Numenon: A Tale of Mysticism & Money

Bloodsong #1

by Sandy Nathan

Will Duane has it all. Head of Numenon, the vast, multinational corporation he founded, Will is the richest man on the planet and makes more money with every breath. Still in his prime at 63, he has everything he needs to be on top of the world.

But a force he cannot identify pursues Will Duane.

The stalker.

Driven by his need to win back the love of a mysterious woman, Will takes his top executives to a week long spiritual retreat in the New Mexico desert.

His caravan of five RVs makes its way to the retreat site at the Mogollon Bowl. On this sacred land, perhaps the strongest power spot on earth, the ageless shaman known as Grandfather will lead the retreat.

As Will and his team progress toward the site, all hell breaks loose. When the caravan becomes stalled, the unknown stalker strikes. Out of a horrifying attack, a new possibility is born ... and evil takes a new form.

The survivors realize that they are approaching a reality beyond anything they can imagine. They must face their own terrors and weaknesses as they come face-to-face with what awaits them at the Mogollon Bowl.

TESTIMONIALS &

NUMENON is superbly written, and beautifully weaves a treasure-trove of spiritual and intellectual wisdom into the story. I am totally enthralled. Where's the sequel?
----ILENE DILLON, MSW. Host, Full Power Living

FIVE STARS! A fantasy set in the real world to draw readers in and never let them go, NUMENON is highly recommended to readers seeking modern fiction with fantastical elements.
-- MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

The collision of commerce and spirit, the world's richest man and an ancient Native American shaman, a global corporation larger than any other and the quiet strength at the core of the natural world this is thriller and metaphor and life lesson in the hands of a writer who has journey'd through both worlds.
--GERALD DiPEGO, Screenwriter, Phenomenon, Instinct, Message in a Bottle


NUMENON HAS WON SIX NATIONAL AWARDS 

Genres: Contemporary, Philosophy, Book Club, Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction

432 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Sandy Nathan writes to amaze and delight, uplift and inspire, as well as thrill and occasionally terrify. She is known for creating unforgettable characters and putting them in do or die situations. She writes in genres ranging from science fiction, fantasy, and visionary fiction to juvenile nonfiction to spirituality and memoir.

"I write for people who like challenging, original work. My reader isn't satisfied by a worn-out story or predictable plot. I do my best to give my readers what they want."

Mrs. Nathan's books have won thirty
national awards, including multiple awards from oldest, largest, and most prestigious contests for independent publishers. Her books have earned rave reviews. Most have close to five-star averages on Amazon.

Sandy was born in San Francisco, California. She grew up in the hard-driving, achievement orientated corporate culture of Silicon Valley. Sandy holds Master's Degrees in Economics and Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling. She was a doctoral student at Stanford's Graduate School of Business and has been an economic analyst, businesswoman, and negotiation coach, as well as author.

Mrs. Nathan lives with her husband on their California ranch. They bred Peruvian Paso horses for almost twenty years.

TALES FROM EARTH'S END, Sandy Nathan's new SCI-FI / FANTASY / VISIONARY FICTION SERIES IS FINISHED AND AVAILABLE on AMAZON. You can get all three books without having to wait for them to be written and published! The series follows a group of people who are pushed to the literal end of the earth.

THE ANGEL & THE BROWN-EYED BOY, Book I, introduces Eliana, the exquisite dancer from another world who has come to earth on a mission to save her planet. She finds earth on the verge of nuclear meltdown. Only she and Jeremy Edgarton, a 16-year-old tech genius, can save the planet, and hopefully find each other. The Angel won the GOLD MEDAL in the 2011 IPPY (Independent Press) Awards in VISIONARY FICTION. Also won the 2011 INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARD in VISIONARY FICTION.

LADY GRACE, book II, brings the action forward a few thousand years. The radiation has finally lifted and survivors come together to begin new lives on a planet blasted back to prehistoric times. "FIVE STARS! A MODERN SCI-FI MASTERPIECE Lady Grace was first-rate science fiction and one of the most absorbing page-turners of that genre that I've read in years. Author Sandy Nathan exhibits the imagination of Ray Bradbury combined with the whimsicalness of Douglas Adams. That's high praise, but it's warranted. The story includes so much action; tense, suspenseful drama; and two charming love stories that it's irresistible." J. Chambers, Amazon Top 100 Reviewer

Lady Grace is brand new, out in print and Kindle versions.

SAM & EMILY, the third and final version of Tales from Earth's End, tells the story of Sam Baahuhd, the village headman on the Piermont Estate, and the mysterious stranger he brings to his people at the end of the world. This is an epic love story to be remembered for the ages. Not a perfect love, but a brilliant love.

Out as a print version; Kindle is following very soon.

