Thomas Hunter is a man caught between two worlds. Literally. In one world he is a 25 year old businessman being chased by people wanting to kill him. When he falls asleep (or is knocked unconscious), he enters another world, one where people living in harmony in low-tech villages shun the forest and the river that runs past it as Evil and Forbidden. There he meets talking birds and vicious bats. He almost dies several times. In both worlds. And, through the course of the story, comes to believe somehow, someway, both worlds are real. And both worlds are in danger.

          In the 21st century Denver world, he must stop a biological plague, a plague that seems to be the history of this other world. There’s no way to tell for sure, though, because all the written history is lost. That’s why it is called The Lost Books. Thomas is told hunting the Lost Books is a dangerous thing to do, but he needs that information to save his . . . one of his worlds. Will his actions save or doom a world? Or both?

          Ted Dekker is an amazing author. His stories are full of action and plot twists that keep you turning pages well into the night. The absolute thrill I experience in reading his stories is mirrored by a corresponding joy at recognizing a world view and truths so consistent with my own I feel a kinship. In Ted Dekker’s fictional worlds, God exists. He is actively and compassionately involved in our reality. When I see these truths illustrated and illuminated so expertly, I can’t help but be envious. I want to write like that!

          His stories are not the typical pabulum of Christian fiction. He is one of many authors who are breaking out of the mold that says a book either has to be secular, devoid of God and His Truth to be interesting or it has to conform to certain strictures that, in the end, strip it of interest. This is not a complaint against Christian fiction. It has its place. Rarely, though, do you find an action-packed adventure, full of the angst and evil expected in the thriller or suspense genre combined with a thoroughly Christian perspective. Ted Dekkar does that combination well.

          I first discovered The People when as a teenager in the 1970’s I happened across “The People: No Different Flesh. There I met Eva-Lee, her family and her world as they absorbed the tragic news that their Home was dying and they must build ships to take them Elsewhere. Eva-Lee and her People had Gifts and Persuasions that allowed them to enter minds (only under dire need or with permission), move objects and fly (they called it lifting). When one of the ships that left the Home crash landed on Earth, the People were scattered and stranded in a strange land.

          Zenna Henderson’s People stories chronicle many of the encounters between residents of Earth and the People. From the fearful religious cult that sees them as an abomination to the struggling desert farmer who only sees a badly injured boy to the traveling pioneer family who rescues a frightened, abandoned girl, the histories of this exiled People are shaped and shared in several People anthologies. All these stories vividly depict a People struggling to adjust to their new Home. Amidst that struggle is the determination to remain a distinct Group, even as they hide their differences from Outsiders. The People, a loving, forgiving race thrill to discover echoes of their own spirituality in this new world and consistently strive to reflect that spirituality as they use their Gifts and Persuasions, albeit circumspectly, to aid and heal and help those they meet.

          Originally published as short stories in the 1960’s and depicting rural Southwestern life with amazingly realistic detail, these stories are timeless. Written in a gentle, conversant manner, they vividly portray the life and emotions of rugged, sensitive characters. These characters reveal a wide range of human emotion and need, all the while showcasing ideals worth emulating, sometimes even by exhibiting its opposite.

          In the years since they first appeared as short stories, several compilations have been published. Rather than just producing straight anthologies, Zenna Henderson created stories to connect, or bridge the short stories, creating, in effect, a novel. The only compilation still in print is “Ingathering: The Complete People Stories of Zenna Henderson.” Ironically, this is the only one I haven’t read. I’m told there are a couple of stories, as well as a letter written by Zenna Henderson that do not appear in any other collection.

          These are stories that will enrich all who read, but a Christian may find them particularly delightful. Every one of the People stories I have read has reflected and encouraged a lifestyle and principles compatible with Christianity. Many of her stories include Scripture and all of them apply Scriptural principles. Her terminology (“The Presence” - God, “Called” - the awareness of imminent death, “Festival” – a group funeral/memorial service for all who died that year) may surprise, even startle some, but in reality these terms may perhaps be a closer depiction of truth

          I recommend everyone read these stories, from pre-teens to octogenarians. They are that good.

          “Ranger’s Apprentice” is yet another young adult series. (Can you tell I have young adults in my house?) There is much that is being published in this genre that is admirable. This series by John Flanagan is one of them.

          Will is “ward of the manor,” a foundling who has been raised with the charity of the lord of his region. The story opens on The Choosing Day, the day when he and the other 16 year-old wards of the manor are chosen by one of the many guilds If no guild takes them as an apprentice, they are sent to be a hired hand of a farmer in the region. This seems to be Will’s fate until he demonstrates curiosity, honesty and other ranger-needed traits when he passes an unknown test devised by Halt, the local Ranger. The Rangers are an elite group of men charged with being the King’s eyes, ears and hands throughout the region. Halt recruits Will into the Ranger Corp and begins his training.

          His ward-mate, Horace, is chosen for the Battle School. Both Will and Horace have character building struggles and misunderstandings to overcome during the coming year. In the end they both discover their strengths and find success in their chosen apprenticeship. At times their bickering and other choices seem juvenile and obtuse, but they are teenagers, after all. Male teenagers. With all the angst and fire to prove their mettle. They soon learn to value and rely on each other’s strengths.

          This is a wonderful series, showing characters making choices and experiencing the consequences, good and bad, of those choices. Admirable traits such as honesty, courage, determination and more are portrayed favorably while their negative counterparts are revealed as less desirable. Positive growth is seen in the characters and noble actions rewarded. Although obviously written for the young adult market, and somewhat lacking the intensity and complexity of more sophisticated stories, this is a series even an adult can enjoy.

          While I really like the entire series and I don’t know how he could tell the same story and not do this, I have one compliant. The books are not stand-alone. The story is not completely told in one book. The first book is complete, but 2-4 tell a complete story and 5 ends on a cliff hanger, with the fate of at least one person in jeopardy. If he fails to write, or his publisher decides not to publish the next book(s), this story remains in limbo. I realize one of the greatest stories of our culture, The Lord of the Rings, does this very thing. I know sometimes a good story does need to span several books. I just don’t particularly like this trend. I prefer stand-alone books. I love books that pick up the storylines of characters from previous books, telling more of those character’s stories (such as Harry Potter, the Enchanted, Inc series, the Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom series). I just don’t like a single story arc to span multiple books. I like all the questions answered, the story arcs complete and a rosy future, or at least an acceptable one, in the horizon. There are exceptions, though and “Ranger’s Apprentice” is worth reading even with this “fault”. In fact, I highly recommend it and am eagerly awaiting the 6th book.