Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #95203 in Books
• Published on: 2004-01-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Synopsis
When an unexpected accident cuts his life short, separating him from his beloved wife, Chris Nielsen must discover the nature of life after death, but when tragedy threatens to divide Chris and Annie forever, he risks his very soul to save her from an eternity of despair. Reprint.

Customer Reviews

Serious, Thought Provoking, and Emotional
The story begins with the main characters death, similar to "Made In Heaven" and like in that story Heaven isn't Heaven without the one that you love. The author uses a similar pretense, but is still original in the presentation. I would love to listen in while this author and and Spider Robinson talk about their ideas on life after death. Some of the thinking in this book is similar to Spider Robinson's "Lifehouse" series.

The hero dies, but is unable to pass on to the next plain because he feels his wife's pain. When he finally passes on and reaches "summerland" (Heaven), he can not find happiness without Ann, his wife and soulmate. While he is making this discovery his wife kills herself because she feels that life without him isn't worth living. The Hero searches through Hell and only through his love for her and his sacrificing himself is any good accomplished.

The story is deep and serious (it may belong in the religous section rather than the Science Fiction section) but still a good read.

A book that should be read by everyone
This book is the best I have ever read. It is a journal dictated to a medium by a man who has died. It tells of what lies beyond death. It reads like reality and not fiction and one feels uplifted and hopeful after reading it (which is surprising as it is simply a work of fiction). However it was thoroughly researched and the author has drawn from near death experiences, the amount of research shows and the eternal nature of the human soul shine through and make one feel alive. It will also make you examine your life in the here and now and wonder which of your actions will follow you through to the next life and which are superfluous. An amazing read. RUN out and buy it!

The most thought provoking, evocative novel ever.
I read this book with great regularity - as a hospice nurse, having spiritual views can help enormously to cope with death and dying on a daily basis. Whilst it is, indeed, fictional the expansive list of references included demonstrates the amount of research conducted by Mr Matheson. Most of the references are non-fictional studies into near-death experiences. I would urge readers who enjoy this story to take a look at work by Raymond Moody and George Ritchie. The story is all-absorbing - one feels acquainted with Chris Neilson (the dead guy) and desperate for him to find peace. The description of 'Summerland' is fantastic, reassuring (especially if you've been bereaved)and very convincing. It's hard to remember this is a novel not an eye witness account. The film adaptation was a travesty - this book is ahead of its time and an absolute gem.