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Toward the Gleam #1
Toward the Gleam
Between the two world wars, on a hike in the English countryside, Professor John Hill takes refuge from a violent storm in a cave. There he nearly loses his life, but he also makes an astonishing discovery - an ancient manuscript housed in a cunningly crafted metal box. Though a philologist by profession, Hill cannot identify the language used in the manuscript and the time period in which it is was made, but he knows enough to make an educated guess - that the book and its case are the fruits of a long-lost, but advanced civilization.
The translation of the manuscript and the search for its origins become a life-long quest for Hill. As he uncovers an epic that both enchants and inspires him, he tracks down scholars from Oxford to Paris who can give him clues. Along the way, he meets several intriguing characters, including a man keenly interested in obtaining artifacts from a long-lost civilization that he believes was the creation of a superior race, and will help him fulfill his ambition to rule other men. Concluding that Hill must have found something that may help him in this quest, but knowing not what it is and where it is hidden, he has Hill, his friends at Oxford, and his family shadowed and threatened until finally he and Hill face off in a final, climatic confrontation.
A story that features a giant pirate and slaver, a human chameleon on a perilous metaphysical journey, a mysterious hermit, and creatures both deadly and beautiful, this is a novel that explores the consequences of the predominant ideas of the 20th Century.
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First published March 1, 2011
35 people are currently reading
1070 people want to read
About the author
T.M. Doran
7 books47 followersBorn in Long Beach, California, T.M. Doran has lived the majority of his life in Michigan, surrounded by sweet water.
www.facebook.com/AuthorTMDoran/
The Lucifer Ego (2018) depicts the theft of the ancient Toward the Gleam manuscript, and the trials and tribulations of the Oxford archaeologist recruited to recover it. Prehistoric archaeology, psychology, mythology (including Middle-Earth and Narnia), and First Things.
Toward the Gleam (2011) tells the story of the discovery of an unimaginably ancient manuscript, the man who discovers, translates, and protects it, and the person who would do anything to acquire it.
Terrapin (2012) is a mystery-thriller about how choices affect lives many years after these choices are made. Dennis Cole, and his childhood friends embark on a idyllic weekend reunion, until all hell breaks loose.
Iota (2014) tells the story of Jan Skala and others detained by the Russians immediately after WWII in a former German abattoir. Why have they been rounded up, and will any of them survive?
T. M. Doran has contributed to the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today, New York Times, Detroit Free Press, and Catholic World Report
www.facebook.com/AuthorTMDoran/
The Lucifer Ego (2018) depicts the theft of the ancient Toward the Gleam manuscript, and the trials and tribulations of the Oxford archaeologist recruited to recover it. Prehistoric archaeology, psychology, mythology (including Middle-Earth and Narnia), and First Things.
Toward the Gleam (2011) tells the story of the discovery of an unimaginably ancient manuscript, the man who discovers, translates, and protects it, and the person who would do anything to acquire it.
Terrapin (2012) is a mystery-thriller about how choices affect lives many years after these choices are made. Dennis Cole, and his childhood friends embark on a idyllic weekend reunion, until all hell breaks loose.
Iota (2014) tells the story of Jan Skala and others detained by the Russians immediately after WWII in a former German abattoir. Why have they been rounded up, and will any of them survive?
T. M. Doran has contributed to the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today, New York Times, Detroit Free Press, and Catholic World Report
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
February 10, 2019
This is a mystery novel involving the writing of the Lord of the Rings, with a fictionalized version of Tolkien as main character (John Hill), and appearances by some of the Inklings and other contemporaries. I liked the characterizations of Chesterton, Lewis and Tolkien's wife. John Hill's character is also quite well done.
The mystery itself, though it kept my interest till the end, had a number of points that didn't convince me: Why did John travel in person all over Europe to consult professionals, when he knew he was being tracked and menaced? He could have written a letter instead, or found their ideas in their publications. I understand it was done to introduce philosophical discussions between the characters. These discussions abound in the book: When they involve the Inklings or Chesterton they feel natural and are well managed. But a couple of times they seemed forced, and when they involve characters whose beliefs or ideologies are contrary to his, John's arguments are often weak and fail to point out the fallacy of his opponents (this is my only issue with John's character; Tolkien in his stead would have known what to answer). His actions, though, always remain true to his beliefs.
I figured the ending long in advance, so the surprise was lost. A few additional observations:
.
The mystery itself, though it kept my interest till the end, had a number of points that didn't convince me: Why did John travel in person all over Europe to consult professionals, when he knew he was being tracked and menaced? He could have written a letter instead, or found their ideas in their publications. I understand it was done to introduce philosophical discussions between the characters. These discussions abound in the book: When they involve the Inklings or Chesterton they feel natural and are well managed. But a couple of times they seemed forced, and when they involve characters whose beliefs or ideologies are contrary to his, John's arguments are often weak and fail to point out the fallacy of his opponents (this is my only issue with John's character; Tolkien in his stead would have known what to answer). His actions, though, always remain true to his beliefs.
I figured the ending long in advance, so the surprise was lost. A few additional observations:
.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2011
Earlier this year I reviewed Looking for the King and a new novel also from Ignatius Press Toward the Gleam: A Novel has similar elements. They both involve a similar historical time period with some of the same historical characters. They both involve some time of artifact that involves the main characters into an unfolding drama with increasing danger and they both have solid spiritual and philosophical underpinnings. Where they depart is that while I enjoyed “Looking for the King” as a good and entertaining novel I find “Toward the Gleam” to be a much better novel on every level.
The story takes place in closer to modern times and in the period from WWI up to WWII. The initial story involves a professor carrying some object desires to talk to the abbot of an English monastery in regards to that object. The professor presents himself as “John Hill” which is a pseudonym he had used earlier during his investigation of this ancient artifact. The professor is a famous historical figure and I felt rather foolish the length of time it took me to realize who the person was considering the number of clues provided. Though I found that some reviewers like Joseph Pearce identify him in their reviews. The professor begins to tell his story from his time in WWI, the finding of the artifact, and the drama that unfolded in connection to it.
As the professor spends more time studying the artifact he comes to realize he needs help in deciphering it and so he seeks out various experts in their fields to ask them question while avoiding revealing the existence of this artifact. This investigation quickly leads him into the path of one of the experts who is a criminal mastermind with interests that intersect this artifact and the power that he would want to use from the civilization that produced it. Though he only suspects what the professor has and this is enough to put them on a collision course of life and death since he will stop at nothing to get what he wants. The conversations this professor has with these experts are very interesting since they espouse the spirits of the time that produced so many “isms” in regards to moral relativism. The conversations are crafter in such a way to advance the story and to argue philosophical ideas, but without that sock puppet feel of an author just interjecting philosophical arguments into a story. The evil mastermind is a intricate character and a very dangerous man and a person that is more than a match for the professor.
As a historical novel many historical figures are introduced and the professor has many conversations with such characters including some he never met in real life, but it is plausible in some of the cases that he met them. One quibble I had with the novel is that the number of these figures are only introduced by their first name so you know right away they are such since their last names are never mentioned. Figuring who these people are is simple in some cases and harder in others depending on your knowledge of this literary history of the time and in one case the background of a saint. One of the “what if” aspects of the book is quite spectacular and enjoyable on multiple levels. The historical aspects are quite well done, but some of the fictional and historical elements don’t quite dovetail if you know some of the details of this professor and his literary works. A good job is done here, but it doesn’t mesh as perfectly as a Tim Powers novel. Tim Powers can take his imaginative plots and history and mesh them in such a way that his histories seem to explain more and be more real than the actual history.
As the plot progresses the danger increases to such a crescendo that there is plenty of tension created into how it will resolve. I especially like how the professors family life was portrayed and the way it made his wife an important part of the novel in such an authentic way. The craft involved in making conversations with so many historical and predominantly literary figures sound right is difficult and the author pulls it off. There was nothing in these conversations that did not sound as if they could come off the lips of the people involved. One thing I found odd though that since the professor was a serious Catholic as were many of the book’s figures that elements of Catholicism other than the philosophical arguments seemed to be missing from their lives. Maybe this one done to make the novel accessible to a larger group of people, but for me it marred it a bit in what otherwise had a good degree of authenticity regarding the professor.
Overall this was a very fine novel that kept me intrigued throughout with an appreciation of the imaginative elements introduced. There are serious spiritual and philosophical underpinnings that add to the novel especially in regards to temptation. I listened to the 15 and half hour audiobook version of Toward the Gleam read by Kevin O’Brien. As always Kevin has done a professional job with this multitude of character voices adding to the enjoyment of the story.
The story takes place in closer to modern times and in the period from WWI up to WWII. The initial story involves a professor carrying some object desires to talk to the abbot of an English monastery in regards to that object. The professor presents himself as “John Hill” which is a pseudonym he had used earlier during his investigation of this ancient artifact. The professor is a famous historical figure and I felt rather foolish the length of time it took me to realize who the person was considering the number of clues provided. Though I found that some reviewers like Joseph Pearce identify him in their reviews. The professor begins to tell his story from his time in WWI, the finding of the artifact, and the drama that unfolded in connection to it.
As the professor spends more time studying the artifact he comes to realize he needs help in deciphering it and so he seeks out various experts in their fields to ask them question while avoiding revealing the existence of this artifact. This investigation quickly leads him into the path of one of the experts who is a criminal mastermind with interests that intersect this artifact and the power that he would want to use from the civilization that produced it. Though he only suspects what the professor has and this is enough to put them on a collision course of life and death since he will stop at nothing to get what he wants. The conversations this professor has with these experts are very interesting since they espouse the spirits of the time that produced so many “isms” in regards to moral relativism. The conversations are crafter in such a way to advance the story and to argue philosophical ideas, but without that sock puppet feel of an author just interjecting philosophical arguments into a story. The evil mastermind is a intricate character and a very dangerous man and a person that is more than a match for the professor.
As a historical novel many historical figures are introduced and the professor has many conversations with such characters including some he never met in real life, but it is plausible in some of the cases that he met them. One quibble I had with the novel is that the number of these figures are only introduced by their first name so you know right away they are such since their last names are never mentioned. Figuring who these people are is simple in some cases and harder in others depending on your knowledge of this literary history of the time and in one case the background of a saint. One of the “what if” aspects of the book is quite spectacular and enjoyable on multiple levels. The historical aspects are quite well done, but some of the fictional and historical elements don’t quite dovetail if you know some of the details of this professor and his literary works. A good job is done here, but it doesn’t mesh as perfectly as a Tim Powers novel. Tim Powers can take his imaginative plots and history and mesh them in such a way that his histories seem to explain more and be more real than the actual history.
As the plot progresses the danger increases to such a crescendo that there is plenty of tension created into how it will resolve. I especially like how the professors family life was portrayed and the way it made his wife an important part of the novel in such an authentic way. The craft involved in making conversations with so many historical and predominantly literary figures sound right is difficult and the author pulls it off. There was nothing in these conversations that did not sound as if they could come off the lips of the people involved. One thing I found odd though that since the professor was a serious Catholic as were many of the book’s figures that elements of Catholicism other than the philosophical arguments seemed to be missing from their lives. Maybe this one done to make the novel accessible to a larger group of people, but for me it marred it a bit in what otherwise had a good degree of authenticity regarding the professor.
Overall this was a very fine novel that kept me intrigued throughout with an appreciation of the imaginative elements introduced. There are serious spiritual and philosophical underpinnings that add to the novel especially in regards to temptation. I listened to the 15 and half hour audiobook version of Toward the Gleam read by Kevin O’Brien. As always Kevin has done a professional job with this multitude of character voices adding to the enjoyment of the story.
March 9, 2019
A delightful alternative history and philosophic exploration around the writing of LOTR.
July 31, 2011
I received this book for free through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. I was out at Boy Scout Camp for two days with 17 little 11 Year-old Scouts when it showed up in my mailbox. My husband called me to tell me the good news. (He knows what is important. . .) I was excited -- it had arrived in less than two weeks from the day I received the notification! But I put it out of my mind so that I could continue to sweat effectively in the Florida heat and keep my little charges hydrated and moving along through their program.
But when I arrived home on Tuesday at midnight this was one of the first things my husband brought to my attention. I opened the package and started the book right away. Within a few pages I realized that I was feeling that old and familiar Charles Williams feeling. Not a good thing when I still had to join my staff at an already in progress Cub Scout Twilight Camp. So at page 17 I decided to be a responsible Cub Scout Camp Director and put the thing down until my camp had ended and all of the equipment was taken down and properly stored.
I have now warned my family that this promises to be one of those books that they call a we-don't-have-a-mom book. I'm excited and they are in denial. (But they are happy for me that I won the book!) So I'm picking it up again tonight and plan to try hard to be a responsible parent and read only when my responsibilities are complete for the moment. Maybe I'm in denial too.
********
That was my impression on July 12th or 13th.(I hadn't figured out yet that I need to put my updates in the little white box.) When I had finally finished with all of my summer Cub Scout responsibilities I picked the book back up and finished it in just a few days.
I finished reading yesterday afternoon (July 29) and still can't stop thinking about or discussing the book with whoever will listen. I have pages marked with insights that I like, I had my husband chasing down Inkling information on the internet while I kept reading, I made my BYU-English-minor daughter promise to read it when she gets home in two weeks, and I secured a commitment from my political-genius-college-bound son to read it.
Home schooling that guy has been an education for me, and I don't know that I would have enjoyed this book as much without his never-ending self-directed research on all things political--both historical and current. Because of him I was armed with the knowledge I needed to enjoy this book on the level that I did. While reading this book I realized just how much this sweet son of mine has taught me. So I imagine that this book will always have a special place in my heart because it helped me to see how much my child has given to me while I worked to provide him with the tools he needs to get a great education.
Back to the book--From the reviews on the back cover I knew that it was an Inkling book. As I said in my first post, I experienced some of that old and familiar Charles Williams feeling. I thought that was the reason for such reviews. It was enough for me--the book had me in its grip, and I couldn't be happier that I had won the book. Then, as I turned more pages, it began to dawn on me, and when the big aha! moment arrived I couldn't tear through the book fast enough. What a tale!
I am reluctant to say much else about the story itself for fear of spoiling it for anyone. But I will say that I loved all of the political and moral debates. I often felt that I was in the room participating in these intoxicating conversations. Some of my favorite passages follow:
page 243--"...There's something within man that resents dependency. A philosophy that purports to put man in control is attractive, seductive. No wonder so many succumb to it."
Jack said, "Control is illusory."
"But an addictive illusion," Owen said. "The more talented and intelligent one is, the more attractive is the lure to control. If one could harness science, if one could redesign humanity, if one could order society properly, a new world could be ushered in."
"As in Russia?" John said.
"It isn't the immediate outcome that's appealing," Owen said. "What appeals is the sense of control and the act of controlling, coupled with the promise of a future utopia."
page 338--"...Evil is a conscious decision to do what one knows is wrong...."
E.M. said , "I believe evil is an act of selfishness, whether the matter is small or grave. Selfishness is what produces evil."
They were looking at John expecting him to speak...."For my part, I believe evil is ambition that disregards the other's welfare. This ambition may be monetary, political, or personal. Nonetheless, it seeks some end and disregards the harm it may do to another."
page 390--"Owen says evil is the failure to live freedom well."
"That's an odd way of putting it," E.M. said.
"I thought so too. But the more I think about it, the more sense it makes. The use of freedom--will and action--determines whether outcomes are helpful or harmful. When we use freedom poorly, harmful outcomes occur, for others and for ourselves. That isn't a bad definition of evil."
page 401--The purest treasure mortal times afford
Is spotless reputation; that away
Men are but gilded loam or painted clay.
page 453--The two of them wound their way through the restaurant, unnoticed except for one pair of wistful eyes.
That last passage contains an entire sermon. But no other words are needed. It's almost a vindication for anyone who has faced temptation and, for the right reasons, has turned away in spite of what they really wanted to do.
The entire book is filled with such treasures. I often found myself going back and forth between being caught up in the excitement of the story and happily wandering through a world of words and ideas. But on page 401 the wandering comes to an end and it's all excitement. By page 406 the big questions are, "How is he going to wrap this up in so few pages? Am I going to have to wait for a sequel?" It was nearly excruciating. But T.M. Doran proves himself an excellent writer and resolves it all quite well. I was as satisfied with the ending as I was with the first few pages.
I highly recommend this book. The author's standards are clearly very high. He has been true to the history in this book without caving in to the temptation to revise history in a politically correct manner; his characters are as real as they can be and he stays true to their standards; the idea upon which he builds the story is fresh and captivating; and he manages to find a place in the worlds of Tolkien, Lewis, Williams, and the other Inklings while including just enough of Indiana Jones to get the reader's pulse racing and create satisfying resolutions.
But when I arrived home on Tuesday at midnight this was one of the first things my husband brought to my attention. I opened the package and started the book right away. Within a few pages I realized that I was feeling that old and familiar Charles Williams feeling. Not a good thing when I still had to join my staff at an already in progress Cub Scout Twilight Camp. So at page 17 I decided to be a responsible Cub Scout Camp Director and put the thing down until my camp had ended and all of the equipment was taken down and properly stored.
I have now warned my family that this promises to be one of those books that they call a we-don't-have-a-mom book. I'm excited and they are in denial. (But they are happy for me that I won the book!) So I'm picking it up again tonight and plan to try hard to be a responsible parent and read only when my responsibilities are complete for the moment. Maybe I'm in denial too.
********
That was my impression on July 12th or 13th.(I hadn't figured out yet that I need to put my updates in the little white box.) When I had finally finished with all of my summer Cub Scout responsibilities I picked the book back up and finished it in just a few days.
I finished reading yesterday afternoon (July 29) and still can't stop thinking about or discussing the book with whoever will listen. I have pages marked with insights that I like, I had my husband chasing down Inkling information on the internet while I kept reading, I made my BYU-English-minor daughter promise to read it when she gets home in two weeks, and I secured a commitment from my political-genius-college-bound son to read it.
Home schooling that guy has been an education for me, and I don't know that I would have enjoyed this book as much without his never-ending self-directed research on all things political--both historical and current. Because of him I was armed with the knowledge I needed to enjoy this book on the level that I did. While reading this book I realized just how much this sweet son of mine has taught me. So I imagine that this book will always have a special place in my heart because it helped me to see how much my child has given to me while I worked to provide him with the tools he needs to get a great education.
Back to the book--From the reviews on the back cover I knew that it was an Inkling book. As I said in my first post, I experienced some of that old and familiar Charles Williams feeling. I thought that was the reason for such reviews. It was enough for me--the book had me in its grip, and I couldn't be happier that I had won the book. Then, as I turned more pages, it began to dawn on me, and when the big aha! moment arrived I couldn't tear through the book fast enough. What a tale!
I am reluctant to say much else about the story itself for fear of spoiling it for anyone. But I will say that I loved all of the political and moral debates. I often felt that I was in the room participating in these intoxicating conversations. Some of my favorite passages follow:
page 243--"...There's something within man that resents dependency. A philosophy that purports to put man in control is attractive, seductive. No wonder so many succumb to it."
Jack said, "Control is illusory."
"But an addictive illusion," Owen said. "The more talented and intelligent one is, the more attractive is the lure to control. If one could harness science, if one could redesign humanity, if one could order society properly, a new world could be ushered in."
"As in Russia?" John said.
"It isn't the immediate outcome that's appealing," Owen said. "What appeals is the sense of control and the act of controlling, coupled with the promise of a future utopia."
page 338--"...Evil is a conscious decision to do what one knows is wrong...."
E.M. said , "I believe evil is an act of selfishness, whether the matter is small or grave. Selfishness is what produces evil."
They were looking at John expecting him to speak...."For my part, I believe evil is ambition that disregards the other's welfare. This ambition may be monetary, political, or personal. Nonetheless, it seeks some end and disregards the harm it may do to another."
page 390--"Owen says evil is the failure to live freedom well."
"That's an odd way of putting it," E.M. said.
"I thought so too. But the more I think about it, the more sense it makes. The use of freedom--will and action--determines whether outcomes are helpful or harmful. When we use freedom poorly, harmful outcomes occur, for others and for ourselves. That isn't a bad definition of evil."
page 401--The purest treasure mortal times afford
Is spotless reputation; that away
Men are but gilded loam or painted clay.
page 453--The two of them wound their way through the restaurant, unnoticed except for one pair of wistful eyes.
That last passage contains an entire sermon. But no other words are needed. It's almost a vindication for anyone who has faced temptation and, for the right reasons, has turned away in spite of what they really wanted to do.
The entire book is filled with such treasures. I often found myself going back and forth between being caught up in the excitement of the story and happily wandering through a world of words and ideas. But on page 401 the wandering comes to an end and it's all excitement. By page 406 the big questions are, "How is he going to wrap this up in so few pages? Am I going to have to wait for a sequel?" It was nearly excruciating. But T.M. Doran proves himself an excellent writer and resolves it all quite well. I was as satisfied with the ending as I was with the first few pages.
I highly recommend this book. The author's standards are clearly very high. He has been true to the history in this book without caving in to the temptation to revise history in a politically correct manner; his characters are as real as they can be and he stays true to their standards; the idea upon which he builds the story is fresh and captivating; and he manages to find a place in the worlds of Tolkien, Lewis, Williams, and the other Inklings while including just enough of Indiana Jones to get the reader's pulse racing and create satisfying resolutions.
March 10, 2019
Alternative biography of J.R.R. Tolkien, retelling his life as if he had found an old manuscript from a civilization that is no more (Atlantis?) which he translated into The Lord of the Rings.
The hypothesized existence of powerful secrets in the manuscript arises the interest of a criminal organization, which sets the stage for the philosophical and ethical discussions that are at the center stage of the book - the clash of a Christian and an utilitarian worldview.
The book itself is entertaining, with the added interest of identifying the secondary characters, most of which are real-life Tolkien contemporaries.
The hypothesized existence of powerful secrets in the manuscript arises the interest of a criminal organization, which sets the stage for the philosophical and ethical discussions that are at the center stage of the book - the clash of a Christian and an utilitarian worldview.
The book itself is entertaining, with the added interest of identifying the secondary characters, most of which are real-life Tolkien contemporaries.
February 9, 2019
A very entertaining mystery surrounding the origins of a very ancient book found accidentally and the consequences of this discovery. By finding the book John Hill unwillingly unleashes forces of evil - those who will stop at nothing to possess the knowledge it contains only to twist it to their own purposes - and will hound him until the final battle. The epic battle of good vs. evil finds an entertaining twist in this narrative where modern, secular ideologies are pitted against ancient truths.
January 22, 2019
I have had this book for a while, but it just sat in my 'to be read pile' for a while. It is a curious book, and many characters from history, C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, Agatha Christie, and more. A great beginning and looking forward to where the story goes with book 2. Full review below.
...
This book was a very pleasant surprise. It had been on my radar for a while and sat on my kindle for a few months. But once I started reading it I could not put it down. I read through my breaks at work and through my lunches and devoured the book over three days. It was so hard to put down when I had to take breaks from it.
This novel in the historical fiction style is told in a compelling way. There are so many characters that bibliophiles and bookaholics will recognize as authors and professors from the last century. It is an interesting blend of history, and the fantasy story that our Professor John Hill has uncovered. The main story is set between the first and second world wars. The story starts with an old man appearing at a monastery and telling the abbot the story of the artifact and book he is leaving in their care. Some of his companions cannot but be recognized as members of the Inklings. And his adventures while trying to find out if his translation of the story are possible take him to numerous countries, confirming with specialists in many disciplines. And still only getting a partial translation. But in his attempts to gleam information he arouses the interest of a man who ends up being a formidable and most dangerous foe.
There are so many interesting characters in this novel, both the representations of authors from the time, and the other characters in the story. A giant of a man who was formerly a slaver. A woman who can become almost anyone and is a master of disguise. A strange hermit in the hills. And then our own Professor Hill, his with, and his close group of friends. The longer Professor Hill has his artifact and the further he proceeds in his translation, the more danger he is in, and not just him, but his family and his friends. The story itself is story wrapped around a mystery, focused on philosophical questions. Questions that were important in the time that the story is set, and in many ways even more important today.
This story is a much more intellectual novel than many that are available today. It is not a Tom Clancy or a Robert B. Parker type of mystery. There is a depth in this story that you can go to again and again. It is well that can be plumbed and will leave you thinking. It is a novel that will suck you in and keep you turning the pages.
I have had this book for a while, but it just sat in my 'to be read pile' for a more than a year. It is a curious book, and many characters from history, C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, Agatha Christie, and more. Once I got going, I could not put it down. A great beginning and looking forward to where the story will go in book 2. If you have read much by or about the Inklings I am certain you will enjoy this story immensely. A great read for fans of literary fiction or historical fiction of all ages. A great read!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2019 Catholic Reading Plan!
...
This book was a very pleasant surprise. It had been on my radar for a while and sat on my kindle for a few months. But once I started reading it I could not put it down. I read through my breaks at work and through my lunches and devoured the book over three days. It was so hard to put down when I had to take breaks from it.
This novel in the historical fiction style is told in a compelling way. There are so many characters that bibliophiles and bookaholics will recognize as authors and professors from the last century. It is an interesting blend of history, and the fantasy story that our Professor John Hill has uncovered. The main story is set between the first and second world wars. The story starts with an old man appearing at a monastery and telling the abbot the story of the artifact and book he is leaving in their care. Some of his companions cannot but be recognized as members of the Inklings. And his adventures while trying to find out if his translation of the story are possible take him to numerous countries, confirming with specialists in many disciplines. And still only getting a partial translation. But in his attempts to gleam information he arouses the interest of a man who ends up being a formidable and most dangerous foe.
There are so many interesting characters in this novel, both the representations of authors from the time, and the other characters in the story. A giant of a man who was formerly a slaver. A woman who can become almost anyone and is a master of disguise. A strange hermit in the hills. And then our own Professor Hill, his with, and his close group of friends. The longer Professor Hill has his artifact and the further he proceeds in his translation, the more danger he is in, and not just him, but his family and his friends. The story itself is story wrapped around a mystery, focused on philosophical questions. Questions that were important in the time that the story is set, and in many ways even more important today.
This story is a much more intellectual novel than many that are available today. It is not a Tom Clancy or a Robert B. Parker type of mystery. There is a depth in this story that you can go to again and again. It is well that can be plumbed and will leave you thinking. It is a novel that will suck you in and keep you turning the pages.
I have had this book for a while, but it just sat in my 'to be read pile' for a more than a year. It is a curious book, and many characters from history, C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, Agatha Christie, and more. Once I got going, I could not put it down. A great beginning and looking forward to where the story will go in book 2. If you have read much by or about the Inklings I am certain you will enjoy this story immensely. A great read for fans of literary fiction or historical fiction of all ages. A great read!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2019 Catholic Reading Plan!
August 5, 2011
I thoroughly enjoyed the reimagining of Tolkien's creative process, and positing a coexistence of imagined and modern history is deliciously appealing. Full marks for imagination, and well worth a read for fans of the Inkling school of thought.
The storytelling itself is not nearly at Tolkien's level, however. Foreshadowing is written at surface-level and not merely suggestive. The cast of supporting characters is quite large, involving historical personages as well as imagined ones, but they're all pretty one-dimensional. Many characters exist to get the protagonist one crucial step forward, chapter by chapter. In fact, you could create a table of contents with each chapter titled with the one-off side character who inhabits it.
The villain's end comes in something of a deus ex machina. Yet Doran doesn't mind; this occurrence is quite literally stated to be a product of "every man's strength also being his weakness." That's somewhat banal said out in the open. This discussion of strengths and weaknesses takes up quite a bit of the narrative, often in a philosophical manner befitting the atmosphere of the 1920s and 1930s.
The biggest annoyance of the text is that the author clearly has the attitude that only Christian democracy is a worthwhile society, and spends much of the book trying to prove it (both in argument and in plot). You can't go three pages without hearing about how utility-based social orders are bad. This is indeed faithful to Tolkien and the rest of the Inklings, yet beating us over the head with the same sentences, again and again, makes for bad reading. Having an axe to grind just isn't interesting narrative. There are endless ways to have a philosophical discussion in the midst of fiction, but Doran doesn't do it well. I also disliked his custom of having all the good characters come up with good philosophy - in the eyes of the author, and of Tolkien - and all the bad characters come up with bad philosophy. There's not a shade of grey anywhere, and that's not realistically human.
The storytelling itself is not nearly at Tolkien's level, however. Foreshadowing is written at surface-level and not merely suggestive. The cast of supporting characters is quite large, involving historical personages as well as imagined ones, but they're all pretty one-dimensional. Many characters exist to get the protagonist one crucial step forward, chapter by chapter. In fact, you could create a table of contents with each chapter titled with the one-off side character who inhabits it.
The villain's end comes in something of a deus ex machina. Yet Doran doesn't mind; this occurrence is quite literally stated to be a product of "every man's strength also being his weakness." That's somewhat banal said out in the open. This discussion of strengths and weaknesses takes up quite a bit of the narrative, often in a philosophical manner befitting the atmosphere of the 1920s and 1930s.
The biggest annoyance of the text is that the author clearly has the attitude that only Christian democracy is a worthwhile society, and spends much of the book trying to prove it (both in argument and in plot). You can't go three pages without hearing about how utility-based social orders are bad. This is indeed faithful to Tolkien and the rest of the Inklings, yet beating us over the head with the same sentences, again and again, makes for bad reading. Having an axe to grind just isn't interesting narrative. There are endless ways to have a philosophical discussion in the midst of fiction, but Doran doesn't do it well. I also disliked his custom of having all the good characters come up with good philosophy - in the eyes of the author, and of Tolkien - and all the bad characters come up with bad philosophy. There's not a shade of grey anywhere, and that's not realistically human.
July 11, 2011
I'm not one for the mystery genre but when I discovered that this title's main character is based on Tolkien I had to read it. Based on the premise that the protagonist (Tolkien) discovers an ancient manuscript (The Red Book of Westmarch for the initiated) which details an ancient civilization (Middle Earth) it becomes a "Davinci Code" like search for clues for more evidence. Most of the "evidence" involves discussions with academics and little physical evidence or location searching like "Davinci Code". Every character introduced comes armed with a philosophical argument rather than a pistol as well. This comes a bit too predictable as the story progresses. Literary figures from the early 20th century appear as well. G.K. Chesterton, Agatha Christie, C.S. Lewis all have their turn. I would only recommend this for the true Tolkien fanatic like myself.
February 14, 2019
ENGLISH: This novel can be considered as two different books. The first is an alternative biography (in the same sense as one speaks about alternative history). The identity of the person being biographed (a famous writer) is transparent, although he is never named in the book, except through an alias (which is also transparent). The biography is alternative in the sense that the book that made this writer famous in real life is supposed to have been found rather than written by him, therefore the story he told in that book would have been true. To leave potential readers the enjoyment of discovering things for themselves, I won't say anything more about this part.
The presence of some of the writer's colleagues and other contemporary celebrities (especially Chesterton, C.S. Lewis and Owen Barfield) is well managed. The characters representing them are true to type, at least as I imagine them.
But together with this, there is a different book. The main character is no longer a slightly modified real person, but a fully fictional personage, involved in a fight against a supervillain, the chief of an international organization, who wants to become Lord of the World. This part of the plot is engrossing, but suffers from lack of plausibility and gets progressively apart from the first vision of the novel.
There are a few anachronisms and scientific problems in the plot. It is unbelievable that the main character would be oblivious of Einstein's name in 1930, even though he was not a scientist. Gödel's ideas are misrepresented; and at the date they are discussed in the novel (1930), Gödel was still unknown.
The main character travels extensibly (and dangerously) throughout Europe, to consult supposed experts, but the questions he asks are so simple that he could have got the answers quite easily and with far less danger, by consulting a textbook or his scientific colleagues in Oxford or Cambridge. Besides which, the answers given by the "experts" are not always correct, although this may be required by the plot.
