Perished: The World That Was [Paperback]

R. Frederick Riddle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 17, 2010

This is an action-adventure novel that covers the first 1656 years of this world's existence (from Creation to the Flood). Our only knowledge of those years comes from the Bible, so I have tried to create the world as it then was. Using the first 300-500 years after the Flood as a glimpse or shadow of the world, I was able to develop an idea of what the Old World was like.

From Adam and Eve in the Garden to Noah in the Flood, this novel is full of action, romance, defeat, victory, and more. If you know the Bible, you will find this an entertaining yet believable behind the scenes story. If you are not all that familiar with the Bible, you might find yourself going to it to discover what is fact (the Bible account) and what is fiction (my embellishments).

Editorial Reviews

Review

A spectacular journey from the Garden of Eden to the Great Flood .  Perished: The World That Was is a skillfully executed work of biblical fiction that will renew interest in Genesis and spark the interest of new readers. --Ernesto Acosta

From the Author

I have now written three Bible-based novels. This last one took some of the best of the previous two and combined them with all new material to create an action packed adventure story that appears to be ripped from the pages of the Bible.

While I have wanted to write since I was in my early teens, I didn't find the right genre, or story line for that matter, until I was 60. I guess I am a slow learner.

I got the idea of writing Bible-based novels from my daily Bible reading. I love the Bible, I love history, and I love a good story. It suddenly hit me that the Bible doesn't give a lot of detail about Bible events. Usually only enough to teach us what God wants us to know. In the book of Genesis this is especially true. We are told the basic facts, the skeleton or outline if you will. I realized that the quote attributed to Paul Harvey applies here. I can tell "the rest of the story."

My writing style is to start writing and let the characters emerge within the context. I hold very tightly to the King James Version rendition of events. And I take special care that God not only sounds like God, but I use actual quotes found in the Bible.

I start by writing the story with only minor editing, then I begin to flesh the story out. I don't worry too much about errors at this point as I will have plenty of opportunity later to edit and correct. As I write, always keeping the Biblical outline in mind, I let the story grow and expand. I also add characters not found in the Bible, but who play important roles in my story.

Once completed I begin the editing. Not only do I proof and edit, but my wife proofs the book. We do this several times. Then I invite friends to proof. All of this ensures that the final draft is as near perfect as I can make it.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: PublishAmerica (December 17, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1456036823
• ISBN-13: 978-1456036829
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,627,796 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in 1943, I suppose you could call me a war baby. Perhaps that is why I have always been interested in adventure and war. In any case, I was raised in a small Michigan town just outside Pontiac, which is 25 miles from Detroit.

In 1964 I joined the U.S. Navy and participated in the Vietnam War as a Radioman aboard two different ships: USS St. Paul and the USS Providence. After four years, I left the service and returned to Michigan where I went to work for Western Electric. I would eventually be layed-off and go to work for Michigan Bell.

During all this time I maintained an interest in writing. I even took a writing course. But it wasn't until many years later that I wrote my first novel (Refuge), which was a self-published book. This was followed by a second novel (Adam's Chronicles) through PublishAmerica.

Shortly afterwards, we moved to Florida.

And now I have written my third novel (Perished) that covers the same time periods as the first two and a lot in-between.

Teresa (my wife) and I live in Port Charlotte where we take care of her mother and attend Tri-City Baptist Church. Both of us are actively involved. She is in music and MasterClubs, while I am Church Financial Secretary and MasterClubs.

I have already begun work on two additional books, one of which will be a sequel to Perished. I love writing, plus I enjoy reading both fiction and non-fiction books. My fiction interests range through westerns, mysteries, and even a bit of science fiction. Non-fiction covers government, finances,politics, and more. In fact, I just finished Sarah Palin's America By Heart (very enjoyable).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brings Genesis to Life!, May 6, 2011

By 

bwbatlarge - See all my reviews

This review is from: Perished: The World That Was (Paperback)

R. Frederick Riddle's Perished: The World that Was is an artfully rendered work of biblical fiction that brings the first six chapters of Genesis to life through accessible dialogue, sharing the thoughts of the characters, and visual imagery. Riddle takes familiar stories and masterfully portrays them, adding layers of insight through the thoughts, motivations, and desires of the key players in the biblical stories, providing readers with a fresh approach. Riddle's unique approach to Genesis is most deftly demonstrated through his depiction of Lucifer, giving readers more in-depth background on what led to his downfall and his banishment.

