Penury City -- A Trilogy by Thomas E.

 Penury City -- A Trilogy 

Author: Thomas E.

Publisher: Wounded Crow Publishing, Rochester, N.Y., 2016-2021

I recently reviewed each of this Trilogy's three volumes [you can catch those write-ups here, here2, and here3, respectively] but I feel so strongly about the general message of the series that I wanted to share my thoughts on the entire work.

Author Thomas E. is a devout Roman Catholic. He teaches Catholic doctrine for the Church and is not afraid to speak up on what is right with the church and what is wrong with it. More recently he penned an open letter to the Roman Catholic Church leaders, from Deacons to the Pope, because of his great love for the church. [You can read that Open Letter here4.] Thomas enjoys and accepts other Christians from non-Catholic churches. He enjoys talking theology and about his Lord with anyone who will engage him. And that's the very reason he wrote this trilogy in a way that would not only captivate our imagination, but more importantly help us, people of faith and people without any faith, to understand the possibilities of what lies ahead for us.

In this Trilogy, we not only have our eyes opened to what is going on in the world today, but also what we can expect in the next two or three decades. The backbone of his plot is based on a vision of the beginning of the End Days.

All three volumes are well written with lots of action, suspense and emotion. Mr. E. has a considerable liking for the supernatural and he applies it well, in the appropriate doses, and in a way that most of it, if it were necessary, could be backed up by what many believe is possible and is predicted in our sacred writings, and in Thomas's case, the Bible.

The story starts off in North America, and works its way miraculously to Europe where the major battle between good and evil is eventually fought.

A fellow reader, who does much more reading of fiction than I do, told me, after reading the series, that she sees some similarities in concepts also noticed in the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (especially when Thomas introduces some evil creatures); Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time (a cloak that hides one from the enemy and the ability to split one's sub-conscious into two in order to mentally pursue various aspects of what is going on in different places while remaining physically in another); and to Hannah Hurnard's Hinds' Feet on High Places (the idea of one  being taken on a difficult journey, and after arriving at their destination, being sent back in order to bring others there as well).

But best of all, it is a Trilogy of life and hope based on faith and obedience. It helps us understand that anything worth pursuing takes work and patience and perseverance, and in many cases total dependence on something outside of us, perhaps even Someone outside of time.

These books will make you think about why you are here, what you can expect (and ignore if you so wish), and how to conquer what really matters.  Highly recommended.

-- Ken B. Godevenos, Toronto, March 1, 2021.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

The Zealots Return -- Volume III of the Penury City Trilogy

 

Penury City: The Zealots Return -- Volume III

 

Author: Thomas E.

Publisher: Wounded Crow Publishing, Rochester, N.Y., 2016-2021

This is the third of a three-volume trilogy by Thomas E.  My reviews of Volume I, can be accessed by clicking Light of Gabriel and of Volume II, by clicking on The Ire of the Shekel. In essence, the author, a devote believer in God, describing in very exciting terms and actions, and using a formula that comprises the Bible, the Church, history, current events, various writing techniques, delivers a thrilling story to his readers. I can't leave out travel via 'treetubes' but you'll need to discover that for yourselves. If you like fantasy, military escapades, spiritual battles, and character-development in a story, this series and especially Volume III, is your book.

Here is where Thomas takes all the unfinished details and explanations, the incomplete business, the failed relationships, and brings them together in a grand finale in a way that didn't allow me to put the book down until I finished it.

The message is clear. It's a terrible world we currently live in. The battle between good and evil has begun. The Enemy of the Good is strong. The Good are weak. And we're stubborn, without faith, and without love. We don't understand the Power available to us to fight Evil if we were to be serious about it.

But how do we move forward to the point where we can see what must be done without giving up? How do we take our eyes off the suffering you are experiencing and relabel it as a lesson that will prepare us for ultimate success?

Thomas pulls no punches. He identifies the Enemy as those who have turned away from the Creator. Their anger and misery are focused on one thing and one thing alone -- to destroy anything and anyone that is associated with God.

The lessons throughout the book continue to be as many in this Volume as they were in Volumes I and II. But the author takes us deeper here introducing a number of very serious theological topics of interest to those who want to be victorious. One excellent example is how we deal with evil that comes our way. One character says, "Whatever evil might come upon us, we must remember that it needs God's permission to act upon us, and God always has our best interest at heart. Fear not." Can you imagine just how different our lives would be, and how we would face the challenges we encounter if we really believed that?

Another key lesson for a believer is to learn, when he/she reaches a decision point, a fork in the road, or a desire to do something, that he/she should "stop moving for a moment, to take note of [his/her] heart and to ask permission for what [he/she] is to do next."  That would save us a lot of trouble.

But lest the reader of this review think it is a totally solemn book, let me assure you it is not. There is a lot of banter back and forth, some pranks, and a considerable amount of humor in its pages. There is one particular line I know I intend to use myself. It is this: "General, in a world gone mad, sometimes all that is left is to send [in] crazy." And send in 'crazy' they do.

