Andy Andrews’ sequel to The Traveler’s Gift inspires, but ultimately fails to live up to its brilliant predecessor. Today being “Fiction Friday,” we review The Traveler’s Summit.
Last Friday, I reviewed The Traveler’s Gift, Andy Andrews’ breakout bestseller about a distraught family man who travels through time to meet various historical figures for wisdom and inspiration. Though definitely in the category of fantasy and not theology, The Traveler’s Gift remains one of my all-time favorite novels.
Shortly after writing that review, I dove into Andrews’ sequel: The Traveler’s Summit (also apparently titled in previous, or other, editions The Final Summit). While still enjoyable, I feel it was a step down.
The Traveler’s Summit reintroduces us to protagonist David Ponder, who (according to Andrews’ fictional narrative) is a world-famous, though somewhat reclusive and eccentric, billionaire. Now a widower in his seventies, Ponder doesn’t know what to do with his life.
Since his early adventures (described in The Traveler’s Gift), Ponder amassed a great fortune, then lost it, and then built it back up again – to become one of the world’s modern business titans.
Devastated by the sudden loss of his wife, he is now a man without direction or purpose, until…
The archangel Gabriel shows up in his office and invites him to lead a summit of former “Travelers” (others who had been given the same gift as Ponder – to travel through time to learn lessons and be inspired to do great things).
Taking place in (it’s strongly implied) Heaven, this summit has been authorized by God — and convened by Gabriel — to discuss how humanity can correct its course and avoid the kind of “restart” the world experienced at the time of Noah.
The summit features a full gallery of esteemed historical figures, with some taking an active part in the discussions.
And the summit provides a forum for the author – via his interpretations of the various historical figures – to discuss important virtues that seem increasingly in short supply today.
The Good
- This book is a definite, explicit affirmation of monotheism (in particular of the Judeo-Christian tradition)
- There is a brief allusion to Jesus as “the Boss’s Son”
- History buffs will love the cast of characters and how they are respectfully treated
- The virtues discussed are indeed worthy of attention and examination
- There is humor sprinkled throughout
- The author’s respect for the Bible comes through (he even uses Gabriel to provide an impressive apologetics defense of the Great Flood)
- There is an acknowledgment of the existence of both Heaven and Hell
- Those who appreciate TV shows like Touched By An Angel or movies like It’s a Wonderful Life will likely find The Traveler’s Summit inspiring
The Not-so-Good
- The whole book has a “Jump the Shark” feel to it. The author seems to really be stretching. Yes, we’re in a genre described as self-help fantasy, but it just feels too fantastical
- Love and compassion were seemingly dismissed in the book’s review of virtues that humanity needs to recapture
- The concluding answer (the one the council or summit eventually arrived at) seemed a “miss” to me
- The book, while respectful of Christianity, places some historical figures in heaven who weren’t Christians
- Indeed, the book seems to endorse a works-based “theology,” especially when you consider the final answer which Gabriel affirms
To accentuate those final critical points…
The Travelers are challenged to come up with an answer for humanity – an answer that God already knows and that Gabriel has been told. The Travelers have to come up with the correct answer or God will hit the restart button, which would spell the end of humanity as we know it.
The answer, we’re told, consists of two words. And we see the summit work their way through various virtues – in the form of two-word answers – until they arrive at one that I considered rather anticlimactic and disappointing.
And this was ESPECIALLY given the fact that that this two-word answer was (I repeat) in the context of staving off divine judgment.
Hmmm. What two word answer comes to YOUR mind?
Well, as a Christian, I found myself increasingly frustrated that all these brilliant historical characters – all of them already in Heaven! – couldn’t come up with that answer.
And that answer – the only answer is…..
Jesus Christ
He’s the Answer.
But… Andrews, who is (by his testimony) a Christian, doesn’t serve up that answer in The Traveler’s Summit.
Nope. Instead, we get an answer that not only feeds works-based theology but frankly is even a bit disappointing when measured against that. (The answer that George Washington Carver gives in the story is far more commendable than the one they finally settle on).
I don’t mean to come down too hard on Mr. Andrews.
I’m okay with Christians writing self-help and personal development books (be they fiction or non-fiction) that don’t, in each case, promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Some of my Christian friends may differ with me on that, but I am grateful for folks like the late Jim Rohn and the late Zig Ziglar – both Christians – who were bestselling authors, motivational speakers, and corporate consultants.
I’m also an admirer of John Maxwell, a Christian (and ordained pastor), who often writes for – and speaks for – secular audiences on matters of personal development, business, and (of course) leadership.
I understand that Christians must sometimes speak to, work with, mingle with, network with, non-Christians in secular settings. And I have no problem therefore with Christians talking about self-help or personal development concepts like Andrews does, but…
When the entire premise of your fictional narrative is about persuading God not to judge the world…
You’ve kind of opened a door that you need to walk through.
You’ve opened up a discussion you need to be honest with.
It’s one thing write a self-help fantasy about a guy who travels through time to meet with historical figures to learn how to better succeed at life.
Okay.
That doesn’t necessarily beg for – or demand – a presentation of the Gospel.
But when you start talking about the judgment of God and start writing about people in Heaven, you’ve crossed into theological territory.
Into Gospel territory.
And you need to be honest with your understanding of the Truth.
I still admire and appreciate Andy Andrews, and I hope someday to meet him. Anyone who loves God, encourages people, and brings history to life is worthy of my respect and esteem.
But I must be honest.
The Traveler’s Gift was awesome. The Traveler’s Summit, while promising and inspiring at times, was ultimately somewhat disappointing.
