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Time Pieces #1
Vessel of Fire
When archaeologist, Dr Lem Fort begins excavating the ruins of ancient Beit Sha’al, he unknowingly delves into the long-ago life of a young girl and potter, Tamar. Set across both contemporary times and the second century, Vessel of Fire draws a picture of life on the northwest corner of the Dead Sea during one of Judaism’s bravest and riskiest revolts against Rome. Tamar’s uncertainties, fears, and spiritual questions are not, in the end, that different from those of Ford who struggles with his own losses and temptations.
Vessel of Fire is the first book of the Time Pieces trilogy in which author Elena Tucker profiles a century of almost unthinkably different daily existence. It was a time of simplicity in the midst of unrest, a time when strict and established ways were turning inside out because of small communities today called Christian.
Yet the essence of life then was no different than it is today. And as he excavates three sites, archaeologist Lem Fort handles every coin, vessel, and sherd as his last connection with some long-forgotten individual; Fort recognizes these artifacts as pieces from time.
Far from empty remnants, Tucker's “vessels” brim with imagination, soul, and period experiences. Breaking away from traditional Christian fiction, Vessel of Fire, Vessel of Strength, and Vessel of Hope follow humanity's ongoing spiritual quest - as experienced by characters two millennia past, and by the archaeologist who sifts through their ruins.
Elena Tucker is an award-winning feature writer for a small-town Texas newspaper. She participated in her first archaeological excavation almost 30 years ago with her husband, a career Near East historian and archaeologist.
Vessel of Fire is the first book of the Time Pieces trilogy in which author Elena Tucker profiles a century of almost unthinkably different daily existence. It was a time of simplicity in the midst of unrest, a time when strict and established ways were turning inside out because of small communities today called Christian.
Yet the essence of life then was no different than it is today. And as he excavates three sites, archaeologist Lem Fort handles every coin, vessel, and sherd as his last connection with some long-forgotten individual; Fort recognizes these artifacts as pieces from time.
Far from empty remnants, Tucker's “vessels” brim with imagination, soul, and period experiences. Breaking away from traditional Christian fiction, Vessel of Fire, Vessel of Strength, and Vessel of Hope follow humanity's ongoing spiritual quest - as experienced by characters two millennia past, and by the archaeologist who sifts through their ruins.
Elena Tucker is an award-winning feature writer for a small-town Texas newspaper. She participated in her first archaeological excavation almost 30 years ago with her husband, a career Near East historian and archaeologist.
157 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 23, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 11, 2014
Excellent juxtaposition of historical and current life
I liked the contrast and yet similarity between the distant past and the present. The reverence for both Judaism and Christianity was well done. The continuity of human life with its joys and grief ties the vastly different time periods together.
I liked the contrast and yet similarity between the distant past and the present. The reverence for both Judaism and Christianity was well done. The continuity of human life with its joys and grief ties the vastly different time periods together.
February 21, 2017
Review: Vessel of Fire by Elena Tucker.
Elena Tucker’s first book of her Time Pieces Trilogy which I thought was well written with enjoyable characters. She participated in an archaeological excavation about thirty years ago with her husband. When writing her story she did have some knowledge about archaeology and created an interesting story. This is a story of ancient and current characters who struggle with shared cultures united by the space of time. As you read you’ll go back and forth between the past and the present with interest and be amazed at the end how the two stories are related.
Vessel of Fire describes life centuries ago, the year C.E. 131, and a small village in the Holy Land near the Dead Sea during one of Judaism’s bravest and riskiest revolts against Rome. This is where fifth teen year old Tamar helped her father over the years as a potter apprentice. Her father was a wise man and when the Roman soldiers were headed to his village he placed all his coins in a vessel and buried it deep under his outdoor kiln oven and left it there. His family and the village people took some essential, packed up and travel on foot to mountains far away to hide in the caves. The higher they went the harder it was for the Romans to get to them. They weren’t there long when Tamar sneaked out during the night to head back to their village and hid in a cave she found before they left that no one knew about. Sometimes she and her family did not get along so she would go to that cave for tranquility. There are more scenes of violence and death of the ancient village people and how their story ended embedded throughout the book.
In this same area century’s later Archaeologist, Dr. Lem Fort begins excavating the ruins of ancient Beit Sha’al where he digs, literally into the past life of Tamar and her family. They were excavating in three locations in that area. Elena Tucker did a great job describing the procedures of the archaeologists and there findings. I was fascinated with the pottery and hand made tools they found and amazed how some of the items were in good shape after so many years buried in the dry soil of the land. Some of these items told a good amount of ancient history of the past people and cultures.
Elena Tucker’s first book of her Time Pieces Trilogy which I thought was well written with enjoyable characters. She participated in an archaeological excavation about thirty years ago with her husband. When writing her story she did have some knowledge about archaeology and created an interesting story. This is a story of ancient and current characters who struggle with shared cultures united by the space of time. As you read you’ll go back and forth between the past and the present with interest and be amazed at the end how the two stories are related.
Vessel of Fire describes life centuries ago, the year C.E. 131, and a small village in the Holy Land near the Dead Sea during one of Judaism’s bravest and riskiest revolts against Rome. This is where fifth teen year old Tamar helped her father over the years as a potter apprentice. Her father was a wise man and when the Roman soldiers were headed to his village he placed all his coins in a vessel and buried it deep under his outdoor kiln oven and left it there. His family and the village people took some essential, packed up and travel on foot to mountains far away to hide in the caves. The higher they went the harder it was for the Romans to get to them. They weren’t there long when Tamar sneaked out during the night to head back to their village and hid in a cave she found before they left that no one knew about. Sometimes she and her family did not get along so she would go to that cave for tranquility. There are more scenes of violence and death of the ancient village people and how their story ended embedded throughout the book.
In this same area century’s later Archaeologist, Dr. Lem Fort begins excavating the ruins of ancient Beit Sha’al where he digs, literally into the past life of Tamar and her family. They were excavating in three locations in that area. Elena Tucker did a great job describing the procedures of the archaeologists and there findings. I was fascinated with the pottery and hand made tools they found and amazed how some of the items were in good shape after so many years buried in the dry soil of the land. Some of these items told a good amount of ancient history of the past people and cultures.
June 26, 2019
Interesting....I did learn some historical things I was previously hadn't known....but this story was a bit fractured for me. It takes place in the now and then at the same time, which is usually a fun thing to read, but this book seemed like 2 totally different stories (both interesting and good in their own right) but they never seemed to really intersect for me other than the archaeological dig where this story is centered. The 2 main characters of both eras didn't meld together and have any big significant connection emotionally at least for me. Like I said the 2 separate stories were on their own good and interesting to follow, but put together didn't do much for me. Great historical subject to read about and learn from though.
November 8, 2017
Great writing
I don't usually like stories that switch between different groups of people and times, but this is done with brief vignettes that fit together perfectly so that there is no confusion. A wonderful story about an awful time in history because God goes with us.
I don't usually like stories that switch between different groups of people and times, but this is done with brief vignettes that fit together perfectly so that there is no confusion. A wonderful story about an awful time in history because God goes with us.
November 11, 2018
We never learn.
It was fascinating to read this story as it covered 2 different but related times. I loved how the book explained the found artifacts and the story of how those remains came to be. An excellent read.
It was fascinating to read this story as it covered 2 different but related times. I loved how the book explained the found artifacts and the story of how those remains came to be. An excellent read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews