Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Talon of God
WORK NOTES: with Wesley Snipes
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE:
CITY:
STATE:
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
https://www.harpercollins.com/cr-125613/ray-norman * https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2017/07/24/wesley-snipes-fights-evil-his-pen-exciting-talon-god/499017001/
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL EDUCATION:
University of Illinois, B.S.; Southern Illinois University, J.D.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, ghostwriter, and playwright. Ghostwriter of books in genres that include health, nutrition, and spiritual self-help. Worked as an attorney recruiter and a corporate headhunter.
AVOCATIONS:Reading, working out, movies, fine dining.
WRITINGS
Also author of the play And You Thought Your Family Was Crazy.
SIDELIGHTS
Ray Norman is a novelist and ghostwriter who has ghostwritten books for major clients on subjects such as health, nutrition, spirituality, and self-help. He is also a playwright. Norman previously worked as a corporate headhunter and a recruiter of attorneys and legal professionals. He holds an engineering degree from the University of Illinois and a law degree from Southern Illinois University.
Talon of God is Norman’s first novel, written with well-known actor and action star Wesley Snipes. The book presents an action-based story very much in line with Snipes’s roles in Blade and other high-energy films. It is also a spiritual story, boosted by a war between literal angels and demons unfolding on the streets of Chicago.
The novel’s protagonist, Lauryn Jefferson, is the daughter of a minister. She has become and doctor and devoted her life to medicine rather than pursuing a religious life. When she is attacked in the emergency room one night, she realizes that the troubled veteran who assaulted her is under the influence of a drug that transforms humans into supernatural monsters. She is saved by the mysterious Talon Hunter, a sword-wielding super-powered protector who is a messenger of God. Teaming up with her ex-boyfriend, police officer Will Tannenbaum, Lauryn joins Talon in a search for those responsible for turning people into monsters in anticipation of a city-wide demon possession. At the same time, Lauryn seems to have a higher calling that she will ascend to, with Talon’s help.
Wesley Baines, writing on the website Beliefnet, commented: “Talon of God is a fun, snappy read that doesn’t shy away from the darkness. Snipes’ story is one that effortlessly weaves spirituality into action and adventure that anyone can enjoy, regardless of belief. This isn’t ‘Christian fiction.’ It’s fiction that draws from Christianity to tell an awesome story, bringing readers face-to-face with terrifying evil.”
In his Beliefnet interview with Baines, Norman remarked: “I think one of the interesting things about the book is that you’re not only just seeing the human side of the drama, but we’re able to kind of pull back the curtain, and you’re able to see the activity taking place in the unseen spiritual world—the battles from the angelic and demonic forces, and the types of influences that unseen forces might have on our lives.”
In Kirkus Reviews, a writer called Talon of God an “entertaining thriller with enough swordplay, religious prophecy, and demonic threats to entertain readers across lots of different genres.” The authors “bring a cinematic flair to the proceedings,” observed a Publishers Weekly writer. Brian Truitt, writing in USA Today, remarked: “Old-school fans of Passenger 57 and Demolition Man will appreciate that Snipes has just as much punch with a keyboard as with his fists, and the realm of urban fantasy has an impressive new disciple.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Forbes, November 26, 2017, Dan Schwabel, “Ray Norman: How He’s Adapting His Writing to Different Genres and Co-Authors,” interview with Ray Norman.
Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 2017, review of Talon of God.
Publishers Weekly, May 8, 2017, review of Talon of God, p. 42.
USA Today, July 25, 2017, Brian Truitt, “Snipes Fights Evil with a Pen in Talon of God,” review of Talon of God, p. 3D.
ONLINE
Beliefnet, http://www.beliefnet.com/ (February 19, 2018), “The Faith and Fiction of Wesley Snipes,” interview with Wesley Snipes and Ray Norman.
HarperCollins Website, http://www.harpercollins.com/ (February 19, 2018), biography of Ray Norman.
