Inspirational Fiction: "The Crystal Ship" by Oliver Frances

The Crystal Ship is an inspirational fable by Oliver Frances. I received an e-book copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any other way for reading the book.

Since Frances uses the very poetic language of fairy tales and fables, it may be necessary to read this book more than once before the reader completely understands the narrative thread. So, for the sake of convenience, here is a chapter outline (omitting 10 and 11, which are largely rhetorical).

1. A child playing in a garden wanders among some oak trees, soon finding himself lost in the woods.

He tries to hide behind a tree, but its branches open up like arms. The boy then witnesses a strange parade of men (or perhaps angels), leading a man dressed in rags whose rags burn him alive.

2. The reader learns the child is named Frederick, and that he'll be referred to in the narrative as Our Wise Man. He has been a handsome youth, but now he's growing older. Frederick sits in his parlor contemplating his relationship with the young man he mentors. He falls asleep and dreams about a courtroom with walls that appear to be made of a blue gas.

Frederick sees a trial being prosecuted by Satan himself, with angels serving as the defense. He is accused of not coming to the aid of the burning man, whom it turns out is the father who abandoned him and his mother.

3. In the course of the trial, the reader learns of a pair of lovers, and Frederick's soul is accused of instructing an ignorant young man, to the young man's ruin.

4. Waking from his dream, Frederick meets his mentee, Tino. Tino is also called "the coastal boy" because he comes from a small coastal village.

5. Frederick and Tino read Don Juan by Lord Byron. Tino picks up on a reference to Simon de Bolivar. Frederick tells Tino Bolivar's story, explaining that Bolivar liberated his people only to become as bad as the Spanish.

6. Frederick attends the Festival of Madonna to teach Tino a lesson about the vanity of religion. He tells Tino that Jesus was the only man who was never vain.

7. Tino witnesses the death of a young woman who is mourned by her grandparents. Tino thinks he is wise by being detached rather than grieving, but Frederick reminds him knowledge for its own sake leads to grief, and that real wisdom demands love.

8. Frederick and Tino travel to Venice. Here Tino learns that no one, not even Jesus, knows what their mission on Earth is before it's time for them to know it.

9. Tino breaks into Frederick's house in the middle of the night. He's been reading the letters from the deceased young woman and is upset. Frederick reminds Tino about how cold Tino was to her, instructing Tino that loyalty is essential for love.

12. During the trial of Frederick's soul, we learn that the young woman died by suicide. Frederick is accused of abandoning Tino, who now lives a lonely existence in the coastal village of his birth.

Frederick is found guilty.

13. Frederick's soul is taken away to be punished for his crimes. Too late, he realizes all the pain he has caused. Hypocritically, he wasn't any more loyal to Tino than Tino was to the young woman who took her own life.

At the very end of the tale, Jesus appears and says, "My beloved son, everything is love."

Book clubs and church groups may find it a good fable to read and discuss. It contains no vulgar language or adult situations, and so it is appropriate for everyone approximately 12 and up. There are a few misspellings and errors here and there, but they don't keep the reader from being able to understand the story.

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/482661

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23340313-the-crystal-ship

WIP Wednesday with author Oliver Frances

Oliver Frances: My book, scheduled to be published on July, is titled THROUGH EXISTENCE, and it is about a man with an exceptional gift as the one of clairvoyance. This uses it in order to possess the woman he loves or desires. So his gift leads him into the corridor of the powers of an oil exporter country -as he is close to the president of the nation he develops a programme for underdeveloped countries. Having all that he hankers for he begins to perceive his downfall along with dreams that relates his past lives as Goya, the famous Spanish painter, and member of Nazi party.

Although he doesn't believe in re-encarnation and doesn´t get the connection between his actual reality and these dreams or nightmares, they describe his relationship with his present partner through previous existences. It makes the reader understand that a cycle is being closed and, still more, when he finds out what true love is like with another woman -a journalist in the present. At a posterior present, the woman for whom he has done everyhting to have her is a black male prisioner in an US jail. And, in this way she purges all her mistakes in her past existences - being there is her karma.



