The Last Defender

A Novel

Fiction - Thriller - General
136 Pages
Reviewed on 03/03/2019
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers' Favorite

Travis Pearson pens an exciting action thriller in The Last Defender. The country had elected The Socialist as their supreme leader. His administration promised idealistic changes, yet the changes are far from ideal. The country is in a state of hopelessness and economic despair. Demonstrators protest, families are distraught about the disappearances of loved ones, violence runs rampant. The Department of Internal Security has free reign to seize and control anyone they choose. One man, Brent Stevens, begins to see through their diabolical masquerade. Through his research, Brent develops a powerful energy device. Harnessing its power, Brent fights back. Is he a superhero, a legend, or simply the last line of defense against The Socialist's regime?

The Last Defender by Travis Pearson portrays the story of a crusading hero and his band of mighty warriors. The narrative’s setting is a society that has been conditioned to become politically correct in all aspects of life. The aftermath of this conditioning provides easy access for the domineering Socialist regime. The antagonist entity, a man only known as The Socialist, builds his administration on deceit and then fortifies his control by reeducating his citizens through scientific and dehumanization processes. Pearson writes a compelling story; the technique of not giving names, but using titles for his primary villainous characters was creative, adding a depth of intrigue. The protagonist is a man with high hopes and dreams of a brighter tomorrow. However, to achieve these dreams, he must use his invented powers. Thus, an urban legend is born. In a world where superheroes are all the rage, The Last Defender doesn’t disappoint.

Lit Amri

In The Last Defender by Travis Pearson, the promise of the Socialist government to reverse the country’s economic decline was unfulfilled. Instead, the economy became worse with the rise of unemployment, excessively restrictive regulations, and taxation. The Department of Internal Security is aggressively policing the public and people are missing under the government’s ‘reeducation’ program. Brent Stevens-a researcher at Pure Research, Inc. who had been demoted to assembly line manager-continues his project covertly on his own. When his friend dies due to an assault from government thugs, the product of his research helps him to be the protector of the people. The question is, how far can he go in his effort against the authorities when so many have failed?

The premise is intriguing and I like the satirical political views as well as the characterization of the Socialist, the Economist, and the Scientist. That said, the message of the story wasn’t easy to pin down at first, and the way the plot escalates in the final act is unexpected. The development of the plot became slightly strange for me, particularly with the appearance of mindless, controlled ‘beings’. Certain scenes have a slight sadistic element to them that might alienate some readers. On the other hand, the prose is clear and the narrative is straightforward. Some parts can be more concise but they barely put a dent in the story flow. All in all, Pearson’s The Last Defender is a cautionary tale dosed with fantastical elements about totalitarianism that is frighteningly relevant to our world today.

Renee Guill

The Last Defender by Travis Pearson is about a man named Brent Stevens, a scientist who tries to save humanity from extinction. He finds out that the Socialist government is trying to take over the country by reeducating people to turn them into low wage workers and sex slaves. Brent finds a way to use his mind to make an energy coil weapon to help defeat the government with his new friends who are cartels. The story unfolds to show how Brent Stevens uses his new weapon to try to save humanity and possibly the woman he loves. He gets help from the cartels, even though they are usually known to be the bad guys.

I loved how The Last Defender by Travis Pearson gives us a new point of view on who the bad guy really is. I loved his descriptions and world building; it was pretty graphic. In fact, if you get queasy easily, beware because there is a lot of violence in The Last Defender. I loved the character of Lori; she showed a lot of spunk and smarts. I thought Travis Pearson's use of telekinesis was intriguing and scary at the same time. You almost hope this doesn't happen, though in some ways you do hope it happens. This novel gives you a lot to think about such as how far would you go to save humanity and/or the person you love? I admit it is a bit scary, because of things that are happening today. If you love stories that make you think, then I would definitely recommend The Last Defender.

Grant Leishman

In The Last Defender, author Travis Pearson takes us to an almost dystopian world where a political ideology has taken over the country for the pursuit of their own individual goals of power and wealth. The Socialist, using the country’s deteriorating situation and high unemployment, lies and tricks the electorate to elect him and his party to power. Once in power they ruthlessly set about their plans to rule the country solely for the purpose of their own self-aggrandizement. Businesses are nationalized and management replaced by those who are part of the regime. Brent Stevens, one such manager, once a proud researcher for the good of humanity, is replaced and demoted to a worker on the factory floor. Continuing his research at his home laboratory, Brent discovers a power, utilizing electricity that will give him a decided edge when it comes to protecting those he loves. As he helplessly watches the systematic destruction of civilization, he looks for the little opportunities to strike back when he can. When Brent’s beloved Lori is threatened by the new regime, Brent knows he must act before it is too late.

The Last Defender is an interesting take on a society that has become complacent in its democratic institutions and allows itself to be manipulated by a power-crazy megalomaniac to surrender virtually all of its freedoms (sound strikingly familiar?). Travis Pearson gives us a protagonist who turns from a mild-mannered scientist/researcher into the avenging angel of all of society’s ills. I balked a little at the chief antagonist, the mysterious and enigmatic Socialist. Although it could be argued the tactics employed to subvert democracy were socialistic in tendency, there was little doubt the Socialist’s actions were those of a megalomaniac Fascist in the mould of Hitler, especially the experiments in re-education. That aside, this is a simply written, fast-paced read that does keep you interested and turning the pages. The stereotypical use of Mexican names for the members of the resistance cartel was a little gratuitous but nonetheless, since these guys were fighting for the average, oppressed citizen, this can be forgiven. If you like novels that draw parallels from both history and the current times we face, you’ll certainly enjoy this one, which kept me interested till the very end.

Philip LaRose

After creating a super hero Indian in his Trilogy of “The Detour, False Dialogue and Deception”, Travis Pearson has done it again. This time he has created another hero with different super powers to deal with a socialist government that has taken over a country by unscrupulous means. Although this story takes place in an imaginary country, it could very well happen in a number of countries in the world today. This author always seems to be ahead of his time in predicting events that are sometimes too real for the imagination. Like his other books, this book is action packed right from the start. After his new hero discovers how the socialist are controlling the minds of people and making them into zombies, the story only gets better, as this new hero defeats the enemy by using his newly acquired super powers. Pearson has a unique writing style, but what I like about this author is that he doesn’t spend 500 to 600 pages of superfluous detail to tell a story that only requires 300 pages. If you like a fast read, full of action, sprinkled with both a lot of truth and fiction, you will love this book.

Brandon Steury

The Last Defender is a true page turner! The action begins immediately with richly painted characters and scenes. Before you know it, you are deeply immersed in Brent's world. Brent is a common man's hero with his mind, principals, and determination as the primary sources of his power. The plot takes you through twists and turns, building to a spectacular ending! Watch out world...Travis Pearson has arrived!

Michael Stoll

Travis Pearson is fast becoming my favorite author. I had previously read his book ." The Orichalcum Rod " and loved it . The Last Defender is a far different type of book . This one is relevant to our times . In a fictional Country Socialism has taken over but more so tyranny has taken hold. People's lives are being turned upside down with Govt take overs . Some are having their small businesses seized. People are going missing and the Police cant find them while the administration seems disinterested . From this world a common researcher working on a scientific project emerges as an unlikely hero. Brent Stevens is a researcher who finds his research project ended while he is shifted to a menial position . The new administration is putting their people in top jobs and shifting the focus of the company's research but to what end ? . He is being cut off from any access to doing his research and the Govt has shifted his company's focus to other projects that he is barred from . Brent's personal life is devolving as fast as his professional life . Things are getting downright dystopian and some citizens have had enough and want to rebel while others are too beaten down to resist. The new Govt is developing methods and means to deal with the people who are fed up and starting to rebel . In this world strange alliances are made between unlikely people with common goals. . Brent and his science project may be the only way to stop the regimes plan's . There is romance and a little sadistic erotica . There are plot twists I wont devulge . I highly recommend this book