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Chasing Shadows: Back to Barterra
Obama is inaugurated. Russians are intent on restarting the Cold War. The boundaries between fantasy and reality are blurred in this prophetic book. is the murder of the last Romanov a key to the future? What happened to Anastasia? Do we forget as much history as we recollect? If so, this book tries to help Americans remember.
- GenresFiction
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 13, 2012
1 person is currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
John Mark Reynolds
23 books35 followersDr. John Mark Reynolds is the President of The Saint Constantine School and Saint Constantine College.
Prior to founding Saint Constantine, Reynolds was the Provost of Houston Baptist University. While there, Reynolds helped start several academic initiatives including a cinema department and a graduate apologetics program.
Dr. Reynolds was founder and director of the Torrey Honors Institute, and Professor of Philosophy at Biola University. The Torrey Honors Institute is an exemplary liberal arts and biblical studies program that utilizes the Great Books and Socratic dialogue educational models.
Dr. Reynolds holds an MA and PhD in Philosophy from the University of Rochester where he concentrated in philosophy of religion, ancient philosophy, and epistemology. He graduated with honors from Roberts Wesleyan University and earned a Bible diploma from Elim Bible Institute.
Prior to founding Saint Constantine, Reynolds was the Provost of Houston Baptist University. While there, Reynolds helped start several academic initiatives including a cinema department and a graduate apologetics program.
Dr. Reynolds was founder and director of the Torrey Honors Institute, and Professor of Philosophy at Biola University. The Torrey Honors Institute is an exemplary liberal arts and biblical studies program that utilizes the Great Books and Socratic dialogue educational models.
Dr. Reynolds holds an MA and PhD in Philosophy from the University of Rochester where he concentrated in philosophy of religion, ancient philosophy, and epistemology. He graduated with honors from Roberts Wesleyan University and earned a Bible diploma from Elim Bible Institute.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 16, 2012
Intriguing, thought provoking, a little frightening. This book reminded me of something we forget easily in the Western world - the supernatural is very real and there is a battle raging around us in the spiritual world. I finished reading this a few days ago, and I still can't quit thinking about it, asking what parts are fiction, what is real, and what if...
May 22, 2013
This novel is unlike anything I've ever read. I recommend it to the following motley sets of readers, each of whom will be uniquely challenged, puzzled, and delighted:
(In no particular order):
-Fundamentalist Christians (note how Pentecostal Holiness Bible College is used of God, despite being a mixed bag)
-Liberal Christians (note how De Long is used of God, despite being a mixed bag)
-Eastern Orthodox monks & priests (note how Brother Nicholas is used... not of God)
-Transhumanist secular scientists (I'm looking at you, Kurzweil)
-Dungeons and Dragons geeks (note the Dragon Lord)
-C. S. Lewis & Charles Williams lovers (note the Doctrine of Substituted Love)
-Plato nerds (note the chapter titles in relation to the Books of the Republic)
-Also, Russians
Yes, there is something for everyone.
At least, everyone in these sets: If you are none of the above, uh, you might be more puzzled than delighted.
I am a member of quite a few of those sets (though not all--who could be?) and so I have learned a lot, laughed out loud, and at points been touched by moments of surpassing beauty.
The writing is occasionally overly simple, or unclear, or sporadic. But it smooths itself out as the story progresses.
The most interesting feature, I think, is the simultaneous presence of opposites. Herein many genres and many seemingly incompatible literary elements dance together in a sort of riotous and jovial cavalcade. Here (burning in tension) arise together elements of realistic romance (as in realistically cheesy), wild fantasy, sober historical fiction, Platonic dialogue, sincere theological reflection, and personal memoir. The author takes imagination, prayer, rationality, and science incredibly seriously. The author takes himself incredibly lightly. I was amazed by the array -- I was amazed that I eventually acclimated to the mythopoetic kaleidoscope. In the end, I was both pleased and instructed.
So what's it about? A bit of summary:
This is the adventure of Peter Alexis, lowly philosophy professor in Rochester New York. Peter is single, pathetically lovable (think Jon Arbunkle as a Platonist) and turns out to have a secret identity not even he remembers. His chilling dreams of the death of the last Czar of Russia turn out to be not only historically accurate but (in a strange sense) prophetic. He has no time for depression when his life takes an exciting if dangerous upturn. He and his friends (and his high school girlfriend) must stop an intrusion from another world (a world of myth become fact) before an evil lord ascends to global power.
The evil lord seeks to reincarnate an old Russian tyrant (guess who?) in order to use that tyrant's charisma to wreak havoc on the human race. But that is not the only reincarnation -- heaven has sent the youngest daughter (Anastasia) of the last Czar back to earth to help Peter's friends and to clean up some of the mess her family left behind.
Whether the lost memories of Peter Alexis (and the revived soul of Anastasia Romanov) are enough to redeem Russia and save the world, you'll have to read to find out.
