Nearly two decades in the works, John Van Vloten’s The Unlikely Alchemist has finally hit bookshelves. In short, this is a very well written piece of children’s fantasy literature. Readers who watch for quality work in the genre of Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe should be delighted.
The Unlikely Alchemist includes some essentials in Christian fantasy literature—a self-consistent alternate world, the mysterious means of arriving there, a fellowship-style quest and of course, strong character development in the child antiheroes and their seemingly unbeatable nemesis.
Happily, the book is also full of surprising and strange new creatures that take us beyond standard elf, dwarf and fairy remakes. Moreover, readers will feel invited to their own character growth as they track with the emotional and spiritual journey of Bartholomew, the main protagonist. The story provides a colorful venue for important childhood development themes as characters are led by an array of challenges and mentors from childish self-centeredness and sibling conflicts into self-giving love, redemption and reconciliation.
Van Vloten navigates the key risks of the genre superbly. Will the book be child-friendly and yet engaging for adult parents or teachers who enjoy reading to their youngsters? Can the author introduce encounters with God without blundering into the minefield of Evangelical kitsch? Does the story draw anything fresh from the well of this literary style? YES on all counts, in my opinion.
Beyond the typical solutions to fantasy crises (i.e. overcoming or rescue) or transformation (i.e. endurance or discovery), the author treats us to another possibility—transfiguration—an important element of Christian life that warrants rediscovery in the West. 2 Corinthians 3:18 came to mind, where Paul says, “And all of us, who behold the Lord’s glory with unveiled faces, are being (lit.) transfigured into his image with an ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
At the cosmetic level, The Unlikely Alchemist is hardbound with an attractive, full-colored cover (art by Pat Jaster), making it a family keeper and perfect gift book. Don’t wait for a cheaper paperback version (none forthcoming)—do watch for the next book in the trilogy, due out next year.
Showing posts with label the Unlikely Alchemist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the Unlikely Alchemist. Show all posts
Monday, July 4, 2011
Thursday, March 11, 2010
prince in a shell
Prince in a Shell
“Once upon a time, for then it was when all stories begin, there was a King and a Queen who had a son. The Prince was their joy and they were his. Never has a Court seen such love and contentment before. But sadly, joy is frequently like a flower, which blooms today and falls to the earth the next.
So it was that an Enemy attacked the King’s land. As Head Knight, it fell to him to lead his men against the Marauders. So great was his courage, that the Enemy was soon vanquished, but in the heat of battle the King was pierced with a poisoned arrow and he died.
The Queen was filled with dismay and locked herself in a tower. No amount of entreaty could persuade her to open the door. She remained locked in her grief. The Court was in disarray. Finally, the Chamberlain sought out the young Prince. “Your Majesty, go and speak to your mother, for perhaps her mother’s heart will respond where her reason refuses.”
The Prince, his own heart torn by sadness, went to the tower and called out for his mother. Hearing his small voice, the Queen dried her eyes and opened the door. The Prince clung to her and together they wept.
The Lords and all the other Courtiers sent word to the Queen that as a woman she could not rule, and her son as a child, was likewise ineligible.
“Your Highness must take another husband to rule over us,” said a Baron with a note of finality.
Such are the cruelties of rulership. The Queen hardened her heart to her misery and sent word that she would interview suitors.
The Prince felt like he lived in a daze, for no man could replace what had been so harshly taken from him.
The Queen eventually settled on a handsome lord from a neighbouring land. Beauty, as they say, goes no deeper than the skin; for this lord had a green heart of envy. He saw the Prince as a competitor and hated him. The Prince made matters worse by not attempting to hide his disdain for his step-father.
One night, the new King went to the Prince’s chamber, and finding him asleep, gagged him and tied his hands together. He threw the Prince onto his horse and rode hard for the Sea. Here, he untied the Prince and freed his mouth. No bonds were necessary, for the King had another confinement for him. On the beach, the King made a rendezvous with an evil magician. “Here he is” laughed the evil King, “Shut him up so he never returns!”