Talon of God Website, http://www.talonofgod.com (February 19, 2018).
Hailing from Chicago, Ray Norman received an engineering degree from the University of Illinois and a law degree from Southern Illinois University. He has worked as an attorney recruiter and corporate headhunter, as well as ghostwritten books on health, nutrition, and spiritual self-help. In addition, he is a script writer and has also written an original stage play, And You Thought Your Family Was Crazy. In his spare time, Norman enjoys reading, working out, watching movies, and dining at fine restaurants. In the near future he plans on getting his private pilot’s license. Talon of God is his first novel.
The Faith and Fiction of Wesley Snipes
We talk with veteran actor Wesley Snipes about his new urban fantasy novel, "Talon of God."
By Wesley Baines
Veteran actor Wesley Snipes is a spiritual warrior, and he has translated this lifestyle into his hard-hitting, debut urban fantasy novel, “Talon of God.”
Snipes, in a creative collaboration with ghostwriter and first-time novelist, Ray Norman, tells the tale of Lauryn Jefferson, a skeptical young doctor who finds herself caught in a battle between the forces of Heaven and Hell in the claustrophobic urban jungle of Chicago. When Lauryn, the estranged daughter of a Baptist preacher, encounters a homeless man that has been transformed into a demonic creature, her worldview begins to shatter, and her life is put at risk.
Fortunately, a familiar figure arrives to save the day, gleaming sword in hand.
Fans of Snipes’ Blade films will find much to love here. The entry of Talon Hunter, a “middle-aged, dark-skinned man” wielding a sword with a blade “like molten silver” brings to mind the titular half-vampire hero of the beloved 1998 film and its sequels. Together, he and Lauryn embark on a journey to save Chicago—and the world—from mass demonic possession.
"If we're not compelled to gain a deeper understanding of good and evil, how can we make the world a better place?"
But unlike the Blade films, “Talon of God” is infused with Snipes’ spiritual worldview, and the power of Christian faith is one of the main themes throughout the narrative. Snipes deals with tough questions concerning the problem of evil, the sovereignty of God, and the existence of free will, but never veers into peachiness or monologues.
Far from it—“Talon of God” is a fun, snappy read that doesn’t shy away from the darkness. Snipes’ story is one that effortlessly weaves spirituality into action and adventure that anyone can enjoy, regardless of belief. This isn’t “Christian fiction." It’s fiction that draws from Christianity to tell an awesome story, bringing readers face-to-face with terrifying evil.
This is not only entertaining—it's useful. After all, as Christian horror director Scott Derrickson once said in an interview with Christianity Today, “If we're not compelled to gain a deeper understanding of good and evil, how can we make the world a better place?”
We caught up with Dr. Snipes and Mr. Norman to talk about what inspired their debut novel, what the collaborative process looked like, and how the life experiences of a beloved action star became a supernatural thriller.
"Could you talk about what inspired 'Talon of God?'"
Snipes: “I would say the inspiration was twofold. One: the search for purpose in one’s life, and to address the question of ‘Are our destinies predetermined, or do we have free will?’ And the other was to create something that had a spiritual tone to it—a spiritual warrior—that began this particular search. That’s not the story of this particular book, but that’s part of the inspiration.
And then when me and Norman hooked up, it began to be clear that we shared similar sensibilities, a similar quest for our understanding of spirituality, and the relationship between man and God and purpose of life. And therein began the process.
And we looked forward to the opportunity of creating something that we could turn into a very cool action film later on.”
"Mr. Norman, what did the collaborative process between you and Dr. Snipes look like?"
Norman: “Well, it was a pretty even-handed collaboration. We would exchange ideas and concepts that we had, and kind of work out how the characters would respond under different circumstances and kind of go from there.
Like I said, it was a very collaborative process, and something that we worked on for the better part of two years. We wanted to make sure that all the characters were well-developed, and that he story was compelling.”
"Did the two of you do any research for “The Talon of God,” and did anything from that research personally interest you?"
