Joe Basile: The Last Qumranian
The Qumranians, an ancient and hidden sect that were sworn to keep the ancient prophecies, have accomplished a technological marvel. A machine that allows them to travel through time. Their celebration is cut short when Lukas, a lead physicist and elite protector, becomes possessed and uses the machine to put the earth on a dark and dissolute path. When Lukas regains control of his body, he finds that he is under attack. His family is taken prisoner, the time-machine is stolen, and his home that had remained hidden for two thousand years, is reduced to ruins by the Unclean.
As the lone survivor, Lukas must find the device before the Unclean learn to use it, and rescue his family in the process. Alone, and in a world he does not understand, Lukas is taken in and given aid by the students of Jesse, a holy man that teaches his students a new way of charity and compassion. With their help, Lukas is able to confront the Unclean and bear witness to Jesse as he fulfills the prophecy that was prevented two thousand years earlier.
The Last Qumranian is a well written story, with an interesting premise, and characters that grow and are well developed. Basile does an excellent job of transporting the reader to this alternate reality, where the advancements of technology are used as a means to control and manipulate the masses in a vile and dirty world. As a science fiction story, he does a superb job of bringing The City to life. It is important to note that this is not, precisely, a science fiction story. Rather, it is a Christian novel in a scifi setting. The looming aspect of the story is the inevitability of God’s plan. Despite actions taken to prevent the Messiah from coming to be, Basile presents an alternate version of the New Testament, and the fulfillment of prophecy.
One critical issue is that there are two separate stories, that are seemingly forced together. The first story is that of Lukas and his personal mission to rescue his family and return the world to where it was. The second story is that of Jesse and his students, which are a reimagination of the final days of Jesus. Lukas moves from protagonist hero, faced with a nearly impossible task, to a spectator that has no bearing on the story. It is this transition that leaves the reader wanting in regards to the story of Lukas, which feels as if it was quickly and unceremoniously wrapped up, so that we could move to the true purpose of the book. Had the story found a way to intertwine Lukas with Jesse, to blend Lukas’ fate with Jesse’s, it would have made the overall narrative feel more natural.
TLQ was entertaining and engaging. It particularly appeals to those who enjoy a strong religious theme, or those that prefer Christian literature overall. There are plenty of suspenseful moments and surprising twists in a world that is as strange as it is familiar. I give it a rating of 4 stars. It is well written and imaginative, but the designation of Lukas to a secondary character, and the seemingly rushed conclusion of his story arc outweighed the creativity of the story and technical skill of Basile’s writing. I recommend this book to anyone who is seeking a science fiction novel under the Christian Literature section.
