Review by vagrimes -- Spyder Bones by Oliver Phipps
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Review by vagrimes -- Spyder Bones by Oliver Phipps
[Following is a volunteer review of "Spyder Bones" by Oliver Phipps.]
It is 1969, the height of the Vietnam war. Aaron “Spyder Bones” Prescott, a cavalryman-turned-medic, has just reenlisted for his second overseas tour. A farm boy from Kansas, his life is relatively simple. He’s got Ping, his Vietnamese girlfriend, his bass guitar, and his medic uniform. That’s all he needs.
When Aaron is thrown from a helicopter during combat and enters a comatose state, he is thrust into the spiritual realm of angels and demons. He becomes what is known as a “mystic warrior,” a soul that has pledged to fight in the spirit war while existing in the human world. He is put through training and given a mission to defeat The Defiler, an evil spirit who has inhabited a human. When he wakes from his coma, his mission has begun.
Spyder Bones, by Oliver Phipps, is a metaphysical fiction novel best suited to a mature audience able to conceptualize religious and mystical themes. Although I did not feel the back-of-book description provided a sufficient overview of the plotline, I was pleasantly surprised by Phipps’ creation of a seamlessly overlapping boundary between spirits and humans. One aspect I liked the most about the book was the central theme of following where life takes you. One of the key pieces of advice Aaron received at the beginning of his mission, was to accept any and all invitations or offers of help. By doing this throughout the story, he ended up exactly where he was supposed to. I found Aaron’s unwavering faith in this advice to be refreshing, and believe it helped to make the story exciting and unpredictable.
I also enjoyed Phipps’ portrayal of Aaron as a protagonist. While the reader isn’t always aware of Aaron’s innermost thoughts, his actions speak louder than words as he continually puts his mission first. His role as a soldier proves to be his primary motivator as he moves from one war to another.
Readers should be aware that there are strong religious themes throughout the book. One aspect I liked the least is that the book is potentially unsuitable for readers who are not comfortable with religious concepts, such as angels and demons; heaven, hell and purgatory; and biblical references including Gabriel and Michael. While I was not personally bothered by these themes, it is something readers should keep in mind. Additionally, the book is fast-paced, focusing mostly on dialogue and action as opposed to emotions and character development. While I wasn’t bothered by this since the plotline and action scenes comfortably support the book, readers looking for a more emotional story may be disappointed.
I am giving this book 3 out of 4 stars as I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline, action scenes, and creative take on the overlap between the spiritual realm and the human world. Along with a creative plotline, there were several thought-provoking passages that enhanced my enjoyment of the story. I don’t feel that a 4-star rating is warranted, as there is a potentially large population of readers that may feel uncomfortable with many of the central themes and references. Additionally, I felt the book could have been slowed to a more reasonable pace if strategic breaks were incorporated between scenes.
Readers should be aware that there is mild sexual content as well as drug references that potentially make this book unsuitable for a younger audience.
******
Spyder Bones
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
It is 1969, the height of the Vietnam war. Aaron “Spyder Bones” Prescott, a cavalryman-turned-medic, has just reenlisted for his second overseas tour. A farm boy from Kansas, his life is relatively simple. He’s got Ping, his Vietnamese girlfriend, his bass guitar, and his medic uniform. That’s all he needs.
When Aaron is thrown from a helicopter during combat and enters a comatose state, he is thrust into the spiritual realm of angels and demons. He becomes what is known as a “mystic warrior,” a soul that has pledged to fight in the spirit war while existing in the human world. He is put through training and given a mission to defeat The Defiler, an evil spirit who has inhabited a human. When he wakes from his coma, his mission has begun.
Spyder Bones, by Oliver Phipps, is a metaphysical fiction novel best suited to a mature audience able to conceptualize religious and mystical themes. Although I did not feel the back-of-book description provided a sufficient overview of the plotline, I was pleasantly surprised by Phipps’ creation of a seamlessly overlapping boundary between spirits and humans. One aspect I liked the most about the book was the central theme of following where life takes you. One of the key pieces of advice Aaron received at the beginning of his mission, was to accept any and all invitations or offers of help. By doing this throughout the story, he ended up exactly where he was supposed to. I found Aaron’s unwavering faith in this advice to be refreshing, and believe it helped to make the story exciting and unpredictable.
I also enjoyed Phipps’ portrayal of Aaron as a protagonist. While the reader isn’t always aware of Aaron’s innermost thoughts, his actions speak louder than words as he continually puts his mission first. His role as a soldier proves to be his primary motivator as he moves from one war to another.
Readers should be aware that there are strong religious themes throughout the book. One aspect I liked the least is that the book is potentially unsuitable for readers who are not comfortable with religious concepts, such as angels and demons; heaven, hell and purgatory; and biblical references including Gabriel and Michael. While I was not personally bothered by these themes, it is something readers should keep in mind. Additionally, the book is fast-paced, focusing mostly on dialogue and action as opposed to emotions and character development. While I wasn’t bothered by this since the plotline and action scenes comfortably support the book, readers looking for a more emotional story may be disappointed.
I am giving this book 3 out of 4 stars as I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline, action scenes, and creative take on the overlap between the spiritual realm and the human world. Along with a creative plotline, there were several thought-provoking passages that enhanced my enjoyment of the story. I don’t feel that a 4-star rating is warranted, as there is a potentially large population of readers that may feel uncomfortable with many of the central themes and references. Additionally, I felt the book could have been slowed to a more reasonable pace if strategic breaks were incorporated between scenes.
Readers should be aware that there is mild sexual content as well as drug references that potentially make this book unsuitable for a younger audience.
******
Spyder Bones
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Warramunga's Aftermath of War by Greg Kater