The story begins in heaven, when Lucifer senses that "Something big is about to happen." After watching God create the Earth, from the vantage point of heaven, Lucifer must admit that "the Holy Son had done a masterful job;" however, he is left ruminating, "And why create man when the angels of heaven are available to accomplish His will? In what possible way is mankind better equipped than the angels to rule over the Earth? Why does he regard man so tenderly?"

Lucifer begins to see humans as a "threat," there to "displace" the angels from God's favor and decides to rebel against God, leading the humans into disgrace. Riddle approaches the story of Lucifer's fall from grace with a unique twist, giving readers insight into his jealousy and his fears of being replaced. When Lucifer is cast out of heaven, he is enraged that he is stripped of his position and glory, destined to "roam up and down the earth," destroying whatever God has built.

Riddle takes readers on a spectacular journey through the banishment from the Garden of Eden, Cain slaying Abel, and the Great Flood that ushered in a new era. Perished: The World that Was is a skillfully executed work of biblical fiction that will renew interest in the stories of Genesis for those who are familiar with its stories, and will spark the interest of a new generation of readers.

5.0 out of 5 stars Bringing The Bible To Life, July 1, 2011

By 

Maureen - See all my reviews

This review is from: Perished: The World That Was (Paperback)

What an awesome book...even though you know the story, the author brings it alive. I felt I was right there with them living an everyday life. I know the book is fiction, but based on the first six chapters of the Bible. The book begins in the very beginning at the Garden of Eden, with Lucifer tempting Eve and Adam. The name Lucifer brings up images in my mind of ugly, but his name means beautiful one. He wants to have everyone worship him, and thinks the Lord is giving to much to the humans. Lucifer goes about the earth trying to dethrone God!
We follow along from the Fall through the slaying by Cain of Able, deaths of great Men and finally to Noah and the flood. As we know people kept turning their backs on God, and we are shown how they went about worshiping their Idols.
I highly recommend this book, it was an enjoyable read.

I received this book from First Wild Card Tours, and PublishAmerica, I was not required to give a positive review

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic and Rivating Tale of Genesis and the Flood, June 30, 2011

By 

S.F. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Perished: The World That Was (Paperback)

My Thoughts:

I was surprised reading "Perished"; Based on Genesis, "Perished" brings the readers into an awe inspiring look of the events of Genesis, starting first with Creation and ending with Noah.

Filled with drama, intrigue, heartache and capturing what unfolded in the time from when the world was first created to the Great Flood, "Perished" kept me from being unable to put the book down, and hoping for the time to go back to the book, to read what would happen the next.

The characters are identifiable to those who have read and study the Bible, and Mr. Riddle did a wonderful job of giving the people of the Bible a voice and bringing the readers in to familiar stories and wanting to find out what will happen next, though for those who are familiar with God's word, Mr. Riddle, took the familiar and re-created in a different light.

This is not a book for "delicate" readers who are discerning in what they read; Mr. Riddle captures the reality of a ruthless time that started in innocence and till Noah building the ark, became a time of immorality, sin and violence, but it is essential for the story, and brought Genesis, into more living perspective.

The reader will smile, cry, wince and wait with baited breath as the final moments (no spoilers for anyone who has read and is familiar with the story of Noah and his ark) are unfolded to the Great Flood that God sent upon the world.

This book was very exciting, something that I can see the guys would definitely enjoy reading and a book, that I just really had myself mentally going back to what I had read in the bible and lining up the events with the book as I found myself, just not able to find a "good place to stop" reading and instead found myself, unable to put the book down.

As soon as I had finished the book, I was quickly recommending and loaning the book out (with hopes it would come back so I could re-read) and finding myself scouring the libraries for additional copies of Mr. Riddle's work.

"Perished",though there are parts, that vital for the story, may seem untamed, really capture what could have been the thoughts, the emotions and the events, that for this book, led up to the Great Flood.

It help bring an added dimension of going back through God's Word and looking at it, in a different perspective, and wondering....that brings a possible perspective to things.

Although this is a fictional work based on the books in the Bible, "Perished" will have you re-visiting the book of Genesis and even then, open discussions and with it being the summer, be one of those books, you find yourself, unable to put down till your finish and, if you're like me, recommending it to others to read.

***Special thanks to R. Frederick Riddle for sending me a review copy.***