Fidelis-The Next Harry Potter?

The first novel in a new 7-book series may give readers yet another Harry Potter-like character, some are claiming. "Fidelis", by A.R. Horvath, is the first book in a series that grapples with big topics like humanity's courage and the hope of humanity in the face of pain and suffering. Sound familiar? As Harry Potter battles the forces of evil with his magician student friends, so does "Fidelis" portray the struggle between good and evil.

But "Fidelis" doesn't take place in the make-believe world of castles and enchanted forests. The novel takes place in a possibly not-too-distant future and in a very real world. "Fidelis" takes place in an America that's suffered the ravages of disease and nuclear war. The main character is a man, not a growing boy like Harry Potter, who, in trying to make his way home across this broken landscape, learns about his interior landscape in the process.

Author A.R. Horvath, a Christian who conceived the idea for the books while on the road as a professional truck driver and who was away from his family for long periods of time says, "It is an exploration of what it means to be human, and an inquiry into what worldview best explains both man's goodness, as well as man's badness. You would think after this last century, we would not need to be reminded of man's badness, but it seems we do. In the Birth Pangs series, no reminder is necessary, just as after the Holocaust no reminder was necessary."

While the Harry Potter books have been under fire for many years by conservative Christians concerned with the influence of magic, wizardry and possibly witchcraft, former church worker Horvath maintains that Christians might identify with some of the characters' experiences in the novel and perceive some Biblical themes in the story, but he points out that his writing is not targeted at or created exclusively for a Christian audience. The themes in the book "Fidelis", like the themes in Rowlings' Harry Potter series, transcend any specific religious dogma.

The book is being compared to the Harry Potter series and also to the works of C.S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia, among others) and The Lord of the Rings books by J.R.R. Tolkien. Horvath talks about the similarities between "Fidelis" and these books along with the influences of Rowling, Lewis, and Tolkien.

"This is one example of where the influence of Rowling, Lewis, and Tolkien come into play. Evil is real in their worlds and there are serious consequences when dealing with it, or ignoring it. Their worlds are not 'they lived happily after' worlds. Good people die and stay dead. But there are things worse than death. And there are things stronger than death, too. The undying hope of the human race requires an explanation and not every worldview succeeds in giving one. The clash of worldviews in the face of societal collapse forms the backdrop to "Fidelis.""

You can visit Horvath's website www.birthpangs.com to learn more about the new series or to read a sample from "Fidelis". Copies of "Fidelis" (ISBN 0979127610) can be obtained through www.birthpangs.com, Amazon.com, and Barnes and Noble.

Source:
The Next Harry Potter? Christian Author Aims to Follow in the Footsteps of JK Rowling, Explores True Nature of Humanity in Book, 'Fidelis', Christian NewsWire, July 19, 2007, http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/472193692.html