The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy tells the story of an angelic extraterrestrial and the boy she comes to love. It's set in a dark future world on the night before nuclear Armageddon. The Angel combines thrills, intrigue, and extraordinary characters. It is in the magical realism genre of my ...novel, NUMENON.

"A good book elicits an emotional response while being read; Nathan's book haunts the reader long after the final page is turned. In Angel & the Brown-Eyed Boy two dying worlds fight for survival, their futures dependent on a revolutionary and an angelic otherworldly dancer. It is world not that many heartbeats away from our own, making the premise chilling."
Todd A. Fonseca, award-winning author of The Time Cavern

TECOLOTE: THE LITTLE HORSE THAT COULD––A new book for children of all ages. Born prematur

Reviews

[Todd Fonseca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leading Numenon, the largest and most powerful corporation on the Earth, Will Duane carries a secret. Haunted for years by the memory of his demanding and verbally abusive father, Will compensates by driving for ever greater success at all costs. Ethics, faithfulness, relationships, all take a back seat to his overriding lust for power. But the success he achieves leaves him empty. Forever stalked by a dark presence creating a pall over everything in his life, Will finds solace by retreating within himself by physically punishing his body through excessive exercise. Nearing exhaustion, something special happens. A heightened state of awareness occurs through a glowing column of light beginning at the base of his spine. Will achieves what mystics call – Kundalini – here he is safe; here is where he finds peace; here is where he finds answers.

From his lean-to in remote New Mexico, a Native American shaman-known by many names but by his followers as “grandfather”-senses the gathering of evil. It will be at the annual gathering of his spirit warriors, simply called “the meeting”, where this darkness will descend and collide with grandfather’s spiritual forces and the corporate power of Numenon.

In Numenon, national award winning author Sandy Nathan takes the reader through the parallel journeys of two very different worlds – that of corporate deals and greed juxtaposed with that of Native American Indians on the reservation. Alternating between these two realities, Nathan explores each of the characters histories – their lives, choices, and experiences which have led them to the present conditions. Nearing the spiritually charged ground where the meeting is to occur, each of the characters feel the intensity of what they are about to experience and each must choose their path forward.

This is the first book in the Bloodsong series by Nathan. Those expecting a tidy closure to all of the plot’s elements will instead find a continuously building pressure cooker leading to a climatic meeting of forces to be resolved in future volumes. This is a very enjoyable read and those interested in mysticism and Native American Culture will thoroughly enjoy Numenon.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here some reviews from Amazon: Check Amazon for many more:
http://www.amazon.com/review/product/...

NUMENON IS A NATIONAL AWARD WINNER!
As an Advance Reading Copy, NUMENON won
USA BOOK NEWS' BEST BOOKS AWARD in VISIONARY FICTION &
THE NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR RELIGIOUS FICTION

Adults, rejoice! We no longer have to read the kids' copy of Harry Potter because we have Sandy Nathan and Numenon!I could not put it down. Numenon is an epic of similar proportions to Jean Auel's Clan of the Cave Bear ... is superbly written, and beautifully weaves a treasure-trove of spiritual and intellectual wisdom into the story. I am totally enthralled. Where's the sequel? --Ilene Dillon, MSW
Host, Full Power Living

The collision of commerce and spirit, the world's richest man and an ancient Native American shaman, a global corporation larger than any other and the quiet strength at the core of the natural world this is thriller and metaphor and life lesson in the hands of a writer who has journey'd through both worlds. -- Gerald DiPego Screenwriter, Phenomenon

The material and spirit world clash in this well-written adventure novel. A fantastic intellectual work which makes readers question their priorities in this life. A highly-recommended title. -- USA Book News

[JoAnn J. A. Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book about a fully imagined civilization of native Americans and some corporate types coming to meet them. The characters are intriguing and the situations they face go beyond the ordinary.

I found this book very enjoyable and am looking forward to reading the next in the series. I think anyone will find this story a fine read.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a series my Mother is in the process of editing. This one has been published for reviews and contests and has already won a USA Book Award! (Gloat...Yes, I'm gloating. Go Mom!)

[L.C. Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the spiritual elements and character development.

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

I enjoyed the premise, and many of the characters had promise, but I was disappointed in the delivery.

The world’s richest man and his corporate entourage motorcade to the middle of the desert for a Native American Shaman festival. Along the way, we are told about their past sins and traumas through lengthy exposition. We are briefed (literally) on the history of Native American oppression and the power of mystic traditions, with preference for the Hindu terminology likely used by the author’s Siddha Yoga tradition. In a similar fashion, the shaman leader and several followers are developed while they arrive on the festival grounds, mostly through flashback, exposition, and backstory. A surprising number of characters turn out to have enlightenment superpowers despite their significant, lingering psychological baggage. After this long buildup of Shamanism, mysticism, and corporate America, the psychic battle with the poorly developed evil villain was anticlimactic.

