Covenant

The Cry and the Covenant, Morton Thompson's masterful novel, is the tragic story based on historical fact, about Ignaz Semmelweis, a Hungarian obstetrician who discovered the cause and prevention of puerperal (childbed) fever in the mid-1800s.
His discovery preceded the notion that microbes caused infection, and doctors of the time often believed that "miasmas," mysterious atmospheric influences, caused diseases.
Meanwhile, their complete lack of antiseptic procedures was the primary cause of the deaths of thousands of mothers and their newborns all over the world.

Dr. Semmelweis repeatedly demonstrated in meticulously controlled studies that if doctors, nurses and midwives simply washed their hands before examining or treating patients, mortality rates would (and, in fact, did) plummet.
The medical establishment essentially ignored him and continued to cause the deaths of thousands of women and babies, a negligence Semmelweis called murder.

Semmelweis died a young man, never having his discovery acknowledged and implemented by his peers, broken and destroyed over what he knew to be the gross negligence of his fellow medical colleagues.

Thompson moves his readers with ease into this historical period as well as into the emotional turmoil of this fine and courageous doctor.
I felt the anger, frustration, pain and sorrow of Semmelweis.
I still do.

Lawrence Berk

This book is OLD. I mean, I'M old, and I read The Cry and the Covenant when I was a teenager, waaay before the era of feminism, women's rights, etc. And it blew me away. I'm sure it's partly responsible for my decision to go to nursing school, work in obstetrics, become a midwife, and write a memoir (Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife) of my experience doing home births in Berkeley, CA.
In a nutshell, it's a meticulously-researched tale of historical fiction about the life and ultimate death of Ignaz Semmelweiss during the era before the discovery of the germ theory. He noticed that women delivered at home by midwives usually lived, while those delivered by doctors in hospitals usually died. Hmmm, he thought (this was a man who lived way before his time, before the concept of scientific thinking had even been expressed), what's different about these two situations? Midwives work only with healthy women who deliver in their own beds. Doctors, wearing bloody aprons and showing off their bloody hands as badges of status and honor, went from the autopsy room to delivery room, where several women often lay on the same sheets before someone had time to change the bed linen.
Semmelweiss set up a successful experiment, insisting that the medical students in his hospital ward wash their hands between patients. The women stopped dying.
Did the other doctors proclaim him the new hero? What do you think? They did not. They instead castigated him for suggest that they do anything so demeaning as wash their hands - and they self-righteously refused to even consider that perhaps they themselves were the cause of childbed fever (puerperal sepsis) that killed more than half the women who came under their misguided care.
Lister got the credit a generation later for proving the efficacy of aseptic technique (it's all about hand washing), but it was upon the foundation of Semmelweiss's pioneering groundwork that he built his edifice. By then, Semmelweiss was dead of madness brought on by utter despair and by his own hand: he exposed himself to the bacteria that caused childbed fever and died of it.
God. Read this book. Then read the newest book on this subject, The Doctor's Plague, by Sherwin Nuland. I hope somewhere there's a statue of Semmelweiss or an obstetrical ward that bears his name.

I read this book as a 9 year old in an old 'Reader's Digest'compendium and it made a huge impression on me, that sometimes people have to die before the truth is accepted as such. I have just re-found Louise Wilson's 'This Stranger My Son' which I read at much the same age and it made me cry all over again. Then I remembered 'The Cry and The Covenant' and I had to get that too. We know what happened to Semmelweiss. I wonder what happened to Louise's son. If you never read another book about medicine, do read these two.

I know God as my Father, Lord and Savior, but it wasn't until I read The Forgotten Covenant by J. J. Woods that I came to the heart-stopping discovery that God is also my Covenant Partner. Wow! Talk about name-dropping -- I'm in a covenant partnership with the God of the Universe! With simplicity and skill, J. J. Woods explores the depth of God's unique covenant relationship with His people, its history, meaning and benefits, unlocking the door to abundant life for His covenant partners. Whether or not you are in covenant relationship with God Almighty, this book will change your perception of Him -- and your life -- forever.

