"King" Crowns the Climax of "Infinite" Epic -- Review of R. J. Larson's "King", Book 3 of The Infinite Series

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Reviewer: Forrest Schultz schultz_forrest@yahoo.com 770-583-3258

Blog Address: http://newsciencefictionandfantasyreviews.blogspot.com

 

July 2, 2013

 

"King Crowns The Climax Of "Infinite" Epic

 

A Review of

 

R J Larson King (Books of the Infinite #3) (Bethany House, 2013)

$14.99 352 pp ISBN: 978-0-7642-0973-4

 

Reviewed by: Forrest W. Schultz

 

     For the stories in her "Books of The Infinite Series" R. J. Larson has created a world having an Old Testament style in its characters, drama, and spiritual conflicts. An excellent summary of this trilogy is provided by the publisher on page 349 of its recently published final book: "An unlikely prophet, a headstrong judge, and a reluctant king are called by their Creator to fulfill divine destinies, akin to those of their biblical counterparts." However, these stories are not allegories nor is there any way that even the most knowledgeable Old Testament scholar could guess what is going to happen in them. The Prophet Ela (the central character in the first book) and the Judge Kien (the central character in the second book) are both major characters in the final book, which focusses upon Akabe; and the way in which their three destinies are intertwined produces a great story.

 

     For me, the most interesting thread was the gradual transformation of Akabe's queen, Caitria, into a mature and delightful person she became by the end of the story.

 

     Information on the author is available on her website www.rjlarsonbooks.com

 

A Review of David Wilson's "The Night Mayor"

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Reviewer: Forrest Schultz schultz_forrest@yahoo.com 770-583-3258

Blog Address: http://newsciencefictionandfantasyreviews.blogspot.com

June 17, 2013

Some Interesting Things About The Night Mayor

A Review of

David A. Wilson The Night Mayor (Publish America, 2012)

$24.95 137 pp. ISBN: 978-1-4626-5915-9

Reviewed by: Forrest W. Schultz

       There are many interesting things about David Wilson which I could discuss but, since this is a book review, I shall confine myself to the interesting things connected with his latest book. The story is set in the fictional town of Suttlesville, GA, which is, in many respects a fictionalization of the real town of Grantville, GA in which Wilson has been a lifelong resident. The lead character, Leonard Carmichael, is almost wholly patterned on Wilson himself, especially of his vampire plays (which were performed annually in the Grantville Auditorium a decade ago). But -- and here is where it gets really interesting -- the particular play in the novel has itself been changed to fit the story of the novel! It is a fictionalization of a fiction! The actual play was titled Barbara Nolan Gets Married. In the novel he has given Barbara Nolan a new name. Most of the rest of the play in the story is the same as the real play was except for the very important change in the actress who plays the wicked sister of the bride -- in the play in the story (unlike the actual play) she is the daughter of a Suttlesville city councilman. The changes are cleverly done since there is no way anyone reading the book who had not seen the play would know that it had been changed. Another interesting feature of the story is that there is a character who refers to David Wilson's first book, Curse of the Vampire.

      However, the most surprising and most dramatic feature of the story occurs in the denouement when a truly extraordinary mode of vampire slaying is employed.

      It is not surprising that this novel is a good read because David Wilson is a good writer, who has composed a story featuring four of his greatest interests: vampires, history, plays, and local town politics. Wilson is now working on a screen play of his first book. This reminds me that vampire films are another one of his great interests!

A Very Unusual Demon -- Review of Tosca Lee's Demon: A Memoir

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Reviewer:  Forrest Schultz   schultz_forrest@yahoo.com   770-583-3258

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June 7, 2013

A Very Unusual Demon !!

A Review of

Tosca Lee Demon:  A Memoir (Nashville, TN:  B & H Publishing Group, 2010)

                $14.99   328 pp   ISBN: 978-1-4336-6880-7

Reviewer:  Forrest W. Schultz

     Unlike most demons, who attempt to promote false theology, the demon in this story tells the truth about Lucifer and his Fall (to become Satan), about the Creation (per Genesis One) of Adam & Eve and their Fall, of Noah and the Flood, Israel, Christ and the Cross, and Salvation and the Early Church, etc.  AND he even praises God for His creativity, and he claims that he wants to get back into fellowship with God (!!) and he believes it is unfair for God to provide a plan of salvation for fallen man but no plan of salvation for fallen angels!  Of course, accusing God of being unfair is wrong, BUT all the rest of what the demon says is true, and it is really funny reading about him telling all these Biblical truths to a contemporary American unbeliever.  Another thing that is different is that he speaks as an eyewitness -- he SAW Lucifer fall (and was one of those who also fell) and he SAW God create the world and Adam and Eve and he SAW the Flood and Israel and Christ and the Cross and His Resurrection and Ascension.  This truly is passing strange, and it is not until the last page that we learn the demon's motivation for doing so.  One of the most striking things about all this is that he is envious of humans.  This is a very thought-provoking and well written story that I encourage you to read.  I have never seen anything like it.

