Madness Bound
Madness of Kanaan Book 1
Laser Cow Press
ISBN 9781956489187
ASIN B0DS6XZFT7
Each time I read a book by Fabian, no matter the series, I think ‘it can’t get better than this’ and yet somehow it almost most often does. This story took me completely by surprise, I had had the eBook of the original edition since 2011 but had not got around to reading it. Last year I reached out to Fabian and was informed that the series was being republished this year, more on that below. For some reason I kept skipping over this story even though I have read almost everything Fabian has in print. That was my loss, after reading this first one I will be bumping the remaining three to the top of my ‘to be read’ pile as they and republished and release over the coming months. It is a great read, and leaves you desperate for more!
The description of this volume states:
“Deryl’s not crazy. He’s psychic.
And someone's trying to contact him.
Deryl Stephen's uncontrollable telepathic abilities have landed him in a mental health institution, where no one believes in his powers. When intern Johusa Lawson, a student of neuro linguistic programming, comes for the summer, he uses the unique idea of accepting Deryl's reality and teaching him to work with it. As Deryl learns control, he finds his next challenge is to face the aliens who have been contacting him psychically for years--aliens who would use him to further their cause in an interplanetary war.”
Wow, what an intense powerful story. This book was so hard to put down. I read it over a few days, and if work and family life had not been so busy it would have been read much faster. Every time I had to put it down, I wished I was not in that position.
I have to admit I loved Deryl’s story and plot but also greatly appreciated the story arcs for Joshua and Sachiko. And I have met more than a few personalities in life that would be close to Dr. Malachai. There is an interesting dynamic in the facility with Dr. Malachai as the head of the institute and Dr. Sellars bringing in Joshua to work or try and befriend Ydrel, aka Deryl. The dynamics at the institute and Joshua’s success with a number of clients is intriguing to read and follow along.
Ydrel's time with the master or in Kanaan and his episodes with the Miscria are fascinating. Figuring out what is real and what is not and even if there are possibilities beyond our comprehension. And following the young man as he learns to cope with experience many of us cannot even imagine, just wow. Masterfully written.
I also especially loved how Joshua would centre himself with the Rosary, going to mass or confession. His faith was something he tried to live, and did not preach. He is a very well written character.
This story has a bit of everything, paranormal, scifi, fantasy, and real life. In some ways it feels like it could be a crossover in Madeleine L'Engle’s between Chronos and Kairos time. The book splits between real time and real events and God time or otherworld otherworldly events. The story has a real L’Engle feel to it. It also reminds me of God Game by Andrew M. Greeley and also of The Kayan Kronicles by Derya Little.
In the acknowledgements at the end of the story Fabian informs us this story was based on a shorter work originally written in 1986. It was first published in 2010 by Dragon Moon. She states:
“Fast forward to 2010, and Dragon Moon. Gwen Gades loved the book, but hated the title (which was Asylum Psychic.) She held the contract hostage until I had a better title. I went to my great friends at The Writers Chat Room (writerschatroom.com) who brainstormed with me until we came up with Mind Over… Mind Over Mind was the first; then Mind Over Psyche and Mind Over All. I couldn’t squeeze the Joshua/Sachiko wedding in, and some readers complained, so I completed the set with Hearts Over Mind.”
and also:
“In 2023, I got the rights to the Mind Over trilogy back, just as an editor friend was telling me how much she’d loved the books. Thus encouraged by Rebecca Martin, I decided to republish them. I was never sold on the title, especially Mind Over Psyche, so I asked my friends at the Catholic Writers Guild for suggestions. Mark Baker came up with Madness of Kanaan: Madness Bound, Madness Unbound, Madness of Worlds, and Madness of Love.
So much love and adventure went into this book. Thanks again to all my supporters and to the gracious God who led me to this calling.”
This book is another very entertaining read from Fabian’s masterful pen. I regret not having read this series earlier. Do not make my mistakes; pick this up and read the book and series. It is certain to entertain. Another great read in a different series from Fabian that I can easily recommend.
Books by Karina Fabian:
Dex Hollister Series:
The Old Man and the Void
Dex's Way
...
Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator Series :
Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator
I Left My Brains in San Francisco
Shambling in a Winter Wonderland
…
DragonEye PI Series:
DragonEye PI Novels:
6.0 Siren Spell
7.0 Good Intentions
9.0 Gapman
10.0 Magic, Mensa and Mayhem (Revised edition forthcoming)
11.0 Live and Let Fly (Revised edition forthcoming)
...
DragonEye PI Short Stories:
DragonEye PI Original First Editions:
...
Space Traipse Series:
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 1
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 2
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 3
Edited by: Karina Fabian:
Infinite Space, Infinite God I
Leaps of Faith
Infinite Space, Infinite God II
...
Contributed to:
Firestorm of Dragons
The Zombie Cookbook
The Book of Tentacles
Twisted Fayrie Tales
FRIGHTLINER: And Other Tales of the Undead
Mother Goose is Dead
Word by Word: Slowing Down with the Hail Mary
Image and Likeness Literary Reflections on the Theology of the Body
Corrupts Absolutely? Dark Metahuman Fiction
Weird Noir
The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Novels
Manifesto UF
Avenir Eclectia
Planetary Anthology: Jupiter
Planetary Anthology: Pluto
Planetary Anthology: Luna
Planetary Anthology: Uranus
FlagShip Science Fiction and Fantasy v2i5
My Little Book of Headdesks
To Be Men: Stories Celebrating Masculinity
Space Traipse Stories
…
Madness of Kanaan Series:
(formerly The Mind Over Series)
Edited by: Karina Fabian:
Infinite Space, Infinite God I
Leaps of Faith
Infinite Space, Infinite God II
...
Nonfiction with Deacon Steven Lumbert:
Contributed to:
Firestorm of Dragons
The Zombie Cookbook
The Book of Tentacles
Twisted Fayrie Tales
FRIGHTLINER: And Other Tales of the Undead
Mother Goose is Dead
Word by Word: Slowing Down with the Hail Mary
Image and Likeness Literary Reflections on the Theology of the Body
Corrupts Absolutely? Dark Metahuman Fiction
Weird Noir
The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Novels
Manifesto UF
Avenir Eclectia
Planetary Anthology: Jupiter
Planetary Anthology: Pluto
Planetary Anthology: Luna
Planetary Anthology: Uranus
FlagShip Science Fiction and Fantasy v2i5
My Little Book of Headdesks
To Be Men: Stories Celebrating Masculinity
...
Madness of Kanaan Series Covers:
Original Mind Over Series Covers:
No comments:
Post a Comment