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The Third Servant
The third servant, who did not enrich his master as two other servants had, was cast into the night for his failure to increase his master's wealth. Matthew tells us this in the famous parable in the Bible but he never tells us what happened to that unfortunate servant after that.
This is the story of that third servant, a young man, and his long journey through the ancient world. It's a journey that takes him throughout the Middle East, to the steppes of what is now Russia, into India where he grows to manhood, and from there along the ancient spice trail that once wound its way along the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. He travels through Egypt and, eventually to Rome where he hears of a young prophet named Jesus.
On his journey he meets fishermen, nomads, emperors, philosophers, warriors and traders. His is not an easy journey, however, and there are times when he must literally fight for his life if he is to continue on it.
This is a story of trial and of sacrifice, of lost faith and redemption.
This is the story of that third servant, a young man, and his long journey through the ancient world. It's a journey that takes him throughout the Middle East, to the steppes of what is now Russia, into India where he grows to manhood, and from there along the ancient spice trail that once wound its way along the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. He travels through Egypt and, eventually to Rome where he hears of a young prophet named Jesus.
On his journey he meets fishermen, nomads, emperors, philosophers, warriors and traders. His is not an easy journey, however, and there are times when he must literally fight for his life if he is to continue on it.
This is a story of trial and of sacrifice, of lost faith and redemption.
403 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 23, 2015
It’s true that I read widely across many genres, but never have I done so with just one author. This is a first. But Mike Billington’s Corpus Delecti was a best-in-class book; I’ve yet to read a comic mystery nearly as funny or nearly as well-written. Based on its merits, I braved a steampunk novel by him. Based on its merits, I braved an atmospheric mystery by him. You get the idea. This latest adventure into bookland with Billington was a coming of age tale for adults. A man is on a spiritual quest to be all he can be, to discover what God’s mission for him in life is. Though loosely based on a biblical story, this is a book more for the spiritual minded than the religious-minded. It reminded me of Meetings with Remarkable Men by Gurdjieff, one of the great Russian spiritualists. In this tale too our hero travels far and wide through the ancient world, meeting an extravagant cast of characters. Too many to count and too many to remember. But you can’t forget any one of them. Most writers find it challenging enough to handle a routine ensemble cast and make the characters unforgettable. Far less a book with this many extras where a character has but a few pages to shine before he or she is never heard from again. I doubt it was the author’s intent to show off, but he couldn’t help doing so with this almost carnival atmosphere of colorful, picaresque types.
Fans of historical fiction will find it just as easy to connect with the story, as the author demonstrates a breathtaking knowledge of geography, history, language and cultures, all pertinent to biblical times.
Were this just a great story with great characters involving one man’s spiritual unfolding, that would be one thing. But I felt this was just as much my story. It was impossible not to see myself as the flawed hero, as immune to spiritual learning as the most debased sinner, as clueless about any sense of direction with my life. His sense of being on this journey alone, of facing the terrors of day to day survival, far less making sense of any of it, I trust will ring true with many, and not just me. Each morning he awakens and sets upon the next leg of his journey through one country after another by well-traveled caravan routes, he has to ask himself just what he’s meant to learn from so and so that he encounters on the road. What is the next puzzle piece in the unfolding of his life that he’s being shown? Only by staying very present in the moment can he continue to keep his compass sighted true on his ultimate destination of spiritual awakening. In that case the book is very Zen, or perhaps very Buddhist, despite its clear Christian heritage, for Eastern religions emphasize the same thing, the importance of staying in the moment.
As to the specific lessons our hero learns on his journey, well, I have to leave something to your imagination. More to the point, I don’t want to spoil the keen sense of adventure embossed on each page.
Fans of historical fiction will find it just as easy to connect with the story, as the author demonstrates a breathtaking knowledge of geography, history, language and cultures, all pertinent to biblical times.
Were this just a great story with great characters involving one man’s spiritual unfolding, that would be one thing. But I felt this was just as much my story. It was impossible not to see myself as the flawed hero, as immune to spiritual learning as the most debased sinner, as clueless about any sense of direction with my life. His sense of being on this journey alone, of facing the terrors of day to day survival, far less making sense of any of it, I trust will ring true with many, and not just me. Each morning he awakens and sets upon the next leg of his journey through one country after another by well-traveled caravan routes, he has to ask himself just what he’s meant to learn from so and so that he encounters on the road. What is the next puzzle piece in the unfolding of his life that he’s being shown? Only by staying very present in the moment can he continue to keep his compass sighted true on his ultimate destination of spiritual awakening. In that case the book is very Zen, or perhaps very Buddhist, despite its clear Christian heritage, for Eastern religions emphasize the same thing, the importance of staying in the moment.
As to the specific lessons our hero learns on his journey, well, I have to leave something to your imagination. More to the point, I don’t want to spoil the keen sense of adventure embossed on each page.
March 13, 2015
This is a story based on and then reinterpreted and expanded from a simple parable taken from the book of Matthew in the New Testament of the bible. Without going into the meaning of the parable, this is a clever idea for a story, speculating on what might have happened to a servant following his dismissal having displeased his Master, much like what might have happened to Heathcliff in the missing years whilst he was away from Wuthering Heights. The principal character, the servant Ezra, does not immediately engender the reader’s sympathy, and would appear to deserve all his initial misfortunes, having made no effort to increase his Master’s wealth when given the opportunity, and his less than honourable actions flowing his dismissal from his Master’s house. What follows is a series of adventures that takes Ezra across much of the known world of the time: from his Judean homeland as far as India and Afghanistan, and then back through the Roman Empire on his return, where the story comes full circle. Interwoven in this series of adventures we meet a wide and varied cast of esoteric characters ranging from reformed warriors, female gladiators, foreign emperors and kings, and the highest of Roman nobility along with poor to name but a few. Several of these adventures highlight the harshness and apparent barbarity of the times but what also shines through are the many moments of justice, kindness, nobility, honour, and courage that were also prevalent, giving much of the book a heart warming and feel-good factor to it. Another aspect I enjoyed as much as the story itself was not just watching the story unfold as it were, but also watching the growth and maturing of Ezra as a man as he seeks to discover what purpose God has decreed for him; but this isn’t just the story of a man with some god given mission and path to follow – Ezra might well indeed have some greater purpose to his life but he is no empty vassel for it, often having to rely on his judgement and courage to fulfil any such plan.
Throughout the book the author demonstrates a good knowledge and understanding of the period in which the story takes place, namely during the reign of the Emperor Tiberius and in and around the years surrounding the death of Jesus, with just the right balance of intelligent speculative poetic license to drive the story forward. The narrative and dialogue have a certain biblical formality to them that pays homage to the original text of the parable but nonetheless works very well, giving the story added authenticity and a real sense of the time in which events take place, but not so much so that the reader feels they’re reading an historical account or history of the times. It’s hard to pin down this book into any one genre, combining as it does, action, adventure, political intrigue, religion, and a host of elements, but what I can say, it is one of the most well written and highly original ideas for a story I’ve read in a very long time, and one that engrossed me from start to finish.
Throughout the book the author demonstrates a good knowledge and understanding of the period in which the story takes place, namely during the reign of the Emperor Tiberius and in and around the years surrounding the death of Jesus, with just the right balance of intelligent speculative poetic license to drive the story forward. The narrative and dialogue have a certain biblical formality to them that pays homage to the original text of the parable but nonetheless works very well, giving the story added authenticity and a real sense of the time in which events take place, but not so much so that the reader feels they’re reading an historical account or history of the times. It’s hard to pin down this book into any one genre, combining as it does, action, adventure, political intrigue, religion, and a host of elements, but what I can say, it is one of the most well written and highly original ideas for a story I’ve read in a very long time, and one that engrossed me from start to finish.
June 7, 2015
This was one of those books that when I’d finished it I felt thoroughly well fed, and a bit regretful the feast was over. What an incredible expedition I went on with Ezra. Every time I left the book I would think about it, and every time I came back to it, it was like greeting an old friend. It is superbly and cleverly written. The character of Ezra begins as a boy and becomes, in an epic rite of passage, a wise man. It is a Hero’s Journey with a difference, in which Michael Billington has taken as his starting point a parable from the Bible and created from it the most astonishing expanded allegory to demonstrate the paradigm shift from ignorance to enlightenment, both on a personal and global scale. I am in awe of the author’s erudite skill in bringing together all the components that offer us firsthand witness to an adventure through time and place during a significant period in world history. I began by making copious notes of the life lessons that Ezra was taught along the way, but by the midpoint of the novel I was simply alongside him, too identified with him to step back and take further notes. These were some of the pearls of wisdom he gathered early on:
“Life is a series of endless choices.”
“Always leave a man with his honour intact.”
“It is seldom a good idea to let another know that you are afraid.”
And then a quote just simply because it’s an example of the author’s lyrical eloquence:
“It’s blood money. I would have none of it.” His mouth already tasted of bile. His eyes were full of tears.
There was one piece of poetic licence I spotted hidden in plain sight within the text: “The fault, dear Brutus, lies in our stars, not in ourselves...” You’ll have to read it for yourselves to find that one, but I admire the author’s cleverly woven connection with Virgil’s ‘Aeneid’ and the subtle parallels with this and other heroic journeys. This was the point in the novel where legend, myth and history most obviously met in the narrative, and where for me the endpoint of Ezra’s journey became more inevitable. He suffered doubt, discovered humility and ultimately experienced redemption... all quite beautifully told.
I won’t say more about the story. It will mean different things for different people – an indication of its many layered depth and quality. Michael Billington is an author with prowess, and one whose work I look forward to exploring more.
“Life is a series of endless choices.”
“Always leave a man with his honour intact.”
“It is seldom a good idea to let another know that you are afraid.”
And then a quote just simply because it’s an example of the author’s lyrical eloquence:
“It’s blood money. I would have none of it.” His mouth already tasted of bile. His eyes were full of tears.
There was one piece of poetic licence I spotted hidden in plain sight within the text: “The fault, dear Brutus, lies in our stars, not in ourselves...” You’ll have to read it for yourselves to find that one, but I admire the author’s cleverly woven connection with Virgil’s ‘Aeneid’ and the subtle parallels with this and other heroic journeys. This was the point in the novel where legend, myth and history most obviously met in the narrative, and where for me the endpoint of Ezra’s journey became more inevitable. He suffered doubt, discovered humility and ultimately experienced redemption... all quite beautifully told.
I won’t say more about the story. It will mean different things for different people – an indication of its many layered depth and quality. Michael Billington is an author with prowess, and one whose work I look forward to exploring more.
November 11, 2015
"There is no honour in fighting a snake."
No indeed. Michael Billington has certainly taken a well known Biblical story and made a principal character of Ezra here in the The Third Servant. Initially I was a little thrown at the length of the novel, and indeed it has taken me a long time to finish it. Whilst there are fast moving scenes it is certainly not a fast moving book, and it seems to me that was the author's intention all along.
The use of language, while grand enough and believable for the context and period in which it is placed starts to a grate a little after a while. Nonethless, Ezra behaves like an honourable man throughout the entire story. Given that he has some battles, disagreements and many epic confrontations along the way, I would say this is a very well drawn and rounded character. Had Ezra not been so believable it would have been difficult to stay the course for such a long book.
The cover is striking, hauntingly beautiful and instantly screamed 'epic', 'fantasy' and 'thrilling journey'. On each of these The Third Servant delivers. Ezra meets the pauper, the prince and all levels inbetween. His interactions with them, some go without incident, others blow up unexpectedly, again, making the journey we take with Ezra a fulfilling and deep read.
This book is probably far better than the 4* rating I am giving it at this time. If anything, it is a provisional rating and I may give it the extra star as and when I re-read it, and the book is so well written it certainly deserves another read.
Yes, Ezra meets a number of notable Biblical characters along the way and this is entertaining in itself. Then the book ends a little abruptly for me which, given the amount of ground we have covered already, seemed a little surprising to me.
All in all, The Third Servant is a solid, rewarding tale, deserving of re-reads, and is the kind of book you should give attention to. A couple of pages in each session won't get you into the story. So give it your time and you will be rewarded with a sumptuous telling of a Biblical tale that is done with so much style that the narrative develops quite the swagger as it reaches its final third.
Recommended.
No indeed. Michael Billington has certainly taken a well known Biblical story and made a principal character of Ezra here in the The Third Servant. Initially I was a little thrown at the length of the novel, and indeed it has taken me a long time to finish it. Whilst there are fast moving scenes it is certainly not a fast moving book, and it seems to me that was the author's intention all along.
The use of language, while grand enough and believable for the context and period in which it is placed starts to a grate a little after a while. Nonethless, Ezra behaves like an honourable man throughout the entire story. Given that he has some battles, disagreements and many epic confrontations along the way, I would say this is a very well drawn and rounded character. Had Ezra not been so believable it would have been difficult to stay the course for such a long book.
The cover is striking, hauntingly beautiful and instantly screamed 'epic', 'fantasy' and 'thrilling journey'. On each of these The Third Servant delivers. Ezra meets the pauper, the prince and all levels inbetween. His interactions with them, some go without incident, others blow up unexpectedly, again, making the journey we take with Ezra a fulfilling and deep read.
This book is probably far better than the 4* rating I am giving it at this time. If anything, it is a provisional rating and I may give it the extra star as and when I re-read it, and the book is so well written it certainly deserves another read.
Yes, Ezra meets a number of notable Biblical characters along the way and this is entertaining in itself. Then the book ends a little abruptly for me which, given the amount of ground we have covered already, seemed a little surprising to me.
All in all, The Third Servant is a solid, rewarding tale, deserving of re-reads, and is the kind of book you should give attention to. A couple of pages in each session won't get you into the story. So give it your time and you will be rewarded with a sumptuous telling of a Biblical tale that is done with so much style that the narrative develops quite the swagger as it reaches its final third.
Recommended.
March 13, 2015
“The Third Servant” by Michael Billington begins like a parable from the bible but this is just the starting point. A cast out servant, Ezra, makes his own way in the world at the times of Jesus of Nazareth. The book covers much of the historical and biblical topics and people while remaining a very personal journey for our hero.
After Ezra has gone through some trials and adventures and much personal experience the story ends with a meeting that brings everything poignantly to a head.
A thoughtful novel that stayed with me for long after I finished it.
After Ezra has gone through some trials and adventures and much personal experience the story ends with a meeting that brings everything poignantly to a head.
A thoughtful novel that stayed with me for long after I finished it.
January 25, 2015
This is one of the finest adventure stories I’ve had the pleasure to read in recent times. One of the first aspects of this tale to strike me was the voice used; and I liked it as soon as I read the first piece of dialogue. It is distinctive, because there is no use of contractions. It is impressive, because that style is maintained throughout.
What is a contraction? It’s, he’s, they’re, isn’t. An example of a contraction is when an apostrophe is used to show a missing letter and it then provides the dialogue with a more realistic sound for modern speech. The reason that this story works better without those abbreviated forms of words is because of the ancient world you enter in this story. For me personally, it was one of the reasons that the story was such a realistic and entertaining read.
Ezra is the protagonist and at first appears an unlikely hero, but his learning curve is steep. Rather than spoil the story, I can at least say that you are not buying into an adventure - you are buying into a series of adventures. Ezra makes a mistake early on in the tale and his life changes forever. He sets off from the only existence he knows and begins a personal quest. During the journey he will discover: honour, respect, love, faith, courage, wisdom, humility and more besides.
There are many plot twists and vivid action scenes. These are combined with a wide variety of well-drawn characters, peppered throughout the tale, some appearing more than once. It is the way that Ezra uses the lessons he learns that prompt an occasional nod of acknowledgement to the storyteller. Ezra improves in many ways, but as strong as he becomes, he remains at heart: sincere, honourable and humble. It is in essence a tale of courage and determination, and is a story that will be remembered long after reading. That for me; is kudos to any author.
It is expensive in terms of an eBook, but I put this in perspective when I considered the quality of the overall product.
What is a contraction? It’s, he’s, they’re, isn’t. An example of a contraction is when an apostrophe is used to show a missing letter and it then provides the dialogue with a more realistic sound for modern speech. The reason that this story works better without those abbreviated forms of words is because of the ancient world you enter in this story. For me personally, it was one of the reasons that the story was such a realistic and entertaining read.
Ezra is the protagonist and at first appears an unlikely hero, but his learning curve is steep. Rather than spoil the story, I can at least say that you are not buying into an adventure - you are buying into a series of adventures. Ezra makes a mistake early on in the tale and his life changes forever. He sets off from the only existence he knows and begins a personal quest. During the journey he will discover: honour, respect, love, faith, courage, wisdom, humility and more besides.
There are many plot twists and vivid action scenes. These are combined with a wide variety of well-drawn characters, peppered throughout the tale, some appearing more than once. It is the way that Ezra uses the lessons he learns that prompt an occasional nod of acknowledgement to the storyteller. Ezra improves in many ways, but as strong as he becomes, he remains at heart: sincere, honourable and humble. It is in essence a tale of courage and determination, and is a story that will be remembered long after reading. That for me; is kudos to any author.
It is expensive in terms of an eBook, but I put this in perspective when I considered the quality of the overall product.
February 16, 2015
The Third Servant Review
The Parable of the Talents is shared in the Gospel of Matthew 25:14-30. Three servants are entrusted with property (in this case money) while their master travels. When the master returns, he learns that two of his servants have invested his money and made a profit. He praises them--but, the third servant was afraid of his master and hid the single coin he had been given. His master is angry, calling the servant “wicked” and “lazy.” He casts the servant out into the darkness…
What happened to the third servant? Michael Billington has penned a compelling epic of Ezra of Judea, The Third Servant. Frightened, bitter, angry, and craving revenge, Ezra sets out on a journey away from his homeland, traveling East to Asia, west to Europe, and throughout mountains, plains, deserts, and seas between the two continents. His search for revenge becomes a quest for knowledge and wisdom and Ezra becomes a mighty warrior. He does great deeds for the good of many. However, Ezra is unable to find an answer to his ultimate question—“who is my God”? Even the metropolis of Rome cannot provide the answer and in search of himself and his God, Ezra returns to Judea where his final battle takes place.
Billington skillfully weaves history, culture, spirituality, and adventure into an epic novel that will capture and inspire the reader.
The Parable of the Talents is shared in the Gospel of Matthew 25:14-30. Three servants are entrusted with property (in this case money) while their master travels. When the master returns, he learns that two of his servants have invested his money and made a profit. He praises them--but, the third servant was afraid of his master and hid the single coin he had been given. His master is angry, calling the servant “wicked” and “lazy.” He casts the servant out into the darkness…
What happened to the third servant? Michael Billington has penned a compelling epic of Ezra of Judea, The Third Servant. Frightened, bitter, angry, and craving revenge, Ezra sets out on a journey away from his homeland, traveling East to Asia, west to Europe, and throughout mountains, plains, deserts, and seas between the two continents. His search for revenge becomes a quest for knowledge and wisdom and Ezra becomes a mighty warrior. He does great deeds for the good of many. However, Ezra is unable to find an answer to his ultimate question—“who is my God”? Even the metropolis of Rome cannot provide the answer and in search of himself and his God, Ezra returns to Judea where his final battle takes place.
Billington skillfully weaves history, culture, spirituality, and adventure into an epic novel that will capture and inspire the reader.
January 21, 2016
I struggle with epics and this is somewhat of an epic. That being said Mike Billington is a writer that I enjoy. This is not my first visit to this author and I will return for sure. There are two definite sides to this review and both are directed very much at the reader rather than the writer. I honestly can’t fault Mr. Billington’s ability as a writer but this book is not for everyone. It requires concentration and a little patience so if you are in to a wham bam thank you mam type of thing you are looking in the wrong place. This is an intelligent, well-structured story that will appeal to perhaps the more serious reader. The literary style is something I enjoy but where this book suffered for me was in comparison to the last book I read by the same author. I loved Murder in the Rainy Season and while I would recommend both books to anyone who enjoys a well told tale, I definitely have a favourite. The Third Servant is a book I can recommend to you without hesitation and from my experience of Mike Billington’s books to date; I’d go as far as to suggest you investigate the rest of his catalogue as well.
January 22, 2015
The Third Servant
You may remember the parable about the master who left his estate for some time, and before going he gave one servant five talents, one servant two talents and one servant one talent. Upon his return the master found that two of the servants had doubled their holdings, but the servant with only one talent, buried his for fear he would lose it and suffer at the hands of his disagreeable master. He was deemed faithless by the master and cast into the darkness, never to be heard about again. Until now. This is his story. A delightful tale of what became of this "third servant". He crosses thousands of miles, sometimes alone, sometimes with a motley crew. He faces brutal conditions, ruthless enemies and his own demons as he journeys to find himself and God. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
You may remember the parable about the master who left his estate for some time, and before going he gave one servant five talents, one servant two talents and one servant one talent. Upon his return the master found that two of the servants had doubled their holdings, but the servant with only one talent, buried his for fear he would lose it and suffer at the hands of his disagreeable master. He was deemed faithless by the master and cast into the darkness, never to be heard about again. Until now. This is his story. A delightful tale of what became of this "third servant". He crosses thousands of miles, sometimes alone, sometimes with a motley crew. He faces brutal conditions, ruthless enemies and his own demons as he journeys to find himself and God. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
August 11, 2020
An interesting and delightful fictional look at the 3rd Servant of the harsh Master who squandered the gold coin he was given, burying it, rather than finding a way to gain additional value with it, as his fellow servants had done. The story starts as the Master throws him out. Pure speculation, on the author's part, but the character development was very enjoyable, both of Ezra the servant, and all those that come to be associated with him. Enjoy the read.
May 4, 2015
An Epic Journey that Takes the Reader Along!
Michael Billington’s “The Third Servant” is an epic journey through history, cultures, and human emotions, reminiscent of John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress.” Billington expands one miniscule portion of biblical scripture into a brilliant adventure saga girded with faith.
Jesus told the parable of three servants in Matthew, Chapter 25. Their master entrusted each with keeping money for him until he returned. When he returned, two of the servants returned his money along with the additional it had earned. The third servant returned only the coin he had been given. Angry, the master cast the third servant into darkness. Billington rescues the third servant from obscurity, names him Ezra, and sends him on a dangerous trip around the world. Ezra transforms from the young, selfish, thoughtless servant – who bereft of parents and a job still clings to the Jewish customs of serving God – into a valiant and wise warrior who amasses a fortune for himself and his soldiers.
The Third Servant gallops readers through history and introduces them to monks, emperors and nomads. Readers dismount at the tomb of Virgil for a glimpse of how the poem “Aeneas” shaped Rome’s greatness. Off to a face-to-face meeting with “mad” Emperor Tiberius and Caligula. Ezra declares, “Salvation can come only from God, not from men who declare themselves to be gods.”
Sadly, Ezra loses his faith when one of his soldiers chooses to die in his place. Guilt over his friend’s death steals his belief in a God who listens to prayer. Guilt blurs Ezra’s vision of the journey that he believed God was directing. He decides that God created Heaven and Earth, then left to do something else and is no longer Caretaker over his creation. Ezra becomes a cold, empty, bitter warrior with nothing of value in his heart.
Ezra discovers valuable truths along his journey: It’s not the size of a man’s house, but he size of his heart, that determines his greatness; Freedom has nothing to do with the place where the body is, it is a condition of the heart and soul; Worship can take place along the side of a road and be just as true as in a temple; Fighting with words and ideas is more effective than with swords. However, nothing Ezra learns and nothing he wins or gains replaces his lost faith.
Having heard of a Prophet named Jesus, he and his friends journey to Capharnaum. Because they stop along the way long enough to save a village from slaughter, they arrive late. Jesus, the Prophet, has been killed. Ezra is inconsolable.
Mary Magdalene, who sat at the feet of Jesus, tells Ezra that his sin is not having lost his friend in battle. She names his sin as pride, and anger against God. “You wish to make God into your own image – to obey your commands and speak when you want Him to. You wish to have faith on your own terms.”
Mary tells Ezra that the time has come for him to drop his weapons of war and gird himself with the will of God. But, she questions, can a great warrior do this? “It is hard for a strong man to surrender to God.”
Ezra has physically traveled around the world, but his new inward journey is the most dangerous expedition yet – because satan is battling for his soul.
A final, unexpected twist in the story completes Ezra’s travels.
Michael Billington’s “The Third Servant” is an epic journey through history, cultures, and human emotions, reminiscent of John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress.” Billington expands one miniscule portion of biblical scripture into a brilliant adventure saga girded with faith.
Jesus told the parable of three servants in Matthew, Chapter 25. Their master entrusted each with keeping money for him until he returned. When he returned, two of the servants returned his money along with the additional it had earned. The third servant returned only the coin he had been given. Angry, the master cast the third servant into darkness. Billington rescues the third servant from obscurity, names him Ezra, and sends him on a dangerous trip around the world. Ezra transforms from the young, selfish, thoughtless servant – who bereft of parents and a job still clings to the Jewish customs of serving God – into a valiant and wise warrior who amasses a fortune for himself and his soldiers.
The Third Servant gallops readers through history and introduces them to monks, emperors and nomads. Readers dismount at the tomb of Virgil for a glimpse of how the poem “Aeneas” shaped Rome’s greatness. Off to a face-to-face meeting with “mad” Emperor Tiberius and Caligula. Ezra declares, “Salvation can come only from God, not from men who declare themselves to be gods.”
Sadly, Ezra loses his faith when one of his soldiers chooses to die in his place. Guilt over his friend’s death steals his belief in a God who listens to prayer. Guilt blurs Ezra’s vision of the journey that he believed God was directing. He decides that God created Heaven and Earth, then left to do something else and is no longer Caretaker over his creation. Ezra becomes a cold, empty, bitter warrior with nothing of value in his heart.
Ezra discovers valuable truths along his journey: It’s not the size of a man’s house, but he size of his heart, that determines his greatness; Freedom has nothing to do with the place where the body is, it is a condition of the heart and soul; Worship can take place along the side of a road and be just as true as in a temple; Fighting with words and ideas is more effective than with swords. However, nothing Ezra learns and nothing he wins or gains replaces his lost faith.
Having heard of a Prophet named Jesus, he and his friends journey to Capharnaum. Because they stop along the way long enough to save a village from slaughter, they arrive late. Jesus, the Prophet, has been killed. Ezra is inconsolable.
Mary Magdalene, who sat at the feet of Jesus, tells Ezra that his sin is not having lost his friend in battle. She names his sin as pride, and anger against God. “You wish to make God into your own image – to obey your commands and speak when you want Him to. You wish to have faith on your own terms.”
Mary tells Ezra that the time has come for him to drop his weapons of war and gird himself with the will of God. But, she questions, can a great warrior do this? “It is hard for a strong man to surrender to God.”
Ezra has physically traveled around the world, but his new inward journey is the most dangerous expedition yet – because satan is battling for his soul.
A final, unexpected twist in the story completes Ezra’s travels.
December 21, 2015
This was a beautifully written story which expounds on The Parable of the Talents found in Matthew 25:14-30:
"14 “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was leaving on a trip. He called his servants and handed his possessions over to them. 15 To one he gave five valuable coins,[a] and to another he gave two, and to another he gave one. He gave to each servant according to that servant’s ability. Then he left on his journey.
16 “After the man left, the servant who had five valuable coins took them and went to work doing business with them. He gained five more. 17 In the same way, the one who had two valuable coins gained two more. 18 But the servant who had received the one valuable coin dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.
19 “Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received five valuable coins came forward with five additional coins. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five valuable coins. Look, I’ve gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Excellent! You are a good and faithful servant! You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.’
22 “The second servant also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two valuable coins. Look, I’ve gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done! You are a good and faithful servant. You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.’
24 “Now the one who had received one valuable coin came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man. You harvest grain where you haven’t sown. You gather crops where you haven’t spread seed. 25 So I was afraid. And I hid my valuable coin in the ground. Here, you have what’s yours.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You evil and lazy servant! You knew that I harvest grain where I haven’t sown and that I gather crops where I haven’t spread seed? 27 In that case, you should have turned my money over to the bankers so that when I returned, you could give me what belonged to me with interest. 28 Therefore, take from him the valuable coin and give it to the one who has ten coins. 29 Those who have much will receive more, and they will have more than they need. But as for those who don’t have much, even the little bit they have will be taken away from them. 30 Now take the worthless servant and throw him outside into the darkness."
Ezra is the person who was cast out of his master's house, and here begins an incredible journey through many lands, meeting many different people and cultures and along the way, having many interesting and deep philosophical discussions about life and as Ezra learns more and more, his journey will take him to the greatest truth of all. This is all told in a sort of old world language reminiscent of the Bible.
This is a book that is best read slowly in order to give it your full attention, for there are many things to learn from it. It's a long story, but worth the effort to read and I give it my highest recommendation.
5 stars and a favorite.
"14 “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was leaving on a trip. He called his servants and handed his possessions over to them. 15 To one he gave five valuable coins,[a] and to another he gave two, and to another he gave one. He gave to each servant according to that servant’s ability. Then he left on his journey.
16 “After the man left, the servant who had five valuable coins took them and went to work doing business with them. He gained five more. 17 In the same way, the one who had two valuable coins gained two more. 18 But the servant who had received the one valuable coin dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.
19 “Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received five valuable coins came forward with five additional coins. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five valuable coins. Look, I’ve gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Excellent! You are a good and faithful servant! You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.’
22 “The second servant also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two valuable coins. Look, I’ve gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done! You are a good and faithful servant. You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.’
24 “Now the one who had received one valuable coin came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man. You harvest grain where you haven’t sown. You gather crops where you haven’t spread seed. 25 So I was afraid. And I hid my valuable coin in the ground. Here, you have what’s yours.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You evil and lazy servant! You knew that I harvest grain where I haven’t sown and that I gather crops where I haven’t spread seed? 27 In that case, you should have turned my money over to the bankers so that when I returned, you could give me what belonged to me with interest. 28 Therefore, take from him the valuable coin and give it to the one who has ten coins. 29 Those who have much will receive more, and they will have more than they need. But as for those who don’t have much, even the little bit they have will be taken away from them. 30 Now take the worthless servant and throw him outside into the darkness."
Ezra is the person who was cast out of his master's house, and here begins an incredible journey through many lands, meeting many different people and cultures and along the way, having many interesting and deep philosophical discussions about life and as Ezra learns more and more, his journey will take him to the greatest truth of all. This is all told in a sort of old world language reminiscent of the Bible.
This is a book that is best read slowly in order to give it your full attention, for there are many things to learn from it. It's a long story, but worth the effort to read and I give it my highest recommendation.
5 stars and a favorite.
September 23, 2015
When I first began this book, the somewhat religious implications of it had me wondering whether I would take to it. How foolish was I to have thought that so early on. We begin with a good character portrayal who comes in the form of Ezra, a seemingly un-worldly young man in a very harsh world. The way that the author narrates the story to the reader has the effect of catapulting them into a world of times long passed, where people revered the Gods of numerous civilizations and the world, for all they knew, was still flat.
This is an epic, and by epic I not only imply great, but also long journey of self-discovery. It is a bounding adventure as Ezra makes his way from one encounter with wisdom to another. Each time, he takes something from such an encounter and learns from it for the future. It is a wonderfully written tale that took me a long time to read, not because it wasn't exciting, well-written and beautifully thought out, but because of the limitations that I have time-wise and the sheer length of it. Worth every captivating word though and I give a serious nod of respect to the author for maintaining that olde worlde prose in his narration throughout, it really added authenticity to the story for me.
I loved the different characters, the pirate-like boat man being one of my favourites and of course, the brothers. The story encapsulates the notion that people are rarely who they seem, some good and some not so good, but once you look beyond the barriers that we all erect for our own self-preservation, you'll find those outwardly hostile can turn out to be your very best friends for life. Ezra begins a life journey of enlightenment, in some cases learning the hard way and battling his own consciousness whereas in others, simply being taught the lessons that the majority of us have to learn as we grow, and travel our own pathways through life.
This tale has some very evocative and descriptive scenes, to the point where it is almost possible to visualise the blowing sand, or picture the rag-tag old man, making his way though the parched desert mindful of the young Ezra and already knowing his intent. There are many such scenes where the reader is put firmly in the story, such is the detail given. I found this story to be one that captivated me the more that I read of it and it has certainly opened my eyes to another brilliant indie writer in the for of Michael Billington. It is a memorable piece indeed and shows the good and bad of human nature, the need to survive and the compelling power of the human soul embittering the stark choices that we sometimes have to make. Brilliantly written, this book has kept me entertained for a good couple of months now, on and off and the beauty of it was, that even after a short break in my reading, doing things in my own manic life, I could come back to it and immediately become drawn back into that ancient world as if I had never left it. Beautiful.
This is an epic, and by epic I not only imply great, but also long journey of self-discovery. It is a bounding adventure as Ezra makes his way from one encounter with wisdom to another. Each time, he takes something from such an encounter and learns from it for the future. It is a wonderfully written tale that took me a long time to read, not because it wasn't exciting, well-written and beautifully thought out, but because of the limitations that I have time-wise and the sheer length of it. Worth every captivating word though and I give a serious nod of respect to the author for maintaining that olde worlde prose in his narration throughout, it really added authenticity to the story for me.
I loved the different characters, the pirate-like boat man being one of my favourites and of course, the brothers. The story encapsulates the notion that people are rarely who they seem, some good and some not so good, but once you look beyond the barriers that we all erect for our own self-preservation, you'll find those outwardly hostile can turn out to be your very best friends for life. Ezra begins a life journey of enlightenment, in some cases learning the hard way and battling his own consciousness whereas in others, simply being taught the lessons that the majority of us have to learn as we grow, and travel our own pathways through life.
This tale has some very evocative and descriptive scenes, to the point where it is almost possible to visualise the blowing sand, or picture the rag-tag old man, making his way though the parched desert mindful of the young Ezra and already knowing his intent. There are many such scenes where the reader is put firmly in the story, such is the detail given. I found this story to be one that captivated me the more that I read of it and it has certainly opened my eyes to another brilliant indie writer in the for of Michael Billington. It is a memorable piece indeed and shows the good and bad of human nature, the need to survive and the compelling power of the human soul embittering the stark choices that we sometimes have to make. Brilliantly written, this book has kept me entertained for a good couple of months now, on and off and the beauty of it was, that even after a short break in my reading, doing things in my own manic life, I could come back to it and immediately become drawn back into that ancient world as if I had never left it. Beautiful.
June 28, 2015
If like me, you are tired of repetitive genre fiction; you may seek a story which is original, and which is also cleverly written in a unique style. Look no further; this is one here. The Third Servant is an inspired and original thought experiment. Not only does it expand on one of the most ambiguous parables ever told, but through constructing the character of Ezra, the author takes us back to visit the first century AD. By turning his story into an odyssey, Ezra takes us on a journey east of Judea and as far as Afghanistan, before returning to the heart of the Roman Empire. It is a stunning epic of an odyssey complete with travel, action & adventure, and a cast of interesting characters.
The story is written in a style similar to the gospel of Matthew, yet subtly looser in prose to allow the narrative to flow as in a modern adventure story. It is really quite cleverly done, and must have taken some practice and many drafts. I think anyone who is used to reading the New Testament will love reading this book. They need not fear any sacrilegious twists to the story of Matthew’s gospel; the author treads carefully here. In fact this story really reminds me of the Hollywood epic called The Robe. That too was a clever film & story which imagined the extended story from one small scene in Jesus’ forced march to Golgotha carrying his execution stave.
I read a lot of non-fiction books on ancient history and I am familiar with many of the ancient societies and peoples which were contemporary to this time. Thus my biggest fear when reading this book was that I might find it factually incorrect to my understanding of the age. I couldn't find fault at all. The historical research for this story is second to none, or else the author too, shares a love of ancient history.
I have never liked the parable of the three servants, nor agreed with the mainstream interpretation of it. Throughout the story Ezra is entrusted with many items which become essential and precious to him such as his sword and Jubal, his horse. Everything with which he is entrusted, he employs to good use, or trades, or disposes off respectfully. Here is a better interpretation of the third servant for me. The talent of gold which he failed to invest for his absent master had no personal use for him. Ezra placed a value on certain things that were essentially useful. I never saw the master as God or Jesus; instead he always represented Satan for me who owned this world. He abused and cast out Ezra for failing to employ usury to make interest on his capital. There is a lesson here for our present age which is only inspired by profits and has forgotten core spiritual values.
Regardless of how you interpret the parable, Mike Billington's interpretation is a masterful and epic story that brings the biblical middle east to life.
The story is written in a style similar to the gospel of Matthew, yet subtly looser in prose to allow the narrative to flow as in a modern adventure story. It is really quite cleverly done, and must have taken some practice and many drafts. I think anyone who is used to reading the New Testament will love reading this book. They need not fear any sacrilegious twists to the story of Matthew’s gospel; the author treads carefully here. In fact this story really reminds me of the Hollywood epic called The Robe. That too was a clever film & story which imagined the extended story from one small scene in Jesus’ forced march to Golgotha carrying his execution stave.
I read a lot of non-fiction books on ancient history and I am familiar with many of the ancient societies and peoples which were contemporary to this time. Thus my biggest fear when reading this book was that I might find it factually incorrect to my understanding of the age. I couldn't find fault at all. The historical research for this story is second to none, or else the author too, shares a love of ancient history.
I have never liked the parable of the three servants, nor agreed with the mainstream interpretation of it. Throughout the story Ezra is entrusted with many items which become essential and precious to him such as his sword and Jubal, his horse. Everything with which he is entrusted, he employs to good use, or trades, or disposes off respectfully. Here is a better interpretation of the third servant for me. The talent of gold which he failed to invest for his absent master had no personal use for him. Ezra placed a value on certain things that were essentially useful. I never saw the master as God or Jesus; instead he always represented Satan for me who owned this world. He abused and cast out Ezra for failing to employ usury to make interest on his capital. There is a lesson here for our present age which is only inspired by profits and has forgotten core spiritual values.
Regardless of how you interpret the parable, Mike Billington's interpretation is a masterful and epic story that brings the biblical middle east to life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2015
The Third Servant is a tale which picks up where Jesus’ Parable of the Talents leaves off. Ezra is named as the servant who failed to live up to his master’s expectations and merely buried his talent rather than invest it so that he could return it with interest.
As you might imagine, Ezra is none too happy about losing his job and being cast out on his own resources. He goes off in a stomp...and so begins a long journey; you might call it the Odyssey of Ezra. Like most odysseys it is quite lengthy, as the hero travels far and meets many people along the way. As this tale picked up from the Biblical parable and continued in the same part of the world I wondered many a time what the twist at the end would be. Would he return to his master and prove that he had gained wisdom and wealth, and seek an apology for unfair dismissal? Or would he meet the real narrator of the parable (Jesus) at the end? No spoilers in this review, though, you will have to find out for yourself how the tale pans out.
The language the author uses is a kind of King James translation English, which continues throughout, including the form of speech and narrative description. I personally found this a bit distancing, and was not so easily able to identify with the characters because of the language style. Others however might enjoy this method of narration.
The book includes philosophical discussions with people Ezra meets on his journey, and contacts with historical characters from the New Testament. Again, no spoilers as to who these are. One of them did appear to be based more on oral tradition rather than what could have been applied from Biblical accounts, however the Christian apologetics which were discussed could easily be used by Christians today. Indeed they had some bearing on Ezra’s whole story and the way he interpreted some of his experiences, and a lot of care was taken to bring together many threads as the odyssey concluded.
A good book, which I would say builds up pace as it progresses to an interesting conclusion.
As you might imagine, Ezra is none too happy about losing his job and being cast out on his own resources. He goes off in a stomp...and so begins a long journey; you might call it the Odyssey of Ezra. Like most odysseys it is quite lengthy, as the hero travels far and meets many people along the way. As this tale picked up from the Biblical parable and continued in the same part of the world I wondered many a time what the twist at the end would be. Would he return to his master and prove that he had gained wisdom and wealth, and seek an apology for unfair dismissal? Or would he meet the real narrator of the parable (Jesus) at the end? No spoilers in this review, though, you will have to find out for yourself how the tale pans out.
The language the author uses is a kind of King James translation English, which continues throughout, including the form of speech and narrative description. I personally found this a bit distancing, and was not so easily able to identify with the characters because of the language style. Others however might enjoy this method of narration.
The book includes philosophical discussions with people Ezra meets on his journey, and contacts with historical characters from the New Testament. Again, no spoilers as to who these are. One of them did appear to be based more on oral tradition rather than what could have been applied from Biblical accounts, however the Christian apologetics which were discussed could easily be used by Christians today. Indeed they had some bearing on Ezra’s whole story and the way he interpreted some of his experiences, and a lot of care was taken to bring together many threads as the odyssey concluded.
A good book, which I would say builds up pace as it progresses to an interesting conclusion.
February 25, 2016
This tale is based on the biblical parable of the Talents. It’s about a man who gives talents, a measure of money, to his servants before he leaves for a journey. Two of his servants invest the talents and increase their master’s wealth. The master praises them when he returns. The third servant buries the talent entrusted to him since he is afraid to take risks, knowing his master as a cruel man. He is banished as an unworthy servant.
Here the biblical parable ends and M. Billington’s epic starts. Ezra, the unworthy servant, leaves for a journey as well. It’s a tough physical journey where he has to learn fighting, foreign languages and other survival skills. He can end his journey and settle comfortably in many places that he visits, but he feels driven to journey on, feeling to be on God’s mission the purpose of which he does not know for a long time. As he makes friends with people from different cultures, Ezra becomes wiser and his point of view broader. He picks up pieces of wisdom from other religious traditions without giving up his own. He evolves not only from an unworthy servant to a powerful man, but also from a naive believer to an open-minded seeker -- and perhaps a better servant of a better Master. While he buried his master’s talent as a young man, he makes most of his skills as he grows. It’s a story of sacrifice, courage and surrender to God’s will.
The main theme of this book is journey. Ezra journeys through diverse places of the ancient world, but also from his childish faith to deeper understanding, doubts and more mature kind of faith. We readers are invited to journey in time and appreciate the author’s profound knowledge of history, culture and world’s religions while being entertained by an exciting story.
Here the biblical parable ends and M. Billington’s epic starts. Ezra, the unworthy servant, leaves for a journey as well. It’s a tough physical journey where he has to learn fighting, foreign languages and other survival skills. He can end his journey and settle comfortably in many places that he visits, but he feels driven to journey on, feeling to be on God’s mission the purpose of which he does not know for a long time. As he makes friends with people from different cultures, Ezra becomes wiser and his point of view broader. He picks up pieces of wisdom from other religious traditions without giving up his own. He evolves not only from an unworthy servant to a powerful man, but also from a naive believer to an open-minded seeker -- and perhaps a better servant of a better Master. While he buried his master’s talent as a young man, he makes most of his skills as he grows. It’s a story of sacrifice, courage and surrender to God’s will.
The main theme of this book is journey. Ezra journeys through diverse places of the ancient world, but also from his childish faith to deeper understanding, doubts and more mature kind of faith. We readers are invited to journey in time and appreciate the author’s profound knowledge of history, culture and world’s religions while being entertained by an exciting story.
June 10, 2015
The Third Servant is based on a story taken from the Book of Matthew in the New Testament. Based on this story about a servant who fails to make his master a profit and is therefore cast out into the night, Michael Billington has created a rich and colourful tale. The book is set during the time of the Roman emperor Tiberius, The Hebrew king Herod and Jesus. A tumultuous and interesting time historically, and the author has managed to write with a language that fits this period perfectly. First and foremost, this is a great adventure story and the author brings to life vividly the people and the customs of lands that must have been very alien to our hero. Ezra’s journey begins as a boy, cast out into the Judean night. We follow his journey North and East, through the plains into Hindustan. It is as much of a quest for knowledge and wisdom as Ezra tries to find his place in this world and more important, to find his inner self in step with his outer self. The tale of Ezra going from a confused and angry boy, to a wise man is a fascinating one. I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed Voltaire’s Zadig, a journey and gathering of wisdom might be similar, but the conclusions are very different. I’d also enjoyed Marco Polo’s travels and I think anyone who enjoys an epic adventure story with a profound message will enjoy the Third Servant. Very well written and cleverly constructed, I highly recommend this book. I was provided with a copy for review by the author.
December 1, 2014
The Third Servant is a very enjoyable book that pulled me along Ezra’s personal journey from the very beginning. I kept comparing Billington’s writing to Paul Coelho or Og Mandino even Jean M. Auel. But as the story unfolded and the journey progressed, I found superior writing with exactly the type of ‘style’ I enjoy. It’s the story of a poor orphaned servant who seeks justice along his quest for truth. He befriends fisherman, nomads, kings, philosophers and soldiers on his journey. He learns to use a sword, bows and arrows and even learns to negotiate. A caravan master tells him that he has many gifts but that his faith and his brain are his greater gifts. Many times before battle, his faith is confused with confidence while his brains are continually sponging up the local customs and languages of his travels. A journey he feels is the will of God and resistance to it would only be futile, thus he seeks his own destiny. But the battles and losses are wreaking havoc on Ezra’s soul. Romans are a threat unlike anything that he has ever seen before. The rules of battle are changing. He needs an infantry of archers and spear throwers. Being incompetent is not an option—either is losing—will luck be on his side? And in his time of greatest need, will he be ready to put down his sword and surrender? Great book. I recommend it highly.
March 3, 2015
This story begins where the parable of the talents ends, and the third “lazy” servant who has buried his talent is cast into darkness. For me, it could be described as The Pilgrim’s Progress meets Forrest Gump. Ezra, the hapless servant, begins a journey of growth that spans the Roman Empire and beyond. It was amusingly Gump-like in Ezra’s knack for stumbling across and influencing major historical events and making connections with well-known figures. Although I found the archaic English used in this book a bit stilted and anachronistic for a first century setting, I found myself caught up in the many engaging events that unfolded to shape Ezra. Billington transforms the servant’s failure into a search for redemption that spans half the globe and half a lifetime. I enjoyed this thought-provoking adventure!
December 26, 2015
The story of a man searching for his God
The servant learned many lessons along life's journey to find the meaning of his life, and met many friends who encouraged him to continue the journey to its end. Good storyline and characters that bind the story together. A long and interesting life unfolds for Ezra. A long read but worth it.
The servant learned many lessons along life's journey to find the meaning of his life, and met many friends who encouraged him to continue the journey to its end. Good storyline and characters that bind the story together. A long and interesting life unfolds for Ezra. A long read but worth it.
February 8, 2016
Very entertaining
I enjoyed the theme and structure of this story. The growth of the main character throughout the novel was impressive. I was worried about the language (after reading other reviews) but it actually enhanced the story by making you feel like you're in another place & time. 5stars
I enjoyed the theme and structure of this story. The growth of the main character throughout the novel was impressive. I was worried about the language (after reading other reviews) but it actually enhanced the story by making you feel like you're in another place & time. 5stars
April 27, 2017
People who are fond of coming-of-age/self-discovery tales, stories of long journeys, and the Forrest Gump-like ability to be in pivotal places with great leaders at crucial moments in history will love this.
January 22, 2016
Last shall be first
This story was very well written. The story was suspenseful. It has a few moment of awe. It left me wanting more.
This story was very well written. The story was suspenseful. It has a few moment of awe. It left me wanting more.
February 19, 2016
It was just a tad too long, but since I have a soft spot in my heart for the servant who Jesus told the parable about, I didn't really mind. This story would make a great movie!
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