The Forgotten Covenant has something for every one. Simple enough for those unfamilar with the Bible to understand and deep enough for those well versed in Biblical prinicple to gain new insight and revelation into the heart of the Father. This book will change you . It is the kind of book you will want to keep and read again and again. I consider it a must read.

This book makes simple the profound truth of Holy Covenant and truly engages the heart. It is a MUST read for seasoned believers and new believers in every denomination, as well as for those who are seeking reality and genuine relationship with their Maker. Begin your journey today!!!

I just finished reading "Warsaw Requiem", the last book in the "Zion Covenant" series. It was wonderful, as are all the books in that series. The characters in the book will always be a part of my life.

Well, I'm a 16 years old girl from Norway. The reson why I read this book is because in my class we had to read a book and afterwords we had to write a review of it. So, I went down to the school library, there I took the first book I could find... But I have to say that this book was great! It shows how the jews lived and felt it during the second world war, and I have learnd so much from it! I highly recomand this book for all ages, but it requires that you know something about 2. wordwar...

This book - the whole series, in fact, are so filled with power it is amazing. It convicted me, inspired me, and moved me. I read a lot of books, and I mean a lot, but very few are in the calibre this book is in. The characters are very real and the way in which they relate to one another makes you feel as though you are a part of the action. I became so involved that at the end of the book I felt as though I had lost many friends. The writing style itself flows smoothly, never feeling stilted or cheap. The story-line was exciting, and the historical detail is so wound up in the story it becomes difficult to separate the two. All in all, I'd recommend this book to anyone, and I am sure that I will read it again and again and again.

With The Zion Covenant series--covering Europe and Palestine during WWII--the Thoenes capture the best and worst of humanity. From Vienna Prelude to Warsaw Requiem, you will cry tears of joy and sorrow. You will cry tears of joy for the heroism of Leah...you will feel rage at the response of America to the refusal of Jewish refugees (dooming them to almost certain death in prison camps). I would say more, but that would give away too many details!

I highly recommend reading the Zion Chronicles series first, as some of the characters are familiar. In the Zion Covenant series, you will gain additional insight into Rachel's childhood. You will learn about Alfie, the enigmatic child written off by many as a "dumbkopf". You will also learn more about the roots of Moshe Sachar, and the events that shaped his life.

Perhaps the best thing about The Thoenes is that--in this series--they give a portrait of Christianity in action. You don't see a bunch of holier-than-thou types taking refuge in bumper-sticker theology; the Christians in Europe/Palestine had no time for such shenanigans. They were too busy sticking their necks out to make a difference, while others who claimed to be Christians were hanging the Jews out to dry, or--worse--actively participating in their deaths.

The Zion Covenant series shows exactly why Bodie and Brock Thoene are the best one-two punch in Christian writing.

Who says Christian novelists are corny??? With the Zion Chronicles--a historical novel series regarding Israel/Palestine in 1947-1948--Bodie and Brock Thoene shed considerable light on the current Israeli-Arab conflict.

However, it would be a great injustice to say that this series is merely about history. In fact, the Zion Chronicles--just like the Zion Covenant series--reveal the best of the human spirit. The passion of Moshe Sachar for his wife and the cause of a Jewish state...the transformation of Rachel from a hopeless victim to a joyful daughter of Zion...the courage of David Meyer. Once you start this series, you will not want to stop!

For novels to be good, the authors must develop characters and plots well. Few are good at both. The Thoenes are among the finest in terms of developing characters and plot lines, capturing emotion and inspiring passion while maintaining an impressive amount of attention to historical detail.

I highly recommend this series, and also the Zion Covenant and Zion Legacy series. You will not be disappointed. I would have given this series six stars, but Amazon[.com] only allows five!

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NOTE: This was meant to be an eval of ZION CHRONICLES, and was accidentally placed under ZION COVENANT.

OK; I have a family,work fulltime and go to school at night and some weekends... I don't read for fun unless it is quality. Bodie Thoene delivers! Historical accuracy is nice, but I need a storyline that leaves me on the edge of my seat, that pulls me into another world and makes me root for the characters because they become real to me. The Zion Covenant books could easily be made into an epic television series because of the many plots and subplots; murder, suspense, history, drama, comedy, culture, characters for every reader to recognize as themselves, powerful love stories---how can one author do it? This is also for those who love to travel; you will feel like you have known intimately the varied flavors and distinctly different cultures of Czechloslovakia, Israel, Germany, Austria, and America. You will be richer after having known these books.

I'm 14 years old. I started reading the series about 6 years ago and i haven't put them down since. I have read these books about seventeen times EACH, and every time, i find something that i missed before. They are the most wonderful, realistic books i have ever read, and coming from a great Christian author makes them even better! I spend half my life in the exact valleys which the books take place in, and everywhere i go i can see Murphy, Elisa, Theo, Rudy and many others walking in the old streets with me. These books are FULL of adventure, romance, and history, and with all my heart i urge you to buy the and read them, they are a treasure which will last you the whole of your lives.

This series of books has spoiled me for any other author. These stories have taught me about a time in history when I wasn't alive, and have taught me much about the war years. The writing in these books is like none I have ever read. I can't put the books down and think about the people in the stories as if I knew them. Clean, terrific reading. I'm sharing the series with any friend who will read them. Best author I've ever read!!

I have only recently been introduced to Bodie Thoene, but I became an instant fan with Vienna Prelude. Some of the twists in the book had my mouth dropping open. In the world of espionage, you don't know who to trust and who not to--these books brought that alive. They are written about a time before even my parents were born, and it's mouth-droolingly interesting to see what could have happened in this totally foreign world. I've never read anything like these and am in the process of buying all of Thoene's books. I'm even buying for my mother and telling everyone else about them. OUTSTANDING READ!

This is a very entertaining book. I have not read a novel in years and I could not stop reading it. Yes, it was that good. The author's imagination is genius. This is a story of man's survival and invites a spacious question - what will save man when a natural disaster and manmade killing virus threaten earth and life? Will it be his technology or his spirituality that rescues him? The author takes us on an exciting journey around the world and beyond. This tale has action and adventure, futuristic gizmos and gadgets, sexy assassins and loving romance, dirty politicians and humanitarians, and much more. This a fun and thought provoking book to read. I recommend it.

Mobipocket Review
http//www.mobipocket.com/en/eBooks/BookDetails.asp?BookID=11321

Mobipocket's opinion

Godschild Covenant, written by Marshall Masters, is a very unique, poetic and uplifting book. In it, Mr. Masters shows great insight into the immense strength of the human spirit, insight which many people alive now have been unable to notice, whether it be because of their busy lifestyle or their aspirations toward a specific goal.

From beginning to end, Godschild Covenant demonstrated moving, poetic tenderness. While restricted by circumstances, the story of the sexual love between Anthony and Tanya was shown to be heart wrenching and full of the emotional beauty of a love between two soul mates.

This unique book is futuristic, yet full of truth. It uplifts the reader from the normal, mundane, everyday existence to a place that all of humanity will eventually reach. Ahead of his time, Marshall Masters is giving humanity a message, a prediction, which will soon come to pass. Meanwhile, Marshall, with his mastery of imagination and narrative skill, leads the reader through entertainment to the truth of a realistic, yet hopeful land, the land of the Godschild Covenant.

This story surpasses all other novels and works of fiction. It is an immensely rewarding journey; it is so inspiring, so enticing that it makes one want to reach the last word of the book, while still feeling sorry for the fact that the book is drawing to an end.--Mobipocket.com

This is a superb novel!

Marshall Masters has excelled himself with his first foray into fiction. With vivid imagination he has successfully combined the genres of action, thriller, sci-fi, murder and romance into one, fascinating, action-packed, hard-to-put-down book.

The characters are so life like and the environment the book is set in is so real-to-life, that I was completely drawn in, feeling as though I was actually there, experiencing every moment and emotion.

