Nothing is what it seems, in this new, exciting Koos Verkaik novel – Heavenly Vision, undoubtedly one of his masterpieces!
A book collector of limited means comes across a 1745 Atlas of the Cape of Good Hope in a second-hand bookshop in Amsterdam. Once his historian friend examines the manuscript found inside, he becomes very excited and life for Jan Glas is never the same again.
“Allart Vroom climbed down from the ship, and we stood ready to catch him,” wrote Captain Adriaen Kalf. “His clothes, his flesh, his bones pulverized in our hands. He formed a small heap of powder at our feet. Please, believe me—it is not, like someone suggested, the contents of broken hourglasses.”
Glas, an Amsterdam publicist, later reads about a machine that could cause the end of the world! Of course, he wants to find the truth about the machine and the remarkable manuscript!
His curiosity takes him takes him to England and the USA. In Florida, a peculiar man crosses his path – Wesley Dunn, a Raso Preacher at the Center of the Heavenly Vision in Franks Knight, Florida.
This man says that the world will be destroyed by “The Machine of Colton”, which is also mentioned in the manuscript that Jan found in the atlas! Only a few people will survive – the true followers of the odd Mr. Wesley Dunn, and those who follow the Raso way of life!
Murder, mystery and intrigue will keep the reader guessing as to what is going on. Is the world coming to an end, and if so, who will survive?
To learn more about Heavenly Vision and Koos Verkaik read his latest interview with Deborah Kalb, Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb.
A cast of likable, unlikable and quirky characters, along with a very original and interesting story makes for a fantastic read. I liked the writing style, going back to the past and present, and the characters, all unique in their own way.
I recommend Heavenly Vision to those who like adventure , drama and excitement. I also recommend The Nibelung Gold also by Koos Verkaik.
By the end the author had impressed me so much that I was not sure whether to applaud the brilliance of the character in the story or the creator of that character that is the author. The twist or final pull was that good of a brilliance charm.
As usual Koos Verkaik brings a mélange of quirky characters to life. The good, the bad, but never the indifferent. He then weaves them into a mystical tale that moves between the present and the past of a strange machine that kills at will and a prophecy of doom. His unique writing style holds the reader’s interest from beginning to an end of the world scenario, as he builds the tension during a well plotted fantastical journey full of intrigue and mysteries.
This is another MUST for readers of strange and unique tales from the undisputed master with one of his whacky covers that I love…
If you like books that bounce back and forth between the past 1700s, and the present then this is the book for you. It makes it a little confusing, but if you are willing to hang in there it all becomes clear in the end. In the past we have an old manuscript, in the present we have a machine that is said to be able to end the world. What are the connections if any between these two? The author has taken these two events and woven them into a story that will have you reading cover to cover just to find that connections. Once again this author has created a book that grabs you and forces you to read to find the answer to all of those questions you had at the beginning. I applaud him for this ability.
Koos Verkaik was born in Holland, near Rotterdam. He worked as a copywriter for a short time. His first comics (three pages each week) were published in the magazine Sjors when he was only 16 years old. He wrote his first novel (sci-fi) in a weekend at the age of 18 and it was published immediately. During his long career as a novelist and author, he wrote hundreds of comic scripts and published over 60 books, both children’s books and urban fantasy novels. Koos writes (novels) every day and has translated books from English and German into Dutch.
If you vote for Trump and his MAGA GOP members you may indirectly start World War III.
If Trump and his MAGA GOP take control of our Congress, they will cut off support for Ukraine. They already cut support on the advice of Trump when the Congress was ready to approve the spending bill with support for Ukraine.
What will happen next?
said Larry Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota. “This is supposed to be the party of conservative principles, of tradition, of respect for customs and rules that make society governable.
“The idea that the law does not apply to Republicans is something that has now become part of the mainstream of the Republican party. We see it in terms of the approach to elections. We see it in terms of the treatment of immigrants. Some of the actions with regard to abortion may approach that level. The Republican party appears to consider the law and the constitution to be optional and to have lost legitimacy.”
From The Guardian
Republicans’ lawless leaders at odds with midterm law and order message | Republicans | The Guardian
If you vote Republican you are supporting:
– 19 GOP red states have pending laws suppressing voter’s ability to vote. Historically, dictators and Fascists have suppressed votes to stay in power.
– The GOP has come out in support of QAnon, The Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys
– You may lose a loved one, a relative or a friend in a train crash, a bridge collapse or a plane crash as Republicans strip funds from President Biden’s infrastructure bill.
– The Texas abortion ban if left to stand will be passed in several other GOP states. Idaho will pass an anti-abortion law based on the Texas law. 16 states have “trigger” abortion ban laws.
by the US Supreme Court.
https://cnn.it/3RaW1zm
https://nyti.ms/3IcANNo
With the recent Supreme Court banning EPA authority from polluters
https://bit.ly/3IfQ1Bf
on Gun Purchases – will never get passed.
Watch Jimmy Kimmel’s emotional plea to improve gun purchase background checks
https://cnn.it/3AnRweO
– will never go up leaving 18 states still paying $7.25 an hour.
– the last thing America needs are conservative leaders, especially some Republicans who want to keep America from progressing. The last thing America needs is backward-thinking leaders in the 21st Century.
– Republicans have turned to cheating to stay in power or to get back into power…and nothing is getting done by them for the American people.
The enforcement or advocacy of strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.
and everything America stands for: Truth, Justice and Liberty for all? Look what is happening in Ukraine.
*Of course, not all Republicans are like those described above. Here is a list of those who should stay in office.
House of Representatives – those who voted to impeach the former president
Senate – The Republicans who voted to convict the former president after impeachment:
YOUR VOTE COUNTS. It’s a lie to think otherwise.
Paid for by Jake Stone for American Democracy
VOTE like your freedom depended on it…because it does.
Books of the NY Times
