Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN num: 9780764228179
ISBN number: 076422817X
Label: Bethany House
Manufacturer: Bethany House
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 464
Printing Date: July 01, 2004
Publishing house: Bethany House
Release Date: July 01, 2004
Sale Popularity Level: 359642
Studio: Bethany House
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
With the action and suspense of a Ted Dekker novel and the spiritual warfare of This Present Darkness, Olsen’s very first solo novel poses an intriguing question. What if the Restrainer of II Thessalonians, the Holy Spirit who “holds back the lawless man until God takes him away,” indwells a man who has lived under various identities since the time of Christ, always moving on when his “agelessness” is discovered? An immortal man, but still just a man, ¼awed and discouraged over his inability to better succeed at his immense mission: to restrain evil in the world. And what if at a time when the world hangs on the precipice of a third world war, this man were given one final opportunity to do battle with the Evil One?
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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I just finished reading "Assignment"--Wow! What a great read! Olson has combined suspense and mystery masterfully. He kept me on the edge of my seat for most of the book. The plot was creative, and drew me in until I felt as if I was actually there in the background, watching the story unfold. I highly recommend this book to any lover of suspense, mystery and intrigue. Great job, Mr Olson!
Rated by buyers -
This is a can't put down suspense novel. Mr. Olsen hooked me from the beginning and left me wanting more of this good book.
Written in modern day times, the hero is constantly on the run to fulfill his quest. Forever caught in a type of time warp,the reader will wonder if the man will ever outrun his timeless enemy.
The thing I loved about this story is it is a supernatural thriller and believable, if you can believe that! I challenge you to pick it up for a non-stop ride of your life.
Paulette L. Harris
Author/reviewer
Rated by buyers -
A great concept with a New Testament truth to back it up. Olsen shows amazing creativity and storytelling. A must-read suspense NOVEL despite the editing faux pas mentioned by another reviewer.
Rated by buyers 
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In THE ASSIGNMENT, Mark Olsen works his special magic at weaving a mystery into a thriller. The supernatural aspects of the story were brought in logically and seamlessly. The characters, most of them anyway, were very believable.
I did come across a couple minor things that kept me from giving him a 5. The key character, who I'll not name so you can still enjoy the story, makes mention that "It's not about the name on the sign in the front lawn that matters," when talking about Christianity. Yet he digresses into Catholicism, both for affect, I believe, and possibly personal preference. That's okay in and of itself. Yet, in doing so he destroys this very true statement about Christianity. It is NOT a religion, where as Catholicism is. The final showdown was diluted by the fact that one who has finally learned to trust in God and not in himself uses a Latin rite to be victorious. The book is fun, educational, thought provoking, but when he gets right up to that crucial point, in my opinion, he ruined an otherwise beautiful story.
Sorry, Mark. I love your work, but I couldn't let this go without comment.
Rated by buyers -
Mark Olsen's solo debut novel is an interesting and fascinating story and style. He grapples with an intriguing hypothesis of immortality in the light of a spiritual quest. Delightfully written with numerous flashbacks to times long ago. I thoroughly enjoyed both the plot and the character development. In today's world of micro-managing everything and total disclosure, Mr. Olsen was able to weave a very creditable yet fantastic religious storyline using today's techno-realism. A bit daunting to follow at times, I found it refreshing to look back 1500+ years using today's perspective.
Lazarus was a simple man caught up in the maelstrom of religious fervor that has become the hallmark of Christianity. Brought back from the dead by Jesus he then is forced to assume "The Assignment" as dictated by the Supreme Being - GOD! His wanderings and battle against the age old fallen angel from heaven, the Destroyer, makes for a rollicking good tale of hope and perseverance. He grows weary of his task, but fortified by angels and mankind he continues his age old quest to defeat the ancient Destroyer.
Good character development over a 2000 year time frame. I would have enjoyed Mr. Olsen going out a little farther on the limb and discussing Lazarus' feeling about both himself, his "assignment", and most of all God and Jesus. But, what he did hypothesize was clever and indeed well worth the read. NOT a DaVinci lite wannabe. No gratuitous violence or sex. Good solid tale. Highly recommend for those long winter days of cold, wind, snow, and rain when a warm cup of coffee and a good book are more than welcomed. Enjoy and looking forward to Mr. Olsen subsequent "spirited" tale.
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