The Welkening: A Three Dimensional Tale [Paperback]

Gregory Spencer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2004

Lizbeth, Bennu, Len and Angie are misfits, and they know it. They are often overlooked and ostracized for being overweight, short, airheaded, or wearing coke-bottle glasses. When bullies inflict a wound to Len's head, the four friends find themselves suddenly thrust into an alternative dimension -- the realm of Welken, an idyllic kingdom under attack by Morphane the Soul Swallower. The noble defender Piers urges the four to aid his beleaguered land. But their insecurities hold them back until several mysterious adventures reveal that the weaknesses so disdained in their own world are weapons of great power in Welken. Victory is far from certain, however, as the enemy resorts to shape-shifting and deception, finally storming the Welkeners with an army of slaves. Unless the misfits find the courage to wield their weapons and turn the battle, Welken will fall into the death grip of Morphane.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Gregory Spencer is professor of communication studies at Westmont College in Southern California. He specializes in rhetorical theory and criticism, religious rhetoric, and media ethics. Dr. Spencer's teaching has been noted for its creativity. According to one former student, "His words do not merely paint pictures, they provide eyes to see the pictures that have always been before us. In this sense, his classroomis no less than a portal into a transformed world."

Product Details

• Paperback: 413 pages
• Publisher: Howard Books; Original edition (July 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582293554
• ISBN-13: 978-1582293554
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #948,042 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing visual images in The Welkening, September 20, 2004

By 

Jeffrey W. Spencer "Jeff Spencer" (Southern California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Welkening: A Three Dimensional Tale (Paperback)

Reading this book reminded me of why nothing can match the human imagination. The visual images conjured up in the Welkening are amazing! The author provided so many interesting characters, situations and possibilities. All 3 of these "tales" come together in the end in a very powerful climax. I could certainly relate to a number of the situations the "Misfits" had experienced in their lives, and my guess is that most readers will as well. A very enjoyable read!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars What Could Have Been, July 7, 2005

By 

Becky (Southern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Welkening: A Three Dimensional Tale (Paperback)

This has to be one of the hardest books to review. Much of the acclaim in the friends' reviews is true. The Welkening is a complex tale, three dimensional, clever, unique, fresh, innovative. The glich is, there are so many problems in the writing, the story is hard to follow. Would that Gregory Spencer, such an imaginative mind, had spent more time learning the craft of fiction. Or that his editors had helped him with things like repetition, poor transitions, weak set up and absent foreshadowing, baffling character motivation, and muddled point of view. This story had the potential to be great. Instead it may well languish on shelves because no one cares enough about the characters to persevere. Too bad. The Welkening contains, in small doses, some of the most inventive language. If only Spencer had Tolkienized his story, even a little ...

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Welkening Review by Linda Branch, October 14, 2004

By 

Linda Lee Branch - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Welkening: A Three Dimensional Tale (Paperback)

Gregory Spencer has captured the essence of a three-dimensional tale in his new book, The Welkening. He has developed the four main characters into believable heroes who find action and mystery around every corner as they come up against forces of evil in a strange land.
Spencer writes with visual richness that carries the reader into unknown worlds that are paradoxes of shadows and blinding lights. He creates the extraordinary out of the ordinary with sensitive symbolism of animals, numbers and nature and allows the characters to grow through great paradigms of self-awaness.
The Welkening gives us clues in the very first chapter of the path on which we are being led, but I missed them because I was carried away with the intrigue and fast pace that each page gave. I did go back and read the novel a second time and found clever clues on each character that would prove to be important as the story grew.
Readers of all ages will enjoy this novel and they will hope that Spencer has a Welkening Two on the drawing board. He certainly left the door open for us to want to know more about the life and times of our heroes. One book just whets our appetite for the adventures to continue.
Gregory Spencer's The Welkening is delightful fantasy...or is it?