The Magician spoke dark words, and immediately the Prince was enclosed in a huge, transparent shell. The Magician raised his hand and the Shell was cast into the deepest depths of the Sea. Down and down and down went the poor Prince and until finally the shell sank down into the muck at the bottom of the Sea.
The Prince pounded on the shell until his small fists were red, but it was to no avail. He screamed for help but the only result was the deep echoing of his voice.
Well, they say that every prisoner makes the best of his prison and so it was that the Prince learned to accept his confinement. He no longer cried. At least the shell prevented him from drowning.
There aren’t many things that one can do trapped in a shell, and the Prince soon discovered them all. He stood on his head, he slid down the steep incline of the shell, and he counted the seaweed that billowed outside of his prison. It wasn’t much of a life but it was better than drowning.
Then, one day, he saw a sight which destroyed his fragile contentment. It was a mermaid, swimming through the seaweed. Not the kind of swimming to get from point A to point B. No, this was more of a dance: now stately, now frisky. There were pirouettes, somersaults, and tail-snapping spinning. It was surely the most beautiful dance the Prince had ever seen. He pounded on the shell, but the Mermaid saw him not. The Prince wept for his frustration and cried out for deliverance!
And then, he saw a most strange sight: rainbow- coloured filaments fell through the water, settling all around his shell. Suddenly, the shell began-to rock back and forth, and with a pop, it broke free of the muck. He was in some sort of a net!
Up and up and up went the Prince in his shell until, splash! he was on the surface. In a boat, nearby, was a Fisherman, hauling in his net. If the Fisherman was surprised at netting a huge, transparent shell, he didn’t show it. He smiled as though bringing up boys from the depths was an everyday occurrence.
Seizing his filleting knife, the Fisherman began to pry open the shell. The Prince pushed and pried from within. Here an inch, and now another one, so that the Prince could get his hands out. Together they sweated and grit their teeth. Another inch and now another until crack! the shell lay in two halves. The Fisherman reached his brawny arms around the Prince’s waist and pulled him into his arms.
It was like being held by his father again. The Prince wept for joy.
They remained together for many days thereafter, as father and son, casting out the huge net together.”
“Once upon a time, for then it was when all stories begin, there was a King and a Queen who had a son. The Prince was their joy and they were his. Never has a Court seen such love and contentment before. But sadly, joy is frequently like a flower, which blooms today and falls to the earth the next.
So it was that an Enemy attacked the King’s land. As Head Knight, it fell to him to lead his men against the Marauders. So great was his courage, that the Enemy was soon vanquished, but in the heat of battle the King was pierced with a poisoned arrow and he died.
The Queen was filled with dismay and locked herself in a tower. No amount of entreaty could persuade her to open the door. She remained locked in her grief. The Court was in disarray. Finally, the Chamberlain sought out the young Prince. “Your Majesty, go and speak to your mother, for perhaps her mother’s heart will respond where her reason refuses.”
The Prince, his own heart torn by sadness, went to the tower and called out for his mother. Hearing his small voice, the Queen dried her eyes and opened the door. The Prince clung to her and together they wept.
The Lords and all the other Courtiers sent word to the Queen that as a woman she could not rule, and her son as a child, was likewise ineligible.
“Your Highness must take another husband to rule over us,” said a Baron with a note of finality.
Such are the cruelties of rulership. The Queen hardened her heart to her misery and sent word that she would interview suitors.
The Prince felt like he lived in a daze, for no man could replace what had been so harshly taken from him.
The Queen eventually settled on a handsome lord from a neighbouring land. Beauty, as they say, goes no deeper than the skin; for this lord had a green heart of envy. He saw the Prince as a competitor and hated him. The Prince made matters worse by not attempting to hide his disdain for his step-father.
One night, the new King went to the Prince’s chamber, and finding him asleep, gagged him and tied his hands together. He threw the Prince onto his horse and rode hard for the Sea. Here, he untied the Prince and freed his mouth. No bonds were necessary, for the King had another confinement for him. On the beach, the King made a rendezvous with an evil magician. “Here he is” laughed the evil King, “Shut him up so he never returns!”
