Birds of Paradisum

By Stanley Lewis

Description:

Birds of Paradisum is a novel that is about one man’s journey to faith and salvation through the use of allegory. This book uses the analogy of two competing airlines that are vying for the souls of their passengers. There is a great deal of symbolism, and most of the characters have a basis in historical true-life people. The main character, Derek, must make a choice as to which airline he should fly to the island of Paradisum. The first choice is the large conglomerate airline that caters to every desire of its passengers, and it is headed by the mysterious CEO Mr. Reinhard von Lux-Ferre. The other airline is a small operation with one gate agent, one pilot, and one plane. The two companies go head-to-head to secure the main character Derek as a passenger. There are dark secrets that Derek discovers about the large airline and the island of Paradisum and how he must choose which of the two airlines can actually deliver him to the island. Birds of Paradisum is geared toward youth and young-adult audiences, and the goal of the book is to make the reader think about apologetic themes, the broad and narrow ways, and their own salvation experience. It is also intended to be a conversation starter for Christians and their friends who are not yet followers of Christ. It deals with themes that young people are facing when it comes to spirituality: popularity and pop culture, pantheistic and secularistic influences, and the allure of materialism.

Book Takeaway:

There is an unseen battle for every soul and it is up to each person if they will walk the broad or narrow path.

Why the author wrote this book:

First, as a Christian, I am passionate about spiritual warfare and apologetics; both themes are woven into the book's fabric. Furthermore, having been a pilot and traveled to nearly 30 countries, through dozens of airports, and on hundreds of aircraft, one could say I have a deep love of aviation. Finally, I love storytelling; seeing people captivated by a compelling narrative is a true joy.