I have loved Stephen Lawhead’s books since I first read Byzantium
one finals week in college. One of the best things about his writings is that
he includes enough well-researched history or, in the case of the Bright Empires series, science, that the
events seem plausible. I have always found it exceedingly easy to suspend
disbelief while reading his stories.
The Shadow Lamp
continues the story of a group of people who use ley lines to travel across
time and space, searching for the Skin Map, which they believe holds the
directions to a treasure contained in the world of the Spirit Well.
Readers have known for some time that Arthur Flinders-Petrie
used this Well to bring his wife back to life. When Kit mentions this to
members of the Zetetic Society, we learn that this event probably had far-reaching,
negative consequences. It is implied that the event is somehow linked to the slowing
of the expansion of the universe, which could erase all of time and existence.
The book reiterates the idea that “there are no coincidences”
and ends with several seemingly random events clicking into place for the
searchers, although we are left wondering just exactly what they have all just
realized.
One thing I love about Lawhead’s books is that he uses the
story he is telling to illustrate a particular worldview. In this book, the
worldview is expressed beautifully by the priest, Gianni, when he is explaining the
danger to the universe. He starts by saying that “the universe was created for
a purpose. And…the purpose for which it was created was guided by a loving
Creator who desired that its purpose should be fulfilled” (323).
He goes on to talk about the fact that Creation was not a
one time event, but is continually linked to “the eternal reality of the
Creator.” He also explains that people are crucial to the ultimate Divine
purpose, and that our decisions and actions help to bring about God’s final
aim, which is to be united with His Creation.
Later, he explains to Kit that even tragedies are woven into
time and are used by God to bring about His purpose. Lawhead writes, “For the
Creator, the past is never lost, never beyond recovery – because it can always
be reclaimed by weaving it into a wider pattern of ultimate goodness so that
even the most horrendous disasters of life may come to play a significant part
in achieving the intended purpose of Creation. In this way, the past can be
redeemed.”
It is such a hope-filled, Christian view of the world. Lawhead is not always overtly
Christian in his writings, but in this book, there can be no denying his faith
as, once again through the priest Gianni, he says, “The resurrection of Jesus sent shock waves backwards and forwards throughout the cosmos and affected all time - past, present, and future - forever. Because of the resurrection, everything changed. Everything! Nothing could ever be the same again. It was a rescue
mission on a cosmic scale” (359).
On that note, I really want to see where the story of
Archelaeus Burleigh goes. I have to admit, I admired his actions in the battle
with the pirates, and I hope his story is one of redemption.
In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
See other reviews:
Julie Bihn
Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Thomas Fletcher Booher
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
Theresa Dunlap
April Erwin
Timothy Hicks
Christopher Hopper
Becky Jesse
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Rebekah Loper
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirriam Neal
Writer Rani
Nathan Reimer
Chawna Schroeder
Jojo Sutis
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Phyllis Wheeler
Deborah Wilson
