Rants

R.I.P. David Hassid *cries*

Posted on December 22, 2008. Filed under: books, Rants, Reviews, Stories | Tags: apocalypse, david hassid, end of the world, fiction, left behind, rapture, tim lahaye |

If someone would ask what my literary vice is, I’d answer “Tim LaHaye’s Left Behind series.” I call it a vice because I don’t exactly appreciate the style of writing LaHaye and Jenkins do (or did, considering the series is already finished), but I still continue to read through the series for the sake of finishing the whole thing. So far I’m on the 6^th chapter of the tenth book, The Remnant: On the Brink of Armageddon, and I still need to find copies of the eleventh and twelfth books (Armageddon: The Cosmic Battle of Ages and Glorious Appearing: The End of Days) before I can finally complete the series. I’m still trying to decide if I should buy The Rising, The Regime, The Rapture, and Kingdom Come, which will truly, truly complete my collection, but I don’t think I’d want to go back to the pre-Rapture period just to find out how Nicolae Carpathia grew up. But we shall see.

My affair with Left Behind actually began when I bought Apocalypse Dawn in MV Doulos last 2006. Apparently, the book is based from the LB series, and while I did not bother looking for the second installment (and I think I actually lost that book… crap), I did become interested in the original series – at least interested enough to buy a second-hand copy of the first book I found while I was randomly browsing through the titles in a second-hand bookstore. The second and third books were easy finds – go to any Booksale and there’s a big possibility of finding a decent copy of either, or both. It took me longer to find the fourth title – I chanced upon it during a rare visit in Star Mall – Mandaluyong. Finding the 5^th and 7^th books were a stroke of luck (they were on sale in Robinson’s Metroeast on the day I went there to meet my boyf), but for the sixth volume I had to go to Blue Wave Marikina and visit a novelty bookstore. The eighth I got in Bestsellers’ Ortigas, the ninth and tenth in OMF’s booth during the MIBF.

Anyway.

I mentioned earlier that I’m only reading the series for the sake of finishing it. And now, after finishing the ninth book (Desecration: Antichrist takes the Throne), I am losing interest to look for the two final books as well. They killed my favorite character! Agghh! I know the characters were bound to die sooner of later (hello, it’s an apocalypse, end-of-the-world series), but I wasn’t exactly prepared to read that my favorite would hit the dust sooner than I expected. David Hassid was probably one of three to four tolerable characters remaining alive up to that point, and LaHaye and Jenkins had to kill him too. I swear, if they kill Mac McCullum (I have a feeling he’d be a goner by the end of the 10^th volume though), there will be blood. Why can’t they kill someone like Chloe Williams? Heck, she’s probably the second most annoying woman in the entirety of the series (second only to Hattie Durham, but at least Hattie was designed to be annoying to begin with). Arrgh.

To those curious why David is my favorite character, here’s a quick bio, courtesy of the ever-reliable (or not) Wikipedia:

David Hassid is a fictional character found in the Left Behind series.

Formerly assigned to Global Community Headquarters Palace, New Babylon, United Holy Land States (United Carpathian States) as Director of Purchasing; oversees all purchases for the GC and the hangar and cockpit crew of the Condor 216 and later the Phoenix 216.

Hassid is a Jew who worked in New Babylon in the global government headed by Supreme Potentate and Antichrist Nicolae Carpathia. Very quickly, he becomes a believer in Christ, and is spotted by Mac McCullum in the GC shelter right after the Wrath of the Lamb earthquake (early in book four, Soul Harvest).

Hassid works in communications and is considered one of the top computer experts alive. His service to the Tribulation Force is to confound communications, tip off the Trib Force and arrange for some goods to be “mislaid” and end up in the hands of the Tribulation saints.

Immediately after Carpathia’s assassination, Hassid has to work with artist Guy Blod, who is making a huge statue of Carpathia. Hassid and Blod clash, but eventually, Hassid realizes he must get along with Blod or risk discipline and possible exposure as a Tribulation saint; also, it is not very Christ-like to be promoting enmity. Hassid’s love interest, Phoenix 216 cargo chief Annie Christopher dies as a result of False Prophet Leon Fortunato‘s Satan-imbued ability to call down lightning from heaven to kill any non-Carpathianist. Hassid begins grooming Chang Wong, a young man from China who is also very technically gifted, as his protégé and replacement when Hassid must leave; the mark of loyalty is now required of employees in New Babylon, and Chang, given the mark unwillingly, has both the mark of the Beast and the mark of God’s own on his forehead.

After his death is faked, Hassid starts setting up communications in Petra to prepare for the remnant of Israel to arrive during the fifth year of the Tribulation.

Hassid is killed by two GC MIAs at Petra before the remnant actually arrives.

See? How can I not love him? He’s terribly witty, a computer genius, and cocky all at the same time. If I gushed like a fangirl (which, fortunately, I don’t), I would be gushing over him on and on and on.

Anyway.

After I finish the entire series, I should write a sort of review for it. I already have some points I want to raise, and I think it will be best to go through all twelve (or sixteen) books lest I unwittingly say something and then have to take it back in the end.

Aggghh.

R.I.P. David Hassid. I will miss you.

Left Behind Series

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_Behind_(series)

Note: The books are listed initially in story-line (chronological) order but then numbered in order of publication.