Review: The Last Defender by Travis Pearson

If you were witnessing the end of free will and life as you know it, would you have the courage to stand up and defend what you believe in? This is the gripping question that author Travis Pearson tackles in his rapid-fire new novel, The Last Defender. Seamlessly blending social commentary, dystopian science fiction and thrilling action, this novel casts a wide net in terms of a potential audience.

When a larger-than-life politician is elected to rule a sovereign nation, his constituents have no idea what horror they’ve signed up for. A shift in tactics is one thing, but the iron fist of socialism and complete control of their lives is not what they had in mind at the ballot box. It quickly becomes apparent that this mistake may spell disaster for their future, as well as the fate of the world. Fortunately, there are enough good people left in the world to defend it, including Brent Stevens, an academically inclined hero who throws himself into the fight when everything in his life is stripped away by this brutish new government.

At the start of this story, readers are given an intimate introduction to the type of wicked rule perpetuated by the new regime, and there are definite echoes of Orwell in those opening chapters. The tension the author is able to build between characters is intoxicating, demonstrating a keen understanding of human nature, and the pushed buttons that eventually drive us past our breaking point. Brent recognizes the type of mind control being used to dominate the populace, and decides to make it his mission to reveal the truth and put a stop to this growing madness.

Along his road to heroism and discovery, Brent shares plenty of his own narrative musings on philosophy and social order, which is where the smart and relevant commentary of the book comes to the fore. These are scattered discussions and narrative soliloquies that are directly applicable to the plot, but also to larger social and cultural issues facing us in the real world today. The ability to intertwine an elaborate fiction with a frightening hint at our own reality makes Pearson a voice to be reckoned with.

The superpower element of the story, including Brent’s enhanced fighting capabilities, seem like an unnecessary layer on top of an already compelling and well-written story, but it does give the main character more of a heroic feel, given his otherwise unremarkable nature. The everyman rising up to save the day is a common trope in fiction of all sub-genres, but Pearson’s writing carries readers quickly past that hackneyed hiccup. The main point of critique in the writing lies in the dialogue, which is often stilted and unnatural. The words that characters speak should represent their personalities and must sound authentic, and at times, Pearson’s characters sound like mere mouthpieces to progress the plot.

Readers will tear through the fight scenes, suspenseful passages and last-minute rescues that overflow in this action-packed novel, which is surprisingly brief for having such a complex plot. That alone is proof that a good author can achieve a great deal without wasting words. All told, Pearson has created a quick, thought-provoking and edge-of-your-seat thriller that will certainly please his long-time fans, and likely attract plenty of new ones.