Publisher's Synopsis
Approaching midlife, the Captain prepares to spend an evening with an unusual guest. The evening is a journey of memories and conversations revolving around life, religion, rebellion, God, philosophy and the Mobius strip that is love and lust. The Captain and his guest simultaneously examine and defend their existence. Throughout the evening, crucial questions haunting humanity from the beginning of time surface. Their confessions are at once emotional, erotic, sinful, blasphemous and, ultimately, poignant. As the Captain befriends the Devil, he understands the very meaning of his life is inextricably tied to the bond between them. Author's Comment: The reaction to Chronicle of a Fall from Grace has been interesting over time. After reading its promotional blurb and coming across words like blasphemous, lust, erotic, devil and sinful, the brave take the plunge and read. When reading, remember that this is an idea driven book in which the plot at times defers to the importance of the concepts addressed. The storyline is subservient to the ideas. I'll leave it at "it's written differently;" so please don't judge it as you would an English essay or mainstream pop literature. Those with ultra conservative religious sensitivity and the "not-so-open-minded" should avoid it. If you get offended on behalf of God, then I recommend you move on to another book. This may be a first: a writer urging some to not buy or read his book. You know, I'm being nice and practical. Those who hate it because it offends them religiously tend to rate the book badly because of the offense and not on its literary merit or find a way to mask their sentiment in the review. This said, I'm the first to admit that literature is a matter of taste and whether a book is a good read changes from person to person. After the reading, then comes the hate it or love it reaction. For those who hate it, it usually manifests as a sense of guilt and outrage. Why? I don't know. Maybe because they loved it and they shouldn't? Because they saw themselves in its mirrors and this freaks them out? It's hard to say. After reading its promotional blurb and coming across words like blasphemous, lust, erotic, devil and sinful, you think potential readers would get the point. As an author who would like people to read and judge the writing on its merits, and not based on whether it offends their moral and religious sensitivities or counters their personal and religious beliefs, this worries me a bit; but I would not have written Chronicle of a Fall from Grace any other way. The book considers certain ideas passionately -to exhaustion at times. Many times during the writing process, I was left drained and burdened by my own reaction to the narrative. The writing enveloped me in a way that few other writing projects have. So, to some extent, I can understand the hate it or love it reactions. I believe this is the very attribute that makes the book worth reading -even if in the end, you're offended and rabidly angry for yourself, God, angels and the saints. Chronicle of a Fall from Grace was written to empower humanity, to praise and worship the human spirit and potential. The plot is not meant to be easy or pleasing, rather to some extent entertaining and educational. If you are capable of feeling the message and live it as your eyes scroll through pages and words that at one time drained and burdened me, well, you will find in the blasphemies, lust, love, psychology and passions the vital inspiration to want more, seek more, and the aspiration to become one of the gods yourself -with the understanding that with this comes a price to pay. Just ask the Greek epic heroes... Luis Samuel Gonzalez