Norman: “I think that, especially given Wesley’s deep, profound spirituality, and all of the different spiritual teachers and masters that he has met over the years—you know that really contributed greatly to enhancing the spiritual concepts of the book.
And I think I was able to bring in, along with Dr. Snipes’ [contributions], some action and adventure. So when you combine the depth of knowledge that Dr. Snipes had, with some of the storytelling that I had done in the past, I think we worked really well together.”
"How did your own spiritual journey affect the development of this book?"
Snipes: “I don’t put an end to it at this point—I think I’m still on it. The fact that I’m even in this business, coming from the humble beginnings that I come from, is a testament to divine intervention, as far as I’m concerned.
And also, how do you get to this position? How do you get in these situations—the good ones, or the ones that are considered bad, or not so good? Are your actions of your own volition, or have you been influenced by other things and other people—other forces—that make you do things that you really wouldn’t do?
All of these questions have been a part of my spiritual journey. You can’t get out of acting school without addressing some of these kinds of questions: ‘Why did he do that? What was the character’s motivation?’
Norman: “I think one of the interesting things about the book is that you’re not only just seeing the human side of the drama, but we’re able to kind of pull back the curtain, and you’re able to see the activity taking place in the unseen spiritual world—the battles from the angelic and demonic forces, and the types of influences that unseen forces might have on our lives.”
Snipes: “If I could add one thing to it, I think you will agree that sometimes you see shadows out of the corner of your eye. Sometimes, at night, you see something moving past you. You thought you saw it, but it really wasn’t there.
Maybe it was.”
"You handled the supernatural in a very fascinating and entertaining way."
Norman: “And we brought the streets of Chicago into it.”
"That’s a great combination."
Snipes: “And a rare combination. You don"t often see the amalgamation of that urban world with the faith-based or supernatural or spiritual type of content.
We’re at an interesting time now where I think, generally speaking, you’ll find a lot of people asking: “What the heck is going on?” The paradigm has shifted in so many places and so many areas. The comfort zones people once had are no longer there. The blankets that they used to have to comfort themselves are no longer comforting. They have been pulled off.
Are there other forces involved in this?”
"Besides just being a great read, what’s the most important thing you’d like readers to take away from 'Talon of God?'"
Snipes: “Clearly, the enjoyment and take the ride of adventure. But I would like people to come away with a re-affirmation and a new confidence in the power of faith—in the power of having faith. Being steadfast in the face of adversity. “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength,” as it said.
I would love for them to get that—don’t give up. Stay steadfast. Stay true. Keep the faith. The more you work it and cultivate it, the stronger it gets—the more formidable it gets. And it will be there to serve you and protect you. It’s not just an idea. It helps you.”
Norman: “Absolutely. Through faith, all things are possible. To tell you the truth, I couldn’t have summed it up better than Dr. Snipes just did. I mean, we really want them to know that the faith walk is real, the battle is real, but if you’re able to stand steadfast in your faith, you can overcome any obstacle in your path.”
Faith and Fantasy
For those who believe in the supernatural world of spiritual warfare, it can be frustrating that there’s no way to tangibly fight the forces of darkness—a fist or a blade has no effect on the realm of soul and spirit.
But that’s a large part of the appeal of “Talon of God”—readers get to vicariously participate in the battle against supernatural evil, having a little fun along the way.
And even for those readers who don’t concern themselves with spiritual principles, Snipes’ novel pulls from Christian myth and legend to create a well-structured, epic conflict that’s sure to engross fans of action and urban fantasy.
Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/christianity/the-faith-and-fiction-of-wesley-snipes.aspx?p=2#i65jmYLkC3s6qJ5Y.99
NOV 26, 2017 @ 09:05 PM 702 The Little Black Book of Billionaire Secrets
Ray Norman: How He's Adapting His Writing To Different Genres And Co-Authors
Dan Schawbel , CONTRIBUTOR
Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
Ray NormanRay Norman
Ray Norman
I spoke to Ray Norman, a veteran writer and the co-author of Talon of God with Wesley Snipes, about how he partnered with Dr. Snipes on the book, his collaboration process, how he's adapted his writing to different genre's and co-authors, the biggest mistakes authors make and his best career advice.