The story focuses on the power of the human spirit and it's will to survive in the face of desperation and destruction upon Earth. I was taken on a journey with Anthony Jarman, a seemingly ordinary but spiritually gifted man who struggles to accept his new responsibility within society as an ELMO (End of Life Management Officer); joined him on his dangerous quest to find his one and only son, kidnapped by extremist politicians; and followed his gentle, heart-wrenching discovery of true love with his soul mate.

This is a powerful and uplifting novel, which will provoke readers to ponder the actual reality of a higher realm of existence; a topic, which is so often taboo in today's society. It has elements of historical fact; describes scenarios that almost mirror current real life events and takes the bold step of sending out a message to readers about our own future and what it may hold.

A must read for all avid bookworms!

I've read almost this whole series and i'm addicted. I love the characters and am engrossed in the history. The only thing that I didn't like was that the first two books were much better than the others. 4-6 were interesting but not page turners like 1 and 2. 3 seemed to be just a linking book not all that great. Overall this series deserves praise.

Without a doubt, these books by the Thoenes are the best works of historical fiction that I have ever read. Through the experiences of the books' characters, you will become a witness to the world events leading up to the Second World War and the establishment of the State of Israel. These books are fun and easy to read, and provide a very accurate historical background for WWII. You will not be able to put these books down!!!

I also recommend the Zion Chronicles series and the Zion Legacy series.

These books were so well researched and the characters were fascinating. One thing about Bodie's books is that they are not predictable. One never knows who may die or be arrested or what! After reading this series, I went to the library and checked out books and videos on this time period. I learned so much. I have read all six of the books several times and even picked Elisa as the name for our fourth baby. (But it was a boy! I couldn't bring myself to name him Murphy.) Now you have to read the books to find out who they are! One note: Christian Book Distributors sell this set for 39.95! A real Bargain!

One beautiful Jew, one militant Muslim, and one desperate Christian- three zealots who will travel into the Middle East into a bitter war or bring true peace. At the beginning of this book I truly thought this was going to be a religious book that all it would talk about is how you should believe, and how that's the only way. Once I started to read this book I really enjoyed it because this book informs you instead of telling you. This book shows sides from Rebecca Solomon (the Jew), to Caleb (the desperate Christian). The authors do an awesome job of the story flowing because at the end of many chapters I couldn't stop reading, it just left you hanging. This books characters are trying to find the Ark of the Covenant, so it informs you about it. A Man Called Blessed uses many details to describe scenery, characters, and places. This story is an interesting and inspiring story that really encourages us all to rediscover simple childlike faith. Because of this books fast-pace of inspiring events, the book will move your mind to wonder. Rebecca Solomon is a tough girl who is always ready for a fight. She is the daughter of David Ben Solomon, the only daughter who was raised by her dad. This story takes place when there is fighting in the Middle East. Rebecca leads a team of Israeli commands deep into the Ethiopian desert to hunt for the man who may know the way to bring true peace. How? Because he may know the final resting place of the Ark. Islamic leaders fear that the Ark's discovery will tear them apart, so they dispatched Ismael, their most accomplished assassin to pursue the same man. This man in both of their sights is no ordinary man. Caleb is his name, and he too is on a quest of his own. Caleb, as a kid, was a blessed child. He could heal people and change people just with his words. Ismael and Rebecca start to play a game of deadly cat and mouse. There are many deaths in the process of discovering the Ark, but yet both Rebecca and Ismael continue to pursue this peace they soon think they will find. After many miles of travel in the desert, there plan begins to unfold. Caleb and Rebecca begin to be friends, so instead of Rebecca pestering Caleb they begin to work together to find the ark, and to destroy Ismael. At first I didn't think this book because of all the religious context I thought it would have. Once I started to read it, I loved it. This book is more than religious beliefs. Instead of telling you about everything, it informs you and gives you the background of the information it portrays. The story line in this book was awesome because it showed and how people and grow and change due to their surroundings. The length of the book was a downfall at 356 pages, but out of all those pages there is only a couple that aren't good. I also loved at the end it turned into a romance book. This book could fit anybody. If you like fast moving, action, and still a good story then this book is for you. If you are also looking for a faith stirring book to get mind wondering, READ THIS BOOK.