Here is a piece of the book -not edited yet.

It was the same man who had gone through many existences and whose soul was now incarnated a one of youthful appearance. His mind would not be consecrated to Art neither would be to politics. But, with a wondrous gift bestowed on him, he would conduct himself through a political world to attain what he most desired.

Seated in a black-leather-upholstered club chair, Marcio lingered in the Hemingway bar. He thought retrospectively about his own device to achieve a position. In fact, he had come from shadow and had pulled the strings behind for his own benefit. He had taken advantage of the others’ indifference to him, to use it wisely to act incognito.

This man upon whom nobody laid wage dared his world and almost defeated everyone. But at the end, the last act was on him.

As Marcio watched some volumes in the long bookcase, he pondered on all the wisdom enclosed them and had also reasoned about the treasure that represented those written lines by privileged minds –from which he learnt so much.

Those ideas –sometimes poisoning ones- had been a powerful influence over him, so he had thought once more of all his stratagem to climb into a high position –from where he could exercise a quote of power.

His deeds had been the fruit of a Machiavellian mind –the end justified the means. He was determined to succeed and have the woman who obsessed him.

(Retrato de la Marquesa de Santa Cruz, de Francisco de Goya y Lucientes, 1805)

Marcio was the most benefited of the political death of the current president in the past. His own mistakes had dug his tomb (there laid the young man’s advantage). Nobody perceived Raul Menendez’s potentiality. He was aware of it, though. So, when time came for him he moulded the failed man into a presidential candidate.

Raul Menendez’s reputation was mudded since he let the government snatched away the votes of the referendum recall which conceded the victory to opposition –which he led. His countenance of defeat shown on the local television was an image seared on the electors’ mind.

His advisors were at sixes and sevens about fitting him into the political scenario again. It would be hard to take this politician out of the grave. And on top of it, he still proceeded wrongly.

So, Marcio outlined a course of action and introduced it to Nuria González –Raul Menendez’s close friend. His first and immediate step was to get rid of his circle of advisors. The old wolves had failed but he would not.

His mind absorbed recalled every detail of his deeds that brought himself to prominence. However all it was in the past. The man was completely aware of disgrace would come along. It was destined so that he had to carry out what had been written previously by the Gods. He could not avoid it.

This man’s proposal was focused on creating a new image of the once electable candidate. So, firstly Raul Menendez would turn his invalidation to the regional elections into martyrdom (such a deliberately ban by the judicial system was advantageous –not running for the elections avoided the electors considering the governor post as the only position which he was apt to). Secondly, his image had to be redefined politically (the new Raul Menendez would be a man of all people of the country. For it, he would call on every corner of the country to perceive its reality. But, above all, he would set an emotional link with all the voters of the nation –and not just with the people who elected in the state in which he had postulated in the past).

As Marcio savoured an exquisite champagne reasoned about the laborious part of the entire plan which had been remoulding the image of Raul Menendez -which was enough lousy and not presentable to the exterior; just not to mention the task of assembling and diversifying his speech -specially for the entrepreneur.

All this man had foreseen was right. The regime wiped out the nation’s old leadership, so no any remaining of the past was left. And, when this collapsed there was no one to present to the electors, neither was there anybody who assumed the direction of the country. So Raul Menendez’s time had come. His leadership was identified with the needs of the poor and his verb soothed the uneasiness of the lower stratum of the Venezuelan society –the major one. Therefore, civil society embraced the candidature of the former governor. And, this was elected president.

'Joy in a Box' by Sally Hanan, Inspirational Flash Fiction

Texas author Sally Hanan is originally from Dublin. Perhaps that's why the soul-searching slices of life in her flash fiction collection Joy in a Box (2009, Smashwords, also available for Kindle) might remind you of a miniaturized Dubliners.

