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Cradleland Chronicles #3
The Fall of the Nephilim
The judgment of the Creator on a wicked world is drawing near, and Noah, having received a commission from the Gardener, is building the ark. Dark powers target Noah for destruction, knowing that if he fails they will have won the war against the Creator. Douglas Hirt weaves a wonderfully imaginative tale around biblical facts. This highly detailed and well-researched novel serves to satisfy the appetites of science fiction and fantasy readers while providing a redemptive, God-glorifying story about what might have been. Download the Readers' Guide.
512 pages, Paperback
First published April 19, 2006
About the author
Douglas Hirt
55 books25 followersDouglas Hirt was born in Illinois, but heeding Horace Greeley's admonition to "Go west, young man", he headed to New Mexico at eighteen. Doug earned a Bachelor's degree from the College of Santa Fe and a Masters of Science degree from Eastern New Mexico University. During this time he spent several summers living in a tent in the desert near Carlsbad, New Mexico, conducting biological baseline surveys for the Department of Energy.
Doug drew heavily from this "desert life" when writing his first novel, DEVIL'S WIND. In 1991 Doug's novel, A PASSAGE OF SEASONS, won the Colorado Authors' League Top Hand Award. His 1998 book, BRANDISH, and 1999 DEADWOOD, were finalists for the SPUR award given by the Western Writers of America.
A short story writer, and the author of twenty-nine novels and one book of non fiction, Doug now makes his home in Colorado Springs with his wife Kathy and their two children, Rebecca and Derick. When not writing or traveling to research his novels, Doug enjoys collecting and restoring old English sports cars.
Douglas Hirt is a "fabricator of armchair adventures" who also writes as Jason Elder and Doug Hawkins.
Doug drew heavily from this "desert life" when writing his first novel, DEVIL'S WIND. In 1991 Doug's novel, A PASSAGE OF SEASONS, won the Colorado Authors' League Top Hand Award. His 1998 book, BRANDISH, and 1999 DEADWOOD, were finalists for the SPUR award given by the Western Writers of America.
A short story writer, and the author of twenty-nine novels and one book of non fiction, Doug now makes his home in Colorado Springs with his wife Kathy and their two children, Rebecca and Derick. When not writing or traveling to research his novels, Doug enjoys collecting and restoring old English sports cars.
Douglas Hirt is a "fabricator of armchair adventures" who also writes as Jason Elder and Doug Hawkins.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 2, 2016
I bought this book on a whim. Since it is the third book in the Cradleland Chronicles series, by not having read the first two, I started out at a disadvantage. This book focused on the story of Noah, his family, and the building of the Biblical ark. As an adventure series, it did okay, but the plot appeared plodding at times. Although believers know something about these times and the life of Noah, there is a lot we do not know. This author used fiction to fill in his ideas of what those times were like. Entertaining, but as is the focus of fiction, 99% of the story is made up.
Incorporated into the story are several myths, all well done. The use of "Atlan" (mythical Atlantis) for a city-state site is a fun idea. The image came across to this reviewer that Atlan sat in the middle of the current Mediterranean Sea. The landmass possibly turned upside down in that ocean during the follow-on Flood, the original bottom rocks becoming those of modern Crete today. Of course, this is this reviewer's guess. The use of the name "Rahab" for the name of the original fifth planet--and the reason it became the asteroid belt beyond Mars--is also entertaining. This absolute destruction of Rahab at the Creator's command, results in the follow-on destruction of desolate but livable Oric, leaving it cratered and with an ultra-thin atmosphere—the planet we know as Mars today. Also entertaining is the enemy Oracle's site of a "billboard in the sky," (known as Earth's moon), becoming thoroughly destroyed by Rahab's breakup, to become the cratered and well-known "Man-in-the-moon" image, circling modern day Earth.
However, there exist numerous technical problems with the writing of the story. This reviewer found many typo errors within the text—too numerous to count. Also, the author demonstrated a problem with maintaining a strict POV (point of view), as there were many occurrences of head hopping between the different characters within the same paragraph. Better pacing of the overall story events would amount to a better read.
Overall, this was an entertaining, Biblical related story. However, the problems mentioned above kept dislodging this reviewer out of the story mindset.