Caleb is back! Yet he's lost his child like faith to a point. There were times in this book where I look back at my own life and feel like Caleb. But all in all this was an awesome read and I was once again enlightened by Ted Dekker. What made this 4 1/2 stars was that I looked at it kind of as another ark of the covenant book, but it surprisingly didn't take too much away from the plot or the story, and the heart of this message was every bit as good as any other Dekker read. Ted Dekker never ceases to amaze me. Good stuff!

Caleb & family are finally living a free safe life & then...POW it alls comes back from his childhood. book- BLESSED CHILD,read this one 1st. The desert is such a dangerous place & using events right out of todays news makes this a wonderful exciting read...In the end GOD will prevail over evil, if we are lucky.. Dont want to give too much away.. A GREAT MIX OF DIFFERENT RELIGIONS, and how they view each other s Gods. Ted Dekker is the best in religious fiction...Two thumbs up for ted !!!!!

This is my favourite of the First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. It is the only one in which Thomas is not released from his leprosy by the healing powers of the Land, and it is the only one where he actually achieves something. Throughout the previous books, I found myself disliking Thomas Covenant because of his wish to turn his back on everything but himself, but in the Third book he is a lot more likeable, particularly due to the fact that he forms a good bond with Saltheart Foamfollower the Giant.

Stephen R. Donaldson is craftwork majic. He has extended his prose into the third novel, THe Power that Preserves. It is impossible not to read the final chapter of this epic work known as the 1st Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. Characters such as Saltheart and Bannor and Mhoram make this tale multi-dimensional. The Land is in trouble and once again Covenent is called upon. How Covenent cannot answer the call breaks my heart. This is only momentary, because he indeed desides to roll up his sleeves and join in the fight against despair. THere is no better chronicles or trilogies on the face of the planet. Kudos Donaldson! Hooray Stephen R! Covenant for President! Excellent read and worth every minute.

Retribution and
Promises colide and drive
Final book in set.

The Zion Covenant series, and its follow-up series, The Zion Chronicles, are some of the best books I have ever read. The character developments in the stories are amazing, the author does a remarkable job of bringing the characters to life. The books have a little for everyone: romance, adventure, history, etc. They are a fascinating account of WW II and many of the events of the time. Vienna Prelude is an excellent first novel of the series, it captures your attention and carries the plots brilliantly to the next book. I have read both series twice through, and plan to read them many more times!!

Have you ever read a book that was so excellent you couldn't stand it because you become the characters and every hurt they feel and every joy they feel becomes your own? That's how this book is.

The author develops the characters so well that you can emerge yourself into them and feel their emotions. I felt Elisa's pain when her father was arrested, her hurt over Thomas's betrayal, her joy during that one perefect day she had with John, and cried with her when she left him to enlist Thomas to help find her father.

I could not put this book down it moved so quickly. I stayed up one night until I finished it, because near the end there is so much suspense I knew I would never sleep not knowing what happened to Elisa and Murphy.

Vienna Prelude depicts the horror of the Nazi regime like no history book could ever dream of. Unlike history books, it doesn't sugar coat the horrors behind dates and facts, but shows the emotions, the fears, and the struggles of the people caught up in the horrors of WWII. I saw clearly how the United States and Brittain KNEW what was happening, and, to my frustration and disgust, didn't do squat because it didn't affect them.

This was one of those books that I wanted so badly to get to the end of so I could know what happened, but yet when I got there, I was sorry the book was over because, until I could get the next book at least, I couldn't escape fom everyday routine into the life of Elisa Lindheim.

I think absolutely everyone should read this book. Five stars isn't enough! A book this excellent deserves at least 6 1/2 out of five! If you buy this book, do yourself a favor and buy the second book at the same time, because you will probably be as upset as I was if you have to wait to continue the story.

This is the best book I've ever read! You actually do feel what the characters feel. You will not be able to put this book down! It is such a wonderfully moving book.