The stories range from bitter to sweet. A few are based on Bible stories or true events. Most are canny observations of how Christians do, should or shouldn't act. Yes, this Christian author pokes gentle fun at misplaced zeal. She turns the same lovingly, teasingly critical eye on us authors in "Writers Forum: Translation 101." Deep down, we all think we're William Shakespeare, don't we?

What Hanan does exceedingly well is focus on relationships. Some of my favorites include "Roses Are Red," in which a widower must find a way to express his true feelings for the second love of his life. In "In the Orange-Sherbet Light," a middle-aged woman expresses gratitude to the aunt who adopted her many years before. Perhaps the best is "I Can Smell Him," a story of love and loyalty in which a married woman is tempted by an office romance.

There's also a touch of humor, as in "That Stalker Thing." Anyone who's ever had a celebrity crush should be able to relate to the hapless cocktail waitress's experience. Any author/edit whose other website is devoted to the fashion uses of duct tape [sorry, it's defunct now] must have a sense of humor.

Because it can be read in small chunks, this book is perfect for inspirational book clubs composed of busy members. If you loved Oliver Frances' book Heart and Souls, you'll also love this book.

Oliver Frances Visits Pagan Spirits

The weeks leading up to Winter Solstice, Christmas, and then the New Year is a busy one. Still, every busy schedule needs a bit of built-in time for reflection and relaxation. For book lovers like me, there's no better way to relax after a busy winter day than to curl up with a cup of tea and a book.

Oliver Frances' "Heart and Souls" is an especially gratifying read at this time of year. There are three short stories in this little volume. They each read like fairy tales. The first two are contemporary, and the wonder and magic in them are the wonder and magic of everyday adult life, with its hopes, disappointments and triumphs. They are delightful, sweet, old-fashioned romances.

The third is a more traditional fairy tale. In it, Santa Claus is thinking about retiring. He's thinking out loud, half to himself, half to Rudolph, his faithful red-nosed reindeer. A mysterious visitor arrives to help the jolly old elf make up his mind.

BIO: Oliver Frances writes romance and mystery; also his work focuses on social issues.His short stories have been praised by fervent readers around the world, and some were published in Istanbul Literary Review. Frances is an economist who has traveled to many countries and, from these journeys, has learnt about social and economics systems.

Pagan Spirits had a chance to ask Oliver some questions. Here are his answers.

PS: What was the name of the first book you wrote? How did you get it published?

Oliver: Summer Love... Self-published at smashwords.com (To avoid query letters or finding an agent I decided to go on self-publishing and create my own publishing company.)

PS: Which do you find leads you to your best work: your triumphs or your tragedies? Do you write from joy or pain?

Oliver: Spiritual realization. In fact, all the books that I've written recently are spiritual ones or have a great content of spirituality. I don't write from joy or pain anymore. In fact, many years ago I believed that an author had to go through hardships to create a good work, but not anymore.

PS: Do you have a writing ritual? If you listen to music while you're writing, what do you listen to?

Oliver: I hear music--very light one because the deep is in my writing.

PS: Who has been the biggest influence on your career?

Oliver: At the very beginning, Latin American writers. After, Oscar Wilde (and you can notice it in some books that I've written), but recently some writings convey ideas of the result of the readings of Timothy Leary's book or a spiritual book (Brian Weiss' ones).

PS: Do you read for pleasure? If so, what kind of books do you like to read?

Oliver: Before I read anything that fell into my hands for pleasure. Now what I read is because of any researching that I do for a project or studies.

PS: If you were stuck on a desert island, which book would you want with you?

Oliver: The Little Prince.

PS: What project(s) are you currently working on?

Oliver: I am writing short stories in which are combined mystery with spirituality.

PS: Dark chocolate or milk chocolate? Coke or Pepsi?

Oliver: Dark Chocolate. Definitely Coke.