Illuminated

by Shawn Patrick Cooke

Lasair is a monk, the best illuminator in the abbey of Kells. One night, a stranger delivers a commission, one that will challenge his faith and lead him to uncover the hidden nature of the world.

Free online read

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Shawn Patrick Cooke fills his time by solving Rubik's cubes, ballroom dancing, learning languages, and generally getting distracted by the next shiny new hobby. His fiction reflects that variety of interests, stretching from historical fiction to his own invented worlds. While in our universe, Shawn lives in Richmond, Virginia, with his wife, his daughters, his cat, and his books.

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started reading this short story, I couldn't put it down until I'd finished it. The idea of what the monk Lasair finds in the book dropped off by a mysterious stranger was so interesting, I, like the protagonist, found myself turning each page, eagerly waiting to discover what would be revealed next. This story explores religion, nature, the danger of wielding too much power, and the essence of creation--all wrapped up in a very clever and compelling idea. To say much more would spoil the story, but if you'd told me before reading this that I would be so enthralled by a story about a monk scribing copies of a book, I'd have seriously doubted you. Cooke's writing here shows great promise that I can only hope he fulfills by giving us more stories of this caliber to experience.