Getting filthy rich....

[Redshirt]

...by telling people the world's going to end soon.

Tim LaHaye's Left Behind (series).

In 1998, the first four books of the series held the top four slots simultaneously,[1] despite the fact that the New York Times' Bestseller's list does not take Christian bookstore sales into account. Book 10 debuted at number one on this list.[1] Total sales for the series have surpassed 65 million copies.

In addition to the main series, you have:

- a PC game (and a pretty crappy one at that)
- an assortment of crappy movies, starring Kirk Cameron
- graphic novels and CDs
- spinoff novels

Has anyone here read these novels? What's your impression of them? From what I know about the books and the author, Left Behind's theology boils down to something like this:

http://www.reclusiveleftist.com/wp-content/cartoon-jesus.jpg

[DMB]

...by telling people the world's going to end soon.

Tim LaHaye's Left Behind (series).

In 1998, the first four books of the series held the top four slots simultaneously,[1] despite the fact that the New York Times' Bestseller's list does not take Christian bookstore sales into account. Book 10 debuted at number one on this list.[1] Total sales for the series have surpassed 65 million copies.

In addition to the main series, you have:

- a PC game (and a pretty crappy one at that)
- as assortment of crappy movies, starring Kirk Cameron
- graphic novels and CDs
- spinoff novels

Has anyone here read these novels? What's your impression of them? From what I know about the books and the author, Left Behind's theology boils down to something like this:

http://www.reclusiveleftist.com/wp-content/cartoon-jesus.jpg

I saw a pack for schools based on them. The real trouble is the fans who can't tell the difference between fact and fiction (same with soaps).

[lpetrich]

I've found their Product Release Schedule (http://leftbehind.com/05_news/viewNews.asp?pageid=361&channelID=17). They've released:

All 12 books in the LB series proper, 3 prequels, and 1 sequel.

The kids series, now in boxed sets, hardcover, and audio.

"An Experience In Sound and Drama", an audio version of the series proper with the first prequel on the way.

Graphic-Novel versions of the first two LB novels.

A military series (3 books), a political series (3 books), and a Bible-study series (4 books).

I remember being disappointed by the series sequel, Kingdom Come. I was hoping for the LB authors' take on the releasing of the Devil, Gog and Magog, and so forth (Revelation 20:7-10), but judging from various reviews, they did not say much about that. Much of it was about the characters meeting each other and meeting various Biblical figures and so forth, sort of like an extended sermon.

[Redshirt]

I've heard that LaHaye was unimpressed with the Kirk Cameron movies as well. He would basically like to start from scratch with movies that follow his novels more closely.

[Zebulon]

http://www.reclusiveleftist.com/wp-content/cartoon-jesus.jpg

That reminds me of Superhero Jesus from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception at Catholic University in Washington, DC.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2075/2523010412_f1e223ab99.jpg

[lex]

Staying hygienically poor looks good in comparison.

[DMB]

I was just reading this morning that La Haye used to be a John Bircher.