The Wormwood File: E-mail from Hell

Worth every penny! I enjoyed reading Jim Forest's book. It is interesting and educating. I liked how every chapter in the book brought something new to explore. Jim Forest described different passions and different versions of those same old temptations that have new "facade" these days. Also, the book is talking about virtues that help Christians to fight devil. There are different ways to overcome temptations and this book might help people to recognize them. Very recommended!

Ever wonder what happened after C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters? Now you can find out! Jim Forest offers us an updated and contemporary sequel where Wormwood is now advising his younger charge, Greasebeak, on how to keep a modern man from becoming a Christian. Delightfully written and often brings a laugh--either because it is truly comical or because what Jim writes is sadly true. The chapters are organized as a series of email messages from Wormwood to Greasebeak, as he advises G. on how to keep his human from the church. Modern topics such as self-esteem, abortion, and time (among many others; there are 31 "messages") make this book great food for thought. These are also great warnings on the dangers of our fallen times, and a great addition to one's personal Christian armor. Orthodox elements, such as theology, icons, the Divine Liturgy, and the Eucharist are all mentioned and will be helpful to Eastern Orthodox Christians. The chapters are short, easy to read, and indeed, you won't be able to put it down. This will be good as a Sunday School discussion class book; that is what I am going to use it for next. Highly recommended; don't miss this book!

As a die-hard C.S. Lewis fan, I was delighted to read the latest offering of the prolific peace activist and social commentator, James H. Forest. Emulating the format of the modern classic, Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters," Forest concocts a high-tech, original brew of inverted, infernal wisdom designed to penetrate the darkness of sin and pierce the "culture of death" that so warps and pervades our present age. His treatments of such issues as consumerism, war and peace, and abortion strike me as particularly poignant and powerful. Socially conscious mainline Protestants, Evangelical Christians, Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians will feel particularly at home with Forest's apologetic and worldview. While Lewis died on the same day as the Kennedy assassination, the highest accolade that I can accord to "The Wormwood File" is to describe it as worthy of attribution as "Jacks'"[= Lewis' nickname'"] spiritual offspring. Forest has previously authored magnificent short, illustrated biographies of Thomas Merton and Dorothy Day, along with a handful of other titles. He's struck a new chord with this novel treatment from "cyberspace," a fascinating and engaging read to add to his collection. Highly recommended both to Lewis fans and to people of faith and of good will who struggle to make sense of life in a contemporary world that not only isn't Christian, but often enough is less than human as well. -- (Reverend) Gerald S. Twomey, Ph.D. Editor, Thomas Merton: Prophet in the Belly of a Paradox Author, When Catholics Marry Again: A Guide for the Divorced, Their Families and Those Who Minister to Them Author, The Preferential Option for the Poor in Catholic Social Thought From John XXIII to John Paul II. Co-Editor, Henri Nouwen: Creative Minister (forthcoming)

Full disclosure: I am acquainted with Jim Forest. I've heard him lecture on several occasions and have been a participant on the Orthodox Peace Fellowship mailing list with him for many years. I have not read either "The Wormwood File" or "The Devil's Inbox," so I cannot comment directly on these books. However, I was very disappointed to read the slanderous comments about the author posted by the first reviewer. The accusation of plagiarism is a very serious one, and it is to Jim's credit that he responded as charitably as he did. An examination of the product details for both books reveals that "The Devil's Inbox" was released on January 1, 2004, while "The Wormwood File" came out in October 2004. I do not know how long it takes to bring a book to publication, but I suspect it would take much longer than ten months. Perhaps we ought to view the recent publication of these two books as testimony to the enduring influence of C. S. Lewis across confessional boundaries.

I don't often comment on reviews of my own work but was astonished at the commemt posted here by Daniel Caffe that "The Wormwood File" is copied from or inspired by Barbara Laymon's "The Devil's Inbox," a book I neither own nor have read nor -- until seeing Daniel's review -- knew existed. "The Wormwood File: E-Mail from Hell" is, however, a borrowed idea. The inspiration comes from C.S. Lewis' "Screwtape Letters." Several years ago, when I was on the verge of giving a copy of Lewis' classic to a friend, I re-read it and was struck by how profoundly the world had changed in the past sixty years. Screwtape's letters were addressed to a rather dense novice named Wormwood. I wondered what sort of letters Wormwood would write if he had survived into our own time. "The Wormwood File" is the result. I hope the result would please Lewis. I have to admit it was alarming to discover that I didn't have to dig very deep within myself to hear a demonic voice. On the other hand, it was fun writing a book that I hope will not only make life a bit harder for demons but give the reader some laughter.