Pilgrims Passage

Storytelling is an art form that comes naturally to few people. So, when an author can tell a fascinating story without the need for thrills and epic action, you know they have something special. This entry into the Pilgrims Passage collection is a unique tale, unlike anything you have probably read before.

In author Joe Buda’s Pilgrims Passage: Brave World, two men with a shady past are looking for answers about the way they were raised. One has grown up to be spiritualist, while the other is a businessman – who may have cut a few corners to get to the top. With a bit of research, one finds that the men were enrolled in a secret government program which subliminally programmed them to be activated for future missions.

While their past is the catalyst of the story, the main plot follows a conference where a host of characters give speeches on spirituality. A book called The Book of One is the main focus of the story and the conference. In an unorthodox move, Buda has included the slides from The Book of One at the end of the story, making the story a little more real for the reader.

It is hard to categorize this story because it has so many elements spread over several genres. For example, the mystery of Paul and Karl’s past is counterbalanced with the thriller of what is happening in their present. In addition, Buda mixed themes of conspiracy and spirituality throughout the book, which make sense but can sometimes be distracting from the main story.

One thing which is clear is that Joe Buda is a great storyteller. This is clearly not his first published work because he has created a work of fiction that borders on believable. If someone were to describe this story to a stranger, they might not realize that it isn’t a true story. That is doubled down by the fact that Buda took the time to create The Book of One.

Its ambiguous genre makes this story one for everyone. While there are slightly adult situations, Buda does a great job not being graphic in his descriptions, so this book is appropriate for a broad audience. The only challenging part about this book is that you will want to go out and spend money buying Buda’s other books immediately once you are done reading Pilgrims Passage: Brave World.

- Pacific Book Review