All epics must have their conclusion. At some point
the story must come crashing to a close. And with Valley of Bones, we have
the bittersweet conclusion to not just the Jerusalem’s Undead trilogy, but to
all of Eric Wilson’s storylines as a whole. Since the time of the Nazarene, two
groups of immortals – The Collectors and the Nistarim – have waged a spiritual
chess game for humanity. And now the board is set, the pieces are in place, and
the race to start – or stop – Final Vengeance has begun.
Rasputin, a Russian mystic infested by a legion of Collectors,
had once prophesied that a Black King would usher in this Final Vengeance. Natira,
leader of the Akeldama Cluster, is convinced that he is that Black King. He
must only find an ancient artifact hidden by Rasputin in order for the games to
begin. But the Nistarim have their own secret weapon. For the first time in
history, the combined forces of the Collectors and Nistarim collide in one
valley in a battle of Biblical proportions. And we are all witnesses to that
encounter.
Eric Wilson is the master of the meta-arc. Story and
character arcs intersect and overlap to form a cohesive whole that finds itself
all tied up with Valley of Bones’ epic conclusion. Those unfamiliar with Wilson’s
work outside of the Jerusalem’s Undead trilogy will not suffer from not having
read his previous novels, but if they have it will open them to the true depths
of the story he has created.
More than any other author today, Wilson undergirds
his writing with solid theological imagery, speaking in metaphor, symbol, and
Story to convey the Truth – the truth that Life comes only through the blood of
Yeshua the Nazarene. His masterful grasp of theology is evident as he weaves in
his theological concepts in a way that only increases the story’s suspense and
tension.
The Jerusalem’s Undead trilogy explores Earth’s
tension between Heaven and Hell and mirrors the tactics of the Nazarene, who Himself
spoke in Story in order take abstract theology and didactic teaching and put it
in the context of an edge-of-your-seat thriller. For those who have eyes to see
and ears to hear, the story Wilson tells is far more than vampires, ancient
treasures, and unseen plot twists. Instead, he seeks to take that which is dark
to mortal eyes and unveil it through the power of Story. Valley of Bones is the
apex of that story. You can’t read it and not come away changed. And that’s
precisely the point.
Mini
Q&A with Eric
TCC: So
this culminates everything. Not just Jerusalem's Undead, but all of your
novels. What does it feel like to have this journey come to a close? Or has the
journey really finished?
I sure hope the journey's not over,
but I do feel a huge amount of satisfaction, knowing that my novels have all
been tied together, providing a complete journey for readers. Of course, I do
have other trails to explore, other ideas to flesh out. I'm just looking for
the publisher who believes in what I'm doing.
TCC: In many of your novels, the game of chess plays a fun yet integral role in developing the plot. Can you explain your fascination with chess and what led to referencing it in your novels?
I think chess can teach some amazing
lessons about life and the spiritual battle we face. There are sacrifices,
diversions, gambits, pins, attacks, and counterattacks. I used to play in
tournaments, and I kept seeing ideas to use in novels. I try not to use it too
extensively, since many readers are not chess aficionados. Some of the
symbolism is more subtle, using names such as Regina (which means
"queen") and Cal (which, in Romanian, means "knight").
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