Publisher's Synopsis
A PREQUEL TO "IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE"
Clarence Odbody, the angel who helped George Bailey realize he had a "Wonderful Life," is making a comeback in the new fantasy novella A-S2: A CLOCKMAKER'S JOURNEY.
On Christmas Eve 1700, British clockmaker Clarence suffers the indignity of an accidental drowning in the River Avon. In the Spirit World, given the option of guardian-angel-in-training (GAIT) or a cushy cloud overlooking the English Channel, he selects the former. But after two underwhelming missions, he leaves GAIT and ventures with his partner Sharah to the coast of Marseille. They join up with the Vulkhans, a renegade band of angels in human form led by the charismatic leader, Phosphorus (aka "The Shining One"). Phos encourages Clarence to pursue his passion and provides the facility and resources to create the world's finest clocks. In time, the master horologist learns his new clocks-marketed under the Vulkhan's brand LUCIFER LUX-are integral to their nefarious plans for creating a One World Order.
Clarence escapes Lucifer (and the fallen angels) and returns to the Spirit World. His first assignment back at GAIT is to assist Bedford Falls' suicidal resident George Bailey on Christmas Eve 1945. Movie fans will recognize the guardian angel as Clarence Odbody: Angel-Second Class from "It's A Wonderful Life."
This fantasy novella serves as a prequel to the story underlying the beloved holiday classic directed by Frank Capra and released in December 1946. Karolyn Grimes, the child actress who played Zuzu in the 1946 movie, offered this about the book: "It was very entertaining. Mr. Cabral ventured into quite a few realms. It was not quite how I would have pictured (Clarence's) life in heaven but the author gave him his own personality and a venue to show his goodness."
IndieReader reviewer Rob Errera wrote: "Author R.A. Cabral delivers a fun, funky backstory for Clarence Odbody in A-S2: A CLOCKMAKER'S JOURNEY, a sweetly imaginative and appealing book that should amuse (most) fans of the Frank Capra classic holiday film, "It's A Wonderful Life"."
"The Ox" from San Francisco, an Advanced Review Copy reader, noted in his review at BN.com: "I highly recommend this novella. If you're familiar with "It's a Wonderful Life" this story will only add to your appreciation of the original... If you're looking for an uncomplicated story about good and evil, with engaging characters, you won't go wrong with A-S2."
A-S2: A Clockmaker's Journey is the third long-form fiction by R. A. Cabral. He is the author of The Pitch, a fantasy, and The Miracle of the Christmas Wish Holder, a holiday fantasy.