Norman worked as an attorney recruiter and corporate headhunter, as well as ghostwritten books on health, nutrition, and spiritual self-help. In addition, he's a script writer, and including an original stage play, And You Thought Your Family Was Crazy. In his spare time, Norman enjoys reading, working out, watching movies, and dining at fine restaurants.
Dan Schawbel: How did you originally partner with Wesley on this book and what peaked your curiosity around the project?
Ray Norman: I was introduced to Wesley through a mutual friend we shared. Previous to meeting Wesley, I had been working on a supernatural thriller story for quite a while. My friend passed along a copy of my story to Wesley to read and see what he thought about it. As it turned out, at the time, Wesley was also working on a spiritual warrior action story of his own as well. When Wesley read my story he liked the concepts and flow and realized that we shared a lot of the same ideas and vibes. As we discussed our story ideas more and more, it occurred to us that it would be a great idea for us to collaborate on a story that used the best ideas and characters from both of our works. What we ultimately came up with was the novel we have today, Talon of God.
Schawbel: You've written many books over the years in different genres. How are you able to adapt your writing with new co-authors and subjects?
Norman: In addition to the novel I have co-authored with Wesley, I have been fortunate enough to ghostwrite books on health, nutrition and spiritual wellbeing for some very talented doctors and counselors. When I sit down with a person to discuss their particular project, I want to make sure that I really understand the message they are trying to convey and I want the tone and style of the book to reflect their genuine voice, emotions and feelings. I do this by having lengthy conversations and discussions with them about their subject matter and the message they want their readers to take away from the book. I will then start to draft their manuscript and share with them periodically what I have written to make sure they are comfortable with what is on the page and that what is written reflects their true voice and intentions. By truly listening and feeling what the client wants to convey in their book, I am able to craft a piece that is satisfying to the client and to the reader as well.
Schawbel: What was the collaboration process like when working on this book? What were some of the challenges and what excited you the most?
Norman: The collaboration process was quite exciting for me and really was a dynamic process all the way through. Having never worked with a celebrity with the type fame and accomplishments that Wesley has had over his career, I definitely felt a bit of pressure and anxiety over making sure that I really stepped up to the plate and delivered my very best to the collaboration. For his part, Wesley was a really cool, down to earth and very relatable person that I found easy to bounce ideas off of and work out scenes with.
A lot of people know that Wesley is an accomplished martial artist in several disciplines, but they may not know that he has also studied with a variety of spiritual teachers, gurus and masters throughout the world. As such, he brings a very broad-based and deep philosophical and spiritual approach to whatever he is working on. That profound spiritual platform really helped to bring depth to our novel and gave real dimension and relatability to our characters.
In terms of challenges that we faced while crafting our novel, I would say that the greatest challenge was figuring out a way to make astonishing spiritual events and action in the story seem believable and relatable to the reader. We worked hard to make the reader suspend disbelief and thereby become engrossed in the often fantastic world of the novel. I think that taking the reader on an exciting journey was what excited Wesley and me the most in the Talon of God project.
Schawbel: What are some of the biggest mistakes you believe writers make with their first book and what do they need to know about the entire book writing process that most don't?
Norman: I believe in the old adage that writers should write about things they know and have had some experience with. Writers, especially first time writers, often choose subjects to write about that they may not have much knowledge about and as a result, they are not able to write about the topic very deeply, convincingly or in a truly entertaining fashion. New writers often find themselves in a “fish out of water” situation, trying to craft a novel about romance, action, adventure or suspense, and they have no background or experience in those areas to draw plot lines and characters from, and as a result, their work can be a flat, predictable and less than enjoyable experience for their readers. I advise new writers to stick with subjects they know well so that they can craft an interesting story with a deep plot and intimate character development that the reader can easily relate to.
Regarding the process of writing a book, I think that the writer should really have most of the book thought out and figured out before they actually put pen to paper. Oftentimes, we writers will have a concept that seems great and we’ll just start writing but have no real idea of where we are going with the story and how it will all work out in the end. Therefore, I advise new writers to make a really detailed outline of what they want to say in their story or book, so that they have a good roadmap to follow. I think this will help them stay on track and be focused in their story-telling.
I also feel that new writers need to learn everything they can about the book publishing industry in general and what it truly takes to get a good literary agent and be signed with a reputable publishing company. If possible seek the assistance of a mentor or an already published author that you can talk to about the in’s and out’s of the publishing game. The more knowledge you have, the more successful you are likely to be.
Schawbel: What are your top three pieces of career advice?
Norman: My top three pieces of career advice for writers are:
1. Don’t be discouraged or give up on your dream of being a writer just because you receive rejections or it appears to be taking a long time to get people to notice your work. You must be persistent in your craft and work diligently to get your book or story out to the public. The process may be difficult or discouraging at times, especially if you are a new writer looking to be published for the first time. But stick to it! Success comes to those who don’t give up on themselves and their dreams!
2. Realize that publishing a book or novel is first and foremost a business proposition. When moving through the publishing process, you will be dealing with contracts and legal agreements and a whole host of other business related matters. Find yourself quality legal and professional representation. Make sure that you have an agent and a lawyer that are knowledgeable and that really care about you and the success of your project. Don’t be so anxious for a deal that you sign away your valuable rights and ownership of your property without being properly compensated.
3. Have fun with your craft. Sometimes we writers want a deal so bad and want success so desperately that we lose sight of what got us into writing in the first place – the love of story-telling. Keep the joy of writing and entertaining people in the forefront of your mind. Keep the joy of crafting a tale and coming up with wild, new and exciting characters. If you can keep the joy in your heart, you can weather all the storms and delays that inevitably come with trying to become a successfully published author.
Dan Schawbel is a keynote speaker and the New York Times bestselling author of Promote Yourself and Me 2.0. Subscribe to his free newsletter.
Hailing from Chicago, Ray Norman received an Engineering Degree from the University of Illinois and a Law Degree from Southern Illinois University. He has worked as an attorney recruiter and corporate headhunter, as well as, ghostwritten books on health, nutrition, and spiritual self-help. In addition, Ray Norman has written scripts, including an original stage play, “And You Thought Your Family Was Crazy”. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and working out. Talon of God is Ray Norman’s first novel.
Snipes, Wesley: TALON OF GOD
(May 15, 2017):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Snipes, Wesley TALON OF GOD Harper Voyager (Adult Fiction) $27.99 7, 25 ISBN: 978-0-06-266816-5
A young doctor in Chicago is drawn into a war between heaven and hell, and her destiny lies in the balance.The action in this urban fantasy novel is as cinematic as one would expect from movie star Snipes and co-author Norman. Our heroine is Lauryn Jefferson, the daughter of local minister Maxwell Jefferson and now a dedicated young doctor at Chicago's Mercy Hospital, where one night she's attacked by a troubled veteran who's clearly at the mercy of a supernatural being. Lauryn is saved by the enigmatic Talon Hunter, a Bible-quoting, sword-wielding warrior straight from the pages of a fantasy novel. Also floating around is Will Tannenbaum, a surly vice cop and Lauryn's ex-boyfriend. Will works for a corrupt police chief, Victor Korigan, who is himself the lackey of a shadowy billionaire, Christopher St. Luke. St. Luke's evil scheme is to use a powerful new drug additive, E3X, to prepare the city's addicts for demonic possession and finally to doom the city. Eventually, Talon reveals that he's a member of an ancient sect, the Soldiers of El Elyon, chosen by God to do his will on Earth. It's real fire-and-brimstone stuff, complete with angels and demons, but the authors keep the action lively, and Lauryn makes for a likable, believable hero even in the wake of all the occult conspiracy stuff. A subplot involving Lauryn's rapper brother, Robbie, injects some of the bravado Snipes showed in New Jack City. Readers who dig this sort of thing will appreciate its natural segue into a sequel likely to find Lauryn working as Talon's protege. Cue the training montage. An entertaining thriller with enough swordplay, religious prophecy, and demonic threats to entertain readers across lots of different genres.