Christian Redemptive Fiction Award: Steve Pillinger and The Mindrulers Series.

A few years ago, I discovered a novel series that was receiving rave reviews from readers and a few of my author friends. It was getting some great exposure on a Goodreads group also. I decided to check it out and it was one of the best decisions I have made regarding reading a novel series.

What is this series? The Mindrulers by Steve Pillinger.

Steve describes this series as,

"A series of Christian fantasy/science fiction novels in which four ordinary people from this world are called by God to rescue the citizens of a small nation on a distant planet from the unimaginable oppression of mind-control!"

I described it as, 

"Absorbing and immersive, highly imaginative, highly entertaining, encourages your faith and relationship with God, action-packed and fast-paced. Should be regarded as a Christian classic in the calibre of Lewis and Tolkien. This is yet another novel that ticks all the boxes of what I like to see in Christian fiction:

• it has entertained me immensely,
• it has encouraged my walk with God,
• it has not deviated from known biblical doctrine, and it will not, I believe, lead a non-believer astray or promote false doctrine,
• it honours God,
• it does not encourage worship of the created (eg angels) instead of the Creator (God)."

 It has also been described as, 

"......written by a linguist with significant cross-cultural experience and a love of history. It is set in a richly-imagined world featuring convincing languages, fascinating cultures, and meticulously detailed maps of the characters’ journeys. The setting is thoroughly worked out, creating an inner consistency and a breadth of history and geography that gives the reader a sense of reality, and of hidden vistas that may yet open up." (from the Amazon book descrpition of The Mindruler).

I spotlighted Steve and this series in a previous post where he describes more of the worldbuilding mentioned above. You can check that out here.

I encourage you to keep reading and explore this series and why it has been bestowed a Christian Redemptive Fiction Award by Radiqx Press. More of the Award later in this post.

Here is what this series is about, starting with Book 1. 

The Mindruler, Book 1.

A student, a lecturer, a web designer, a retired teacher: four unlikely strangers suddenly find themselves in an unknown country on an unknown world, their ears assaulted by the clash of swords on armour and the whizz of arrows. Caught up in a mediaeval battle, Steve, Gil, Lannie and Denise are rescued by the losing side and hustled to the dubious safety of a basement in a burnt-out castle.

Here they learn that their hosts—people not unlike themselves—are the only survivors of a rebellion against the vicious regime of Mindruler Shambor dom Beldet and his country-wide network of Mindbenders. These brutal overlords have mastered telepathy to the point where they can invade people’s thoughts and control their lives. Their eyes and ears are everywhere.

But in the last free community in the castle basement, the new arrivals are hailed as the long-awaited “Restorers of the Way”—the “strangers and loners” of prophecy, who will overthrow Shambor and bring peace and freedom to the tormented land of Dûrion. The foreigners find this idea ludicrous. How can they, four ordinary people, pose as revolutionaries in a country they don’t even know?

Captured, enslaved, barely escaping, betrayed by one of their own, they are pursued across the country from one precarious refuge to the next by a tyrant bent on their destruction. En route they find friends and helpers in unexpected places, along with other powerful resources—resources the tyrant cannot control.

Even so, how can they succeed against his all-pervasive network of mentally-controlled slaves? Can the God they call upon overcome even the Mindruler’s unimaginable powers? Are they truly the long-awaited Restorers, who will end his tyranny and set the suffering people of Dûrion free?

"The Mindruler will take you to another planet—very similar to our own—where even your most secret thoughts can be used as weapons of war. In this epic tale of good versus evil, Steve Pillinger has created a rich world and an absorbing fantasy that will keep you turning the pages and wondering: are those thoughts really your own?" — Fiona Veitch Smith, Crime Writers Association nominated author of The Poppy Denby Investigates series.

My review can be found here.

The Restorers, Book 2.

In a small nation on a distant planet, the Restorers of the Way are battling dark forces at work in society. They have killed one of the Mindbenders of Dûrion—and this has seriously inconvenienced the country’s despotic ruler, Shambor dom Beldet.

News of their achievement spreads, and thousands rally to their cause. But Shambor’s response is devastating.

Inexperienced and outnumbered, how can the ‘strangers and loners’ from Earth, with their Dûrian friends, prevail against an enemy who not only controls the army and all the resources of a nation, but also wields deadly powers of mental and spiritual oppression?

The second of three novels in The Mindrulers series, this book is written by a linguist with significant cross-cultural experience and a love of history. It is set in a richly-imagined world featuring convincing languages, fascinating cultures, and meticulously detailed maps. The setting is thoroughly worked out, creating an inner consistency and a breadth of history and geography that gives the reader a sense of reality, and of hidden vistas that may yet open up.

My review can be found here.

 The Strongholder, Book 3.

In the land of Dûrion on a distant planet, the Restorers of the Way have done the impossible, and set the country free from the Mindrulers’ oppression!

But two superpowers are looming over her—the Grûzhack in the south, and the Strongholder in the east. Can the Restorers save the fledgling Land of Light from being torn apart?

Abandoning their age-long isolation, the mighty seven-foot Grûzhack warriors have come rampaging down from their mountain fastnesses. With their terrifying fire weapons they are sweeping through towns and villages, advancing inexorably towards the Dûrian capital, Darthane. Who could have foreseen that rescue lies with an abused child who can sing?

Then from Selmion in the east the Strongholder, ruler of all Mindrulers, combines the telepathic powers of all his minions to strike a blow so devastating, so all-encompassing, that those who oppose him in every land are reduced to abject helplessness.

All except for a small remnant who cling desperately to their faith and in hopeless defiance raise the last emblem of the One’s sovereignty, the Ambon of Sûrilane. Following an ancient prophecy the Restorers and their small band of companions carry the Ambon alone and undefended into the heart of the Strongholder’s realm.

Will they do the utterly impossible and defeat the Strongholder himself? Will mindbending finally be eradicated? Will people in all the lands find peace and freedom at last?

“A stunning end to a riveting series. Highly recommended.” – Fiona Veitch Smith, CWA Historical Dagger shortlisted author for The Jazz Files, UK.

"A great adventure filled with tender, moving moments, unforgettable characters, spiritually powerful scenes, and a great finale!” – Sean, UK.

“Packed with excitement and unexpected twists and turns.” – Sophie, South Africa.

Steve was interviewed by Parker J. Cole and myself on the Write Stuff International show.

Click on the video image below to be taken to the interview. It is about an hour long. It gives informative insights into the novel and its background. It was a fun interview!

And now for the Christian Redemptive Fiction Award:

I rated this series with the following discernment: 

World Building 5/5

Characters 5/5

The two classifications below are based on the booklet,

A Spiritual System for Rating Books by David Bergsland:

Spiritual Level 4/5

Enemy Spiritual Level 3/5

Overall Rating: 4.4/5

This Christian Redemptive Fiction Award is based on:

• my reviews of this series, links above,
  
  

• the aforementioned reference booklet, A Spiritual System for Rating Books by David Bergsland (Radiqx Press),
  
  

• The Mindrulers Series contains criteria of what constitutes Christian Redemptive Fiction outlined in this booklet, (click on the title below to see what this is based on).
  
  

Therefore, I bestow on Steve Pillinger, the

Reality Calling Christian Redemptive Fiction Award.

         

Congratulations, Steve!

If you would like to investigate this series further, click on the images below:

Readers and reviews are an author’s best asset, so I encourage any reader, to consider reading The Mindrulers series then submit a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (or any other social media platform you subscribe to).

Reviews help promote an author’s novel to potential readers and encourage the author to keep writing. Reviews also help get the author’s message (and God’s message) to the reader, who may need encouragement and support in their lives while being entertained by the story.

About Steve Pillinger:

He created the richly-imagined world of Dûrion as part of a family role-playing game, while living in Oxfordshire, UK. Now he and his wife have moved to Johannesburg, South Africa, where they continue to support the work of Bible translation. They have two adult children, a son and a daughter.

Steve Pillinger is a linguist, translator and typesetter who has lived in a number of different cross-cultural settings in Africa, the UK and the USA. He has been a missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators for over 36 years. His love of language, history and geography comes through in his novels, together with the longing to see God’s truth revealed with fresh impact through the eyes of a different culture.

Steve’s other interests include reading, piano playing and photography.

Steve can be found on these social media platforms:

Mindrulers Website  ~  Facebook Page  ~  Goodreads Author Profile    

Amazon Author Pages:

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK 

Please note: As an Amazon Associate, I am required to disclose that book cover images or titles of novels in this post are paid links if they are linked to Amazon and result in a sale.