Lost Mission

All right, I confess. Athol Dickson is my friend and he gave me a copy of his book in exchange for one of my own. But I promise you that my glowing review of his book has nothing to do with any of that. Lost Mission by Athol Dickson is one of the most brilliant and compelling reads I've come across in a very long time. This skilled author has the ability to span the centuries and interweave two stories to make them one; the result is a breathtaking and epic saga of human endurance and humble love. If you're looking for just the right Christmas present (for yourself and/or someone else!), I highly recommend this excellent book.

Athol Dickson's novels always seem to include at least a touch, and often more than a touch, of the apocalyptic. In "River Rising" it's a flood. In "The Cure," it's a town under siege by desperate alcoholics. "Winter Haven," perhaps the least apocalyptic of Dickson's works, still portrays a sense of unease and then menace and impossible, almost paranormal things happening. And now there's Lost Mission. Lost Mission is apocalypse, Southern California style, crossing two centuries - the late 18th century, when missions were being established by the Spanish from Mexico (New Spain), and the 21st century, with its eclectic and politically/socially explosive mix of wealthy Americanos and illegal aliens. Layer on both eras the rigidity of religious belief (Franciscan Catholic in the former and evangelical Christian in the latter), and you discover some fascinating parallels. You also find an incredibly good story. In the late 18th century, three Franciscans, Abbott Guillermo, Brother Alejandro and Brother Benicio, travel with a contingent of soldiers to Alta California to establish Mission de Santa Dolores. They gain early converts among the native population, but Abbot Guillermo's rigid sense of propriety and order, and his inherent condescending attitude, soon begin to work against the goals of the mission. Brother Alejandro is ordered to paint an altarpiece, a triptych of paintings, so that the converts can visualize the crucifixion of Christ and related events. In the 21st century, Guadalupe Soledad Consuelo de la Garza leaves her small shop in Mexico to preach to the pagan Americanos. She is given a triptych, kept safely locked away by the local priest, to help lead her onward. She will need to enter the United States illegally, and she is helped by Ramon Rodriguez, crossing into the United States to find work. She wanders in the desert, until she is found by Tucker Rue, a seminary graduate spending 40 days in the wilderness to understand his calling. Eventually, Tucker established Sanctuario to help illegal aliens and their families, and Lupe goes to work for Delano Wright, a wealthy Californian who lives high atop a mountain and who will eventually develop a plan for a Christian enclave, separated from the world. The enclave, of course, occupies the same site as the old Spanish mission. And the old mission was destroyed in an attack by the native population following a long period of plague. And plague, under certain conditions, can remain dormant. The author credits his agents for slogging through "an ugly early draft" and his editor for her work on the novel. Whoever is responsible for the final outcome did an extraordinary job - Dickson tells the two stories as one, moving deftly from one to the other. And gradually the reader comes to understand that one story is actually being told. "Lost Mission" is the work of a master writer, an incredibly story told incredibly well.

In the late 1700's, a Franciscan monk dreams of establishing a Catholic mission in California, to bring the love of Christ to the lost Indians who live there. In modern times, a beautiful Catholic woman from Mexico crosses the U.S. border illegally to bring the love of Christ to the lost people who live in the same area of California. Though they lived hundreds of years apart, their stories are inextricably, powerfully interconnected. Lost Mission is a deeply moving tale of pain and guilt and revenge - but mostly, it's a tale of love. Just when I think I have this writing thing figured out, along comes a book that blows all my carefully learned "lessons" out of the water. Athol Dickson's style is all his own, and it's completely captivating. I was drawn in to Fray Alejandro's world from the first page. I felt his deep desire, his passion for Christ, his pain when his mission didn't realize the success he'd hoped for. The way Dickson smoothly transitioned from Alejandro's time to Lupe's time was beautiful every time. And Lupe also became larger than life for me, a real person with a deep and overwhelming desire to spread the love of God. In fact, every character in this book drew me in to their individual stories, and I loved the way they intertwined with one another. If you've read Athol Dickson's previous books, you already know you have to read this one. And if you haven't, Lost Mission is a terrific introduction to this talented author's work. Buy the book. Read it. You won't regret it.

Lost Mission is vintage Athol Dickson. In his new release, the ultimate storyteller invites us to join him as he spins a tale of grand visions and dismal failures. Four people, sensing a compulsion to do something great for God, learn greatness is not something God calls any of us to; transparency and faithfulness are. Our story begins with a Benedictine priest in the late 1700's and his quest to do a work for God in the new world of California. As his life nears its end in seeming abject failure the priest creates an object of devotion that will remain locked away for 250 years. Thus, in modern day Mexico, a woman of deep faith is given the object to carry with her on her quest to tell all those in America about her Savior. Lupe's wanderings bring her into contact with a young seminary graduate seeking his own vision in the Arizona desert and a billionaire convinced of his own righteousness and faithfulness to God. The twist in Lost Mission is in identifying the heroes and villains. Lupe' is the purest of the four but even she has to enter the States illegally to pursue her vision. The billionaire seems the worst but he is driven by grief more than hatred. The seminary graduate is willing to forsake all to follow his vision yet becomes a thief to fulfill it. It is in the priest's burden, as Lupe calls the object she carries, that we discover the true nature of these four people. Be forewarned, if you allow yourself to peer into the burden Lupe' carries you will see yourself as well. I did. Lost Mission is reminiscent of Dickson's earlier work, River Rising. The prose are powerful and the story has depth. This is a parable told on a grand scale yet with intensely personal implications. Every chapter begins with events that led to the demise of a Spanish mission in 1767 but quickly segues to the lives of the three modern day believers. Dickson's method of scene shifting is unique. Though it may take a few chapters to grow accustomed to it, you will soon see the power of his method. If you're planning on a quick afternoon read, this is not the book for you. Some novels are like freeways. When you need to get somewhere in a hurry, they are the way to go. Dickson's works are more like an old state highway that passes through every little town along the way. Here you see and experience all the great characters and places you would have missed had you not come this way. Believe me it's a trip worth the time.

I just finished reading this wonderfully written book called Lost Mission by Athol Dickson. It's a beautiful story that brings together the fates of Guadalupe Soledad Consuelo de la Garza, also known as Lupe, Tucker Rue, Delano Wright and Ramon Rodriguez. The lives of these four individuals were intertwined throughout the book and were brought together in different ways. The story begins in the 1700's with a Franciscan brother known as Fray Alejandro. He was a humble godly man who always tried to help others. What makes this story so compelling is how the author weaves together the lives of Fray Alejandro with those of Lupe, Tucker, Delano and Ramon. There are essentially five separate stories going on that are all brought together to create a story that is both beautiful and inspiring. I would describe the book as a struggle against good and evil, right and wrong, God and the devil. It's easier to stand back when God calls, safer to not put your life in peril and very hard to have faith when your life is in danger. For me, I immediately think; "be not afraid I go on before you always, come follow me and I will gave you rest". The story is filled with compassion and truly reaches to the heart of human kind and it's frailities and reminds us that we are not alone and that God will direct us if we choose to follow his ways and not our own selfish desires. And when we sin we can ask for and recieve His forgivness. This is such a beautiful story that you simply MUST read.