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Journal Entry 2 by choclaholic from San Antonio, Texas USA on Friday, January 14, 2005
 2005/3
I was a bit disappointed in this book. I didn't think Vision of Tarot was nearly as good as God of Tarot . It is really only a 5 1/2 star book, but since I can't do half-stars, I'll give it the benefit of a 6, since I did learn a few historical tidbits (like about the origins of some religions) that made it worth it.
Otherwise, I thought the author was now stretching it a bit this time to get the tarot card arcana themes involved in each chapter as he had done so well in the first book. Also, the story wasn't nearly as interesting, and in fact in some parts it got down right boring.
In this book, the (American Indian) Swami Kundalini, whom we meet in the last book, lost his 12 year old daughter within an Animation. This was bad enough, but also Big Foot was roaming about there. Since she was in imminent danger, Brother Paul had to go back in to rescue her. He took with him Therion the Satanist; Amaranth, the seductive love-interest who tempted him so sexually in book 1; and Lee, a Mormon. (I was describing this book to my husband, and he said, isn't that an old joke? A Priest, A Mormon and a Satanist go into this... Ha! If only this book were as good as those jokes!)
Anyway, this first Animation starts with Paul at the Egyption wonder The Sphinx. He must use his wits to find his way through tunnels and past the obliettes, across chasms and moats, and prove his courage to the gate keepers played by Therion and Amaranth.
Having passed these tests, he then finds himself at an airport with a young girl who calls him Daddy. After he seemingly did not understand that he was in another Animation, Paul finally accepts it and finds himself 10 years in the future, visiting his college alma matter with his "daughter". Here, we learn all about Paul's college days and what ideals and morals shaped him. Then at the end of this segment, this girl runs away, not to be seen again, breaking Paul's heart.
The next animation segment begins with Therion challenging Paul's vision of the Christ, especially by attacking His image with gratitously sexual inneundos. In order to defend the reputation of the Christ, Paul goes back in time to investigate the life of Jesus for himself, now being played by Lee the Mormon. Here, Paul plays a Forrest Gump to Jesus, even giving him the idea of ministering to the people with those famous parables. (This kind of thing was done to much better effect in Lamb: The Gospel according to Biff by Christopher Moore .)
Anyway, more adventures with the Christ ensue which I'll let you read for yourself if your so inclined, until Jesus turns out to be a racist; condeming all people with the blood of Cain to damnation. The next thing we know, Paul (who we learned in book 1 is 1/8 black) is climbing through Dante's inferno. Here the Prophet Mohammed ends up breaking the argument between Jesus and Paul. The Animation is broken, everyone comes laughing out of the mist, the girl is rescued and they all go back home again. Except that now the rescued girl, (who was Paul's Animation daughter), really does want Paul to be her new Daddy.
Meanwhile, Paul is beginning to think the God of Tarot is really Satan, and is perhaps just a misunderstood (not evil) god...thus setting it up for book 3.
I will go ahead and read the third installment to see if Mr Anthony can redeem this story, but right now I'm just wishing he let it lie with what I thought was a drug induced dream-like ending at the end of book 1.
Once I finish the third book, I'll probably take the entire trilogy to Bookcrossing Meet-up with me to see if there's any takers. So, for now, they are both reserved.
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Vision of Tarot
