What the Hand: A Novel About the End of the World and Beyond

by Todd Stockwell

What the Hand is the first and only black comedy based on the Book of Revelation. As the title, pulled from William Blake’s brilliant poem, “The Tyger”, suggests, the story involves the big questions of religion, just as Blake questions the apparent dichotomy of a creator of both good and evil. What the Hand follows the narrative of George Somerset, the reluctant Christian, who finds himself in paradise, having qualified for entrance by a “spider hair”. The book chronicles his life on the “Old Earth” as well as his experiences in the earthly heaven God has established for a thousand years. The disappearance in mass of believers in the event known to Christians as the Rapture begins George’s awakening as he meets up with a group of other “runners” while hiding in a cave from the minions of the Antichrist and the horrors of the Tribulation, a period of devastation predicted in the Bible.Together they face demons literal and figurative, hunger, thirst, persecution, natural and man-made disasters, and the question of martyrdom, as George comes to terms with his mortality and immortality. But What the Hand is not merely an adventure story or hardly one at all. It is cultural and historical commentary, a satire about the life and thoughts of a failed man, and weird and pressingly current novel unlike anything ever written.

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 12, 2014

Reviews

[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a VERY VERY unique book about the Rapture and the End of Days.
Here are some of the Pros:
It is much shorter than the Left Behind Series
It is much more clever than the Left Behind Series
The author apparently knows people unlike the authors of the Left Behind Series

The main character, George Somerset, isn't a nice guy. He's made a lot of mistakes and hurt a lot of people but during the Tribulation he refuses the Mark of the Beast and makes it to heaven's suburbs by the thinnest Margin.

Then he spends several years in the Hall of Knowledge looking up various topics; and here the author shines revealing the best kept conspiracy theory secrets. Aliens, Who shot JFK, Roswell Crash and Atlantis.

But George isn't happy he is guilt ridden by his past on Old Earth and feels that he need to repent. It takes a trip to New Jerusalem and an encounter with one of his old earth friends. For hims to grasp his place in the universe.

There is an appropriate amount of Christian dogma and scripture in the book.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather strange type of End-times fiction, George is in Heaven and sets out to find out how he got there. It backtracks into his past where he questions God, the Devil and other things.

[Bob Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although a little "campy" at first, stick with it. I'll warn you. It will make you think, and ponder your own spiritual health and where your relationship is with Christ, and what is the nature of that relationships strength.

[K.S. Agustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

George Somerset witnessed the end of the world and ended up in a shack on the outskirts of paradise.

He was a divorcee with inclination to lying and other more evil acts. He became aware of the signs that the end of the world was near, like earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions and wars but he was too lazy and too stupid to care. It was only after the disappearance of good people as well as mentally challenged and children that George finally believed what was written in the Bible. He lived in the wilderness then eventually found seven other people whom he invited to live with him.

The book features various topics like the Rapture, Tribulation, Antichrist, New World Order and the New Kingdom. Other subjects include the Illuminati, Nephilim, giants, fallen angels, guardian angels and aliens. There are historical figures mentioned in the book like Adolf Hitler, Pres. John F. Kennedy, John Lennon and Abraham Lincoln.

I enjoyed the book a lot. It is very informative, highly entertaining and downright amusing. It leads to a very important question, What will I do if the end, indeed, comes? Will I take the Mark of the Beast and suffer eternal damnation or proclaim my faith in God and die a painful death in the hands of the Antichrist?

[Julie Baswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a man named George Somerset, who outlines his life before and after the rapture. His story starts off in the present, with him in heaven. He then gives an accounting of events that happened in his life, and eventually makes full circle to present-day heaven.

I could relate to a tremendous amount of his feelings throughout the story. I don’t think I have led a very bad life, but I know I would feel the shame of everything being exposed. So I really related to that. This was written in a way that I could truly see it going down like it read. The humorous aspect kept the story upbeat. Things like the Roswell incident being caused by a bull on-board, the building of the tower of Babel as being a star gate, and even aliens being jokers with a mean streak kept me interested in what he would say next. Of course there were many Bible references that helped to complete the story. I really liked how the book ended too.

[Elizabeth (Stuffed Shelves) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Novel About the End of the World and Beyond

George finds himself in heaven, otherwise known as The New Kingdom. He spends his days learning the answers to all of life's big questions. There's a lot in this book, from parts of the bible to the crazy myths humans spread during their time on Earth.

Because of the serious topics brought up in the book, I found it to be a bit jumpy. It was a bit hard to remember the initial conversation after the tangent is over. Otherwise I found this to be a good book I would recommend to my friends who will understand and appreciate Mr. Stockwell's humor. I give it a 5/5.

[Sean McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful read

The book of Revelation can be a frightful and confusing revelation. We just have to remember it comes from Jesus and true Christians should embrace it. The message here is on of hope and love.

[rachel nichole mcclain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely one of the best books I've read in a long time!!!! Highly recommend!!!

Definitely the best book I've read in a long time!!! Highly recommended!!! Feel very compelled to live better for Christ!!!

[Dave Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Todd

As I read and reminded myself it is a novel I began to enjoy and really get into this book, it has what many Christian novels lack and I will let you discover what that is. This is a great read and I recommend it to you

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book to grab my attention so thoroughly in quite some time. Very thought-provoking. Almost frightening in its believe-ability and explanations of past events, and its relevance to current events.

[Rebecca Farrar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written,

A contemplative book. Makes one take stock of the way they are living their life. Well worth the time it takes to read it.

[Sybil Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

This book intrigued me because it dealt with the tribulation time after the rapture. It gave me food for thought and I enjoyed this book.