The Imprisoned Splendor

by Stafford Betty

Kiran is a gifted but self-absorbed college professor who grew up in Mumbai. Now working at a leading California university as a professional philosopher, he lives in a marriage of convenience to Lisa, an American, but this comes to an abrupt end on a visit home to India when he dies in a plane crash.

Kiran watches annihilation advance toward him, then the moment of death. To his amazement he finds he's still alive--more alive than ever. Under the guidance of his grandparents, he gradually gets used to his ethereal body and the strange laws, landscapes, cities, and fellow inhabitants of Eidos, a spirit world. But he's not at home there; he's not ready to enjoy it. He undergoes Judgment (but not by a deity) by reliving the events of his selfish life from the point of view of his victims--his students, his fellow workers, above all the women who loved him. Eventually he seeks out Shalini, who committed suicide after he rejected her in favor of her rival, Lisa.

Kiran, facing heavy odds, is assigned the task of rescuing Shalini from her self-made hell in the Shadowlands. Will he succeed -- and if he does, what then? He can't stay where he is. He must move ahead into diviner worlds or "repeat the grade." And what about Shalini? Where will her passion for Kiran take her next?

Stafford Betty is a university professor and an afterlife researcher. He doesn't regard this novel as fantasy fiction. It grew out of his nonfiction book, "The Afterlife Unveiled," published a few months earlier. He believes that our own experiences in the afterworld will be something like Kiran's. "The Imprisoned Splendor" will suggest what probably lies ahead for all of us and entertain you in the process.

This is his fourth novel, the previous one published by Penguin. "The Imprisoned Splendor" is a corrective to pessimistic novels like Camus' "The Stranger." The message here is positive and important.

158 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 2011

About the author

I taught undergraduates religion and philosophy for 35 years before discovering what I came on Earth to do: write books about the meaning of life and beyond. With a Catholic background and a Ph.D. in theology from Fordham University, I was well equipped to do this but had been bogged down by the demands of a professorship. Once freed, the books began to flow, both research books and novels based on the research. My most popular book, The Afterlife Unveiled, describes the word beyond death in the words of those who are there. The Womanpriest, my latest book, a novel set in the future, tells the story of the first female pope and the radical changes she brings to the Catholic Church. It will offend strict traditionalists but reward progressives who, like me, are never quite satisfied with things the way they are and are eager to make them better. I have five children, three of whom are very close to me and keep me young, and my wife keeps me solidly grounded in the reality of the moment.

Reviews

[Sonja · Rating 4 out of 5]

The opening was very fast paced and really drew me in. The portion after his arrival to his afterlife wasn't quite as "exciting", although with a subject such as this I don't think I'd want it to be. I found myself rereading many passages to solidify my understanding of this view of an afterlife. I especially liked the bibliography at the end, now I can explore more on this subject. If nothing else this book has opened my eyes to another option at the end of my life. I will recommend this book to all my reader friends

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this thru Library Thing Early Reviews and it is unlike anything I have ever read before. It follows a man, Kiran, who dies and enters into the first step of Eidos; which is heaven. He learns a lot from what type of person he was on earth and the choices that he made. The book also has the main character going thru Judgment, which I thought was well done. He also faces Shadow lands, which is like Purgatory to help a friend and try to make up for what he did wrong on Earth. This was a very quick read, but I do like the plot of the story and found myself not wanting to put it down. I like books like this that ponder the unknown.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story follows a man named Kiran who is a college professor. He dies suddenly in a plane crash and wakes up in Eidos which is heaven. Here he is to stay until he is strong enough to face his judgment. He is to live through all the humilation and hurt he caused people on earth.

I only gave this book three stars because it just didn't hold my interest. I felt like at times the story bogged down. It also reminded me too much of What Dreams May Come, which I loved.

[Maribeth]

I seem to have had the same experience as others. This book has sat on my nightstand for a few months now and although I started it I can not make myself pick it back up with so many other books to choose from. Maybe someday- but i can't finish it now.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its a fictional NDE book. It is a compilation of research of NDE's written as a story of one. It's okay, I just prefer the real thing.