(In no particular order):
-Fundamentalist Christians (note how Pentecostal Holiness Bible College is used of God, despite being a mixed bag)
-Liberal Christians (note how De Long is used of God, despite being a mixed bag)
-Eastern Orthodox monks & priests (note how Brother Nicholas is used... not of God)
-Transhumanist secular scientists (I'm looking at you, Kurzweil)
-Dungeons and Dragons geeks (note the Dragon Lord)
-C. S. Lewis & Charles Williams lovers (note the Doctrine of Substituted Love)
-Plato nerds (note the chapter titles in relation to the Books of the Republic)
-Also, Russians
Yes, there is something for everyone.
At least, everyone in these sets: If you are none of the above, uh, you might be more puzzled than delighted.
I am a member of quite a few of those sets (though not all--who could be?) and so I have learned a lot, laughed out loud, and at points been touched by moments of surpassing beauty.
The writing is occasionally overly simple, or unclear, or sporadic. But it smooths itself out as the story progresses.
The most interesting feature, I think, is the simultaneous presence of opposites. Herein many genres and many seemingly incompatible literary elements dance together in a sort of riotous and jovial cavalcade. Here (burning in tension) arise together elements of realistic romance (as in realistically cheesy), wild fantasy, sober historical fiction, Platonic dialogue, sincere theological reflection, and personal memoir. The author takes imagination, prayer, rationality, and science incredibly seriously. The author takes himself incredibly lightly. I was amazed by the array -- I was amazed that I eventually acclimated to the mythopoetic kaleidoscope. In the end, I was both pleased and instructed.
So what's it about? A bit of summary:
This is the adventure of Peter Alexis, lowly philosophy professor in Rochester New York. Peter is single, pathetically lovable (think Jon Arbunkle as a Platonist) and turns out to have a secret identity not even he remembers. His chilling dreams of the death of the last Czar of Russia turn out to be not only historically accurate but (in a strange sense) prophetic. He has no time for depression when his life takes an exciting if dangerous upturn. He and his friends (and his high school girlfriend) must stop an intrusion from another world (a world of myth become fact) before an evil lord ascends to global power.
The evil lord seeks to reincarnate an old Russian tyrant (guess who?) in order to use that tyrant's charisma to wreak havoc on the human race. But that is not the only reincarnation -- heaven has sent the youngest daughter (Anastasia) of the last Czar back to earth to help Peter's friends and to clean up some of the mess her family left behind.
Whether the lost memories of Peter Alexis (and the revived soul of Anastasia Romanov) are enough to redeem Russia and save the world, you'll have to read to find out.
January 4, 2015
Some of it is true.
March 15, 2014
NOTE: I Received a review copy of this book from the author.
I will admit that I was skeptical of the premise of Chasing Shadows: Back to Barterra, but Dr. Reynolds' work quickly earned my admiration. In fact, Chasing Shadows: Back to Barterra has become one of my favorite books of the year. A blend of the supernatural and the scientific, entrenched in fantasy yet anchored to reality, the novel is thrilling and engaging from its start to its close. Dr. Reynolds has bookended the tale with a compelling preface and intriguing epilogue, each of which makes the reader question all the book contains (similarly to C.S. Lewis' afterword in Out of the Silent Planet). In the end, Chasing Shadows: Back to Barterra left me with a very invigorating thought: given the power of God, it is very conceivable and highly likely that reality is far more grand, complex, and--dare I say--in a sense "magical" than I have allowed myself to believe.
The novel has that effect. As one whose beliefs align with those of the author in many ways, I was moved by his language and nuanced understanding of phenomena beyond the world we see. Certain books connect with us for very specific reasons, and I think the reason that Chasing Shadows: Back to Barterra had such an impact on me is that it bears the fingerprints of so much I already cherished, but it has made those elements coalesce in a new type of work all its own. I could pinpoint moments of inspiration wrought from Joss Whedon, J.R.R. Tolkien, as well as the aforementioned Lewis, and I adored Reynolds' willingness to wear these and other influences on his sleeve while still maintaining a unique voice unto himself.
Which I suppose is an important part of recommending any novel, the style and story. Chasing Shadows: Back to Barterra features an array of interesting characters including dark lords, aging professors, evangelists, and dragons--all drawn into a conflict that stretches across two worlds. I do not want to speak too much regarding the plot, as I fear I may spoil developments that I found surprising but fitting (many of them led me to "of course" moments of realization), but I will say that the novel is well-written and will likely contain something of value or connection for nearly any adult who reads it.
But I feel this description does it little justice. Indeed, Chasing Shadows: Back to Barterra is hard to discuss without revealing too much, and this brings to mind an old adage in the filmmaking industry: great movies make poor trailers. I would have to say the same for the book. A brief summary cannot capture the awe, the wonder, the reverence, and the thrill-ride encapsulated in this novel. I had a wonderful experience reading Chasing Shadows: Back to Barterra, and I fully intend to read it again.
