The Door Within (Door Within Trilogy #1), Vol. 1
There is an unseen world of good and evil where nightmares are fought and hope is reborn. Enter The Door Within. \ Aidan Thomas is miserable. And it's much more than the strange nightmares he's been having. Just when life seemed to be coming together for Aidan, his parents suddenly move the family across the country to take care of his wheelchair-bound grandfather. When strange events begin to occur, Aidan is drawn into his grandfather's basement where he discovers three ancient scrolls and...
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There is an unseen world of good and evil where nightmares are fought and hope is reborn. Enter The Door Within.Publishers WeeklyFirst-time author and middle-school teacher Batson leads young readers to a fantasy realm (filled with unusual names) where faith and sacrifice serve as essential tools in an epic battle between good and evil. Sound familiar? It will to many fantasy fans, as well as those familiar with the Bible. Aidan has a tough time when he moves from Maryland to Colorado with his parents so they can care for his grandfather; he hardly relishes starting high school as the new kid. But things take a bizarre turn when he ventures to his grandfather's basement and discovers some ancient scrolls containing what Grampin knows as "the Story." The scrolls encourage Aidan to believe-the key to the Door Within-and to follow the light of the everlasting King of the Realm. Though God and the Bible are never mentioned by name, the comparisons are clear and sometimes more than obvious (Aidan's family name is Thomas, as in doubters; a traitor and warrior is named Acsriot, an anagram of Iscariot; an evil lieutenant goes by Lord Rucifel, an anagram of Lucifer, etc.). Christian readers will likely draw the parallels as an interesting puzzle and perhaps an introspective exercise. And readers of any faith can enjoy the layers of action and adventure here, replete with knights, dragons and powerful swords in what is the first of a planned trilogy. Ages 10-14. (Sept.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
\ Publishers WeeklyFirst-time author and middle-school teacher Batson leads young readers to a fantasy realm (filled with unusual names) where faith and sacrifice serve as essential tools in an epic battle between good and evil. Sound familiar? It will to many fantasy fans, as well as those familiar with the Bible. Aidan has a tough time when he moves from Maryland to Colorado with his parents so they can care for his grandfather; he hardly relishes starting high school as the new kid. But things take a bizarre turn when he ventures to his grandfather's basement and discovers some ancient scrolls containing what Grampin knows as "the Story." The scrolls encourage Aidan to believe-the key to the Door Within-and to follow the light of the everlasting King of the Realm. Though God and the Bible are never mentioned by name, the comparisons are clear and sometimes more than obvious (Aidan's family name is Thomas, as in doubters; a traitor and warrior is named Acsriot, an anagram of Iscariot; an evil lieutenant goes by Lord Rucifel, an anagram of Lucifer, etc.). Christian readers will likely draw the parallels as an interesting puzzle and perhaps an introspective exercise. And readers of any faith can enjoy the layers of action and adventure here, replete with knights, dragons and powerful swords in what is the first of a planned trilogy. Ages 10-14. (Sept.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.\ \ \ \ \ VOYA\ - Jonatha Masters\ Do any of VOYA's faithful readers know the story of King Eliam? He was a powerful ruler in the great kingdom of Alleble. All of his subjects were loyal to him, save one. Darkness fell over the great Realm and King Eliam was slain. His death brought about the Schism, a belief that the Realm was now split between two worlds. The Realm would not become whole again until all believers were united and the darkness defeated. Aidan Thomas, an average teenage boy, has become a part of this story. He had read the stories of King Eliam, but did not believe until he was thrust into the world of Alleble. Now it is up to Aidan and his friends to destroy the evil that threatens Alleble and the Realm. Batson peppers his books with Christian symbols and ideals. The concept of placing one's faith in a situation that will bring about everlasting life is found in almost every other chapter. Many readers may find these novels derivative of C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia series. What might be of most help to the reader are lists of characters and places that Batson includes in his novels. He even provides a pronunciation guide for those names that are especially difficult to decipher. The novels are well written, and the narrative moves quickly. Readers will become engrossed in King Eliam's world because of the vivid imagery that Batson uses to describe the Realm and its people.\ \ \ School Library JournalGr 6-9-When his family moves to Colorado to care for his ailing grandfather, Aidan thinks his life is ruined until he discovers three ancient scrolls in the man's basement. They tell of a world where the knights of Alleble fight to keep the warriors of Paragory from gaining dominion over the Realm. When Aidan reads the last line of the scrolls, "Believe and enter," he is swept into this strange land. His role there is to become the 12th knight of the King's Elder Guard. Their mission is to travel to the kingdom of Mithegard and convince its sovereign not to sign a treaty with Paragory. Aidan discovers that the people in the Realm, called Glimpses, have doubles that exist in his world. A map of the Realm is provided, as is a character guide with pronunciation key. The concept in this first of a projected trilogy is intriguing and the plot moves along at a steady pace. Some characters lack development, but several of them are engaging, especially the swordmaiden Gwenne and an underground serpentine creature named Falon. Give this title to readers who have finished the current book in D. J. MacHale's "Pendragon" series (S & S) but who might not be ready for J. R. R. Tolkien or David Eddings's "Belgariad" books (Ballantine).-Lisa Prolman, Greenfield Public Library, MA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.\ \