ESPAÑOL: Esta novela puede considerarse compuesta por dos libros diferentes. El primero es una biografía alternativa, en el sentido en que se suele hablar de historia alternativa. La identidad de la persona biografiada (un escritor famoso) es transparente, aunque nunca se le nombra en el libro, excepto a través de un alias que también es transparente. El elemento alternativo de la biografía es el hecho de que el libro que le hizo famoso en la vida real no lo escribe, sino que lo descubre, por lo que su novela sería verdadera. No diré nada más sobre esto, para que los posibles lectores puedan disfrutar descubriéndolo por sí mismos.
La aparición de algunos de los colegas del escritor y otros personajes famosos contemporáneos (especialmente Chesterton, C.S. Lewis y Owen Barfield) está bien gestionada. Los personajes que los representan son fieles a la realidad, al menos tal como yo me los imagino.
Junto con lo anterior, se entrelaza un libro diferente. El personaje principal ya no es una persona real ligeramente modificada, sino un personaje ficticio enfrentado a un supervillano, el jefe de una organización internacional que quiere convertirse en Dueño del Mundo. Esta parte de la trama es fascinante, pero es poco plausible y se aparta cada vez más de la primera visión de la novela.
Hay algunos anacronismos y problemas científicos en la trama. Me parece increíble que el personaje principal no haya oído hablar de Einstein en 1930, aunque él no sea científico. Las ideas de Gödel están mal representadas; y en la fecha en que se discuten en la novela (1930), Gödel era un desconocido.
El personaje principal viaja extensa y peligrosamente por toda Europa para consultar a supuestos expertos, pero las preguntas que les hace son tan simples, que podría haber obtenido las respuestas con más facilidad y menos peligro consultando un libro de texto o a alguno de sus colegas científicos de Oxford y Cambridge. Además, las respuestas que le dan los "expertos" no siempre son correctas, aunque sí son las que necesita el guión.
The presence of some of the writer's colleagues and other contemporary celebrities (especially Chesterton, C.S. Lewis and Owen Barfield) is well managed. The characters representing them are true to type, at least as I imagine them.
But together with this, there is a different book. The main character is no longer a slightly modified real person, but a fully fictional personage, involved in a fight against a supervillain, the chief of an international organization, who wants to become Lord of the World. This part of the plot is engrossing, but suffers from lack of plausibility and gets progressively apart from the first vision of the novel.
There are a few anachronisms and scientific problems in the plot. It is unbelievable that the main character would be oblivious of Einstein's name in 1930, even though he was not a scientist. Gödel's ideas are misrepresented; and at the date they are discussed in the novel (1930), Gödel was still unknown.
The main character travels extensibly (and dangerously) throughout Europe, to consult supposed experts, but the questions he asks are so simple that he could have got the answers quite easily and with far less danger, by consulting a textbook or his scientific colleagues in Oxford or Cambridge. Besides which, the answers given by the "experts" are not always correct, although this may be required by the plot.
ESPAÑOL: Esta novela puede considerarse compuesta por dos libros diferentes. El primero es una biografía alternativa, en el sentido en que se suele hablar de historia alternativa. La identidad de la persona biografiada (un escritor famoso) es transparente, aunque nunca se le nombra en el libro, excepto a través de un alias que también es transparente. El elemento alternativo de la biografía es el hecho de que el libro que le hizo famoso en la vida real no lo escribe, sino que lo descubre, por lo que su novela sería verdadera. No diré nada más sobre esto, para que los posibles lectores puedan disfrutar descubriéndolo por sí mismos.
La aparición de algunos de los colegas del escritor y otros personajes famosos contemporáneos (especialmente Chesterton, C.S. Lewis y Owen Barfield) está bien gestionada. Los personajes que los representan son fieles a la realidad, al menos tal como yo me los imagino.
Junto con lo anterior, se entrelaza un libro diferente. El personaje principal ya no es una persona real ligeramente modificada, sino un personaje ficticio enfrentado a un supervillano, el jefe de una organización internacional que quiere convertirse en Dueño del Mundo. Esta parte de la trama es fascinante, pero es poco plausible y se aparta cada vez más de la primera visión de la novela.
Hay algunos anacronismos y problemas científicos en la trama. Me parece increíble que el personaje principal no haya oído hablar de Einstein en 1930, aunque él no sea científico. Las ideas de Gödel están mal representadas; y en la fecha en que se discuten en la novela (1930), Gödel era un desconocido.
El personaje principal viaja extensa y peligrosamente por toda Europa para consultar a supuestos expertos, pero las preguntas que les hace son tan simples, que podría haber obtenido las respuestas con más facilidad y menos peligro consultando un libro de texto o a alguno de sus colegas científicos de Oxford y Cambridge. Además, las respuestas que le dan los "expertos" no siempre son correctas, aunque sí son las que necesita el guión.
January 5, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyable! Mystery, history, The Inklings, philosophy - so much to like. It was so much fun to recognize familiar and much-loved characters. My only criticism is that the author uses some American words and phrases that an English man simply wouldn't say. A great read though!
January 28, 2019
Wonderful! Absolutely Amazing!
August 3, 2011
Won this in a goodreads giveaway and I am so glad I did.
The publisher and a few other reviewers have summarized the story very well so let me give my impressions.
After I read the first chapter I had this urge to get a cup of tea and curl up in my favorite chair to immerse myself in "the story". I was hooked. The story was well paced and the characters clearly drawn. The suspense gradually built to the hoped for ending without being "over the top". Another reviewer compared it to a "DaVinci Code" like story. I would rather say it was more like a followup saga to an "Indiana Jones" story- revealing the kind of research and possible repercussions AFTER finding an ancient artifact. This is really a thinking person's adventure peopled with fictionalized real writers of the day.
Since our main character's compatriots were introduced on a first name only basis I had to go to the internet and find out more about these literary philosophers-the "Inklings". The way the author blended fact and fiction here was intriguing and worked for me.
There were several times as I read that I noted page numbers so I could go back to some quote or philosophical argument later. The book begs to be discussed with others. The ideologies of pre WWII Europe are bandied about by these literary geniuses of the time and many seem so relevant today. Here is a sample
"Men choose whom to believe, and their discernment-sadly-is often less than enlightened. ...Memories are short..the [Nazi] movement's manifesto is comically irrational. Facts are invented, and actual facts are corrupted. Its creed is a jumble of myth and passion...the Nazis claim to be reforming Christianity, purging it of influences that have weakened and corrupted it."
John interrupted him. "There is no creed less compatible with true Christianity than that of Nazism."
"The grand lie is more effective than the little lie." Owen said." pp 344-345
Many conversations revolve around the concept of evil. From page 390:
"Owen says evil is the failure to live freedom well."
"That's an odd way of putting it", E.M. said.
"I thought so too. But the more you think about it, the more sense it makes. The use of freedom-will and action-determines whether outcomes are helpful or harmful. When we use freedom poorly, harmful outcomes occur, for others and for ourselves."
(Check other reviews for more quotes if you like)
In conclusion, you just have to read the book yourself to find more gems and then find someone you know to read it so you can discuss the relevancy of these 1930 ideologies to today.
If you like solid story telling, stimulating discussions on the nature of evil, a really bad guy, and smart characters that are real enough to relate to, you will be thinking of this book for a long time after you finish reading it. If you want fast action, lusty romance, and heart stopping thrills, this won't do it for you, but you will be the poorer for it.
The publisher and a few other reviewers have summarized the story very well so let me give my impressions.
After I read the first chapter I had this urge to get a cup of tea and curl up in my favorite chair to immerse myself in "the story". I was hooked. The story was well paced and the characters clearly drawn. The suspense gradually built to the hoped for ending without being "over the top". Another reviewer compared it to a "DaVinci Code" like story. I would rather say it was more like a followup saga to an "Indiana Jones" story- revealing the kind of research and possible repercussions AFTER finding an ancient artifact. This is really a thinking person's adventure peopled with fictionalized real writers of the day.
Since our main character's compatriots were introduced on a first name only basis I had to go to the internet and find out more about these literary philosophers-the "Inklings". The way the author blended fact and fiction here was intriguing and worked for me.
There were several times as I read that I noted page numbers so I could go back to some quote or philosophical argument later. The book begs to be discussed with others. The ideologies of pre WWII Europe are bandied about by these literary geniuses of the time and many seem so relevant today. Here is a sample
"Men choose whom to believe, and their discernment-sadly-is often less than enlightened. ...Memories are short..the [Nazi] movement's manifesto is comically irrational. Facts are invented, and actual facts are corrupted. Its creed is a jumble of myth and passion...the Nazis claim to be reforming Christianity, purging it of influences that have weakened and corrupted it."
John interrupted him. "There is no creed less compatible with true Christianity than that of Nazism."
"The grand lie is more effective than the little lie." Owen said." pp 344-345
Many conversations revolve around the concept of evil. From page 390:
"Owen says evil is the failure to live freedom well."
"That's an odd way of putting it", E.M. said.
"I thought so too. But the more you think about it, the more sense it makes. The use of freedom-will and action-determines whether outcomes are helpful or harmful. When we use freedom poorly, harmful outcomes occur, for others and for ourselves."
(Check other reviews for more quotes if you like)
In conclusion, you just have to read the book yourself to find more gems and then find someone you know to read it so you can discuss the relevancy of these 1930 ideologies to today.
If you like solid story telling, stimulating discussions on the nature of evil, a really bad guy, and smart characters that are real enough to relate to, you will be thinking of this book for a long time after you finish reading it. If you want fast action, lusty romance, and heart stopping thrills, this won't do it for you, but you will be the poorer for it.
July 28, 2011
COVER ART: B (I liked the Tolkien look.)
ORIGINALITY: A
EXCITEMENT: C
WRITING/DELIVERY: A
OVERALL SCORE: B
RECOMMEND: Anyone who enjoys a sophisticated mystery read. This is a book for adults, meaning someone who only reads the young adult or teen drama genres that are so popular these days will be bored out of their minds.
I thought the story was very well thought out and very well written. It must have taken the author years of research to get his facts straight.
I must admit I had a hard time getting into this book at first, but once the story began to unfold and I got past the first few chapters I found myself enjoying it.
I would have loved to hear more about the actual story that John translated. More about the supermen, the Necromancer and the creatures in that time period.
I am somewhat arachnophobic, so reading about the giant spiders was hard to get through at times, but I'm glad that part wasn't let out of the story. I was fascinated by the poisons and the way Agnes utilized them as a means to eradicate her enemies. Well, as I later learned she wasn't the only one who used this method...
I kept thinking of JRR Tolkien. I am a big fan of his work, and all things Tolkien. Agatha had to be based on the famous mystery author Agatha Christie too.
I loved the mind games the characters played with one another, I loved the mystery and suspense.
Overall great read.
--------------------
After poking around Goodreads, I learned that this book was based on Tolkien and some of the other great authors of the time. So I guess the author did a very good job if I picked up on that before reading it! :)
ORIGINALITY: A
EXCITEMENT: C
WRITING/DELIVERY: A
OVERALL SCORE: B
RECOMMEND: Anyone who enjoys a sophisticated mystery read. This is a book for adults, meaning someone who only reads the young adult or teen drama genres that are so popular these days will be bored out of their minds.
I thought the story was very well thought out and very well written. It must have taken the author years of research to get his facts straight.
I must admit I had a hard time getting into this book at first, but once the story began to unfold and I got past the first few chapters I found myself enjoying it.
I would have loved to hear more about the actual story that John translated. More about the supermen, the Necromancer and the creatures in that time period.
I am somewhat arachnophobic, so reading about the giant spiders was hard to get through at times, but I'm glad that part wasn't let out of the story. I was fascinated by the poisons and the way Agnes utilized them as a means to eradicate her enemies. Well, as I later learned she wasn't the only one who used this method...
I kept thinking of JRR Tolkien. I am a big fan of his work, and all things Tolkien. Agatha had to be based on the famous mystery author Agatha Christie too.
I loved the mind games the characters played with one another, I loved the mystery and suspense.
Overall great read.
--------------------
After poking around Goodreads, I learned that this book was based on Tolkien and some of the other great authors of the time. So I guess the author did a very good job if I picked up on that before reading it! :)
July 19, 2011
I received this through Goodreads’ “Giveaways” program. Thank you very much to all involved with that!
This was an interesting mystery read for me, especially the second half of the book. I liked the approach the author used of focusing on an individual day (occasionally two) in each chapter, jumping ahead days, months, or years in between the portrayed events.
The writing was solid mixing the mystery with philosophical discussions, yet keeping them at a level the casual reader (i.e. me) can understand without having read much on them previously. I suppose these could be a bit too simplistic for a more knowledgeable reader, so if you are of that bent keep that in mind before reading.
There is one bit of too obvious foreshadowing, I mean really, really obvious…however it did not ruin the story for me by any stretch.
Even though I read LOTR/Narnia/etc… I had never bothered to learn much about Tolkien and his compatriots so it took me a bit to catch on as to who some of the major players were – I had a nice “duh” moment at one point. Even missing that part of the experience, I still enjoyed the book.
This was an interesting mystery read for me, especially the second half of the book. I liked the approach the author used of focusing on an individual day (occasionally two) in each chapter, jumping ahead days, months, or years in between the portrayed events.
The writing was solid mixing the mystery with philosophical discussions, yet keeping them at a level the casual reader (i.e. me) can understand without having read much on them previously. I suppose these could be a bit too simplistic for a more knowledgeable reader, so if you are of that bent keep that in mind before reading.
There is one bit of too obvious foreshadowing, I mean really, really obvious…however it did not ruin the story for me by any stretch.
Even though I read LOTR/Narnia/etc… I had never bothered to learn much about Tolkien and his compatriots so it took me a bit to catch on as to who some of the major players were – I had a nice “duh” moment at one point. Even missing that part of the experience, I still enjoyed the book.
June 15, 2011
Though I haven't finished, I can only say it's giving me the deep pull, and restless satisfaction of the best of stories, wound round the peculiar undertones of Chesterton, Tolkien, Hopkins--yet in its own breath. There are points at which its construction and prose feel too inclined to tell. Yet the directness also leaves room to listen, and imagine--I found it both frustrating and apt. Frustrating, because at times these characters--whose voices I know so well from their writing and stories--seemed bland, or muffled. But apt in that the author seems wise not to push too much interpretation or caricature on these giants of 20th century literary history. I won't give away who they are. But ultimately, this remained a taut read, intelligent, and brilliant at its turning of perspective on the tale of the two great wars, and the writing of The Ring's epic.
March 1, 2013
Set in England during the inter-war years, this book purports to tell the story of how J.R.R. Tolkien came to write "The Lord of the Rings." It is a fantasy-adventure story, in which he triumphs over deadly foes, with the help of his trusty friends.
I've read a number of other books that take classic literary works as their starting point, and while they have merits, they normally rely too much on the original story, and don't provide much of their own. This book has some of that problem, but overall, I think the author does a much better job of both presenting Tolkien's ideas and his own. He is clearly interested in philosophy, and how it shaped the 20th century, and he does a good job of integrating this into a fictional format. However, the book sometimes comes across as a work of non-fiction, and the characters aren't drawn as well as they could be.
I've read a number of other books that take classic literary works as their starting point, and while they have merits, they normally rely too much on the original story, and don't provide much of their own. This book has some of that problem, but overall, I think the author does a much better job of both presenting Tolkien's ideas and his own. He is clearly interested in philosophy, and how it shaped the 20th century, and he does a good job of integrating this into a fictional format. However, the book sometimes comes across as a work of non-fiction, and the characters aren't drawn as well as they could be.
January 8, 2014
An interesting thought provoking novel that puts a possible new spin on the life of J.R.R. Tolkien and his works.
All that I knew going in to this was that this was a special book and that a Tolkien fan should enjoy it. I didn't realize that the book itself was, in a way, about the man himself. A fun fictional piece that follows John through his life guided by an amazing discovery. There's action, espionage, and mystery aplenty in this novel and I'll leave it at that as I don't want to spoil it to much. The characters are vibrant and unique and the occasional appearance of other historical figures is also very cool.
