An Hassidic Jewish mystic gunslinger fighting demons in the Old West? This is perhaps the most bizarre concept for a novel (or, as in this case, a series of four novellas) that one could possibly imagine. In fact, when I first read the back-of-book copy for one of the later installments in this series, I suspected that someone--very probably the author!-- needed the dosage on their medication adjusted. Some months later, I had opportunity to meet the author and he graciously gave me a copy of his book. I'm not lying when I relate that keeping myself from bursting out into laughter when I accepted it was extraordinarily difficult.
"Read it," Ed told me. "It's not what you think." I remember sarcastically thinking,"Yeah. Right."
A month or so later, I was looking for something to read and came across "Merkabah Rider" where I'd tossed it into the If-I-Get-The-Time-To-Read-It pile of books. Figuring it would be good for a laugh, I started it. I was amazed at what I read.
As strange as the concept it, the book is GOOD! Erdelac's main character known only as Rider is absolutely fascinating. Moreover, while I was expecting some overly self aware, quasi-religious, pseudo-comic book type of book, what I got was a fascinating and engaging action adventure novel. Also, I generally loathe Westerns. But this book overcame my dislike of the genre and drew me right in. While it isn't exactly a "can't put it down" kind of read, I did find myself compulsively reading each novella to the end before taking a break.
Erdelac takes what is one of the oddest ideas for a book and makes it extraordinarily readable while giving his non-Jewish readers an intriguing glimpse into Jewish mysticism. The Rider is a cross between a rabbi, Indiana Jones and Clint Eastwood--an outre combination to be sure. Yet Erdelac not only makes this mish-mosh of disparate characters work, he managed to stimulate this reader's interest and effortlessly overcame my initial doubts and captured me without my ever being aware he'd done it.
It's rare in today's world where everyone and his brother self-publishes an ebook and calls themselves an author that someone manages to TRULY come up with a novel concept which is both exciting and interesting without being precious or pretentious. Edward Erdelac has done so admirably--a truly impressive feat!
Putting my enthusiasm for this book aside for a moment, there are two minor flaws in the work. First, Erdelac tends to over-sprinkle Yiddish and Hebrew words throughout, necessitating the inclusion of a Glossary at the end of the book. I would have much preferred it had he been more clever in his use of foreign terms for ambiance and authenticity and subtly defined them within the text. Instead, the reader is sometimes forced to flip back and forth which was distracting and interrupted the flow of the read. Second, the author is overly fond of metaphor; after awhile, they become obtrusive. Moreover, in many cases, he's stretching and the metaphors don't always make sense or appear downright bizarre.
However, these criticisms are minor. All in all, "Merkabah Rider" is a marvelously inventive book, an exciting bit of originality that is sorely lacking in most modern works of literature. I urge you to give Erdelac's work a try.
