I thought that, for my final considerations on The Shadow Lamp and the Bright Empires series, I would use a kind of essay format, as this would let me bring up all sorts of random observations without having to coherently connect them. Feel free to answer any or all questions in the comments: I won’t…
Tag: the skin map
CSFF Blog Tour: Anniversary Edition
So the CSFF blog tour begins again. This month’s subject is The Shadow Lamp, the fourth book in Stephen Lawhead’s Bright Empires series. I’ve enjoyed every blog tour I’ve done with the CSFF, but I always have a special fondness for the books of the Bright Empires series. This is, in large part, because of…
Character Profiles: The Suave Villain
What sharp little eyes you have, my dear. – Lord Archelaeus Burleigh, The Skin Map Archelaeus Burleigh was an earl – rich, refined, well-dressed, every inch an aristocrat. He was a great traveler, too, and a man of books. As may be expected, he was very reasonable, in the sense that he generally gave people…
Strictly Speaking
[Mild spoilers] “The room we’re interested in is somewhere back there. At least, it was the last time I was here.” “Correct me if I am wrong,” suggested Thomas, his steel-rimmed glasses glinting in the faint light as he turned to address Kit directly, “but strictly speaking, you have never been in this tomb.” –…
CSFF Blog Tour: The Bone House
The universe is big. What’s more, it’s awfully crowded. It may be hard to tell, but they’re there, just a ley-leap away – countless worlds, people beyond number. Very few people know this; very few have traveled the ley lines to other dimensions. And those few people are constantly running into each other, often in…
Great Openings
Note: This is a totally subjective list, comprised of openings I found most amusing, intriguing, or arresting. You will not find “Call me Ishmael” here, largely because I never read the book. It’s a fine sentence, but it’s all I need. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” is also…
CSFF Blog Tour: Random Notes
This is the last day of the tour, and I’ll close with a few random notes. (1) and (3) have spoilers. (1) The Christianity of The Skin Map is like the secularism of many popular books and movies: It’s there, but a lot of the time you can’t really tell. Every once in a while,…
CSFF Blog Tour: Spoiler Day
Yesterday I gave a general review. Today I have designated Spoiler Day, where I will show no compunction in giving away plot details. One of the best characters in The Skin Map is the villain, Lord Burleigh. He’s a smooth villain – intellectual, polished, handsome, entirely willing to work with those who will work with…
CSFF Blog Tour: The Skin Map
If your great-grandfather, who vanished a century ago, reappeared in a deserted alley and asked you to join him on a mission through parallel realities, would you say yes? Kit Livingstone said no. Then he went to buy bathroom curtains with his girlfriend, Wilhelmina (!). In an effort to convince her he had a good…