Madness Unound
Madness of Kanaan Book 2
Laser Cow Press
ISBN 9781956489194
ASIN B0DVV7FZZB
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, yet again, I had had the eBook of the original edition since 2013 but had not got around to reading it, or the previous volume in the series. 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 series even though I have read almost everything Fabian has in print, and some out of print I tracked down. That was my loss, after reading the first 2 I will be bumping the remaining two to the top of me ‘to be read’ pile as they are republished and release over the coming months. It is a great read, and leaves you desperate for me!
The description of this volume states:
“Deryl isn't crazy; he's psychic.
Desperate to escape the insane asylum, Deryl teleports to Kanaan, a world of telepaths who regard him as an oracle. But freedom comes at a price. The Kanaan expect their oracle to teach them to use their powers to wage war. Meanwhile, he's falling in love, but to be with her means to share his psyche, which could drive her insane. Most dangerous of all, he hasn't escaped the Call of the Master, enemy of the Kanaan, whose telepathic manipulations were why Deryl was committed in the first place. Now, the Master will forge Deryl's powers into a weapon to kill all he loves or destroy his mind trying.”
I said volume one was an intense powerful story, and this one took it to a whole new level. This book was so hard to put down, but due to a busy work cycle and three teenagers at home I had to several times. I read it over 6 few days, which is much longer than a novel normally takes me. 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, even if most of our encounters with him in this one were more smoke and shadow. In this volume Joshua finds out that not only is Deryl not crazy but everything he has said was happening was real. And in a desperate bid to prevent years as a lab rat, Deryl takes Joshua to a most surprising of places.
This is a masterfully written story. Following both Joshua and Deryl as they figure things out in an alien environment is fascinating. Watching both of them figure out pieces and support each other through this time was very well written. It is a story of faith, friendship, and finding your place in the world or maybe worlds in this case.
Again this story and series 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 first story Kabian 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 excellent 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:
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