I will admit that I was skeptical of the premise of Chasing Shadows: Back to Barterra, but Dr. Reynolds' work quickly earned my admiration. In fact, Chasing Shadows: Back to Barterra has become one of my favorite books of the year. A blend of the supernatural and the scientific, entrenched in fantasy yet anchored to reality, the novel is thrilling and engaging from its start to its close. Dr. Reynolds has bookended the tale with a compelling preface and intriguing epilogue, each of which makes the reader question all the book contains (similarly to C.S. Lewis' afterword in Out of the Silent Planet). In the end, Chasing Shadows: Back to Barterra left me with a very invigorating thought: given the power of God, it is very conceivable and highly likely that reality is far more grand, complex, and--dare I say--in a sense "magical" than I have allowed myself to believe.
The novel has that effect. As one whose beliefs align with those of the author in many ways, I was moved by his language and nuanced understanding of phenomena beyond the world we see. Certain books connect with us for very specific reasons, and I think the reason that Chasing Shadows: Back to Barterra had such an impact on me is that it bears the fingerprints of so much I already cherished, but it has made those elements coalesce in a new type of work all its own. I could pinpoint moments of inspiration wrought from Joss Whedon, J.R.R. Tolkien, as well as the aforementioned Lewis, and I adored Reynolds' willingness to wear these and other influences on his sleeve while still maintaining a unique voice unto himself.
Which I suppose is an important part of recommending any novel, the style and story. Chasing Shadows: Back to Barterra features an array of interesting characters including dark lords, aging professors, evangelists, and dragons--all drawn into a conflict that stretches across two worlds. I do not want to speak too much regarding the plot, as I fear I may spoil developments that I found surprising but fitting (many of them led me to "of course" moments of realization), but I will say that the novel is well-written and will likely contain something of value or connection for nearly any adult who reads it.
But I feel this description does it little justice. Indeed, Chasing Shadows: Back to Barterra is hard to discuss without revealing too much, and this brings to mind an old adage in the filmmaking industry: great movies make poor trailers. I would have to say the same for the book. A brief summary cannot capture the awe, the wonder, the reverence, and the thrill-ride encapsulated in this novel. I had a wonderful experience reading Chasing Shadows: Back to Barterra, and I fully intend to read it again.
July 9, 2015
I really wanted to give this book five stars. If I'd come in knowing nothing but the title, it's a solid five. But knowing the author and how both profoundly hilarious and hilariously profound he is, I think my expectations were skewed too high.
That's not to say Chasing Shadows is missing laugh-out-loud moments or snatches of prose that take your breath away. Not at all. It's like watching Steph Curry put up 30 points. It's ... wow, but you leave wishing you'd seen something better than wow--something transcendent.
And maybe I missed the transcendence, because this isn't a simple book. If you want simple go read Grisham. There's a lot going on under the surface that I'm sure if I'd just read Plato I'd be picking up on. As it is, I'll probably do a re-read in a few months and maybe bump it up a star in spite of the fact that the prose is sometimes a bit clunky. (I know, that's a horribly vague criticism, but it's something you feel more than you can pin down.)
It sets up to be continued. Would I read Part II? Absolutely. (I want to see more of Barterra.) That's a pretty good yardstick for measuring any book. What the heck, I'll just bump it up to a five now and save myself some time later.
That's not to say Chasing Shadows is missing laugh-out-loud moments or snatches of prose that take your breath away. Not at all. It's like watching Steph Curry put up 30 points. It's ... wow, but you leave wishing you'd seen something better than wow--something transcendent.
And maybe I missed the transcendence, because this isn't a simple book. If you want simple go read Grisham. There's a lot going on under the surface that I'm sure if I'd just read Plato I'd be picking up on. As it is, I'll probably do a re-read in a few months and maybe bump it up a star in spite of the fact that the prose is sometimes a bit clunky. (I know, that's a horribly vague criticism, but it's something you feel more than you can pin down.)
It sets up to be continued. Would I read Part II? Absolutely. (I want to see more of Barterra.) That's a pretty good yardstick for measuring any book. What the heck, I'll just bump it up to a five now and save myself some time later.
January 30, 2013
This is a very well-written and engaging novel. The author sets up his story well and within the first two chapters, I was hooked and turning pages quickly in order to find out what would follow. It is easy for the reader to see what writers have influenced the author, specifically Charles Williams, Dante, C. S. Lewis and Plato. These allusions and references work well in this book and with these characters. It is also quite clear that the author is an academic and that he enjoyed writing this story as it gave him the opportunity to write characters that work in higher education. One minor quip I have is that the first half of the book is fraught with typos and misspellings (I didn't notice any in the second half, but I was also more engaged with the text.). I look forward to the next volume and hope that the author continues to improve his craft.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews