Arena

Rating:
Summary: Awesome Writing--Outstanding Book
Review: I worked for a Christian book distrubutor and read a lot of books, but this one is a definate stand-out. I love absolutely love it! The characters are original, and the plot is different from others. Karen Hancock did a wonderful job on her first book and has definately make me a fan!

Rating:
Summary: Refreshing
Review: I'm picky about Christian sf/f-- I don't like a lot of the stuff out there. Arena is a well done adventure-allegory that I'd recommend to those who were dissapointed by Transgression or the Firebird trilogy. Arena has the right mix of mystery, action, spirituality, and character development. The Christian themes are subtle enough to please a Christian reader, although maybe justy slightly too overt for a non-Christian.
I'd describe Arena as being reminiscent of the Myst computer games and the Narnian chronicles with a lot more excitement. Best of all, these characters aren't pure carbaord like most Christian sf, which is incredibly refreshing. Karen Hancock also has a book coming out in July that's supposed to launch a new fantasy series.

Rating:
Summary: Finally! Excellence in Christian Fiction!!
Review: I'm simply grateful to find Arena. I am so often disappointed by fiction from Christian publishers that I rarely venture into those works these days. I'm so glad I made the exception with Arena. Hancock has given us a fine allegorical tale brimming with action, tension, complex story, and agonizing twists with characters that come movingly alive. Most importantly, the kind of humility and faith her work points us toward resonates with Truth that will leave you inspired, thinking, and changed.

Rating:
Summary: a positive surprise!
Review: I've been rather disapponted with a lot of current Christian fiction...I just don't believe the quality is there. But Arena was a positive surprise. The story and the allegory are not sterotypical at all. Karen Hancock was willing to do something very different from mainstream Christian fiction and I for one appreciate that. I would recommend this book to fans of allegorical science fiction in general, whether or not they were practicing Christians. It's also a great book for female lovers of sci-fi, since there is a female protagonist that has to go through a lot of personal growth through her testing in the Arena.

Rating:
Summary: Fantasy meets Christian Romantic Fiction
Review: If you are a fan of both fantasy and Christian romantic literature, you will love this book. I did.

Rating:
Summary: Great story!
Review: In order to make some quick money, she thinks, Callie enters into a psychological test with her friend Meg to learn to make better decisions. However, she quickly learns that it is something far different when aliens transport her to another realm, known as the Arena, With some supplies and a guidebook, she is instructed to find the exit, which she will do quickly if she stays on the white road. However, Callie accidentally strays, and encounters a handsome, rugged stranger, Pierce, who has been there five years and virtually given up on ever findng the way home. He takes her to his camp where others who have also been there a long time, each trapped in a different way. Together, with this group of fairly shallow people, Callie journeys towads the gates, hoping to find the right one, the one maintained by the True Benefactor, not one of the many false ones.

Long struggles and temptations stand in their way, but eventually, they do make it to the other side where they learn the true purpose of the Arena and are sent on their way, with more trials to face before they reach the ultimate reward. The deceptions and oppositions become more intense, and death often seems to be certain. Those who are evil offer lures of an easier way; will Callie and Pierce withstand it all? Will the love they have begun to discover make it through the Gate with them, if they find it?

**** Offering an explanation as to the purpose of life in a highly entertaining form, this debut novelist has come onto the scene with a fine book. Combining many classic elements into a fresh story, romance and adventure deliver a profound, easy to understand message. ****

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

Rating:
Summary: Allegory and adventure make for an interesting read
Review: Karen Hancock is a first-time novelist with a serious message. She is also a technically skilled writer. Her first novel, Arena, includes some wonderfully imaginative phrases, action verbs and overall excellent writing. However, the story's visible message is not always so captivating and feels like loose propaganda at times.

Callie Hayes is a 20-something college graduate with a dead-end job (working with lab rats!) and a lack of focus. She doesn't know what she wants to do with her life, other than she likes to paint and draw when she's not working. Her family has discouraged her artistic activities, suggesting that instead she find a husband and settle down, so she drudges along without direction and without much joy. When her childhood friend Meg suggests they take part in a simple psychological "experiment" for a few extra bucks, Callie doesn't see any reason to say no. From the beginning, however, her mind is full of doubt and paranoia about the experiment. When she tries to back out of it, though, she's told that it is not possible and we'll "have no choice but to deposit you on-site, utterly unprepared." The next thing she knows, the world as she knows it has disappeared, and she is alone in a strange and wild land known as the Arena. Here is where the allegorical references begin that connect to Christian teachings-For supplies, Callie has only a backpack with a few meager supplies, among them a "manual" (Bible?) that, if she could decipher the unreadable symbols, would show her the way to the Gate (salvation). Hancock is a skilled storyteller and paints a technicolor landscape of unique "aliens," creatures, and hidden dangers.

Early on, Callie meets up with Pierce Andrews and his group of wanderers, all looking in vain for "the Gate," the way home. From then on, Arena is a moderately-paced adventure in a world not unlike our own. The motley group must battle not only "alien" technology and ferocious creatures, but also its own infighting and dissent. Throughout the book, we are reminded that these young people must "stay on the white road" to find their way. We are also presented with rather graphic images of violence and struggle, which do add to the story because they're not overdone.

The story drags mid-way through, when Hancock slips suddenly out of her sci-fi storyteller mode to present a brief history of the Arena and its purpose. This shift of course made it difficult, but not impossible, to return to the science fiction adventure feel of Arena and get back into the plot. As the story continues, we're able to visualize how Callie has changed from her experiences, and how she begins to assert herself in the world.

Arena is a good read from a strong new writer, but may have limited popularity due to its allegorical message, however contemporary the writing and plot may be.

Rating:
Summary: Surprise. I Actually Liked It.
Review: My friend Phyllis encouraged me to read "Arena." I had been disappointed with Christian speculative fiction in the past. "This Present Darkness" is a great read, but it's hard to get to know the characters. I had gotten tired of the "Left Behind" series. Since Phyllis had read several books I raved about, I figured I owed her. So I picked up "Arena" expecting a hokey Christian novel.

Surprise. This book was a blast to read. Hancock created characters I cared about. "Arena" has an excellent balance of romance, action, and suspense. The author paced the story in such a way that I couldn't wait to discover what happened to the characters. By the end of the first chapter the protagonist is already in deep trouble.

A few times I wondered "where did that come from?" (like the armor of the characters, for example). I may have just missed some things since I read the book quickly. It didn't mess up the story, however. Sometime in the future, I will have to reread "Arena," and see if I just skimmed over some of these introductions too quickly.

Hancock's "Arena" reminds me of something Connie Willis would write. To be honest, with all the action and fighting in this novel, any thirteen-year-old aethist science-fiction geek would devour "Arena" with relish. The allegory to a Christian lifestyle is there, but not over done.

I would love to see this book turned into a movie or mini-series on the sci-fi channel. People would probably enjoy it as much as "The Matrix" and, trust me, the ending is much better.

Rating:
Summary: Wow, what an interesting book!
Review: Never much into action books, battles can be difficult to capture on the page. But this one held my attention at every word. Very interesting and romantic, I really enjoyed this book. WARNING: the characters tend to get hurt in this book a lot! There are no deus ex machina saviors, which is refreshing and unexpected coming from a sci-fi novel. Parallels to leading a Christian life are well drawn without being preachy.

Rating:
Summary: Wow, what an interesting book!
Review: Never much into action books, battles can be difficult to capture on the page. But this one held my attention at every word. Very interesting and romantic, I really enjoyed this book. WARNING: the characters tend to get hurt in this book a lot! There are no deus ex machina saviors, which is refreshing and unexpected coming from a sci-fi novel. Parallels to leading a Christian life are well drawn without being preachy.