[Jerry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just finished reading Numenon, the book that is garnering major positive reviews from everyone, including the press. Unfortunately, I came away with a very different perspective. I guess if you like talking animals, rampant sexual dysfunction, a nebulous villain, and pages chuck full of navel gazing with very little "adventure," then perhaps you will enjoy this more than I did. I only finished the book because I consider it a failure when I don't. But I gave up interest around 3/4 the way through.

The transition from the physical world to the big supernatural battle at the end was hokey. I did not have any particular hate, distaste, or anger at the villain, simply because he was so underdeveloped. In fact, while many people are calling this a spiritual book, I would categorize much of the supernatural as just plain silliness. New age claptrap does not equal "spiritual substance."

The majority of the characters had so few (any?) redeeming characteristics, it was really hard to feel sorry for them when comeuppance came calling. (Yes, I'm sure some of you will say 'that was the point'. But it simply too much for me.) The majority of the book is spent spelling out their flaws in minute detail after minute detail. I understand the need to develop the characters and build their psyche, but about halfway through I wanted to yell, "Got it! Point made! Can we have them actually *do* something now?"

One review even suggested this book would make you rethink your priorities. The only thing it made me rethink is how much weight I give to Amazon reader reviews.

[Lia · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. I was intrigued by the description of the book, but in the end it turned out to be the black/white, god/devil same old boring dichotomy. There were flaws that kept jarring me out of the story, before I realized the dichotomous nature, but they hinted at it. I was uneasy about where the story would lead, from early on. But the characterization kept me guessing, so I continued reading. I almost put it down somewhere past the half-way point when it used yet another character to harp on a topic it had already beaten me over the head with. Of which there are more than one in the tale. I was all, "Oh no, not again...? Really?"

Spiritual content? Barely. I just couldn't buy an elderly, powerful, oh-so-spiritual shaman who still carried acute pain from childhood that he couldn't even let himself think about. You don't get that far in your spiritual growth, not to mention regular old life, without dealing with your stuff, and becoming strong and learning to let things roll off you (or digest & integrate), because you see the true nature of things, or time eases the pain. Not to mention the judgmental lack of insight about drugs and sex. *eyeroll* These Indians were too Christian for me.

For all that, it did have some creative explanations and some storytelling flair. The book was a loooong build-up, and then an odd cliffhanger ending. I'm undecided on whether I want to read the next book or not.

[Sharon Tillotson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book, this is really 3 1/2 stars. The story was engaging and presented many concepts, most I agreed with and some I did not but gave me pause, which was all good. Toward the end there were many typos which began to distract, and the end was... well, not an ending. It felt as if a resolution had been promised but I did not feel as if even a preliminary awakening had been resolved. It was as if this book was rushed to publication - many characters were left stranded. I really wanted to know what happened to some of the minor characters, many of whom were well drawn. It was noted that the book was really part one of two, which I didn't mind, but it had been implied that book two was written. I would probably read book two but perhaps would not be interested several years hence.

That being said, the storyline was good, the two main characters intriguing. The Corporate type was conflicted though occasionally not believably so, the Shaman well-conceived, modern and believable - a pretty tricky feat the author pulled off fairly well.

All in all an enjoyable first read on my new Kindle.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with reviews that there is very little to like about most of the characters in this book but this is a very well written novel that explores some ideas that I feel comfortable with but experience little in my reading. This book felt like light fair, even considering the topics (power, spirituality) yet is a quick read, fairly fast paced and written with a respect and feeling that the author strongly believes in.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. The writing was nice and the characters were intriguing.

But I abandoned this book after reading 75% of it.

Why? Because the plot build up kept hinting at "Something Big" happening any minute now. For 300 pages the story promises that any minute now "Something Big" is going to happen. Finally, I decided that it was time to call a spade a spade, and so, I laid this one to rest.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really couldn't find anything good about the book. Each character except, grandfather, was not likeable. The lead in the book, Will wasn't someone I could buy into either. I got 40% though the book and gave up. I just didn't want to finish a book where there was no one I could root for in the end.

[Tim Barrable · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning book. Brings together strands of Native American Shamanism and history, Christianity and mysticism with corporate America and the supernatural. An epic tale of good vs evil told in a spellbinding way... couldn't put it down. One of those life changing books that comes along once in a while.

[Chariss Walker]

A philosophical contemporary fiction book about shamanism

[Sandra McLeod · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing read!

[Michael Schulz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cliff hanger ending, where is the next book? Very "New Age", but lite and interesting.