Quest for Celestia: A Reimagining of The Pilgrim's Progress [Paperback]

Steven James (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 27, 2006

Join Kadin on his journey to Celestia in this creative reimagining of John Bunyan's Christian classic, The Pilgrim's Progress. Kadin's faith is challenged and strengthened as he seeks to rid himself of the growth on his neck and make his way to Celestia. Steven James uses his master storytelling ability to re-create the life-changing journey of The Pilgrim's Progress for readers ages 14 to 19.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 15 and up
  
• Paperback: 271 pages
• Publisher: Thirsty (February 27, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414305834
• ISBN-13: 978-1414305837
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #648,003 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Critically acclaimed author Steven James has penned 30+ books spanning the genres of psychological thrillers, dramas,YA fantasy, and more. Steven has received wide critical acclaim for his work, including four Storytelling World Honor awards, two Publishers Weekly starred reviews, and 2009 & 2011 Christy Awards for best suspense. His thriller, The Bishop, was named both Suspense Magazine's and The Christian Manifesto's 2010 Book of the Year and won an RT Book Reviews and an INSPY award in the categories of suspense/mystery. Library Journal listed his latest action thriller The Queen as one of the best novels of 2011. His first thriller The Pawn was optioned by ABC Studios in 2010.

Steven earned a Master's Degree in Storytelling from ETSU in 1997 and is an active member of International Thriller Writers, The Authors Guild, Mystery Writers of America, and International Association of Crime Writers.

Steven serves as a contributing editor to Writer's Digest. He appears regularly as a keynote speaker at events throughout North America.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Let THE Story Touch Your Heart Again..., June 24, 2006

By 

James John Hollandsworth, M.D. "lightalongthe... - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Quest for Celestia: A Reimagining of The Pilgrim's Progress (Paperback)

There is only one story that really matters: THE story of God reaching down into history to redeem a people for Himself. We live in that story, as we journey as vagabonds toward heaven. Four hundred years ago, a prisoner in an English jail retold THE story in such a fresh and masterful way that his words have been a bestseller ever since. That prisoner, of course, was John Bunyan, and his retelling of THE story was his masterpiece Pilgrim's Progress.

Now, a master storyteller of our generation has taken his turn at retelling THE story with the novel Quest for Celestia: A Reimagining of the Pilgrim's Progress. Patterned after the manner of Pilgrim's Progress, Quest for Celestia follows a young man, Kadin, as his eyes are opened to a great quest to visit a glorious city. His perilous journey takes him through the same type of allegorical adventures and dangers that echo both Bunyan and every Christian's life. Written in a fast-paced first-person style, this novel is an easy read akin to the Chronicles of Narnia. It has both a male and female protoganonist with a mild dash of romance thrown in to better appeal to readers of both sexes. Entertaining and inspiring, Quest for Celestia is a great read for young and old, both those familiar with Bunyan's original masterpiece and those new to the genre of imaginative retellings of God's redemptive story.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and thought provoking, May 1, 2006

By 

Todd P. Huhn (Minot, ND, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Quest for Celestia: A Reimagining of The Pilgrim's Progress (Paperback)

The latest of Steven's books marks a step into the fantasy realm, but keeps true to his heritage as a storyteller. I saw this as an homage to Bunyan's original tale, but by his use of symbolism and fantasy characters, Steven made the story appeal to a wider modern day audience. The style reminds me a great deal of C.S. Lewis and his famous Chronicles, and my only complaint is that the book isn't longer. Fortunately, Steven leaves some room for a sequel, and I hope for his fans' sake that he gives us at least one more tale of Kadin and Leira. I give this 5 out of 5 stars for the readability, style, and overall message of this wonderful book. Please give us another book like this!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful Reimagining of the Pilgrim's Progress, April 21, 2006

By 

MovieExplorer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Quest for Celestia: A Reimagining of The Pilgrim's Progress (Paperback)

Although many might not fully like this book, it is a refresher to countless fantasties of christian ideas that have lost focus. Some Christian Fantasy have forgotten that the journey to Heaven and the trials that we face is the real battle. The characters are interesting in this story though not fully explored. The perils in this novel are interesting enough to make you want keep reading to the end. This is a delightful reimagining of the classic story, The Pilgrim's Progress.