The Magician spoke dark words, and immediately the Prince was enclosed in a huge, transparent shell. The Magician raised his hand and the Shell was cast into the deepest depths of the Sea. Down and down and down went the poor Prince and until finally the shell sank down into the muck at the bottom of the Sea.
The Prince pounded on the shell until his small fists were red, but it was to no avail. He screamed for help but the only result was the deep echoing of his voice.
Well, they say that every prisoner makes the best of his prison and so it was that the Prince learned to accept his confinement. He no longer cried. At least the shell prevented him from drowning.
There aren’t many things that one can do trapped in a shell, and the Prince soon discovered them all. He stood on his head, he slid down the steep incline of the shell, and he counted the seaweed that billowed outside of his prison. It wasn’t much of a life but it was better than drowning.
Then, one day, he saw a sight which destroyed his fragile contentment. It was a mermaid, swimming through the seaweed. Not the kind of swimming to get from point A to point B. No, this was more of a dance: now stately, now frisky. There were pirouettes, somersaults, and tail-snapping spinning. It was surely the most beautiful dance the Prince had ever seen. He pounded on the shell, but the Mermaid saw him not. The Prince wept for his frustration and cried out for deliverance!
And then, he saw a most strange sight: rainbow- coloured filaments fell through the water, settling all around his shell. Suddenly, the shell began-to rock back and forth, and with a pop, it broke free of the muck. He was in some sort of a net!
Up and up and up went the Prince in his shell until, splash! he was on the surface. In a boat, nearby, was a Fisherman, hauling in his net. If the Fisherman was surprised at netting a huge, transparent shell, he didn’t show it. He smiled as though bringing up boys from the depths was an everyday occurrence.
Seizing his filleting knife, the Fisherman began to pry open the shell. The Prince pushed and pried from within. Here an inch, and now another one, so that the Prince could get his hands out. Together they sweated and grit their teeth. Another inch and now another until crack! the shell lay in two halves. The Fisherman reached his brawny arms around the Prince’s waist and pulled him into his arms.
It was like being held by his father again. The Prince wept for joy.
They remained together for many days thereafter, as father and son, casting out the huge net together.”
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
telling stories
I love telling stories. When my daughter was very young, we would read together. We loved books like "The Wind in the Willows," the Narnia books, and Winnie the Pooh. One night, having exhausted our available books, I started to tell her stories about herself: Princess Kristin and her good friend and constant savior, Walftung the Walrus. The stories were not exactly deep or well-thought out but they were fun to create and I think Kristin liked being the heroine of peril after peril!
When I was freshly educated and freshly unemployed back in the 80's, I started to write a longer story but sadly not one with Kristin in it but I did keep Walftung because every story needs a savior, right?
I read the first part of the story to Kristin when she was about 8 or so and she loved it. But she didn't love that I never finished the story. She insisted that I try. She can be very persistant.
So I finished the story, and finally, this year it's going to be published. Wow. Only 30 years after I wrote the first page.
One of the things, I'd like to do with this blog, is post chapters of the "Unlikely Alchemist". If you like what you're reading, perhaps you'd like to buy the book. I'll let you know how to get it when it is published. Hey, who's in a rush?
When I was freshly educated and freshly unemployed back in the 80's, I started to write a longer story but sadly not one with Kristin in it but I did keep Walftung because every story needs a savior, right?
I read the first part of the story to Kristin when she was about 8 or so and she loved it. But she didn't love that I never finished the story. She insisted that I try. She can be very persistant.
So I finished the story, and finally, this year it's going to be published. Wow. Only 30 years after I wrote the first page.
One of the things, I'd like to do with this blog, is post chapters of the "Unlikely Alchemist". If you like what you're reading, perhaps you'd like to buy the book. I'll let you know how to get it when it is published. Hey, who's in a rush?
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