In a literary landscape often divided between faith-based fiction and secular thrillers, a new novel aims to bridge that gap with a story that is both a spiritual allegory and a suspenseful page-turner. Richard D. Greensfelder, a retired admissions director from Maryland, has published "50 Parachutes for 72 Virgins," a work that combines religion and spirituality with mystery and suspense, offering a stark critique of modern society's moral decline.
The title, according to Greensfelder, is derived from the 50 clerics assembled for a peace summit intended to help the world "regain a conscience." The parachutes reference a futuristic escape plan for the Sears Tower in Chicago, dubbed "Plan Z," to be used if all else fails. This sets the stage for a narrative that pits good against evil in a classic Tolkien-esque battle, where love and forgiveness confront hate and revenge.
The story centers on Archbishop Rooney, a no-nonsense cleric who believes the world is drifting away from God at an alarming pace. He fears that a world devoid of conscience is a dangerous place. To combat this, he organizes a Peace Summit at the Sears Tower's Skydeck just days before Christmas, inviting 12 Christians, 12 Hebrews, 12 Muslims, 12 Buddhists, 12 Hindus, and 12 Atheists. The Archbishop hopes this gathering will be the first step toward global peace, but terrorists have other plans, putting the summit—and the world—in peril.
Greensfelder's novel is not merely entertainment; it's a call to action. Through the Archbishop, he longs for the "God Old Days" (G.O.D.) when neighborhoods were close-knit and faith was woven into daily life. He points to 1963 as a pivotal year when prayer was inadvertently banned from public schools, asking a rhetorical question: "Do you think 13 trillion 'The Lord's Prayers' would have made a difference? Damn right they could have!" This sentiment underscores a central theme: "Evil fills the void whenever God is pushed away."
The author, a devout Catholic, wrote the book to remind readers of the virtues that made "The Good Old Days"—love, sound values, truth, forgiveness, charity, and helping others—which he believes are essential for a better world for future generations. "It's a call to move back closer to God where we all are safer," he said.
The novel arrives at a time when discussions about faith in public life are increasingly polarized. By framing the narrative as a thriller, Greensfelder makes these weighty topics accessible to a broader audience, potentially sparking conversations about the role of religion in addressing global conflicts. The book's release on Amazon in paperback and e-book formats (https://a.co/d/0fGomUvu) provides easy access for readers interested in exploring these themes.
Greensfelder's background—a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Baltimore, where he was part of a national championship soccer team—may not predict a literary career, but his passion for storytelling and his concerns about societal trends have driven him to this debut. He hopes his stories will inspire readers to be more caring and make the world a safer place.
As the holiday season approaches, a time often associated with peace and goodwill, "50 Parachutes for 72 Virgins" offers a timely reminder of the stakes involved in the battle for the world's conscience. Whether readers agree with its religious perspective or not, the novel's core message about the dangers of a conscience-free society is one that transcends any single faith.