Incorporated into the story are several myths, all well done. The use of "Atlan" (mythical Atlantis) for a city-state site is a fun idea. The image came across to this reviewer that Atlan sat in the middle of the current Mediterranean Sea. The landmass possibly turned upside down in that ocean during the follow-on Flood, the original bottom rocks becoming those of modern Crete today. Of course, this is this reviewer's guess. The use of the name "Rahab" for the name of the original fifth planet--and the reason it became the asteroid belt beyond Mars--is also entertaining. This absolute destruction of Rahab at the Creator's command, results in the follow-on destruction of desolate but livable Oric, leaving it cratered and with an ultra-thin atmosphere—the planet we know as Mars today. Also entertaining is the enemy Oracle's site of a "billboard in the sky," (known as Earth's moon), becoming thoroughly destroyed by Rahab's breakup, to become the cratered and well-known "Man-in-the-moon" image, circling modern day Earth.
However, there exist numerous technical problems with the writing of the story. This reviewer found many typo errors within the text—too numerous to count. Also, the author demonstrated a problem with maintaining a strict POV (point of view), as there were many occurrences of head hopping between the different characters within the same paragraph. Better pacing of the overall story events would amount to a better read.
Overall, this was an entertaining, Biblical related story. However, the problems mentioned above kept dislodging this reviewer out of the story mindset.
May 12, 2022
This series has truly impressed me. The author maintained consistent pacing, narrative style and focus throughout the trilogy. The third book was engaging and offered more development in the characters and world building. Seems odd to say that given we all know how the story ends. Still this series has given me a unique appreciation for what Noah and the world went through at the time. One particular seen towards the end of this book had me in tears. You'll know the one when you read it. I would not only recommend. I put this in in the required reading category for Bible believers. The author brings to life the struggles, doubts, pain, heartache people could very likely have experienced at the time. The theme song for this series, especially this last book would be "I still believe" by The Call. Yes, this book has a few more grammatical flubs and typos than the others but it didnt detract from the heart of the message nor its personalizing punch.
May 11, 2015
The fulfillment of the prophesied judgement of humankind is drawing nearer and the Deceiver knows time is short. The Deceiver’s darkness has spread across the entire known world and the accomplishment of his evil, the Nephilim, now are entwined into nearly every facet of the culture of the day. Nothing is spared the inky black hand of evil as those who try to follow the Creator see their numbers dwindling day by day. It’s now bow the knew to Deceiver or die! Noah and his family are torn between the commission of the Creator to get the Ark ready and the hounds of Darkness that are trying to hunt them down and kill them. In this final book of the Cradleland Chronicles, Douglas Hirt has penned an captivating tale of the times, places and moods of the pre-Flood world. As I said before, I believe the Lord God has given Douglas a prophetic glance into what was. I know I will enjoy reading this series again as they stir the soul and spirit of the things of Heaven.
June 21, 2012
I wasn't as impressed with the second book in this series as I was with the first, so I was a little skeptical of how this one would turn out. I ultimately knew what was going to happen since it's based on a Biblical story, but the emotion and human elements that were added still made it an incredibly enjoyable read. I progressed rather slowly through this one, but once I hit the last 100 pages, I flew through it as I was impatient to see how the author depicted the ending of a story that's very familiar to me. Overall a very satisfying and encouraging read!
October 5, 2007
The final book in the Cradleland Chronicles, this book leads us to the ultimate fight between good and evil right before the flood. A great ending to a wonderful series!
I know the author and started reading the series because I knew him, but I got hooked. The day he brought over the third book I holed up in my room and read it straight through. Great book!
I know the author and started reading the series because I knew him, but I got hooked. The day he brought over the third book I holed up in my room and read it straight through. Great book!
September 14, 2008
Wow! It gets weird now! Can't tell you how, though the cover art gives a hint.
Hirt does a good job of tying the various threads together, and even connects his series to later history and scripture.
Hirt does a good job of tying the various threads together, and even connects his series to later history and scripture.
April 13, 2014
I have enjoyed this series and understand that there are more books in the Cradleland Chronicles. This one takes you up to and through the flood. The heartbreak & challenges of fighting for the lives & souls of those loved who have turned their hearts from the Creator. Deeply moving.
September 30, 2015
Thought-provoking
Very thought-provoking. I never gave thought to how the people lived before the flood. To think that they might have developed some technology is mind boggling. Thoroughly enjoyed this series of books.
Very thought-provoking. I never gave thought to how the people lived before the flood. To think that they might have developed some technology is mind boggling. Thoroughly enjoyed this series of books.
January 28, 2014
Highly imaginative, fictionalized account of the events leading up to the flood. The demon hybrids were the strangest for me.
January 14, 2015
Excellent series loved all three books
April 12, 2017
I loved this series, but something was missing in this book. I couldn't really attach to any characters, and I feel like some of the plot threads were just crammed in there. That being said, it still has a lot of nuggets of wisdom.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews