I have talked many, many, many times on my favorite book series of all time: The Lamb Among Stars Series by Chris Walley. This series is wonderful in the fact that is brings so many things to perspective. One thing about this series is in order to understand what is going on, you have to take yourself out of our sinful world and imagine a place where there is no sin and “The King Reigns”. Everyone has compassion and love and respect for everyone because God is the Lord of their lives.
This series has brilliantly crafted a fully realized futuristic sci-fi/fanatasy epic. The well-thought-out characters, compelling situations. and sweeping landscapes will keep the reader immersed, excited, and thoughtfully challenged. With the battle for out hearts and minds in our own culture, both on an internal and external level, Mr. Walley’s imagined world resonates provokingly with our own.
These books also made me aware of the evil, especially how smart people can rationalize themselves into advocating very dangerous ideas without even realizing it.
Here is a short summary of all three books that are currently published:
THE SHADOW AND THE NIGHT
Imagine a world after the return of Jesus and his 1,000 year reign. A trillion people live under the gentle rule of the Assembly on over a thousand Made Worlds are planets in the universe that were made to accommodate humans. With the blessings of God to do this. Peace and stability have reigned unbroken for nearly twelve thousand years, and war and evil are merely ancient history.
But everything is about to change. On Farholme–a Made World at the very edge of the Assembly–strange things are happening. A girl sees an impossible creature, a stranger from Ancient Earth arrives in response to a troubling vision and people begin to say, do and think things that oppose everything the Assembly stands for. And slowly, incredulously, As Merral (a Forester), Vero (the Sentinel), Anya(a biologist), and her sister Perena(a Space Captain) recognize the unthinkable: Evil has returned once more and must be fought.
With the destruction of the Gate that linked Farholme to the rest of the Assembly, the planet must face isolation. There is something in the north–something evil–that challenges and corrupts all the Assembly stands for.
As the influence of this mysterious and threatening presence grows, Merral, Vero, Anya and Perena are entrusted with the daunting tasks of finding, and confronting, their world’s elusive enemy. It is a race against time as evil spreads like a plague across Farholme.
When the intruders are found, it falls to Merral to lead the untried forces of Farholme into conflict. Four hundred generations have passed since the Assembly last fought a battle, much less a war. Now Merral and his allies face opponents who are well hidden and armed with strange powers. Yet as he faces extraordinary and terrifying foes, Merrall finds that he has a hidden enemy–himself.
THE DARK FOUNDATIONS
Far beyond the tranquility of the Assembly Worlds, Nezhuala, Lord-Emperor of the Dominion, is preparing a merciless and crushing attack on Farholme as a prelude to an onslaught on the Assembly.
Back on Farholme, Commander Merral D’Avanos recovers from his wounds after the battle at Fallambet Lake where the intruders were destroyed. Yet even as Merral dreams of a return to preace, he receives a warning of imminient war on a massive scale he cannot ignore.
Amid the urgent preparations for battle, Merral, Vero, Anya and Perena realize the inadequacy of their defenses. Then, with weeks to spare before the predicted eve of war, Merral receives an offer of assistance from the strangest of sources. But can it be trusted?
As the wave of war finally crashes over Farholme, Merral must find the answer to other questions in the heat of the battle: Can Farholme survive the growing internal strains? Who will pay the price for victory? Will his own weaknesses undo both him and his world?
You will see that freedom from bondage is never free, it is paid with the highest price: blood.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Walley was born in Wales in northern England. He studied earth sciences at university and has a doctorate in geology. He taught at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon from 1980-1984 and then returned to Wales to do ten years of consultancy work with the oil industry. He began writing in the late eighties and had two novels, Heart of Stone and Rock of Refuge, published under the pseudonym of John Haworth. In 1994, along with his family, Mr. Walley returned to Lebanon to teach again at AUB. In 1998, he came back to Wales and began writing again. He is currently fitting his writing in between teaching geology, environmental science, and geography at a local college. Mr. Walley is also an adjunct professor of geology at Wheaton College. Mr. Walley and his wife live in an old cottage on the edge of Swansea and are very much involved in a local Baptist church.
You can find out more about Mr. Walley and his career at his website and also for a more personal read, check out his blog, News From Farholme.
This book series, in my opinion, is geared more towards high school students. There are elements that might be scary for younger children. I don’t think that younger children would be able to grasp the Spiritual tone in this book. I believe this series is a must read for everyone. There are so many things that will be brought to your attention. This series in a way has changed my life.
Love, Blessings and Prayers As Always,
Thanks for stopping by “Daily” at the “Planet”!!
©AmandaDixon2008
Related Articles
Tags: books, Chris Walley, Christian fiction, English author, literature, News from Farholme, reading, Review, The Dark Foundations, The Infinite Day, The Lamb Among The Stars Series, The Shadow and The Night
January 14th, 2008 at 3:01 am
[...] Lamb Among the Stars series by Chris Walley Amanda loves with this series. It is a fully realized futuristic sci-fi/fanatasy epic. If you are interested in this series, “One thing about this series is in order to understand what is going on, you have to take yourself out of our sinful world and imagine a place where there is no sin and “The King Reigns”.”` Read The Lamb Among Stars Series. [...]
January 14th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Wow, those really sound like great books!!! I will have to read them sometime!!!!!!
~SeaChel
[Reply]