FICTION
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Flying a Kite
Money always solved everything for multi-millionaire Aldo Galliano. So when faced with imminent death and the need to decide between cryonic preservation or faith in God and an afterlife, he offers a £1m prize for the most convincing argument ‘for’ or ‘against’ God. Enter Bruce Kramer, a dropout theology graduate, who strives to consolidate religion and science by revealing links between creation and evolution, and explaining mysteries as diverse as the Garden of Eden and the wise men's guiding star. But dangerous rivals aim to prevent his success. This fascinating novel draws the reader deeply into the excitement of Bruce's squabbling research team, his untimely romantic entanglements, and the compelling theories pursued by a cast of engaging but eccentric characters.
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It has been said that: 'by subtly combining the spiritual discernment of C. S. Lewis, the humour and rich characterisation of Peter Carey, and all the twists and turns of a mystery thriller, the author brings an entertaining and unforgettable tale.' But beware. Like one of Galliano’s favourite lattes, while it might appear frothy on the surface, a high caffeine brew lurks deep below that may keep you awake at night... thinking.
Flying a Kite is set in Bath, Rome, Lake Garda, Tenerife, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. All real locations - plus a little 'artistic license, of course. Watch this short video for an overview of a novel that works at two levels: an adventure story on the surface, but also a quest for the meaning of life and to establish whether it makes sense to believe in God and a Heaven. (Plot spoiler: it does!) Where fact meets fiction
All the ideas proposed by the characters in this novel are based on real theories and facts. This is confirmed through the book's End Notes. That is why this is so much more than just a novel - underlying is philosophical argument, presented in a readily understandable way through dialogue. The End Notes are where facts meet the fiction.
NOTE: No guarantee can be made that the published internet links in the End Notes are still valid. The internet moves on and this book was published in 2013. |
Make sure you have audio on when you watch this video!
Larger-than-life characters
The characters in this novel include resolute yet romantically-challenged Bruce, canny but clown-like Bertie, geeky and gobsmacked Martin, flirty flame-from-the-past Carla, possessive and put-upon girlfriend Julia, stunningly sexy model Sofia and her pragmatic photographer boyfriend Luigi, prim and prickly mother Ada, smart and sassy PA Emma, psychotic psychologist Max, nutty ex-NASA engineer Victor... and maybe even God. (Or was that just in Bruce’s mind?)
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Reviews
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'This wonderful, well-written and entertaining novel... will no doubt open many minds.'
—William Roache, MBE 'Fluid, smooth and flows at a lovely pace. Really engaging from the start. Like The Shack, there is a niche for this kind of book.' —Gillian McDade (journalist and author of Standing Man) 'Addresses a universal question in a much better way than Dan Brown in Angels & Demons where the God versus science debate is just another subplot in another ciphering book; in Flying a Kite it's the main plot thread, convincingly dealt with, and riveting.' —Richard Pierce (author of Dead Men) 'Characters are direct and effective. I enjoyed how the pace allowed the reader to think about important concepts by himself.' —Heikki Hietala (author of Tulagi Hotel) 'Fluent, graphic writing and excellent use of description. Characters come alive through captivating dialogue.' —Elijah Iwuji (author of Praying in the Will of God) 'I love the characters. Ada is superbly done.' —Anne Lyken-Garner (author of Sunday’s Child) 'Ian Kingsley's Flying A Kite clearly documents the literary talent of its author. Deftly written, original, genuinely entertaining, iconoclastic, Flying A Kite is a rewarding and entertaining read from beginning to end and highly recommended for personal and community library Contemporary Fiction collections.' —Jack Mason (Midwest Book Review) |
'Bursting with optimism, Flying A Kite by author Ian Kingsley marries the imagination of an accomplished writer and the passion of a theologian to deliver a truly remarkable read. Written in tight eloquent prose that are altogether enthralling, Kingsley has certainly delivered a staggeringly entertaining novel, one imbued with a sense of urgency which conveys an emotional resonance that is far too rare in contemporary literature. On this level it can simply be read and enjoyed, but there’s a compelling sense of authenticity which begs deeper consideration. On this level Kingsley has penned a book which is all about the content; weaving fact, fiction and theology in an overarching theme that encourages the reader to reflect on polarised beliefs. Not with the aim of proffering answers, but providing insight and the opportunity to draw one’s own conclusions as Bruce pursues his quest. In the main it works so well because Kingsley maintains the theme of reciprocity between his characters whilst maintaining a believable story that gives equal weight to opposing views. It certainly makes for a difficult novel to put down!
'A genuine joy to read, without the contrivance of undue complexity, readers who have enjoyed The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield and The Shack by Wm Paul Young will certainly find a novel of equal standing in Flying A Kite. 'Recommended without reservation it’s highly deserving of your attention. BookViral has no hesitation in naming Ian Kingsley as our sixth ever author of choice.' —BookViral 'Tight writing that uses dialogue to give just enough detail to hook us into the story while leaving the snippets of back story until the reader is well and truly engrossed. Great stuff!' —Jo Carroll (author of Over The Hill And Far Away) |
