 2012 Lia Angelini rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loved it!

1 like · like · see review

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