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Snipes, Wesley: TALON OF GOD." Kirkus Reviews, 15 May 2017. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A491934373/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=cdc70800. Accessed 12 Jan. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A491934373
Talon of God
264.19 (May 8, 2017): p42+.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Talon of God
Wesley Snipes and Ray Norman. Harper
Voyager, $27.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-06-266816-5
In this theological urban fantasy, a young ER physician in Chicago must add faith to reason to prevent all hell from breaking loose. Lauryn Jefferson, daughter of a Baptist minister, chooses to practice medicine rather than preach. When a new drug laced with sulfur turns her patients into demonic monsters, her savior is Talon, a sword-wielding soldier of God astride a motorcycle. As her ex, a Chicago cop, battles the cartel responsible for the demon drug, Lauryn has to redeem first her younger brother and then the rest of Chicago from their personal devils. Debut novelists Snipes (star of the Blade vampire hunter film trilogy) and Norman bring a cinematic flair to the proceedings (including a "giant flying hell fortress"). The overall tone of the book is fundamentalist, but the authors broaden their audience by discreetly avoiding both explicit violence and thorny cultural issues; they do explicitly disparage the subjugation of women as being based on a misinterpretation of the Bible, but no one remarks on African-American Lauryn's relationship with a white police officer. The dialogue turns a bit Sunday school ("Fear is the devil's rope, and he will tie you down if you let him"), but the embrace of mercy and forgiveness towards one's enemies is a welcome act of faith in what otherwise could have been Blade with a Bible. (July)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Talon of God." Publishers Weekly, 8 May 2017, p. 42+. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A491949085/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=fd608bfe. Accessed 12 Jan. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A491949085
Snipes fights evil with a pen in 'Talon of God'
(July 25, 2017): Lifestyle: p03D.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/
Got a cloaked warrior fighting evil at night and carrying one seriously epic sword? Naturally, you need Wesley Snipes involved.
Talon of God (Harper Voyager, 368 pp., *** out of four ) isn't a Blade movie and Snipes isn't playing an action-film character. Instead, the actor makes his debut as a novelist with a pretty entertaining supernatural adventure about the war between angels and demons -- literal and metaphorical -- on the streets of Chicago.
Co-written with fellow first-timer Ray Norman, Talon centers on young ER doctor Lauryn Jefferson, recently out of med school, who's become estranged from her strict Baptist preacher dad and rapper younger brother.
After getting off a long shift at the hospital one night, she encounters something surreal: one of her patients, a homeless man, turns into an otherworldly monster. Then the situation doubles down on the weird when a tall stranger on a motorcycle walks into her life and saves the day with old-school weaponry and holy water.
Together with her vice cop ex-boyfriend Will, Lauryn and the stoic protector named Talon unearth a plot to use a sulfur-laced drug additive laced to infect the populace of the Windy City and ready them for a mass demon possession.
Talon reveals himself to be part of an ancient sect of warriors and sees something special in Lauryn -- not to mention that the substance affecting everyone else doesn't work on her -- and her initial skepticism turns to respect as the threat becomes apparent.
Themes of faith abound through the narrative. While not a big talker in general, Talon speaks mostly in Bible verses and lines from the Gospels, and other parts of the Good Book inspire chapter titles. But Snipes is never holier-than-thou, instead weaving Christianity into the plot naturally and making it fascinating rather than sanctimonious. (The author puts a little spin on it, too, naming the book's devilish big bad Christopher St. Luke.)