This is a book that helps us all realize the reality of the direction the world is heading in, and the destination it is headed for. We have so accustomed ourselves to ignore the indications of evil that we know are present all around us, and focus instead on anything that could fill any void that we sense in our hearts and souls. But Thomas doesn't leave us there. He gives us answers. Admittedly, he presents those answers in a literary style that requires us to suspend our disbelief, something that I found difficult being a reader of primarily non-fiction. His characters and their actions are, for the most part, grounded enough in reality and possibility as we understand it today. Anything in the story that is supernatural in nature is also made to seem possible for us given the fuller explanation of God's realm, the spiritual world, which Thomas provides.

To the unbeliever and the skeptic, this book will give you great insight into what it really means to be a Christian and what is ahead for all us in the world. To the believer, this book is meant to give us a glimpse as to how to become a stronger person of faith and how to put that strong faith to use for your God. To all of us, it provides not just how we may get rid of our guilt of past sin; but also a purpose for the present; and a hope for the future. The Enemy can definitely be defeated. Death can be conquered. Love and Peace can reign.

Highly recommended.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

You Can't Walk This Road Alone

 

The Ultimate Decision that Has To Be Made

Penury City: Ire of the Shekel -- Volume II

 

Author: Thomas E.

Publisher: Wounded Crow Publishing, Rochester, N.Y., 2016-2019

This is the second of a three volume work by Thomas E. In Volume I we are introduced to a failed world, primarily in the U.S. It is a world that sadly can be described by many American cities today as well as by what many predict the rest of the U.S. and other other western countries may look like in the next few decades.  It is that world that a number of folks, some people of faith, some just fed up with what they are living through, seek a way out. Such a way is provided by a woman named Maria. But getting to that city that they believe is so different requires an incredible journey and a complete suspension of one's doubt in a spiritual world. You can read my review of Volume I here.

Volume II takes us through various tunnels, oceans, and wild events, sometimes being chased by the evil guards of the Enemy and barely escaping. At long last, all the intended pilgrims are united and embark on the last stretch of their voyage to the City they seek. Upon arrival, their reactions are as varied as they are. Some, especially our lead character in Volume II (Dr. Saul, the former abortionist who is simply along on the journey in order to catch up to his 'partner' and love interest, Janess) is totally disgusted at what he sees in the City they all nearly died to get to. He feels he was duped. One by one, the pilgrims are dealt with in accordance with their stage of faith, or lack thereof.

Saul has a lot of work to do and he is assigned to a much more accomplished believer and person of faith. To his dislike, his mentor is to be the very Sister that gave him a hard time on the voyage. Their relationship develops over the various chapters as Saul learns the lessons of faith with her help. Much to his surprise, he seems to have learned them all until he gets to the very last one -- one that requires a real 'leap of faith'. A leap that no human being could accomplish on their very own, and yet it seems there cannot be another human being that will help him achieve it.

This volume has a most surprising end. If you read it, don't spoil it for yourself. You have to ease into it. Thomas E's writing continues to be top-notch. I was truly riveted to the pages of the book as I reached the end.

As the reader moves through Volume I and now II, more and more becomes clear. Connections are cleverly made between characters that we had long forgotten. The author is also a master of 'allusion' as time and time again our minds are called to something that we may well have learned about in our lives, without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference to things we may already have known.

Can some of the most heinous sins towards mankind be forgiven? By the victims? By God? Can I forgive myself? And if so, how does all that happen?

There were more memorable quotes through this volume. For instance, when one character tells another, "You are trying to calculate the behavior of God with the feeble mind of a human being." Each one has a lesson for every reader that wants to learn about God or develop a closer relationship with Him. Another one I liked was the response given by the mother of one of the characters when her brother tried to keep her from combat battle with the Enemy troops and told her that her place was with the children. She "responded that there would be no place for her children if there was no God in the world. She said she'd rather all would perish than live in a world without the One."

Thomas E. also gives us a great definition of 'love'. You can catch it in Chapter 6. He also maintains his ability to not pull punches -- people once again die as the narrator utters, "Evil is cold and has no remorse."

The level of excitement is high reminding me of the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom movie. The author explains how the evil powers are acting out of fear that their time is limited and one day they will have to answer for what they have done.

As I continue reading through this series over a number of days, I note that I find myself thinking about the world, the characters in the story, the future, and what we may well be facing in the days ahead. This is not a doomsday series, but rather one of hope. Goodness knows, the world will bring on its own doomsday. What we need to discover is how to avoid it. This series helps us do that.

I don't want to give the plot away. Suffice it to say that the excellent story is not over yet. The pilgrims have arrived at their destination. But what exactly is that destination? And is it the ultimate  destination? There are still some loose threads. There are still some ends (or beginnings) that we haven't grasped. With anticipation, I am picking up Volume III, The Zealots Return. I recommend you start with Volume I.

The Ire of the Shekel is highly recommended as an exciting, informative, and predictive work. Thomas E. accomplishes the task well.

-- Ken B. Godevenos, Toronto, Ontario.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.