Aubrey Williams Joins The Fantasy Surge With His Sulexian Chronicles -- A Review of Books One and Two Of The Sulexian Chronicles

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June 3, 2013  

 

 

 

Aubrey Williams Joins The Fantasy Surge With His Sulexian Chronicles

A review of

 

Aubrey Williams The Knight In Shining Armor, Book One of The Sulexian Chronicles (Publish America, 2007)                  $23.68  211 pp  ISBN: 978-424192281                 

Him, Known As Awakened, Book Two of The Sulexian Chronicles (Publish America, 2011)                  $24.95  238 pp  ISBN: 978-1456066697

 

Reviewer:  Forrest W. Schultz     

 

     The rate of the  writing and publishing of fantasy novels continues to rise all across the nation, including here on the Southside.  So much so, in fact, that it is getting ever harder to keep up with it.  A case in point is Aubrey Williams from Clayton County, who began his Sulexian Quadrilogy six years ago but only recently came to my attention.  I shall review the first two of these books here; the third one will be out later this year and the fourth, and final, book is scheduled to be published next year.  AND, he has already begun work on a second quadrilogy.     

 

     These Sulexian stories belong to the sub-genre of an ostensibly human person suddenly finding out that he actually comes from a magical realm whither he is about to embark to discover his true lineage and destiny.  And, it is in the sub-sub-genre where this transition is designed to occur at a particular age, in this case 16, to twins: Emily and Daniel.     

 

     Most of the story in the first book is taken up with the twins' discovery of their arcane abilities and the ensuing magic battles against evil, which are similar to martial arts contests -- with very high stakes.  Some of the battles and characters are interesting but, frankly, there are way too many battles and characters, and it is about to get tiresome when suddenly there is a great reversal, and the good guys retreat to Earth at the end of the first book, but then return to Sulex with another ostensible Earthling teen, who is a mage in disguise, Bert, on which the second book focuses in a more complex story as he struggles to overcome his internal strife in order to fulfill his destiny.     

 

     Speaking of which, I believe the author is struggling to master his literary talent, the results of which I expect to see in his future novels, so stay tuned!  Info is available on his website https://aewilliams.sqsp.com.

 

 

          

The Isle Of Estillyen Enters The Mythosphere -- Review of William E. Jefferson's "The Point"

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Reviewer: Forrest Schultz schultz_forrest@yahoo.com 770-583-3258

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May 22, 2013

 

The Isle of Estillyen Enters The Mythosphere

 

 

A Review Of

 

William E. Jefferson The Point:  The Redemption of Oban Ironbout (Port Estillyen Productions, 2013)

                                 291 pp   $16.95   ISBN: 978-0-9856621-2-7

 

Reviewed by:  Forrest W. Schultz

 

     It is difficult to know how to classify this novel.  In fact, even considering it to be a novel is questionable.  Although there are two main characters -- a husband and wife -- who do and say and think certain things (centering especially on their interaction with the third main character, Oban Ironbout),  most of their time is spent telling us what they heard in several meetings they attended in each of which they listened to a speaker give a lecture on a passage of Scripture into which is interjected, at designated times, comments from selected members of the audience which are composed for them. Although it appears to be a dialogue between speaker and audience, it isn't because The Voice people only say what is written on the script they receive, so that it is more like a play, with The Voice serving as a sort of chorus.  The session ends with a harangue from a monk claiming to be the Devil, which, I guess is what is being referred to in the description on the rear jacket which notes a certain similarity to Milton (presumably "Paradise Lost"), although the Devil here lacks the Miltonian elegance; he comes across as a modern day smart-alec. There is also a lot of allegory because the various reader-speakers are given names such as Plot,  Saga, Narrative, Story, and this presumably is how the book is supposed to be like Bunyan.  And, here and there are discussions of such matters as the relationship between the medium and the message, which reminded me of the 60s when there was a lot of discussion about the theories of Marshall McLuhan, who, surprisingly, is not named by the jacket as one of the influences.  His "The Medium Is The Message" concept is taught in this book with respect to Christ, who is both Medium and Message.  Because of its usage of various literary elements, this might be regarded as a "multi-media" or "multi-literary" story, in this way resembling the Bible, which, of course, is written using many literary forms.

 

     Although the jacket regards this book as a "unique presentation of the Gospel", what is said about the Gospel by the speakers is no different from what you typically hear in a sermon or Bible study in church.  The only real difference is the addition of a time in which someone pretending to be the Devil makes a counter-presentation.  And there is nothing new about liturgical tinkering -- that has been going on for a LONG time.  There was a lot of hoopla about liturgical renewal back in the 60s.  So, although this book is not identical with any other, there really is little that is new in it.  What is new is that instead of writing a theology book or a "how to" book on liturgical revisions, it shows those revisions by means of the experiences of two main characters in a novel.  Thus, it bears comparison with B. F. Skinner's attempt to teach his psychological theories by means of his novel "Walden Two".   

 

     Since the tale takes place on a fictional island, Estillyan having a kind of atmosphere typically found in depictions of Elfland, it can be regarded as fantasy, in particular an almost utopian bright rural fantasy, in contrast to the dystopian dark urban fantasy now in vogue!  Adding to the fantasy atmosphere is the inclusion of a medieval sort of milieu featuring abbeys and monks and nuns, which clearly are there for that purpose, rather than a theological one, since the author is a Protestant, not a Roman Catholic.  Ditto with the discussions of the beauties in nature on this island and the beauty in the architecture of and paintings in the buildings. 

 

     The concern for the arts in this book is commendable but I am not convinced that it will have much of an impact in spiritually revitalizing the Christian community, which is the stated goal.  The purpose stated on page 109 is a worthy one -- living more effectively in society.  How much help this book will have in achieving that goal remains to be seen.  It would be nice if it did, but I am not going to make any predictions.  Read it and then draw your own conclusions.  As for mine, I doubt if it will usher in the Millennium.  Oh, and if you want to read some really good speeches by a devil, read The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis.  The speeches in this book are not even in the same league!!

 

     For more information go to http://www.estillyen.com/

 

 

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A Fantasy Concerned With Reality -- Review of Jacob Madkiff's "Chimera"

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Reviewer: Forrest Schultz schultz_forrest@yahoo.com 770-583-3258

Blog Address: http://newsciencefictionandfantasyreviews.blogspot.com

May 20, 2013

A Fantasy Concerned With Reality

A Review of

 

Jacob Madkiff Chimera, Volume I of The Chimera Chronicles (Create Space, 2012)

$10.99 334 pp ISBN-10: 1470084767 ISBN-13: 978-1470084769

 

Reviewer: Forrest W. Schultz

 

     Like many recently written fantasies, this one is concerned with telling us what vampires are really like, what werewolves are really like, what witches are really like, etc. This expose' is unfolded from the point of view of the narrator and protagonist, Kyle Evans, who gradually learns ever more about this arcane realm, mainly through a series of battles culminating in a super-battle against his nemesis, Myrdden, the murderer of his woman, Valentine.

 

     But Valentine still lives (somewhere) and from time to time magically appears to Kyle to comfort him --- and to berate him for falling in love with Alexia, who is assisting him in his quest to find and slay Myrdden. A rather interesting love triangle -- this!

 

     The meaning of "Chimera" is revealed near the end of the tale and in the appended short story by the author. With this novel Jacob Madkiff has joined the fantasy writing surge now sweeping across the Southside counties, especially in Coweta, where he lives. He has completed the writing of Volume II, which will be published this summer. The story, the characters, and the fantasy conceptions are well developed and make for an interesting read -- we look forward to more of the same in his next book.

     Madkiff has joined the Coweta Writers Group and is planning other involvements in the Southside scene. Information is available at http://jacobmadkiff.wordpress.com

 

A Surfeit Of Surprises & Complexities & Characters in Sue Dent's "Richard" Novel -- Review of her "Forever Richard, Part Two of Thirsting For Blood"

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Reviewer: Forrest Schultz schultz_forrest@yahoo.com 770-583-3258

Blog Address: http://newsciencefictionandfantasyreviews.blogspot.com

May 1, 2013

A Surfeit of Surprises & Complexities & Characters in Sue Dent's "Richard" Novel

A Review of

Sue Dent Forever Richard, Part Two of Thirsting For Blood (Black Bed Sheet Books, 2011)

                $16.95   307 pp     ISBN-10: 0-9769947-71     ISBN-13: 978-0-9769947-7-0

Reviewer: Forrest W. Schultz

     I am a bit late as a reviewer of this book, which has an advantage because I can refer you to the accolades found in reviews already written (which I need not repeat here) so I can add to them my own "take" on this wild story. (Please see the reviews by Lost Genre Guild Founder Frank Creed on Amazon.com and The British Fantasy Society's review by Maryann Boo.) Sue Dent's story deserves these accolades BUT there are so many characters and surprises and complexities that the apparent wealth becomes a surfeit. Christina Lockstein is the only reviewer I have seen who appears to be aware of this. Reading this book is like trying to read Doctor Zhivago -- a good story, shows how bad Communism is, etc., but too many characters and too complicated. Dent, like Pasternak, is a good writer, but, ironically her very skills lead to the surfeit noted. Apparently what has blinded the christian reviewers is that they are so excited in finding a christian writer with excellent skills, that they focus so much on that that they overlook the problem I have noted. I am reminded of a great line from an old ad: "Be careful how you use it!". Let's not overreact to the (real or imaginary) simplistic Christian fiction of the past by a surfeit of complexity!! While reading "Richard" I felt like saying "Will the Complexity Never Cease"! I have a great respect for Sue Dent -- she is a tough gal, so I am sure she will be able to take this criticism!! And I hope that the hyper-complexity will be found No More in her future books!

     For info on Sue Dent go to http://www.authorsuedent.com/