The religious bent also works well with the aspects of science and procedural storytelling. The green slime that becomes the chemical agent potentially spelling apocalyptic doom for the city fuels some of the more action-packed scenes, and turning drug addiction into a hellish outbreak is extremely effective.
With Lauryn, the novel introduces a female character who's grounded in terms of her family and way of life but also a cool heroine with whom you'll want to spend more time.
Snipes has been in Hollywood long enough to know he should lay track for a sequel. Lauryn acts as a counter to some of Talon's more over-the-top elements.
Old-school fans of Passenger 57 and Demolition Man will appreciate that Snipes has just as much punch with a keyboard as with his fists, and the realm of urban fantasy has an impressive new disciple.
CAPTION(S):
photo Charles Sykes, Invision/AP
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Snipes fights evil with a pen in 'Talon of God'." USA Today, 25 July 2017, p. 03D. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A499308890/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=a3ca6a07. Accessed 12 Jan. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A499308890
Wesley Snipes fights evil with his pen in exciting 'Talon of God'
Brian Truitt, USA TODAY Published 3:00 p.m. ET July 24, 2017 | Updated 3:16 p.m. ET July 24, 2017
636364895435312308-TalonofGod-HC.JPG
(Photo: HarperVoyager)
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Got a cloaked warrior fighting evil at night and carrying one seriously epic sword? Naturally, you need Wesley Snipes involved.
Talon of God (Harper Voyager, 368 pp., *** out of four stars) isn’t a Blade movie and Snipes isn’t playing an action-film character. Instead, the actor makes his debut as a novelist with a pretty entertaining supernatural adventure about the war between angels and demons — literal and metaphorical — on the streets of Chicago.
Co-written with fellow first-timer Ray Norman, Talon centers on young ER doctor Lauryn Jefferson, recently out of med school, who’s become estranged from her strict Baptist preacher dad and rapper younger brother.
After getting off a long shift at the hospital one night, she encounters something surreal: one of her patients, a homeless man, turns into an otherworldly monster. Then the situation doubles down on the weird when a tall stranger on a motorcycle walks into her life and saves the day with old-school weaponry and holy water.
Together with her vice cop ex-boyfriend Will, Lauryn and the stoic protector named Talon unearth a plot to use a sulfur-laced drug additive laced to infect the populace of the Windy City and ready them for a mass demon possession.
Wesley Snipes turns from acting to novel writing with
Wesley Snipes turns from acting to novel writing with 'Talon of God.' (Photo: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Talon reveals himself to be part of an ancient sect of warriors and sees something special in Lauryn — not to mention that the substance affecting everyone else doesn’t work on her — and her initial skepticism turns to respect as the scale of the threat becomes apparent.
Themes of faith abound through the narrative. While not a big talker in general, Talon speaks mostly in Bible verses and lines from the Gospels, and other parts of the Good Book inspire chapter titles. But Snipes is never holier-than-thou, instead weaving Christianity into the plot naturally and making it fascinating rather than sanctimonious. (The author puts a little spin on it, too, naming the book’s devilish big bad Christopher St. Luke.)
The religious bent also works well with the aspects of science and procedural storytelling. The green slime that becomes the chemical agent potentially spelling apocalyptic doom for the city fuels some of the more action-packed scenes, and turning drug addiction into a hellish outbreak is extremely effective.
With Lauryn, the novel introduces a female character who’s grounded in terms of her family and way of life but also a cool heroine with whom you’ll want to spend more time.
Snipes has been in Hollywood long enough to know he should lay track for a sequel. Lauryn acts as a counter to some of Talon’s more over-the-top elements.
Old-school fans of Passenger 57 and Demolition Man will appreciate that Snipes has just as much punch with a keyboard as with his fists, and the realm of urban fantasy has an impressive new disciple.
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