Fidelis

A press release at prlog.

(PRLog.Org) “ Oct 04, 2007 “ La Crosse, WI. Even though A.R. Horvathâ’s Fidelis has been available since 2006, positive reviews still are arriving. These arrive in the midst of rumors that Fidelisis going to be released in hard cover for the Christmas season.

Though openly a Christian author, Horvath argues that he considers himself to be an author who is a Christian and not an author creating Christian literature. That said, Ms. Heimann’s review makes it clear that Christians will approve of many of the themes percolating within his book.

For example, she writes: Put quite simply, Fidelis depicts the battle of good vs. evil. Similar in nature to the writings of C.S. Lewis and JRR Tolkien, Fidelis bears a Christian theme, includes Scripture passages, and is rich in Christian symbolism. Other comparisons are invoked merely in the title of her review: An Alternative to Harry Potter.

Though the Christian symbolism is clear in many cases, Ms Heimann adds, Both Christians and non-Christians alike will find Fidelis enjoyable, as it focuses on man’s universal struggles of good vs. evil and truth vs. propaganda. Fidelis is an action- packed, imaginative fantasy that subtly instructs, entertains, and intellectually provokes the reader. It is fascinating reading.

This sentiment is echoed in another favorable review that is recorded on Horvath’s discussion forum posted by a secular humanist, Full of fascinating characters, replete with Tolkeinesque battle sequences and poetical songs, woven with biblical themes and tied up with some extremely fine writing  Anthony Horvath’s ‘Fidelis’ is a must-read for fans of the genre which he has single-handedly created with his first novel. Quite an achievement.

Horvath says that this reaction is exactly what he wanted to generate. I wanted to produce a story that just about anyone would enjoy but would allow me to explore themes that are important to me from a perspective that is important to me. As the later books are released, I think these themes will continue to be fleshed out, and if I am as successful with them as I seem to be with Fidelis, people will enjoy the yarn, whether they agree with me or not.

Horvath is available for interviews, seminars, and lectures and can be reached best at his email address at author@ birthpangs.com. Heimann’s review can be found at her blog at http://catholicfire.blogspot.com/2007/10/book-review-harry-potter-alternative.html or by by visiting A.R. Horvath’s web page at http://www.birthpangs.com. Horvath maintains a Christian ministry site at http://www.sntjohnny.com

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“Fidelis” follows the path of a man waking up in a broken world that is pockmarked from nuclear strikes and still coping with the lingering effects of a terrible disease. He discovers the equally new landscape of his own soul. Filled with adventure and warfare, as equally compelling is its attempt to explore concepts of truth, valor, manhood, and destiny. The crutches of society have collapsed. The intangible characteristics that make the human race indomitable are now permitted expression. “Fidelis” is the first of the “Birth Pangs” series by author A.R. Horvath.

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I was pleased to learn today that Jean Heimann at the Catholic Fire blog had reviewed my book, Fidelis and posted it to her site. Jean writes and reviews from a distinctly Christian point of view so it is no surprise that she caught onto many of the Christian themes in the book, as well as some that I thought I had reasonably well buried. That I am a Christian becomes obvious to anyone who knows me and that Fidelis has Christian overtones and undertones is clear to anyone that knows to look for them. And yet it pleases me that it can be read and enjoyed by non-Christians as well. As Jean says on her review, “Both Christians and non-Christians alike will find Fidelis enjoyable, as it focuses on man’s universal struggles of good vs. evil and truth vs. propaganda.” And a long time atheist friend of mine reviewed and enjoyed my book showing that Jean is right (to read his review, click here, but NOTE: there are SPOILERS).

I might ask my atheist friend how it comes that there are universal values that humans can mutually relate to…

This is the second reviewer that I’ve noted compared Fidelis to Harry Potter. Obviously, that makes me happy, because that puts me in good company. At least in Fidelis (what later books might be like, I won’t say) it seems to me that there are more affinities to the Lord of the Rings series than the Harry Potter ones, but one can certainly see both (Jean does). The magic in Fidelis is of a different sort than that in Harry Potter, but certain themes certainly are shared: loyalty, courage, virtue, self-discipline, good is superior to evil- even if good ‘loses’ (which it never does!). It would be fair to say that Fidelis is not meant to be a knock off of Harry Potter, or the Lord of the Rings, or any other fantasy type series you might envision but that Fidelis is deeply inspired and influenced by such series is definitely true. In fact, the astute reader may see that the inspiration runs deeper then one might expect.

At any rate, for Christian readers out there who may have read my open letter to Christian Muggles, you can confident that when Ms. Heimann titles here review as an alternative to Harry Potter, she does so correctly. Feel free to buy my book instead of the Harry Potter books all you like.

In conclusion, Ms. Heimann makes this interesting comment: “There is a prophetic message presented in this first book of seven in the BirthPangs Series. …. Fidelis only hints at the possibilities, but it certainly poses a relevant concern for the future.”

Relevant, indeed. Boy, I can’t wait until I can talk freely about all of this!

Book 1 is almost ready to be re-released in hard cover and I’m very excited about it.  The design of the cover is sharp, and there will be some very nice surprises associated with it.  As soon as I can make it public, I will.  The cover is the chief reason why I have not yet released the introduction of book 2, as well.  Book 2 is not half way finished, but in my head it is 3/4 of the way finished, so I feel confident in releasing the intro to book 1.  Also forthcoming will be a Christmas promotion associated with the release of book 1 in hard cover, reviving of the birth pangs RPG, and an audio book, and maybe even an e-book!  So, lots to look at coming up!  As soon as I can I will make all this known.  Think October 15this.

I posted a section for the posting of errata and we certainly could have posted quite a bit. However, in anticipation of the re-release of book one in hard cover, I had the text scoured by yet another individual. There may be some flaws that remain here and there, but hopefully these won’t be weird spell check errors or odd grammar formulations. I kept away from any kind of revision that seriously might affect the version itself. Not only have I set the text for the hard cover, but I have arranged for the soft cover to have the new text, as well. I don’t mean the illustrations and other nice features of the hard cover, just the text itself. So, all future copies of the soft cover are cleaned up. There was one very glaring error that was a bit embarrassing indeed, and I’m glad it is now eradicated.

LA CROSSE, Wisc., – A.R. Horvath’s new novel, “Fidelis,” is the first of a seven-book story arc that grapples with humanity’s courage and hope in the face of a history of pain and suffering.

“Fidelis” takes place in a not-too-distant or unlikely future, and tells the story of a man crossing the new landscape of an America that has been crippled by disease and ravaged by nuclear strikes, struggling to find his way home. As his journey reveals the horrors and wonders of the altered world, he awakens to realizations about his own soul.

The book wrestles with issues such as truth and propaganda, manhood and bravery, fact, and faith in an adventure story packed with action and suspense.

Horvath, a church worker who became a trucker for a short time, said the series sprang into his mind during his last month on the road when he, like the main character, was separated from his family for long periods of time.

Christians might identify some parallels in Horvath’s novel with the themes in the Bible but Horvath points out that his writing is not geared exclusively, or even targeted, for Christian readers.

“It is an exploration of what it means to be human, and an inquiry into what worldview best explains both man’s goodness, as well as man’s badness,” says Horvath. “You would think after this last century, we would not need to be reminded of man’s badness, but it seems we do. In the Birth Pangs series, no reminder is necessary, just as after the Holocaust no reminder was necessary.”

He continues, “This is one example of where the influence of Rowling, Lewis, and Tolkien come into play. Evil is real in their worlds and there are serious consequences when dealing with it, or ignoring it. Their worlds are not ‘they lived happily after’ worlds. Good people die and stay dead. But there are things worse than death. And there are things stronger than death, too. The undying hope of the human race requires an explanation and not every worldview succeeds in giving one. The clash of worldviews in the face of societal collapse forms the backdrop to “Fidelis.”"

To purchase, learn more, or read a sample, visit Horvath’s website www.birthpangs.com. Horvath is also available for interviews and speaking engagements.

Copies of “Fidelis” (ISBN 0979127610) can be obtained through his site, Amazon.com, and Barnes and Noble.