Overall, and enjoyable read that I would recommend to other fans of Tolkien especially if you've read any biographical material on the man and have a rudimentary knowledge of his major works: The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.
All that I knew going in to this was that this was a special book and that a Tolkien fan should enjoy it. I didn't realize that the book itself was, in a way, about the man himself. A fun fictional piece that follows John through his life guided by an amazing discovery. There's action, espionage, and mystery aplenty in this novel and I'll leave it at that as I don't want to spoil it to much. The characters are vibrant and unique and the occasional appearance of other historical figures is also very cool.
Overall, and enjoyable read that I would recommend to other fans of Tolkien especially if you've read any biographical material on the man and have a rudimentary knowledge of his major works: The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.
December 15, 2011
It seems strange, now that I've finished this book, that it took me almost half of the entire book to realize who "John Hill" (the protagonist) was a roman a clef for. It would totally ruin it if I mentioned it, so I won't!!
But this is one of those incredibly clever books that come out of nowhere and makes one wonder: where has this book been, and why have I not heard of it? Now, I must admit that the author, T.M. Doran, is a bit wordy, and he does get very caught up in sub-plots that invariably lead to dead ends. The reader is either given too much information, or not enough.
I guess, for myself, it's simply enough to know that... it COULD have happened this way.... and that I prefer to believe that it did.
But this is one of those incredibly clever books that come out of nowhere and makes one wonder: where has this book been, and why have I not heard of it? Now, I must admit that the author, T.M. Doran, is a bit wordy, and he does get very caught up in sub-plots that invariably lead to dead ends. The reader is either given too much information, or not enough.
I guess, for myself, it's simply enough to know that... it COULD have happened this way.... and that I prefer to believe that it did.
June 25, 2011
This is book is so good because it feels so old. All the quotations fall just so, and there are very few false notes to be detected. That's important because the book is set amongst some of the British literary luminaries of the early 20th century Lewis, Tolkien, Williams, Christie...and they all play a fairly integral part in the plot. It's like, what if you put "National Treasure", CS Lewis, Michael Card, and PD James in a blender!! Think Da Vinci Code excitement, without the slovenly intellectual drivel that Dan Brown tries to pass off as scholarship. It does end a tad abruptly, but I say bravo on this 1st try at using the Inklings as Crime Solving Mystery Team.
July 4, 2011
Reading this book, I was waiting for some big "wow" stuff to happen. That is what the hype seemed to promise, as well as reviews I had read. But if there isn't a huge apocalyptic event, there is a constant building of drama that sucks you into the urgency of the events. Thinking about it days later still, and in retrospect it grows on me even more.
October 22, 2013
Very sweet read so far. Roughly 100 pages in.
2 days later...
Now finished.
It is well worth while,with mysteries, riddles, allusions and direct connections to literary figures. It is a lot of fun and at times invokes life at its richest.
2 days later...
Now finished.
It is well worth while,with mysteries, riddles, allusions and direct connections to literary figures. It is a lot of fun and at times invokes life at its richest.
November 9, 2012
The story was interesting but I would have wanted to hear more about what was in the book then all the philosophy that was written about . A good ending.
December 8, 2011
Fun and fast read.
January 9, 2015
A fairly enjoyable read. Although this is not a fantasy novel, it will probably appeal to Tolkein fans. The writing style and philosophies in the book remind of Michael O'Brien's works.
July 26, 2025
A philologist's search for the meaning and provenance of a mysterious book that seems to predate civilization, while a genius, amoral enemy tries to snatch it from him, all with a Catholic flavor: how could that go wrong?
For me, what went wrong was the MacGuffin book, and the fact that it became a MacGuffin. The origin of the book, the content of the book, should make John (its finder) ponder, but it seems he simply accepts his initial feeling: this book is from an ancient, unknown civilization, beyond recorded history. Much of the novel involves John visiting various experts to reinforce what he already thinks.
A second point is that John is apparently obsessed with this book and his translation of it, yet we rarely, if ever, see him at work on it: the work happens "off-screen," as it were. We are barely even told what the book discusses. The novel is fragmented into little episodes, most of them stretching across a decade, a decade in which John's obsession with the book apparently injures his family life, but we are simply told this. We see his wife angry with him, but we don't know enough of his actions to know if she's justified in her feelings.
The book's existence and provenance seem like they should arouse philosophical discussions, and we do get a few. (The dust jacket describes the author as fascinated with 20th-century ideologies.) However, most of these discussions are little "bottle episodes," with little influence on the plot and the characters. A short conversation with a Marxist student goes nearly nowhere; a bit of phenomenology with Edith Stein, followed by a meeting with a Nazi, are likewise of little account.
(The mention of Stein brings up a Forrest Gump quality in the work: John keeps running into famous figures, generally only identified by first names, but still obvious. He meets Chesterton, Lewis (referred to by his nickname "Jack"), Owen Barfield, Edith Stein, and Agatha Christie, at least. This is a bit more explainable once you realize that )
The book's ancient provenance spurs a dangerous man to desire it, and it is the complicated and far-reaching struggle with this man that becomes the real driving plot of the novel. This conflict is a bit watered-down with the cameos, nibbles of philosophy, and other bits, but, when it picks up, it is by far the most effective and interesting part of the novel.
Though the mysterious book is an interesting hook for a story, the frustrating shallowness in the description of it and its contents makes it too bare a hook, and the various strands of story simply trail off of it, without weaving together into a satisfying whole. There were the seeds of strong novels here (an academic obsession ruining a family; a startling discovery shaking a man's faith and philosophical convictions; the struggle to keep powerful knowledge out of the hands of dangerous men), but each shoot was too choked by its neighbors to be able to grow tall.
(I will mention two positives, though. First is the beautiful cover art by the marvelous Daniel Mitsui. Second is that the writing itself is quite good. Scientists are often derided as being poor prosaists, but the author, a former engineering professor, proves the stereotype wrong.)
For me, what went wrong was the MacGuffin book, and the fact that it became a MacGuffin. The origin of the book, the content of the book, should make John (its finder) ponder, but it seems he simply accepts his initial feeling: this book is from an ancient, unknown civilization, beyond recorded history. Much of the novel involves John visiting various experts to reinforce what he already thinks.
A second point is that John is apparently obsessed with this book and his translation of it, yet we rarely, if ever, see him at work on it: the work happens "off-screen," as it were. We are barely even told what the book discusses. The novel is fragmented into little episodes, most of them stretching across a decade, a decade in which John's obsession with the book apparently injures his family life, but we are simply told this. We see his wife angry with him, but we don't know enough of his actions to know if she's justified in her feelings.
The book's existence and provenance seem like they should arouse philosophical discussions, and we do get a few. (The dust jacket describes the author as fascinated with 20th-century ideologies.) However, most of these discussions are little "bottle episodes," with little influence on the plot and the characters. A short conversation with a Marxist student goes nearly nowhere; a bit of phenomenology with Edith Stein, followed by a meeting with a Nazi, are likewise of little account.
(The mention of Stein brings up a Forrest Gump quality in the work: John keeps running into famous figures, generally only identified by first names, but still obvious. He meets Chesterton, Lewis (referred to by his nickname "Jack"), Owen Barfield, Edith Stein, and Agatha Christie, at least. This is a bit more explainable once you realize that )
The book's ancient provenance spurs a dangerous man to desire it, and it is the complicated and far-reaching struggle with this man that becomes the real driving plot of the novel. This conflict is a bit watered-down with the cameos, nibbles of philosophy, and other bits, but, when it picks up, it is by far the most effective and interesting part of the novel.
Though the mysterious book is an interesting hook for a story, the frustrating shallowness in the description of it and its contents makes it too bare a hook, and the various strands of story simply trail off of it, without weaving together into a satisfying whole. There were the seeds of strong novels here (an academic obsession ruining a family; a startling discovery shaking a man's faith and philosophical convictions; the struggle to keep powerful knowledge out of the hands of dangerous men), but each shoot was too choked by its neighbors to be able to grow tall.
(I will mention two positives, though. First is the beautiful cover art by the marvelous Daniel Mitsui. Second is that the writing itself is quite good. Scientists are often derided as being poor prosaists, but the author, a former engineering professor, proves the stereotype wrong.)
February 22, 2019
Enigmatic
This is a book that demands to be re-read. First, because the ironies in the story and its setting are not evident in first reading, and the parallels with our own time deserve more reflection. Also because the story is so compelling that important details may be glossed over. The time and place mark a significant transitional point in human history, as does our own time and place, when the future of many nations and their peoples hang on the decisions being made by important behind-the-scenes manipulators shadowing the recognized leaders of these nations, and the ability of ordinary folk, who find themselves suddenly facing decisions thrust upon them to perform extraordinary deeds, that may or may not save their people, deeds which may or may not mean sacrificing everything the ordinary folk hold dear, in order for the good guys to prevail over the bad guys. Finally, some of these characters in the novel are based on real people of the time, and the clues are not always apparent on first reading, and in the end, significant more to the serious reader while not necessary to a more casual reader who simply likes a good story, especially one laced with mystery, suspense, and romance.
The period between World Wars I and II was a period of uneasy peace, when the major power players in Europe were regrouping for a new struggle for world domination, and the intellectual players--journalists, writers, and teachers--waged their own ideological battles for influence. The greater mass of people merely wanted to live in peace and earn a good living inside their comfort zones once they had rebuilt and repaired their lives following the upheavals of The Great War. Whether their daily struggles are geared to this life or hope for the next, they prefer to let others handle the controls, and leave them in peace. Such peace, as we have experienced in our own time, is brief or illusory at best, and remains ever threatened by the players and collectors who want to control the rest of us and own the things of this world, heedless of where they will end up in the next one.
John Hill, whose real name we aren't given, is Everyman here, moving in and out of those three playing fields. He has compassionate and loyal nature and desires to always do the right thing. He served in the first war, returned wounded and ready to start an ordinary family with his wife and to build a career as a university professor, until an accidental discovery of an ancient and dangerous artifact thrusts him into conflict with evil power players on all these levels --an archetypal situation which has made many an exciting read, timeless and timely, but given a fresh world stage by T.M. Doran with new insights for all readers. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
This is a book that demands to be re-read. First, because the ironies in the story and its setting are not evident in first reading, and the parallels with our own time deserve more reflection. Also because the story is so compelling that important details may be glossed over. The time and place mark a significant transitional point in human history, as does our own time and place, when the future of many nations and their peoples hang on the decisions being made by important behind-the-scenes manipulators shadowing the recognized leaders of these nations, and the ability of ordinary folk, who find themselves suddenly facing decisions thrust upon them to perform extraordinary deeds, that may or may not save their people, deeds which may or may not mean sacrificing everything the ordinary folk hold dear, in order for the good guys to prevail over the bad guys. Finally, some of these characters in the novel are based on real people of the time, and the clues are not always apparent on first reading, and in the end, significant more to the serious reader while not necessary to a more casual reader who simply likes a good story, especially one laced with mystery, suspense, and romance.
The period between World Wars I and II was a period of uneasy peace, when the major power players in Europe were regrouping for a new struggle for world domination, and the intellectual players--journalists, writers, and teachers--waged their own ideological battles for influence. The greater mass of people merely wanted to live in peace and earn a good living inside their comfort zones once they had rebuilt and repaired their lives following the upheavals of The Great War. Whether their daily struggles are geared to this life or hope for the next, they prefer to let others handle the controls, and leave them in peace. Such peace, as we have experienced in our own time, is brief or illusory at best, and remains ever threatened by the players and collectors who want to control the rest of us and own the things of this world, heedless of where they will end up in the next one.
John Hill, whose real name we aren't given, is Everyman here, moving in and out of those three playing fields. He has compassionate and loyal nature and desires to always do the right thing. He served in the first war, returned wounded and ready to start an ordinary family with his wife and to build a career as a university professor, until an accidental discovery of an ancient and dangerous artifact thrusts him into conflict with evil power players on all these levels --an archetypal situation which has made many an exciting read, timeless and timely, but given a fresh world stage by T.M. Doran with new insights for all readers. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
August 6, 2025
I encountered this book at a secondhand store. It was sitting there on the shelf and the cover, title, and pitch intrigued me enough to bring it home. I’m so glad I did.
In all honesty, I’m writing this review a while out after reading it, but I wanted to write one so I could express how much I enjoyed it. It’s an adventure of a story that builds and unfolds on itself in ways I didn’t expect. Historical fiction of a sort, a fun fantasy twist, and weird and interesting philosophical and mystery elements throughout.
I don’t know how to explain it other than I really enjoyed it and something about the writing felt almost homey to me. Big fan!
Only giving it 4 stars because I can’t remember the details enough to explain giving it a 5 lol
Edit: I know now it’s supposedly a fantasy/fiction take on Tolkien’s creative process, but honestly it didn’t even register as such to me while I was reading (and I had no foreknowledge of it of course), which I think made it more fun. I personally think comparing it to Tolkien does this book a disservice and it’s probably better read on its own without any such ties… It’s just a fun little tale imo. That’s all! :)
In all honesty, I’m writing this review a while out after reading it, but I wanted to write one so I could express how much I enjoyed it. It’s an adventure of a story that builds and unfolds on itself in ways I didn’t expect. Historical fiction of a sort, a fun fantasy twist, and weird and interesting philosophical and mystery elements throughout.
I don’t know how to explain it other than I really enjoyed it and something about the writing felt almost homey to me. Big fan!
Only giving it 4 stars because I can’t remember the details enough to explain giving it a 5 lol
Edit: I know now it’s supposedly a fantasy/fiction take on Tolkien’s creative process, but honestly it didn’t even register as such to me while I was reading (and I had no foreknowledge of it of course), which I think made it more fun. I personally think comparing it to Tolkien does this book a disservice and it’s probably better read on its own without any such ties… It’s just a fun little tale imo. That’s all! :)
July 27, 2020
Engaging, delightful, and overall very satisfactory. Doran has clearly done his research, and has composed a tale plausible enough to let the reader set aside disbelief and enter in.
There are weaknesses. Chief among these, to my mind, are the somewhat contrived philosophical/worldview bouts between John and his various antagonists, which are frequent and yet don't convey a deep sense of cosmic spiritual conflict like you would find in That Hideous Strength, for example: in short the conflict is "too worldly" and draws too much on John's intellect and fortitude, and too little on his faith. Also at points the narrative is overtly opaque, to conceal information and maintain the mystery; while at other points it explains too much.
But I provide these critiques largely in hope that they'll find their way to the author and that his future books will improve. Because I intend to read them! :D
There are weaknesses. Chief among these, to my mind, are the somewhat contrived philosophical/worldview bouts between John and his various antagonists, which are frequent and yet don't convey a deep sense of cosmic spiritual conflict like you would find in That Hideous Strength, for example: in short the conflict is "too worldly" and draws too much on John's intellect and fortitude, and too little on his faith. Also at points the narrative is overtly opaque, to conceal information and maintain the mystery; while at other points it explains too much.
But I provide these critiques largely in hope that they'll find their way to the author and that his future books will improve. Because I intend to read them! :D
December 2, 2017
An interesting story...It's hard to say much else without spoiling it (don't read the other reviews on Goodreads if you'd like to avoid spoilers.) The conceit of the story held my interest and the plot was decently intense at times. There was a lot of time spent discussing philosophy, though. At times it felt like an imitation of Dostoyevsky or Tolstoy with characters sitting sitting around arguing philosophy and religion. That got a little old, but didn't ruin it for me.
The audio book was really disappointing. I would have given the book three stars, but decided to assume that some of my negative reactions were because of the terribly annoying voices the narrator used, and that since most people would be reading the paper or e-book that I would give it an extra star. However, if you're considering buying the audio book, I'd recommend against it.
The audio book was really disappointing. I would have given the book three stars, but decided to assume that some of my negative reactions were because of the terribly annoying voices the narrator used, and that since most people would be reading the paper or e-book that I would give it an extra star. However, if you're considering buying the audio book, I'd recommend against it.
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